Rectangular Pattern 'to object' or 'point to point'

[rbackman07]

I am trying to build a complex parameterized model and am hitting a wall with the pattern feature. What I would like is for the rectangular pattern to have a 'to object' option instead of just spacing and extent or maybe a 'point to point' input for the extent. This would be great in body patterns as well as sketches. has anyone developed a workflow to achieve this with existing tools? I am wondering if this would be even possible to script, does anyone with familiarity with the python API think it would be doable?

Something I was thinking about is an additional sketch constraint that wasn't midpoint but instead split a line into any arbitrary number of points or by a ratio so you could create a point at for example 1/3 of a line (or any other ratio).

alternatively, if we could just use driven dimensions as inputs in equations it would also get the job done, I know there were posts in the past of people asking to use driven dimensions in equations, so I don't have my hopes up, but let me just add another vote for that.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

carry the proposals to the Idea Station.

günther

[HughesTooling]

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@rbackman07 wrote:

alternatively, if we could just use driven dimensions as inputs in equations it would also get the job done, I know there were posts in the past of people asking to use driven dimensions in equations, so I don't have my hopes up, but let me just add another vote for that.

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Have you gone to the ideastation and voted for driven dimensions? Really that's the best option in a parametric design, hopefully we'll get them somewhen.

Mark

[rbackman07]

Yeah I have voted for that for sure. but that has been open for almost 4 years and I think I read somewhere that it would require and entire rework of the dependency graph of fusion so I am not super hopeful, even though it seems like a necessity for a truly parametric cad program. 

Has anyone done any work with developing an add-in, and can refer me to a relevant example?  thinking I can create my own pattern on curve that will make a pattern on the entire extent of a line.

[etfrench]

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@rbackman07 wrote:

I am trying to build a complex parameterized model and am hitting a wall with the pattern feature. What I would like is for the rectangular pattern to have a 'to object' option instead of just spacing and extent or maybe a 'point to point' input for the extent.

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Use the 'to object' location as part of the formula for the extent of the pattern.

[rbackman07]

Can you explain what you mean?

This is a simplified example where I would like this pattern to go to the point I highlighted. 

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[etfrench]

Here you go:

When the ToObject is a component positioned with a joint, you'll need to put some thought into how to dimension the joint origin.

[rbackman07]

Thanks for the walkthrough and I totally get it. but what I meant was this was just a simplified example. in a real case it would not be practical to make an equation to define the distance. digging in to fusion add-in API to see if I can make my own rectangular pattern. wish me luck

[anthony.esau]

A pattern to object feature would be amazing. I put up a post in the Idea Station for it last year but didn't get any interest: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation/pattern-to-object/idc-p/8354043#M35941.

[rbackman07]

Yeah it really would be useful. funny I came up with a very similar workaround, seems like the measure option in the pattern distance is so close to being parametric 🙂 if only it was automatic

[anthony.esau]

Agreed, a real solution definitely needs to be automatically updated. If you have any luck making something work using the API keep us posted!

[Cgmorrison89]

I know this is an old thread, but I just came across a solution while trying to figure out the same thing as you. Check out the link from Fusion 360 School on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f6aQ_IVC68&t=136s