Page 329 - Mastering SolidWorks

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UnderStAnding PAttern tYPeS 301

Figure 9.20 shows the same part using the Transform Curve positioning option and Tangent
To Curve alignment option.
Instead of an offset of the curve going through the centroids of each patterned feature
instance, in the Transform Curve, the entire curve is moved rather than offset. On this particular
part, this causes a messy pattern. The Tangent to Curve option gives every patterned instance the
same orientation relative to the curve as the original.

Figure 9.20
Using the transform
curve and tangent
to curve options

The Face Normal option is used for a 3D pattern, as shown in Figure 9.21. Although this
functionality seems a little obscure, it is useful if you need a 3D Curve Driven Pattern on a
complex surface. If you are curious about this example, it is in the material from the download
with the filename Reference 3d Curve Driven.sldprt.

Figure 9.21
Using a 3d curve-
driven pattern

Using a Direction 2 for a curve-driven pattern creates a result that’s similar to what is shown
in Figure 9.22. This is another situation that, although rare, is good to know about.
The rest of the Curve Driven Pattern command works like the other pattern features that have
already been demonstrated.