How does F360 define a feature?

[Noah_Katz]

In my previous CAD experience, a feature was any operation you did that affected the geometry of the part you were creating, i.e. a positive extrude to create a boss, or a negative extrude to cut a hole.

Either feature could then be used as the basis for a pattern.

Apparently F360 works like this for the hole, but not for the boss.

If I want to pattern the boss, when I perform the extrude I have to use New Body, and when I create the pattern I have to select using Bodies, i.e. the boss is not recognized if Selection is set to feature.

Then when I'm done I have to Combine/Join the bosses with the original part.

Do I have this right?

So what is F360's definition of a feature?

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

That depends on the particular situation.

An extrude on existing geometry might be a separate body or it might automatically join. I the latter case it's a feature that can be patterned and then will also auto join.

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

yes, Fusion should work as you expect.  Joins (boss) and cuts (holes) both should be able to be patterned as you expect.  If you see otherwise, please upload a model and screencast of what you are seeing.  Someone should be able to figure it out.

Jeff

[Noah_Katz]

Hmm, I tried it and this time it did let me pattern when I used join.

I wonder why it didn't work before, nor for the fellow with the same problem as discussed here https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/design-validate-document/cannot-pattern-a-sweep/td-p/6907473

which seemed to be resolved by using New Body instead of Join when creating the feature to be patterened.