With the TransformBy and Clone methods of an object, you can create a 3D rectangular array. In addition to specifying the number of columns (X direction) and rows (Y direction) like you would for a 2D rectangular array, you also specify the number of levels (Z direction).
This example creates a circle and then uses that circle to create a rectangular array of four rows, four columns, and three levels of circles.
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry
Public Shared Function PolarPoints(ByVal pPt As Point2d, _
ByVal dAng As Double, _
ByVal dDist As Double)
Return New Point2d(pPt.X + dDist * Math.Cos(dAng), _
pPt.Y + dDist * Math.Sin(dAng))
End Function
<CommandMethod("CreateRectangular3DArray")> _
Public Sub CreateRectangular3DArray()
'' Get the current document and database, and start a transaction
Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
Dim acCurDb As Database = acDoc.Database
Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
'' Open the Block table for read
Dim acBlkTbl As BlockTable
acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId, _
OpenMode.ForRead)
'' Open the Block table record Model space for write
Dim acBlkTblRec As BlockTableRecord
acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl(BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace), _
OpenMode.ForWrite)
'' Create a circle that is at 2,2 with a radius of 0.5
Using acCirc As Circle = New Circle()
acCirc.Center = New Point3d(2, 2, 0)
acCirc.Radius = 0.5
'' Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acCirc)
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acCirc, True)
'' Create a rectangular array with 4 rows, 4 columns, and 3 levels
Dim nRows As Integer = 4
Dim nColumns As Integer = 4
Dim nLevels As Integer = 3
'' Set the row, column, and level offsets along with the base array angle
Dim dRowOffset As Double = 1
Dim dColumnOffset As Double = 1
Dim dLevelsOffset As Double = 4
Dim dArrayAng As Double = 0
'' Get the angle from X for the current UCS
Dim curUCSMatrix As Matrix3d = acDoc.Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem
Dim curUCS As CoordinateSystem3d = curUCSMatrix.CoordinateSystem3d
Dim acVec2dAng As Vector2d = New Vector2d(curUCS.Xaxis.X, _
curUCS.Xaxis.Y)
'' If the UCS is rotated, adjust the array angle accordingly
dArrayAng = dArrayAng + acVec2dAng.Angle
'' Use the upper-left corner of the objects extents for the array base point
Dim acExts As Extents3d = acCirc.Bounds.GetValueOrDefault()
Dim acPt2dArrayBase As Point2d = New Point2d(acExts.MinPoint.X, _
acExts.MaxPoint.Y)
'' Track the objects created for each column
Dim acDBObjCollCols As DBObjectCollection = New DBObjectCollection()
acDBObjCollCols.Add(acCirc)
'' Create the number of objects for the first column
Dim nColumnsCount As Integer = 1
While (nColumns > nColumnsCount)
Dim acEntClone As Entity = acCirc.Clone()
acDBObjCollCols.Add(acEntClone)
'' Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
Dim acPt2dTo As Point2d = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase, _
dArrayAng, _
dColumnOffset * nColumnsCount)
Dim acVec2d As Vector2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo)
Dim acVec3d As Vector3d = New Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0)
acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d))
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone)
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, True)
nColumnsCount = nColumnsCount + 1
End While
'' Set a value in radians for 90 degrees
Dim dAng As Double = 1.5708
'' Track the objects created for each row and column
Dim acDBObjCollLvls As DBObjectCollection = New DBObjectCollection()
For Each acObj As DBObject In acDBObjCollCols
acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acObj)
Next
'' Create the number of objects for each row
For Each acEnt As Entity In acDBObjCollCols
Dim nRowsCount As Integer = 1
While (nRows > nRowsCount)
Dim acEntClone As Entity = acEnt.Clone()
acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acEntClone)
'' Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
Dim acPt2dTo As Point2d = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase, _
dArrayAng + dAng, _
dRowOffset * nRowsCount)
Dim acVec2d As Vector2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo)
Dim acVec3d As Vector3d = New Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0)
acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d))
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone)
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, True)
nRowsCount = nRowsCount + 1
End While
Next
'' Create the number of levels for a 3D array
For Each acEnt As Entity In acDBObjCollLvls
