Page 314 - Mastering SolidWorks

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286 CHAPTER 9 PAtterning And Mirroring

Figure 9.1
A pattern part used
for the test

You should also note that the situation this simple test covers is very limited in scope. Because
the plate is a constant thickness, the Geometry Pattern option actually works, which it wouldn’t
if the plate varied in thickness (with the through holes). It also tests only the Through All end
condition, and the Geometry Pattern is best used to simply disable intelligent end conditions. I
believe that many people use it as a random toggle trying to get patterns to work that
SolidWorks would otherwise not allow to work.
I discuss the Geometry Pattern option in more detail later in this chapter. I wanted to start the
chapter with a discussion that called attention to the common misperception that sketch patterns
are somehow better than feature patterns.

Debunking More Sketch Myths
People often say that it is best practice to define your sketches fully. I completely agree with
this statement. However, I have heard people say that fully defined sketches solve faster,
with the rationale being that SolidWorks must figure out how to solve the under-defined
sketch, but the fully defined sketch is already spelled out. Let’s find out.

Figure 9.2
comparing the rebuild
times of a fully defined
sketch to a completely
undefined sketch