Defining Input Patterns

You can create input patterns using corresponding options available in Capture Component Specifications command.

This task shows you how to:

Create a Selection Pattern

You can create a selection pattern for any geometrical type or for meta inputs as input pattern.

  1. From the Specifications list or the Edit by Set list, choose Selection Pattern as creation method.
    The Selection Pattern dialog box appears.
  2. Select the selection pattern inputs.
    The pattern input matching the geometrical input is displayed. For meta-inputs, the By Names option is selected for the pattern input.
    Note: If you choose Sketch or feature with points, you can select a sketch or another feature containing points.
  3. Select the mode:
    • From a set: To select a single geometrical set or body containing axis systems as direct children.
    • Selection: To select several axis systems that can be under different sets or bodies. A Remove option can be accessed from a context menu on the selected axis systems.
    • From a list: Click the Selection mode box and select a parameter list in the tree to create a selection pattern for parameter inputs. All the parameter values of the pattern inputs are driven by the list and they are visible in the Capture Component Specifications dialog box.
      Note: In the tree, you can only select a list containing the element as specified in the pattern input. For example, if you need point parameters, the list must contain at least one point.
  4. Optional: Filter axis systems by name (Filter by Name box) . Only those containing the input string will be selected. The string is case-sensitive.
  5. Optional: Reorder along a curve by doing one of the following:
    • Specify the order of the selected axis systems by selecting a curve as support curve.
    • Click Revert to revert the order of the selected elements.
    • Select the axis orientation:
      • Direction Imposed: Z direction is user-defined (as input), X direction is the projection of the curve tangent in a plane normal to Z direction pointing to the curve direction. Y direction is normal to X and Z directions. Select the Z direction.
        Note: By default the Z component of the robot determines the direction of the pattern.
      • Tangency Imposed: X direction is tangent to the curve that points to the curve direction. Z direction is the projection of a user-selected Z direction in a plane normal to X direction. Y direction is normal to X and Z directions. Select an initial Z direction to determine the Z direction.
      • Align to Reference: Select a reference axis system. X, Y and Z directions reflect those of the reference axis system.
      • Frenet Trihedron: X direction is tangent to the curve that points to the curve direction. Y direction is normal to X direction and lies in the osculating plane. Z direction is normal to X and Y direction. This option becomes available whenever there is one or more linear segments in the selected curve. For more information, see Using the Frenet Trihedron Axis Orientation.
  6. Optional: Modify the selection.
    • Select Keep All to select all elements, Keep First to select only the first element, or Keep Last to select only the last element.
    • Select the Remove first check box to remove the first element.
    • Select the Remove last check box to remove the last element.
    • Select a new axis system as the first element.
    • Select a new axis system as the last element.

Create a Curvilinear Pattern

You can use this pattern to generate a list of specification features or axis systems along a curve.

  1. From the Specifications list or the Edit by Set list, choose Curvilinear Pattern as creation method.
    The Curvilinear Pattern dialog box appears.
  2. Select a curve in the work area.
    Alternatively, select a starting point on the curve. The option flags displayed in the 3D area help you define the curve elements accurately by group (count, spacing, axis origin), individually (end point and start point).
  3. To customize the pattern, manipulate the elements in the 3D area, choose the mode from the following, and adjust values accordingly.
    • Count: Change the number of axes in the resulting layer. The existing value is deduced from an extremum point.
    • Spacing: Change the spacing value between axes (Default mode).
    • You can combine both options.
  4. Select the measurement method.
    • On Curve: Curvilinear distance along the curve.
    • Projected: Curvilinear distance along the curve projected on a plane normal to a given direction.
  5. Determine how to place the axis instances along the curve (second Measurement Method box).
    • Geodesic: To measure the distance along the curve (arc length).
    • Euclidian: To measure the chordal distance along the curve. This mode works only if you selected both Count and Spacing.
  6. Select the axis origin in the Group flag.
    • On Curve: No translation. Axis origin is on curve.
    • Translate: The delta X, delta Y and delta Z distances you are providing are maintained for each instance. Translation axis are the ones of the first axis system.
    • Offset: The delta X, delta Y and delta Z distances given by the user are maintained for each instance. Translation axes are the ones from each considered axis system.
  7. Select the axis orientation.
    • Direction Imposed: Z direction is user-defined (as input), X direction is the projection of the curve tangent in a plane normal to Z direction pointing to the curve direction. Y direction is normal to X and Z directions. Select the Z direction.
      Note: By default the Z component of the robot determines the direction of the pattern.
    • Tangency Imposed: X direction is tangent to the curve that points to the curve direction. Z direction is the projection of a user-selected Z direction in a plane normal to X direction. Y direction is normal to X and Z directions. Select an initial Z direction to determine the Z direction.
    • Align to Reference: Select a reference axis system. X, Y and Z directions reflect those of the reference axis system.
    • Frenet Trihedron: X direction is tangent to the curve that points to the curve direction. Y direction is normal to X direction and lies in the osculating plane. Z direction is normal to X and Y direction. This option becomes available whenever there is one or more linear segments in the selected curve. For more information, see Using the Frenet Trihedron Axis Orientation.
  8. Optional: Reverse the curve's direction.
  9. Click OK.
    The Capture Component Specifications dialog box is updated accordingly.

