Page 322 - Mastering SolidWorks

|
294 CHAPTER 9 PAtterning And Mirroring

feature does not work in the same way that it works for other features. It merges only those
bodies that are part of the mirror to other bodies that are part of the mirror. Pattern Bodies does
not even have an option to merge bodies. Both of these functions often require an additional
combine feature (for solid bodies) or knit (for surface bodies) to put the final results together.
Some of these details may seem obscure when you’re reading about them, but when you
begin to work patterning bodies and begin trying to merge them into a single body, read over
this section again. The inconsistency between the Merge option existing in Mirror but not in
Pattern, as well as the functional discrepancy between the Merge in Mirror and the Merge Result
in, for example, Extrude is unexplainable and is a possible opportunity for an enhance-
ment request.

Patterning Faces
Most of the pattern types have an option for Pattern Faces. This option has a few restrictions, the
main limitation being that all instances of the pattern must be created within the boundaries of
the same face as the original. Figure 9.11 shows an example of the Pattern Faces option working
with a Circular Pattern feature.

Figure 9.11
A circular pattern using
the Pattern
Faces option

To get around the same face limitation, you can knit faces together and pattern the resulting
surface body, as shown in Figure 9.12.