Linear Sketch Pattern: Align-along-Line / Snap-to-Point?

dario_ernst

Hi,

I have hit a dead-end on what i thought should be an easy design. In sketch mode, I’d like to draw a saw-tooth-pattern on a line.

To elaborate a bit:
I have a line as a base. This can be construction or regular. I will construct a triangle, shaped to my needs, on this line. Then, I’d like to repeat the 2 lines that make up the triangle „on“ the line, to make a saw-tooth-pattern. Since the line can be randomly oriented, the default X and Y pattern-repetition-vectors are of no use. I though the „pattern-drag-arrows“ would maybe snap onto a line, onto a point, or maybe i could enter an angle to tell the tool in which direction to repeat the pattern. Howeve, I found no such functionality.

Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, or thinking in completely wrong ways …. Anyhow, here’s a quick example illustrating the problem roughly:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/fe5ac7182e5ca63cfcc2db76/w/bd8cead51ef8e0069322afec/e/bc1206e72b6af31494574a3a

I’d be glad about any pointers or help!
Best,
-Dario

owen_sparks

Hi, pretty sure this is doable. Have you tried making the pattern in a direction close to the line then adding a coincident constraint afterwards between one of the entities and the construction line?

owen_sparks

Hi, pretty sure this is doable. Have you tried making the pattern in a direction close to the line then adding a coincident constraint afterwards between one of the entities and the construction line?

dario_ernst

Hi Owen,

thanks for your quick Answer! That indeed is the trick, thanks a lot! Now my designs will become a bit cleaner and less convoluted

While already asking, and this is half-offtopic for the question: Is there a way to make a pattern repeat „Until this point“, i.e. not specify a fixed amount of repetitions, but instead let the solver decide how many fit the given space?

Thanks again!
-Dario

owen_sparks

Hi, no worries.

On the second point, not that I'm aware of. I was about to suggest an equation to do so but we can't use variables in sketch patterns, well not today anyway.

All I can suggest today is to either:

(a) Use a repetition number far greater than you need, and then either delete the extras, or simply not use them for whatever feature comes next.

(b) Sketch just one of the teeth, and then after extruding use the face or feature pattern to build the rest. Either of these can be driven by equations based on variables if required.  Say pattern qty = round down (saw length/tooth spacing).

I think OS use floor and ceiling instead of round up or round down but you get the idea!

Cheers Owen S

dario_ernst

Hi,

thanks again, I’m gonna try my luck with the equation-driven feature-pattern approach later ….

Thanks alot! Best Regards,
-Dario

owen_sparks

Sure thing. 

O.S.