Union with variable (unknown) number of parts for automatic fence construction

wolfgang_maier

Hello,

i want to construct fence elements with parametric number/size of fence posts.
What i do:
- define the size of the fence/fence posts/gaps (with variables)
- the number of fence posts/gaps is calculated (based on the values in the variables)
- the fence is then constructed with linear part pattern (based on the values in the variables)

Problem:
linear part pattern 'produces' several parts.
I need to union these parts into 1 part, to have only 1 part represetiung my fence (for export).
Part1, Part2, Part3...Partx -> Part1

so howto union an unknown/variable number of parts?

regards
Wolfgang

Jake_Rosenfeld

@wolfgang_maier : 

You can use the "Add" option at the top of linear pattern and either use "Merge with all" or set your "merge scope" to Part 1.

mahir

@Jake_Rosenfeld's suggestion is probably best. If your seeds are separt parts, you'll still need a Boolean to join the seeds. It's probably simpler to do this before the pattern.

Worst case, if you have some crazy pattern scheme with multiple patterns creating bodies that don't touch until the last pattern, you can fake in a variable number of parts to the Boolean command. Just create your pattern with as many parts as you think will ever be made. Then apply the Boolean union to those parts. Now, if you change the pattern count, the union will still work as long as you don't create more instances than that max. See my link below. If you change the PatternCount variable to anything up to 100, you're good. If you go over, then the last instances aren't joined to the rest.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/57acdfaae4b005c413ed9b6f/w/3fd585a46d3af1b3ba413c53/e/f58d13a408bee333506c2ccc

wolfgang_maier

Hello Jake, Mahir,

thank you for your support.
Jake's solution is so obvious, i should have found it by myself
Only with exactly reading the documentation of linear pattern...

Wolfgam