Concentric patterns

[Jacques_Bayman]

Hi

This is one of only a few times I wished for a concentric pattern. In this case I have a hexagon of about 1mm wide, but I need several to nest in each other. Is there an easy (lazy) way of doing this?

Right now I use sketch and manually create each hexagon with appropriate offsets and gaps in between. Tedious... An hour later and not halfway done. I hate to think how to fix it if my dimensions need a not of adjusting in case my 3D print tolerances is too tight...

[g-andresen]

Hi,

1. Patterns should never be created in sketch mode but as features.

2. Please share the file.

File > export > save as f3d on local drive  > attach it to the next post.

günther

[Jacques_Bayman]

Hi

I am trying not to use sketch for the pattern, but as I can see no easy way to replicate it as a feature, I used sketch.

The component called "Rings" is where I would like an easier way.

In the sketch I just use dimensions to space each ring. As that was a pain, I created point on a line and patterned them. So I simply can draw the hexagon to be coincident on the points. I t works, but is also pretty slow.

I have added a mesh of what I am trying to copy. I made a mesh intersection as well that would hopefully give an idea of what I am after.

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

In the real world it is almost impossible to measure the width of a flat on a hex.

A more common technique of dimensioning a hex is across flats.

I'm thinking a trim of a linear pattern and then a circular pattern might be easiest.

[Jacques_Bayman]

Thank you so much for that  method. I would never have given it any thought! I'll accept it as a solution. Maybe one day Fusion will have "concentric" in their patterns. 🙂

[LazyRiverLife]

I am experimenting with patterns and I have a similar requirement, but my shape is not so straightforward as a hexagon, in fact, I am really looking for something that will take an arbitrary pattern and attempt to make concentric repetitions of that pattern given distances to offset the pattern with each concentric copy.

Is there any such script/workflow that would make this process simple?

Here is a sample of a pattern I want to make concentric repetitions of

Yes, the shape alters as it creates them, but that is ok; and why I want something to be able to create these concentric copies rapidly so that I can tweak/experiment with different profiles to get the output that looks best as the shape morphs.

If F360 is not the right solution, is there something else out there that can perhaps create these to then be imported into F360?

[davebYYPCU]

Use the same method as @TheCADWhisperer has demonstrated.

Cancel delete the sketch pattern, use the original. 1/6th of the sketch.

(Sketch patterns are not recommended)  

Too Many spline points.

No indication of the new morphed outline.

Might help....

[TheCADWhisperer]

What is the purpose of the white dots?

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

Exactly what are you attempting to model? Do you have a picture of something similar that already exists in the real world?

[LazyRiverLife]

I think the white dots were overlaps?? Not sure, they just are there from selecting the whole sketch. At this point I am just experimenting with concentric patterns to see what shapes I can make by completely using a sheet of ply...in this case a bowl. I have attached the sample f3d file for reference.   Note: Probably due to the playing around with a python script I wrote to generate the patterns mathematically, the original file was 12mb, so copy/pasted the sketch only.   Let me know if this is sufficient for you to look at.

I found a program called VectorStyler that actually has what they term "symmetrigon". It actually was amazing for what I was trying to do. It allows you to define a rough X sided shape that any adjustments you make dynamically get reflected on all "sides". This, along with offset paths really allows you to see the net effect of tweaking the shape in real-time.   Sauce: Symmetrigon

Here is the symmetrical pattern that evolved out of playing around with the symmetrigon and then importing that into F360.   Note that the offset around each shape is constant, so the shape morphs as you expand/contract.   The original shape is actually the middle, but I made concentric offset shapes both inward and outward.

Assembling this now (with rotation and layering), it looks like this:

Which is what I wanted to experiment with.    Very small adjustments in the curve profile makes significant changes in the overall design, look and feel; so it is really difficult to experiment if there are too many steps involved in generating the output.   I really don't want another piece of software, and even if there are a few more steps, I would be fine with staying in F360, but this seems to be one area that is just not easily doable (as far as I can tell).    

The part that I am currently working on is trying to figure out the best way to incorporate and model kerf in this pattern to see if this is really doable.    I picked up a 1.2mm bit for this purpose, but if there is not enough overlap on the base layers, it won't work.  I would like to be able to change the kerf size and see the impact dynamically.  That kerf size can put constraints on the rotation as well, so it is really hard to do without some sort of pattern generator.