topic Re: Cannot Create Hole Pattern in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Cannot Create Hole Pattern

neljoshua — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:37:42 GMT

I am working on creating a model of a perforated sheet for use in our system. As interactions with other components are important, I am trying to make accurate.

In any event, the sheet is 36 inches by 40 inches and has .1825 inch holes spaced .25 inches apart. I figured it was best to create a single hole and then pattern that feature (rather than do the pattern in a sketch). The issue that I have is that Fusion seems unable to handle even a relatively small number of holes. Fusion slows to a crawl and/or crashes with even 140 features in the pattern. This is fairly simple geometry, and I do not understand what the problem is. Maybe I am doing something wrong?

Here is a link to the model.

I plan to try patterning the sketch rather than the feature.

Re: Cannot Create Hole Pattern

jeff_strater — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 21:45:38 GMT

While I wait for the email to come to download the design, I just want to check that you are not using sketch pattern for this. If so, please don't. Use a feature pattern. Create one hole, then pattern the hole.

Jeff

Re: Cannot Create Hole Pattern

neljoshua — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:05:20 GMT

@jeff_strater,

Initially I was not using sketch pattern. I tried patterning the feature after creating one hole. I am aware that this is the preferred method.

Re: Cannot Create Hole Pattern

jeff_strater — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:07:55 GMT

Got the design. Good to see that you are not using sketch pattern. However, you are using the "adjust" mode of feature pattern:

As explained here: pattern dialog That is the slowest way to compute a pattern. If you switch to "Pattern Faces", you will get much better performance. I was able to add the entire pattern of 143 x 159 holes in a reasonable amount of time:

However, having said that: You will not be happy with the overall performance of a design with that much complexity. That's almost 23000 holes in that one plate. Even the graphics performance will be painful at times (I tried zooming into my design, and it hung for quite a while just generating all the graphics for the "high fidelity" graphics view.

I would recommend you have a decal on that plate that you can turn off and on. When you are doing "regular modeling" of the design using this component, I would suppress the hole pattern, and show the decal. Then, when you are ready for a final version (whether to get real mass properties, or to do a high quality render), then unsuppress the hole pattern.

Jeff

Re: Cannot Create Hole Pattern

neljoshua — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:25:46 GMT

@jeff_strater,

Thanks for the tips.

I am still not able to complete the pattern (Fusion is still hanging up), but I have some ideas now.

I know it is a large number of holes, but I thought that since it was simple geometry it would not be a problem. I was mistaken.

Re: Cannot Create Hole Pattern

etfrench — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 23:02:51 GMT

If you just need the holes for milling, then you can create a toolpath pattern without having to pattern it in the model workspace.