Reusing a Part Design Pattern

This task shows you how to repeat a component reusing a pattern created with the Part Design workbench.
There are two work modes according to the Keep link with the pattern option:
  • The option is on: you are creating associativities between the geometry and the pattern definition.
  • The option is off: there is no associativity.

Working with associativity, you can decide whether you need to make instances associative with the pattern or generated constraints. This means that you can modify a reused pattern through its definition only: if you delete any instantiated element (geometry or constraint) outside the definition, it is recreated during the next update of the reuse pattern.

Three types of patterns are reusable:

  • Rectangular pattern.
  • Circular pattern.
  • User pattern.
The option Automatic switch to Design mode is available for the Reuse Pattern command. For more about this option, refer to Access to geometry.
Open the Pattern.CATProduct document.

  1. Select the rectangular pattern in the tree or in the geometry.
 

  1. Control-click to select the component to be repeated, that is Part2.

Selecting a constraint linking a pattern to a component selects both the pattern and the component.

  1. Click the Reuse Pattern icon:

 

The Instantiation on a pattern dialog box appears, indicating;

  • the name of the pattern.

  • the number of instances to be created (for information only).

  • the name of the component to be repeated.
 

  1. Ensure that the option Keep link with the pattern is on and check pattern's definition to make instances associative with the pattern's geometry.
    To know more about associativity with constraints, refer to Re-using constraints.
 

To define the first instance of the component to be duplicated, three options are available:

  • reuse the original component: the original component is located on the pattern, but remains at the same location in the tree.

  • create a new instance: the original component does not move and a new one is created on the pattern.

  • cut & paste the original component: the original component is located on the pattern and moved in the tree.

  1. Make sure the option re-use the original component is selected.
 

To control the location of the components in the tree, two options are available:

  • You can check the option Put new instances in a flexible component to gather all instances in the same component

  • or conversely uncheck the option to create as many components as there are generated instances.

  1. Check the option Put new instances in a flexible component.

  1. Click OK to repeat the screw.

31 instances are created on the pattern. 

The new component Gathered Part2 on RectPattern.1 is displayed in the tree. An entity Assembly features has been created in the tree. Reused Rectangular Pattern.1 is displayed below this entity.

The Apply button executes the command but the dialog box remains open so as to let you repeat the operation as may times as you wish.

  1. Double-click RectPattern.1 to edit it. Enter 5 instances for both directions.

  1. Return to Assembly Design and make sure that the assembly is updated.

You can notice that associativity between the pattern and the instances of Part2 has been maintained since the option Keep link with pattern and Pattern's definition were switched on. Only 17 instances have been generated.

Reusing Constraints
If you use the option generated constraints, the Reuse Constraints section displays the constraints detected for the component and makes all original constraints available for selection: You can define whether you wish to reproduce one or more original constraints when instantiating the component.
To remove a constraint from the list, click on that constraint. To remove all constraints from the list, click Clear. Conversely, Click All to include all constraints in the selection.

Contextual Commands
The following contextual commands are available for Reused Rectangular Pattern.1:
  • Definition: displays information on the pattern. If some instantiated components are not verified, you can select them and apply a local update.
  • Deactivate/Activate: deactivates or activates the constraints defined on the instantiated components.

More About Patterns
This task you have just performed shows you that you can reuse constraints set between the part to be duplicated and the pattern: the generated instances are constrained too.
You can reuse constraints set between the part to be patterned and other parts. In the following example, two constraints are set between screw.1 to be patterned and Tray.1 (green part) and two other constraints are set between the screw.1 and Bracket.1 (blue part).
After applying the Reuse Pattern command to the screw, generated instances are constrained too:

Reusing Sheetmetal Patterns
Reusing a Sheetmetal Pattern is only possible if the Pattern was created and is reused in the folded Part.
You cannot select the component to instantiate the one from which the pattern is selected.


 

If you have selected RectPattern.1 for the Reuse pattern command, then Part2.1 cannot be selected as the Component to instantiate.