Connecting should-be coincident points in patterned sketch elements

[Rogue_1]

I am trying to make a ruffled edge geometry by surface lofting the sawtooth sketch below with a straight line (shown successfully at the end).

The problem I'm coming across is that I pattern 1 of the saw teeth, at a distance of 2x the total distance - so the end of my original sketch and the beginning of the pattern should be coincident, but I don't think Inventor sees it that way.  When I go to select the sketch in the loft tool it only highlights 1 tooth, where as the bottom example that doesn't have a pattern works as expected.

I've messed a little with 'close loop' and I also don't know where the 'sketch analysis' type tool I'm used to in Solidworks is (if it exists), to tell me if this is 1 element or multiple that just look like 1.

In any case - I'd appreciate any help on this! Thanks.

Pattern and nodes where I'd expect continuity

3d model > loft (surface) > highlighting only selects 1 tooth.  Selecting the sketch in the tree doesn't seem to work either.

Here it works as expected in a fully drawn sketch, entire sketch is highlighted (no pattern)

[kacper.suchomski · Accepted solution]

Hi

Draw one tooth (and the same length of line on the second sketch), make a Loft and duplicate the surface in a rectangular pattern.

[JDMather]

@Rogue_1 

Select the seed for the pattern, not one of the pattern instances.

Oops, I thought this would work, but now I can't get it to work as expected.

[dan_inv09]

Inventor is more of a modeling software than a sketching one.

Could you pattern features instead of patterning in the sketch?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Inventor Loft command still uses the old constraint-based profile recognition routine. There is a simple trick to make it work. Simply extrude the zig-zag profile as a surface. Then create a Loft from the edges to the line.

Many thanks!

[kacper.suchomski]

I will add to Johnson's statement that Extrude also requires coincidence constraints, so you will be forced to use Ruled Surface.

I still think that making a Loft surface of one tooth and duplicating the teeth via feature Pattern is a better solution.

Sketch patterns should only be used in exceptional situations when there are no other alternatives.

[lauri_barnhart]

Hello, @Rogue_1,

Just checking in—did the responses shared by @kacper.suchomski or @johnsonshiue help clarify your question?

If so, please consider clicking the "Accept Solution" button on the post(s) that solved your problem. Doing so helps others in the community easily find useful answers.

If your question still needs more attention, feel free to reply here with an update. This way, other members can jump in with further suggestions or guidance to help you move forward.

All the best,

Lauri | Community Manager

[Rogue_1]

Thank you Kacper, your solution worked great. Thanks all for chiming in.