is it possible to make a circular number pattern? ie. a dial face.

Grompy989 · February 2023

I'm trying to make a 2 digit counter. I have the design the way I want it, however I dont know how to make a circular pattern of numbers from 0-9. Is this possible ??

MichaelPascoe · February 2023

@johnathan_oey872, I looked at the history of your document and copied it back where you gave it a try; you got very close!

Here are the things I changed to fix it:

Text implicit mate location.
Transform angle to 360 / #qty * #count.
Transform axis.
Pattern qty to use the variable #qty.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/11be8f315519c158facf43ad/w/67b4d0efd161e70caadc0944/e/1fe09e3fc77596c4f4f4b5e0?renderMode=0&uiState=63ef74bf708b0b77c6bacd19

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/9b/8eozy9x1szov.gif

MichaelPascoe · February 2023

Hi @johnathan_oey872, yes this is possible. Try something like this:

Create an axis sketch.
Create the variable #qty = 10
Create the variable #count = -1. The reason we do this, is that the count variable has to start somewhere. This is setting the variable "count" to -1.
Create another variable #count = #count + 1. The reason we do this, is that the instance pattern is going to pattern the second count variable feature. Each time it patterns "count", it is changing itself by +1.
Use a custom feature that allows you to create text based on a variable. I used the custom feature Text. Remember to click the small arrow that allows you to use expressions as text so that you can use the variable as the text.
Transform rotate the number around the axis sketch. Make sure the rotation angle is set to 360 / #qty * 2
Circular pattern the number. Make sure you set this to "Feature pattern" pattern and check "Apply per instance". Set the pattern qty to #qty.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/aff472c3def984252e6e3fb4/w/3c972d6084bec1d9fd09e0cb/e/3b478643451b24a022e46761?renderMode=0&uiState=63ecfc75cafbc56a9ebe3a33

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/o5/6emwheq4be46.gif

Grompy989 · February 2023

holy hell batman, you even made a video too... thanks for the info.. however the rotation isn't in the correct orientation, and the numbers are not flat to a surface.

think of a coin. I need the numbers to go around the face of the coin. and be 0-9 not 1-9.

but this vid definitely will be useful for another project

Grompy989 · February 2023

thanks for the info.. I attempted to follow your directions. it did not work.

MichaelPascoe · February 2023

Sure thing @johnathan_oey872. This technique is a difficult one to do. Feel free to share a link to your document and I will take a look. From here, the simplest way to pattern it flat will be to change the orientation of the number.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/az/ctbme5ufx2zh.gif

To re-orient the number you will need to edit the in context mate connector that determines the text location do this:

Edit the Text feature.
Click the very small mate button to edit that implicit mate.
Change the origin of the mate to the start of the axis line.
Set Z to 0.
Set Y to whatever you want.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/aff472c3def984252e6e3fb4/w/3c972d6084bec1d9fd09e0cb/e/2e0fafe2ffeea1699f698760?renderMode=0&uiState=63ee297b8f9af21504b6b4f1

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/1a/c2bk8z8f8gy2.gif

eric_pesty · February 2023

You could also add a "rotation" transform (rotating by -360/#count) to have all the digits facing "up" if desired.

Grompy989 · February 2023

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/b5d6c6d7be0f84a102335ea8/w/38544d24b279b8dbcff63f4b/e/231f4e13444f29e96ae9c37d

heres the link to my project

MichaelPascoe · February 2023

@johnathan_oey872, I looked at the history of your document and copied it back where you gave it a try; you got very close!

Here are the things I changed to fix it:

Text implicit mate location.
Transform angle to 360 / #qty * #count.
Transform axis.
Pattern qty to use the variable #qty.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/11be8f315519c158facf43ad/w/67b4d0efd161e70caadc0944/e/1fe09e3fc77596c4f4f4b5e0?renderMode=0&uiState=63ef74bf708b0b77c6bacd19

Grompy989 · February 2023

FINALLY !! LOL thanks for the help... Its working now... But now, how do make them look like they are engraved, not raised !

dirk_van_der_vaart · February 2023

Adjust the Z axis in the transform so that the number's in a bit in the green circle and than Boolean substract

MichaelPascoe · February 2023

@johnathan_oey872, adjust the implicit mate connector location inside the Text feature. Bring it down in the Z; then, after the pattern, use Boolean subtract like Dirk mentioned.

Grompy989 · February 2023

attempted the boolean subtract. It did not work.

edited text

Z height direction to opposite

selected each "part" for each number

right clicked

clicked boolean/subtract

failed to regenerate

what am i missing

Grompy989 · February 2023

Figured it out by dumb luck....

I needed to click the "Targets" button and select the part to change in the boolean / subtract section..

jmsaltzman · February 2025

This is amazing! Many thanks, @MichaelPascoe!

Also (ahem) an old thread, and I found an issue: numbers greater than 9 draw strangely. When I try the example with qty=11, I get this:

The 0 from 10 is positioned with the first digit, with space for the 1. This seems like an issue with the amazing Text feature (up to date fwiw). I tried to make a clock face, starting count at 0 (vs -1) so the clock face starts counting with 1 in the right position, but it does the same thing with the 0 from 10:

I've drawn patterns like this previously using a Python script to generate an SVG which I convert to DXF and import. That works fine but THIS method is amazing for being inside Onshape (and for the incredible variable jiu jitsu).

Any clues would be appreciated. Here's the file I put together, showing my first example.

S1mon · February 2025

I would look at "text path". It should solve all of the issues much more quickly.

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/23648/new-feature-text-path

MichaelPascoe · February 2025

~~I think sketches can now handle feature patterns with text expressions? So no need for a custom feature.~~

Nevermind, I just tried it. Sketches still can't handle this: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/11be8f315519c158facf43ad/w/67b4d0efd161e70caadc0944/e/dd792b0c95a5010725997…

jnewth · February 2025

There's a simpler way to do this as @S1mon mentioned. Here's a version of your doc that has your dial:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/4fd1a079592b7f4a7b788a8e/w/be94444c984ed56c4bd0e526/e/3569728fa430422861c1bbb0

And you can learn more about the Text feature here:
https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/101768#Comment_101768

The doc that contains the Text feature includes a set of Clock face examples. This custom feature distributes text or sequences around a path, including closed paths (so where there's no beginning or ending).

jmsaltzman · March 2025

@S1mon your script is a dream, thank you!

And @MichaelPascoe thank you for the expression insight!

is it possible to make a circular number pattern? ie. a dial face.

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