Pattern Around a Full Part

sam_biddle

I'm working on a very simple part that I would like to pattern/texture.  I was looking at the surface pattern script, but can only do one surface at a time.  Is there a way to pattern the whole part surface so that the pattern is uniform around the whole outside of the part?  Here is a look at what I'm trying to work with.  Is there any way to put a helix around a part with flat surfaces also?  Thank you.

sam_biddle

This is very helpful.  Thank you.  Is there a way to make the texture bend around the cylindrical, filleted areas?

MichaelPascoe

In this case, you could try something like this:

• Create a spline using 3D Fit spline, edges, on the inner edge of your part.
• Extrude that spline as a surface, then thicken it. Or use the custom feature Extrude thin by Morgan.
• Pattern your texture on the new continuous part. Here is a feature called Texture based on Surface pattern by @maximilian_schommer .

As far as a helix goes, can you provide more details? If you would like a helix around your rectangular part, you can use Contour spiral by @konstantin_shiriazdanov. If you are wanting a simple spiral part, you can use Spiral or create one manually with a helix and a sweep.

sam_biddle

This is very helpful.  Thank you.  Is there a way to make the texture bend around the cylindrical, filleted areas?

MichaelPascoe

Anytime!

I have not added "Morph" functionality yet. Only textures that are made for it will be compatible with Morph. It was at the bottom of my list of improvements, but if people are interested, I can bump its priority up.

What kind of texture are you applying? There may be another method to achieve what you want. Depending on the shape, you could split the surface, then thicken the texture to obtain a bend.

sam_biddle

This is a very bad example of it, but I was hoping to create some sort of alternating waves.  They would ideally be flatter, but this is as far as I was able to get.

MichaelPascoe

If they are flat like that, you could sketch them manually and extrude them the thickness you want. This would let you control the waves at the corners of your part. For the alternating waves, create another sketch.

sam_biddle

Thank you.  Is the best way to just sketch them with splines?

sam_biddle

I got relatively close on this one, but still having trouble around the curves.  

MichaelPascoe

Patterning is fine like you did. Try patterning a solid part only along the straight portion. Then, manually sketch the shape you want at the corners. A spline can work or arcs, it depends on what you prefer.