The curvilinear specification pattern is created.

Create a Linear Pattern

You can create a linear pattern by selecting a master axis, a direction and a number of axis instances.

  1. From the Specifications list or the Edit by Set list, choose Linear Pattern as creation method.
    The Linear Pattern dialog box appears.
  2. Select an axis as master axis.
  3. Select the pattern direction. By default, the Z component of the robot determines the direction of the pattern.
    • Manipulate the robot to change the Z-direction and hence the resulting pattern direction.
    • Select the global or local X, Y Z axis to specify the Z direction.
    • Optionally, select a line or a plane to specify the direction.
      Note: The Robot button is replaced by the Remove button. When you remove the direction, the Robot button show ups again and the direction is reverted to the Z-component of the robot.
  4. To customize the pattern, manipulate the elements in the 3D area, choose the mode from the following, and adjust values accordingly.
    • Count: Change the number of axes in the resulting layer. The existing value is deduced from an extremum point.
    • Spacing: Change the spacing value between axes (Default mode).
    • You can combine both options.

Create a Sequential Next Axis Pattern

You can create such a pattern only if expected input elements are axis systems. The Sequential Next Axis option is not available when creating specification patterns or other input patterns.

The sequential next axis pattern is a specific selection pattern that requires a specification pattern as input and whose first element is removed. The pattern result contains all elements within the specification pattern except the first specification feature.

  1. In the Capture Component Specifications dialog box, select Change Last Specification into Axis System check box.
    If the Change Last Specification into Axis System check box is cleared, you cannot create a sequential next axis pattern.
  2. In the Edit by Set list, select Sequential Next Axis Pattern as creation method.
    The sequential next axis pattern is automatically created.

Create a Holes Pattern

You can create a holes pattern by positioning Component Specifications on holes of a given body.

  1. From the Specifications list, choose Holes Pattern as creation method.
  2. Select a Body.
    By default, all the holes of the body are taken into account.
    Note: Only holes features are recognized as holes, not imported geometry, nor results of a pattern or symmetry of holes. Use Part Feature Recognition if needed.
  3. Pick a hole.
    Its characteristics initialize the filters. You can edit the criteria. The pattern is updated accordingly.
  4. Check one or several criteria.
    They are used to filter the holes to take into account.
  5. In Advanced, decide where the Component Specifications are placed.

Create a Copy Pattern

You can copy an existing pattern with or without link.

  1. From the Specifications list, choose Copy Pattern as creation method.
    The copy pattern dialog box appears.
  2. Select a pattern to copy.
  3. Select an option among the list:
    OptionDescription
    Copy Only copies the selected pattern. The result pattern has no link with the source pattern.
    Copy with link Copies the selected pattern with a link.
    Copy parameters with link Creates different patterns with identical definition of the pattern parameters. This option is limited to copy of curvilinear and linear patterns.
  4. Click Ok in the Copy Pattern dialog box.