Frame Generator Patterns

[gantonov]

Hi guys,

I want to copy (pattern) this roof beam (green marked) 3 times on unequal steps:

1. Is it possible to be done via pattern? As far as I found out, with pattern it is possible only on equal steps (distances);
2. I tried with Demote. It creates sub assembly in the Frame Generator structure. I can then insert this assembly several times and constrain it. But, when I try to make changes on the sub assembly created via Demote I can't, because it has no connection with the sketches I am using for reference to create all Frame Generator components;
3. I tried with copying the parts, but after that I cant constrain them to the rest of the geometry....
4. After all, what is the best way of doing this without getting crazy? 🙂

[jtylerbc · Accepted solution]

I would do this by making it a subassembly from the beginning, rather than demoting to turn it into one.

There is nothing that says you can only use the layout (skeleton) part in one assembly.  I would insert the same layout part in both my overall frame assembly and the "truss" subassembly.  I would build the truss seperately using Frame Generator in its own assembly.  Then insert three instances of the truss as a subassembly and constrain as needed.

[andrewiv · Accepted solution]

You could use a sketch driven pattern in one of your parts and then use a feature driven component pattern in your assembly to achieve the unequal spacing.

[3D4Play]

+1 this is the easiest way to do it. When you pattern a frame, you are patterning the frame elements including the skeleton reference. To make it unequally spaced instances, you need to make the 2nd and 3rd instances independent, and then you will have to constrain them anyway.

[gantonov]

Thank you! I did it that way and it worked well!
I just don't like that I have to insert the original skeleton into my truss  assembly (thanks for the word, I had forgotten the right one in English). If I do it just one time for the truss, it is not a big deal. But, if I have to do it several times the model will probably become to "heavy", because my skeleton and the concrete building below are created as one reference part. The building is existing.

[gantonov]

Thank you! I also tried to do it that way. It also worked well, but I preferred to create it as a separate part and insert-constrain it several times. 

[jtylerbc · Accepted solution]

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@gantonov wrote:

I just don't like that I have to insert the original skeleton into my truss  assembly (thanks for the word, I had forgotten the right one in English).

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If you think that's going to be a problem, you could try something like this:

1. Set up your main layout part exactly as you did here originally, with the concrete building, the rest of the framing, and truss sketch all in one file.
2. Instead of re-inserting the entire layout in the truss assembly, create a new blank one.  Then derive just the truss sketch from the main layout into the truss layout.
3. Build the truss using Frame Generator, insert and constrain it as before.

This way is a little more setup work.  But it would reduce the amount of data that is being repeated due to your complicated reference part, while still keeping the truss associative to the rest of the framing.

[gantonov]

Thank you John!
That worked perfectly for me. I had totally forgotten that I can derive a sketch. I just did it 😊