Fusion 360 - Why can't we pattern construction planes?

[mroek]

Sometimes I come acoss situations where it would be great to pattern a construction plane. The construction plane is a feature in the timeline, so patterning it as a feature should have been possible.

It is of course possible to get around this by creating a surface instead of a plane, and then pattern this instead (and optionally create offset construction planes (with a zero offset) to the patterned surfaces), but why can't we just pattern construction planes?

[Phil.E]

That isn't a bad idea, and you are right a plane is a parametric object.

LMD001 put it on the idea station 2 years but it didn't get many votes. Currently the idea is archived.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/ideastation-request-a-feature-or/pattern-work-features/idi-p/5508414

Thanks,

[mroek]

Ok, I didn't find that idea, but since it is archived there's no point in voting for it either.

This sounds like a good idea to me (and it is possible in at least some other CAD systems), but if any idea needs to gather enough support on the Ideastation, then not much would happen, because the Ideastation is just so full of stuff (and a lot of not so good ideas also), so it seems difficult to "get through", so to speak.

[JDMather]

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@mroek wrote:

.... so full of stuff (and a lot of not so good ideas also), so it seems difficult to "get through", so to speak. 

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Every time someone mentions the "IdeaStation" - I imagine Steve Jobs rolling over in his grave.  

[ejschiele]

This thread is from forever ago, but the problem remains. There is, however, an easy workaround. Put the construction plane in its own component then pattern the component. Viola!

[mroek]

Thanks for the tip, but having a bunch of additional components just to have patterned construction planes looks a bit messy in my opinion. However, I guess one could create a component that contains sub-components with the construction planes in, to keep it a bit more tidy in the browser.

[MichaelT_123]

Hi Mr Ejschiele,

Please consider looking at the following post:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/copy-constraints-in-pattern/m-p/11442615#M...

I have tried explaining there … the relationship between the domain of a patterned object and the respective domain where a pattern structure is placed.   In the short but verbose form, the point is that the placeholder domain must eclipse the domain of the patterned object; thus, the latter must not refer to outside itself (which also implies an outside placeholder's domain)

In the case of ConstructionPlane … it, by its very nature, refers to some external construction object … so it can't be patterned.  

How to solve such a predicament, though?

The solution is to encapsulate ConstructionPlane within the object, which will be … well … a capsule … self-reliant, not dependent on external influences.

In our case, ComponentObject would be a reliable ConstructionPlane placeholder, currying it with itself-instances when patterned.

Please find the attached demo file ConstructionPlanePattern.f3d showing the process.

Regards

MichaelT

[davebYYPCU]

You did not say why you want construction planes patterned, 

if building parts on them, Edit each component and get to it.  Rule No. 1.

Might help.....

[mroek]

I can't actually remember why I needed patterned construction planes back when I created this thread, more than 5(!) years ago. It is entirely possible that I would have attacked the problem differently now, with much more experience under my belt.

[davebYYPCU]

Can relate to that.

[sutherland-]

Awesome to see that this community is still going strong and I love the fact that F360 is getting traction, as more and more members are joining.

But I would say that Patterned Construction planes are not used that often, therefore I see why they have archived it. 😉

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@sutherland- wrote:

But I would say that Patterned Construction planes are not used that often, therefore I see why they have archived it. 

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I use construction plane pattern in Autodesk Inventor Professional.

[patmat2350]

I want to pattern construction planes! And I used to be able to do it in CATIA, despite the verbose explanation above of why it can't be done.
In drawing the frame stations for a ship's hull, I often need to create 20 or more equally spaced body-section sketches. I can offset plane 20 freaking times, or I can pattern points along the axis as needed and offset to feature 20 freaking times, take your choice. Yikes my wrist is starting to act up again.

All those points have sketch planes associated, what a tedious job in F360!

[TrippyLighting]

I can do it in ZW3D as well 😉

Can be very helpful.

[MichaelT_123]

Hi Mr Patmat2350, F360Fellows,

It is hopeful of setting expectations reasonably before freaking with any software…to avoid disappointments.  

In most cases, as you go along with it, your confidence in using it will grow … and so the expectations!

Learning, discovering and visualizing a freaking model the software is based on can significantly speed up the process of arousing to a CAD design nirvana state, or in short verbose words … CADlove. Even if this requires spending so much freaking money, like on CATIA in the case of Mr Patmat2350 … while at the same time freaking with modestly priced (or even free) F360 can satisfy your lust for the next freaking nice design also. Well, it is a matter of freaking preferences and pocket depth.

Yes, the F360 design model can sometimes be freakishly challenging, but although there are some cracks, and inefficiencies in it, as a whole, it is pretty efficient and consistent.

Much more … in many cases, it is rich enough to achieve freakishly nice designs impossible, even in 60000$ CATIA.

By the way, ... it is a freaking nice fishing boat design ... Mr Patmat2350 😉.

Regards

MichaelT

[TrippyLighting]

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@MichaelT_123 wrote:

Yes, the F360 design model can sometimes be freakishly challenging, but although there are some cracks, and inefficiencies in it, as a whole, it is pretty efficient and consistent.

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Yep!

[PeterMoll]

I found this thread when looking for an option to pattern planes; I need it because i need to slice an object and thought this would be the easiest way. Going to use the trick with patterning a component which has a plane now, but a vote from me for making this a feature in Fusion.

Regards, Peter

[g-andresen]

Hi,

When you cut with the Split Body tool, you don't need multiple faces or layered components.

A rectangular pattern made of one line is enough.

günther