Pattern Doesn't Extrude

[savdbygrace316]

Hello,
I have a problem with Inventor 2013. When I use Pattern to repeat a simple Sketch in 2D sketch mode, I cannot use that pattern from sketch mode to build any features, such as revolve, extrude, etc.
Please help.

Also, I can't find a link to post this request on an actual help forum. Sorry if this is the wrong medium. The help site did not have an obvious link for asking questions.

[The_Angry_Elf]

Aside from this being posted in the wrong location, are you able to pattern the original sketch as features as opposed to being in sketch mode?

Can you post a screen shot of what you are trying to do? I don't see this issue in 2015.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi savdbygrace316,

I would encourage you to create the pattern as a feature rather than patterning in the sketch. So basically you would sketch the shape, then create a feature from it, then pattern that feature.

Rectangular feature pattern:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2014/ENU/?guid=GUID-C1A1FF2B-082E-4D50-911E-10343611F276

Circular feature pattern:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2014/ENU/?guid=GUID-B9D71D5C-C3D8-4089-A326-9DCC2B5331B1

Arrange features in rectangular pattern (there are some videos at this link)

http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2014/ENU/?guid=GUID-07DF91E8-B342-477B-BE98-0C5A6F804A8E

Here is a related post that might be of interest:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-General-Discussion/Can-not-extrude-a-pattern-sketch-that-is-f...

And here is another link that might be helpful:

http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com/2011/03/inventor-101-simple-fully-constrained.html

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[savdbygrace316]

I first tried patterning the sketch and then extruding (which apparently doesn't work because the enpoints don't automatically connect), and it didn't work.
So, I tried extruding the basic sketch and patterning the feature. It worked, but then when I tried to do a revolve cut with the entire patterned feature, only the first block would revolve. The entire pattern would not select.
 I have attached the file and some photos to show the issues.

 I appreciate the advice.

[LT.Rusty]

A few things:

1.  Constrain your sketches!  Right now, Sketch 3 is pretty much unconstrained, meaning that I can click on just about anything and drag it around and then the sketch falls apart.

2.  Like Curtis said - pattern features, not sketches.  Patterned sketches can get pretty weird.

3.  To get the revolve cut you're looking for, once you've got the extrusion patterned, create a new sketch on the face of the corrugated extrusion and project that face.  Re-create your axis for the revolve feature.  (When I did this I just made sketch 3 visible and projected the axis.)  Use this new sketch to create your revolve cut.  You've got something misaligned, though - the edges aren't clean and there's some sort of scraps laying around.  I don't have the itme right now to figure out the right numbers to use.

I'd post my work on this for you to take a look at, but it wouldn't help you - I'm on 2015, and you wouldn't be able to open it.