Can the Featurescript Fill Pattern example make rods instead of holes?

jon_smirl

I have no problem using Fill Pattern to make holes in an object. But I'd like to make rods projecting up from the surface instead of holes. I can't figure out how to do that. I can select the inside surface of the hole, but I can't get it to accept the outside of a rod plus the end cap of the rod. Maybe there should be the ability to part/feature pattern in addition to surface pattern?

I want rods projecting from a surface to use as a tool to poke holes into a complex curved surface above it.

jon_smirl

I got this working by creating another extrude that matched my pattern object, then I subtracted the object with the holes leaving the needed rods. It would be nicer if Fill Pattern could pattern things besides holes.

paul_chastell

This ought to work @jon_smirl, in general at least. The constraint on fill pattern is that the seed feature needs to share edges with the target face. Here's an example of it being used with bosses. https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5d5e1f75f4a82fbb04e1a276/w/76726313279fd462329e4990/e/df1ff0a9ebe007ece0234fa6
If you've a specific case that doesn't work and are happy to share it with me I can look to see why it's misbehaving.

jon_smirl

I got this working by creating another extrude that matched my pattern object, then I subtracted the object with the holes leaving the needed rods. It would be nicer if Fill Pattern could pattern things besides holes.

billy2

Why don't you grab the holes' bottom surface and move face up. This should change a hole to a pole.

paul_chastell

This ought to work @jon_smirl, in general at least. The constraint on fill pattern is that the seed feature needs to share edges with the target face. Here's an example of it being used with bosses. https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5d5e1f75f4a82fbb04e1a276/w/76726313279fd462329e4990/e/df1ff0a9ebe007ece0234fa6
If you've a specific case that doesn't work and are happy to share it with me I can look to see why it's misbehaving.

linas_dungveckis

Hi, i found this feature to be very usefull!

Before i was using mirror and line patterns, was ok, until they completely freeze after certain number of copied instances..
Now i do it with Fill pattern, but my Onshape freezes for few minutes after almost each try even on a simple sketch on a test document. Any ideas?

Another thing, i had no luck filling patern with more complex shapes than circular hole. Is it possible?
Thanks!

linas_dungveckis

Hi again,

Now i made wire mesh with linear pattern tool, it regenerates, but it takes few minutes (right now it is already 8 min and counting:) to regenerate after every change i make...

When i supress linear and face pattern features, Onshape runs fast again.
Anybody experience the same?

Thanks!