Pattern tool/ extrusion question

dan_33

So just made a cut extrusion into my part and I'd rather not redraw everything again on the adjacent sides of the part.  Is there a way that I could use the pattern tool as a rotary pattern in this situation? Or is there just a more efficient way to make the same exact cut extrusion on another piece of the part?  I've attached pictures of the part.  

3dcad

Circular pattern is the tool for this. You would need to use face pattern and select the inner faces of your cut. You will also need a sketch line in the middle of rotation.

Please let me know if you need screenshots.

ps. You could also draw just one segment of your model with cutout and use circular pattern to create the rest.

3dcad

Here is link for public document:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/d29ff8e74a0f49809e533f48/w/48fedb2064cc4f30a27ee6e8/e/1563fb5553e4459b85aeb10e

Check out tab 'Circular pattern' - I will add another one with your model

3dcad

Document is now updated with tab 'draft practise (dan)'
Here's screenshot:

3dcad

I'm not sure if you already noticed but you need to check 'Face pattern' when patterning cutouts. It's not the best since it will break if you change the original cut so that there is more faces.
I (among others) have already suggested feature pattern, you can put feedback (from ?-menu) on that if you would like it too. 

3dcad

Circular pattern is the tool for this. You would need to use face pattern and select the inner faces of your cut. You will also need a sketch line in the middle of rotation.

Please let me know if you need screenshots.

ps. You could also draw just one segment of your model with cutout and use circular pattern to create the rest.

coleman

What @3dcad said is best.  Just draw one segment of the model with the cut and then circular pattern to create the rest.    

dan_33

@3dcad
Yes, could you send screen shots, please?

3dcad

Here is link for public document:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/d29ff8e74a0f49809e533f48/w/48fedb2064cc4f30a27ee6e8/e/1563fb5553e4459b85aeb10e

Check out tab 'Circular pattern' - I will add another one with your model

dan_33

I'm still having trouble actually accomplishing the circular pattern. https://cad.onshape.com/documents/abe53ab6cba14874a4730971/w/c9e52dbc44f2413194ec7727/e/8c6e298a7e0d4ea3a509c308

3dcad

Document is now updated with tab 'draft practise (dan)'
Here's screenshot:

dan_33

@3dcad  I did get it to work when I changed the cut extrude to "new" of material but how can I make it work when there isn't material? Sorry if you've already answered this and I just don't understand.

dan_33

Thank you! This was very helpful!

3dcad

I'm not sure if you already noticed but you need to check 'Face pattern' when patterning cutouts. It's not the best since it will break if you change the original cut so that there is more faces.
I (among others) have already suggested feature pattern, you can put feedback (from ?-menu) on that if you would like it too. 

traveler_hauptman

Sometimes when the base material is more complex, face patterns won't work. The technique to use is create positives of the shape you want to cut (extrude to new) and pattern that new part, then use boolean to subtract those patterned parts from the base material. 

andrew_troup

traveler_hauptman  nails it: this is a powerful suggestion, and even when higher-level patterning becomes available, it will be worth having this in your quiver, because it is so fundamental and solid. Higher level tools can be capricious.

Onshape treats us as adults, handing us the keys to the 'good stuff' in the form of primitive boolean operations, available from within the feature-generating tools.

With this power, comes responsibility  

Most modern MCAD does not trust the user in this way, presumably because they do not want to be tainted by the backlash from misuse, or because they think the public is incapable of the higher level of abstract thinking which can be required in complex instances:

However, my feeling is that (particularly when modelling tricky stuff) it always pays to use the simplest tools for the job: not the tools which make things simple for the user, but the tools which make it simple for the software.

3dcad

@traveler_hauptman I agree, face pattern doesn't work in every situation and it breaks easily.