Why isn't it possible to pattern a spline?

terry_kuehne236

I'm trying to remove drawer edges and I'm wanting to do a linear pattern in the sketch. Would this process be better done at the feature level?

terry_kuehne236

How do you pattern a feature when you can only pattern parts, it seems.

NeilCooke

In the pattern feature, select feature pattern instead of part.

NeilCooke

Always. 

terry_kuehne236

How do you pattern a feature when you can only pattern parts, it seems.

NeilCooke

In the pattern feature, select feature pattern instead of part.

onshaper

linear pattern in sketch doesn't seem to have a feature pattern option (or any options). and yet it cannot linear pattern a spline

CADNurd

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/131292#Comment_131292

I think that's also the case with SolidWorks, so it's probably a Parasolid Kernel limitation. Using '3D Fit Spline' you can convert your spline into a 'curve' and that then can be patterned.

ry_gb

@CADNurd I would use Composite Curve instead to avoid any issues with approximations from 3D fit spline.

ry_gb

I'm sad to report that you can pattern style splines in SolidWorks (I checked in 2025). You can also pattern regular splines, but not parametrically.

Edit: Sad because it means it's not a Parasolid kernel problem.

eric_pesty

You can also pattern the sketch feature itself. Not the sketch pattern tool, the pattern feature (set to "feature") and picking the sketch containing the spline.

CADNurd

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/131360#Comment_131360

Useful. Will try to remember that. Have you always known this workaround, or did you just discover it today? None of the LLMs seem to know about it.

martin_kopplow

It works, I've also used that to create brake discs in the past. Many times, creating a solid and then patterning that is the better approach, but there may be times where we don't want that.

Don't forget this is a feature pattern. Else it won't let you select a sketch.