Page 323 - Mastering SolidWorks

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UnderStAnding PAttern tYPeS 295

Figure 9.12
Patterning a
surface body

A split in the face means faces
from the feature on the side
cannot be patterned all
the way around.

Patterning faces is another way of patterning geometry within SolidWorks without patterning
the feature intelligence that was built into the original. It is also a way to make patterns on
imported parts from existing geometry. Chapter 37, “Using Imported Geometry and Direct
Editing Techniques,” addresses this topic briefly in the discussion on imported geometry and
direct edit techniques.
Patterning faces is not a widely used technique; however, it should be somewhere in your
toolbox of tricks. Although it may be lurking near the bottom of the pile, it is still useful in special
circumstances.

Patterning Fillets
You may hear people argue that you cannot pattern fillets. This is only partially true. It is true
that fillets as individual features cannot be patterned. For example, if you have a symmetrical
box and a fillet on one edge and want to pattern only the fillet to other edges, this does not work.
However, when a fillet is patterned with its parent geometry, it is a perfectly acceptable candi-
date for patterning. This is also true for the more complex fillet types, such as variable radius and
full radius fillets. You may need to use the Geometry Pattern option, and you may need to select
all the fillets affecting a feature, but it certainly does work.

Understanding Pattern Types
Up to now, I have discussed patterns in general; differentiated sketch patterns from feature
patterns, face patterns, and body patterns; and looked at some other factors that affect patterning
and mirroring. In this section, I will discuss each individual type of pattern to give you an idea of
what options are available.
When we discuss component patterns in assemblies, keep in mind that component pattern
types are limited, but you can use a feature pattern from a part to drive a component pattern in
an assembly.