Rectangular Pattern Along a Path

[delaing]

I'm sure I've sketched this up incorrectly and perhaps that is causing the issue.

Why can I not select part of the path that makes up the edge of the Seat Support and use that as the Path Direction for performing a Rectangular Pattern of the Slat?

I want the Slat copies to sit along the top edge(?) of the Seat Support.

When I try to select what I think are the edges of the Seat Support, the Rectangle Pattern command doesn't seem to like part of the shape(?) in order to select multiple directions.

This side view shows the space between the Seat Support and some of the patterned slats; this is not wanted.

Attached is the file.

Thanks in advance,

Delain

[wmhazzard]

Selecting the top straight edge of the seat support makes the slats follow the top. You can see the problem that you have here, the top edge of your seat support is not a straight line and the first slat is horizontal so it does not follow the top of the seat support. I suggest making the top of the seat support straight from the front to the back and place the first slat on the top face, then do the pattern. 

[wmhazzard]

If you want the slats to follow a curved path then you should use the pattern on path feature instead of a rectangular pattern. 

You also should not be moving things around and using capture position. You should get into the habit of creating the bodies in their desired positions using defined sketches or by using joints to position components. 

[delaing]

Thanks for the suggestion; however, I need the Seat Support to have a slope
to the rear of the bench so there will be a slightly curved contour for the
layout of the Slats.

Is the not a way to pattern along a non-straight path?
Do I need a different approach?

Delain

[delaing]

@wmhazzard 

Thanks for the second suggestion. I will review your remarks better once I get back into Fusion.

[laughingcreek]

rectangular pattern is looking for straight line vectors as inputs.  your looking for "pattern along path".

[g-andresen]

Hi,

You must execute the pattern in 2 (several) parts.
You can only use the pattern on path on a path that is approximately harmonic.

günther

[delaing]

@g-andresen 

Not sure I understand your "You can only use the pattern on path on a path that is approximately harmonic."

I was able to execute the Pattern Along a Path in one step and it laid out the slats seemingly well.

@laughingcreek @wmhazzard 

I've seen Along a Path tutorials before and not sure why I didn't clue to that for this operation. Makes me feel a bit dumb.

Isn't there a way that I can move the multiple, newly-created Slats into one Component instead of them being listed out individually in the Browser Tree? I tried moving them into the original Slat component and it won't work.

Thank you,

Delain

[wmhazzard]

What I would do is activate the slat component then pattern the slat body, then you will have all of the identical slats in one component. 

[g-andresen]

Hi,

With the pattern on the path, you have an offset between the bars even though you select "Path direction" in "Alignment". With the second (2-step) method, this occurs only to a very small extent, if at all.

Screencast

günther

[delaing]

@wmhazzard 

I did just that and it stacks the new Slats at the bottom of the Tree as individual components, as in my screenshot above.

@g-andresen 

Thank you for the explanation; helps me to see an alternate approach.

Delain

[delaing]

However, when I turn on component colors, they are all the same as the original Slat component.

What am I not understanding?