Curve Driven Pattern (DriveWorks Documentation)

Curve Driven Pattern

This document describes the types of rules that can be applied to models that have advanced feature parameters captured.

Driving advanced feature dimensions increases model generation time. Where possible capture feature dimensions (distances, numbers and angles) as dimensions rather than an advanced feature parameter.

During model generation captured dimensions are driven before captured advanced feature parameters. If the advanced feature parameter has also been captured as a dimension the value being driven into the advanced feature parameter will override the captured dimension.

Curve Driven Pattern Parameters

Parameter	Input Type and Example	Description
D1 Alignment Method	String One of the following values: TangentToCurve AlignToSeed	Sets the alignment method for the pattern.
D1 Pattern Qty	Integer 8	Sets the number of pattern items to 8 in direction 1.
D1 Equal Spacing	Boolean True False	Set to equally distribute the items over the given curve.
D1 Reverse Direction	Boolean True False	Set the direction of the pattern. True - will propagate in the default direction. False - will propagate in the opposite direction.
D1 Spacing	Integer 65.75	Sets the space between items to 65.75 in direction 1.
D2 Pattern Qty	Integer 8	Sets the number of pattern items to 8 in direction 2.
D2 Equal Spacing	Boolean True False	Set to equally distribute the items over the given curve.
D2 Pattern Seed Only	Boolean True False	Sets whether to create a pattern in direction 2 using the seed features only, without replicating the pattern instances of direction 1.
D2 Reverse Direction	Boolean True False	Set the direction of the pattern. True - will propagate in the default direction. False - will propagate in the opposite direction.
D2 Spacing	Integer 65.75	Sets the space between items to 65.75 in direction 2.
SkippedltemArray	String "3\|8\|26"	A pipe delimited list of items to skip. Setting this to 0 will clear the selection and no items will be skipped. 3\|8\|28 will skip items 3, 8 and 26 in the pattern. See Skipped Items (Feature Patterns) below for more information.
GeometryPattern	Boolean True False	Creates the pattern by using only the geometry (faces and edges) of the features, rather than patterning and solving each instance of the feature. Geometry pattern speeds up the creation and rebuilding of the pattern. You cannot create geometry patterns of features that have faces merged with the rest of the part.
D1CurveMethod	String One of the following values: TransformCurve OffsetCurve	Sets the curve method for the pattern.
PropagateVisualProperty	Boolean True False	Propagates SOLIDWORKS colors, textures, and cosmetic thread data to all pattern instances.
VarySketch	Boolean True False	Allows the pattern to change as it repeats.

Skipped Items (Feature Patterns)

The Skipped Items property requires the item number of the patterned item.

SOLIDWORKS displays Instances to Skip as a reference position, DriveWorks requires this as an item number as the example below:

SOLIDWORKS Instances to skip	DriveWorks Skipped Items
(2, 1) (4, 1)	"1\|3"

SOLIDWORKS Instances to skip

DriveWorks Skipped Items

(2, 1)

(4, 1)

"1|3"

This usually follows a logical order where the seed is 0 (zero) and subsequent instances increase along one direction.

For a grid pattern the item number continues for subsequent columns or rows.

More complex patterns will require understanding how SOLIDWORKS applies the instance numbering.

DriveWorks Pro 22 Curve Driven Pattern