Pattern along path : irregularities

[cokopp]

Hello 🙂

I'm trying to pattern a serie of holes along a path but i have inconsistent result when it comes to corner.

sometime exagerated deformation, sometimes no holes at all, etc ...

(see different result in images bellow)

Any idea of the cause and how to fix this !

Here is my process : 

Basically i did a sketch on one of the short side with the two first (vertical) row of holes then extruded them.

Selected pattern along path --> choosed pattern feature --> selected my extrusion --> selected my path (see image bellow)

also selected "orientation = path direction" 

( i think i will swich this method for a sketch in the middle of the long side so that i can have the same spacing at the extremity of the two small side - and i might also start with only two holes and pattern these verticaly before patterning again that first pattern along the path .... But i guess that's not a 100% relevant to this inconsistent result problem, or is it ?

Any help / tips is greatly appreciated 🙂

thanks in advance !!

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

I've played with this a bit and have a couple of pointers for you. First you need pattern the holes one column at a time the the centre of the hole will be perpendicular to the surface, using 2 columns seems to have the mid point of the 2 columns perpendicular.

The second tip is to adjust the start and end points for the path so the start is in line with the center of the column of holes and the same for the end point.

I've not got the spacing quite right but the holes now go around the corners quite well.

Mark

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

I've figured out you need to make sure the start point on the path needs to be on the centre line of the holes or you'll have problems.

Here's an example where the holes and the start are quite far apart.

And here's what happens at the corner.

Mark

[cokopp]

THANKS 😄

That did the trick ... restarted the sketch from the center of the long side and applied your precious advice to a pretty much perfect result !! 

[Anonymous]

Saved my ass with this. Thanks very much

[chrisplyler]

I'm sure you have a reason, but I'm curious what it is.... Why would you model all those holes at all?

And if you absolutely must do it, why wouldn't you do it with Sheet Metal, so you could unfold it, pattern the holes, and then refold it to get an accurate result?

[cokopp]

The holes are there for aesthetic reason. 🙂 

As for the sheet option. It wasn't available in the program at the time of this project but did arrive shortly after.

That would indeed be the right way to do it right now.

cheers

[chrisplyler]

If it's just for appearance on your screen, you could simply apply an Appearance that's got holes. I realize it won't accurately reflect a designed/produced part, but it will serve the purpose without all the hassle of modeling and consuming a lot of Pattern calculations.

[cokopp]

That's good to know 🙂 

But this one was intended for production so I think it was still the right way to go at the time !!

[chrisplyler]

Sure. If you're going to cut solid sheet and drill your own holes, then by all means model them, or at least put sketch points where you want them. Either way you can then create CAM to run a CNC with.

If you're going to buy perforated sheet (with holes already in it) and just cut/bend it, then you don't need CAM for the holes and so it wouldn't be worth modeling them.

[mi.silva]

Where do you get that only appearance with holes?

Thank you