A Reference pattern enables you to pattern a feature on any other underlying patterned features.
• You can reference pattern:
– Features
– Groups
– Patterns along an existing pattern
• Reference pattern types:
– Feature
– Group
– Both
Figure 1 – Reference Patterning a Group
Figure 2 – Editing Reference Pattern Reference Types
Creating Reference Patterns of Features
A Reference pattern patterns a feature on any other underlying patterned features. If you create a new feature on the pattern leader of another pattern, you can Reference pattern that new feature. In Figure 1, an extrude feature was created and patterned. A cut and round feature was then created on the pattern leader’s extrude feature. Consequently, the cut and round feature can be Reference patterned. If the quantity or spacing of the underlying pattern is updated, the quantity or spacing of the Reference pattern is automatically updated.
Depending on how the features were created, there are three different Reference pattern types that can be created:
• Feature – The Reference pattern references an existing feature pattern.
In Figure 2’s left image, the round feature is being Reference patterned based on the existing axis pattern.
• Group – The Reference pattern references either a group or existing pattern of a pattern. In Figure 2’s middle image, an axis pattern is then
direction patterned, resulting in a pattern of a pattern. The round feature is Reference patterned based on the axis pattern that was patterned.
• Both – The Reference pattern references both an existing feature pattern and a group pattern. In Figure 2’s right image, the round is Reference patterned around both the feature pattern (axis pattern) and the group pattern (the pattern of the axis pattern).
When creating a Reference pattern of a sketch-based feature (such as an extrude), you must either Reference pattern the sketch first,
group the sketch and sketch-based feature together, or use an internal (unlinked) sketch. To simplify Reference pattern creation, an internal (unlinked) sketch is recommended. Reference patterns of other feature types, such as rounds or holes, are not an issue.
