topic Re: Rectangular array frame in AutoCAD Forum

Rectangular array frame

ville.pajunenYY5B6 — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 18:06:11 GMT

Hi,

I constantly use Autocad to draw eyelet holes and have yet to figure out a way to do a simple rectangular array that follows only the far edges and divides evenly on the corners.

Is there a (simple) way to do this properly?

With rectangular array I get the frame but need to manually remove the inner circles. (pic below)

With path array on the rectangle, I get only the frame but can't even out the corners with divide

If I explode the rectangle and use path array on the line(s) with divide, I get the correct result but again this is a bit time consuming when repeated constantly.

Re: Rectangular array frame

Michiel.Valcke — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 18:39:46 GMT

Hello, A few things come to mind,

In your particular case i would make one or more dynamic blocks that allow me to parametrize things like length, width nr of rows, columns.

If you want more options and a range of different figures you might want to sollicit some help over at the customization (lisp,....) forums

Re: Rectangular array frame

ParishSouthBdx — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:24:29 GMT

One approach would be to use a different center to center dimension. obviously the rectangle you have drawn is not the center to center dimension. if the eyelets are 1/4" diameter and the rectangle is 4", yoiur center to center dimension to use in the divide command is 3.75". i would draw me a line across that is 3.75, making sure it is centered with the rectangle, and was 1/8" clear from each end from the rectangle then divide the line by what you need. the eyelet EDGE will then rest on the rectangle. You could apply the same method with the rectangle for the array.

Re: Rectangular array frame

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 17:36:43 GMT

Are they always and only orthogonally oriented rectangles? If so, a routine could probably be written that would have you make the Array including the ones inside, and then it could go through the results and remove anything that does not fall in both X & Y directions on the extreme X & Y coordinate locations of the rectangle.

But that can't work if the rectangle is not orthogonal, nor if the shape is not a rectangle.

Re: Rectangular array frame

ParishSouthBdx — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 22:23:01 GMT

i apologize for my first reply. i wasn't understanding the question.🙄

in regard to your comment "divides evenly", will the long sides of the rectangle divide into a distance that the short sides can achieve? or do you want the long sides dividing into a distance that has no relation to the short sides?

what is important, number of divisions or the distance between them?

which one is the driver?

Re: Rectangular array frame

ville.pajunenYY5B6 — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 13:31:27 GMT

Dynamic block I definetely need to check out, that's a new thing to me.

lisp is something that crossed my mind earlier, but I'm yet to check how I could make one or if I could get someone to make it for me, even with a compensation for the effort.

Re: Rectangular array frame

ville.pajunenYY5B6 — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 13:33:12 GMT

Yes, as this is for a simple production of X by Y sized rectangular banners, there's no need to rotate it.

Re: Rectangular array frame

ville.pajunenYY5B6 — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 13:51:32 GMT

I normally do the long and short sides separately so that I use array path for the exploded rectangle, set the distribution method to "Divide" so I get eyelet holes for the start and finish on the line (as in corners of the banner) and then play around with the number of the items on the toolbar, until I have a requested separation (normally close to 200mm, sometimes clients want less, sometimes more) so It's always kinda case sensitive.

Like this:

Then I continue to other direction (X):

Then I _copy the two arrays to other sides:

I know it's not much of work, but then again why have automation if you can't use it for bulk stuff.

Re: Rectangular array frame

Michiel.Valcke — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 13:52:06 GMT

Explain your problem to the people in this forum. There are many people there that will be able to either guide you towards existing lisp routines, or that can be contracted to write a lisp routine for you.

If you want to make the lisp yourself it might take a lot of effort if you have no prior knowledge, but it is definitely something that will expand your mastery of AutoCAD. There are multiple sites available which have autolisp tutorials and guides (such as Lee Mac, Afralisp, ...) The people mentioned in the previously mentioned forum can also help you if you get stuck along the way.

Re: Rectangular array frame

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 11:49:12 GMT

@ville.pajunenYY5B6 wrote:

I normally do the long and short sides separately so that I use array path for the exploded rectangle, set the distribution method to "Divide" so I get eyelet holes for the start and finish on the line (as in corners of the banner) and then play around with the number of the items on the toolbar, until I have a requested separation (normally close to 200mm, sometimes clients want less, sometimes more) ....

For those parts, you can use the DIV+ command in DivideMeasurePlus.lsp, >here<. It has the option to include them at the ends [which regular DIVIDE won't do] or not, and you can give it a Maximum spacing, and it will figure out how many spaces are needed, the minimum number of them such that they will not exceed the Maximum.