Dim nLvlsCount As Integer = 1
While (nLevels > nLvlsCount)
Dim acEntClone As Entity = acEnt.Clone()
Dim acVec3d As Vector3d = New Vector3d(0, 0, dLevelsOffset * nLvlsCount)
acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d))
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone)
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, True)
nLvlsCount = nLvlsCount + 1
End While
Next
End Using
'' Save the new objects to the database
acTrans.Commit()
End Using
End Sub
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;
using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Geometry;
static Point2d PolarPoints(Point2d pPt, double dAng, double dDist)
{
return new Point2d(pPt.X + dDist * Math.Cos(dAng),
pPt.Y + dDist * Math.Sin(dAng));
}
[CommandMethod("CreateRectangular3DArray")]
public static void CreateRectangular3DArray()
{
// Get the current document and database, and start a transaction
Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;
Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;
using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())
{
// Open the Block table record for read
BlockTable acBlkTbl;
acBlkTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.BlockTableId,
OpenMode.ForRead) as BlockTable;
// Open the Block table record Model space for write
BlockTableRecord acBlkTblRec;
acBlkTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acBlkTbl[BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace],
OpenMode.ForWrite) as BlockTableRecord;
// Create a circle that is at 2,2 with a radius of 0.5
using (Circle acCirc = new Circle())
{
acCirc.Center = new Point3d(2, 2, 0);
acCirc.Radius = 0.5;
// Add the new object to the block table record and the transaction
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acCirc);
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acCirc, true);
// Create a rectangular array with 4 rows, 4 columns, and 3 levels
int nRows = 4;
int nColumns = 4;
int nLevels = 3;
// Set the row, column, and level offsets along with the base array angle
double dRowOffset = 1;
double dColumnOffset = 1;
double dLevelsOffset = 4;
double dArrayAng = 0;
// Get the angle from X for the current UCS
Matrix3d curUCSMatrix = acDoc.Editor.CurrentUserCoordinateSystem;
CoordinateSystem3d curUCS = curUCSMatrix.CoordinateSystem3d;
Vector2d acVec2dAng = new Vector2d(curUCS.Xaxis.X,
curUCS.Xaxis.Y);
// If the UCS is rotated, adjust the array angle accordingly
dArrayAng = dArrayAng + acVec2dAng.Angle;
// Use the upper-left corner of the objects extents for the array base point
Extents3d acExts = acCirc.Bounds.GetValueOrDefault();
Point2d acPt2dArrayBase = new Point2d(acExts.MinPoint.X,
acExts.MaxPoint.Y);
// Track the objects created for each column
DBObjectCollection acDBObjCollCols = new DBObjectCollection();
acDBObjCollCols.Add(acCirc);
// Create the number of objects for the first column
int nColumnsCount = 1;
while (nColumns > nColumnsCount)
{
Entity acEntClone = acCirc.Clone() as Entity;
acDBObjCollCols.Add(acEntClone);
// Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
Point2d acPt2dTo = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase,
dArrayAng,
dColumnOffset * nColumnsCount);
Vector2d acVec2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo);
Vector3d acVec3d = new Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0);
acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d));
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone);
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, true);
nColumnsCount = nColumnsCount + 1;
}
// Set a value in radians for 90 degrees
double dAng = 1.5708;
// Track the objects created for each row and column
DBObjectCollection acDBObjCollLvls = new DBObjectCollection();
foreach (DBObject acObj in acDBObjCollCols)
{
acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acObj);
}
// Create the number of objects for each row
foreach (Entity acEnt in acDBObjCollCols)
{
int nRowsCount = 1;
while (nRows > nRowsCount)
{
Entity acEntClone = acEnt.Clone() as Entity;
acDBObjCollLvls.Add(acEntClone);
// Caclucate the new point for the copied object (move)
Point2d acPt2dTo = PolarPoints(acPt2dArrayBase,
dArrayAng + dAng,
dRowOffset * nRowsCount);
Vector2d acVec2d = acPt2dArrayBase.GetVectorTo(acPt2dTo);
Vector3d acVec3d = new Vector3d(acVec2d.X, acVec2d.Y, 0);
acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d));
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone);
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, true);
nRowsCount = nRowsCount + 1;
}
}
// Create the number of levels for a 3D array
foreach (Entity acEnt in acDBObjCollLvls)
{
int nLvlsCount = 1;
while (nLevels > nLvlsCount)
{
Entity acEntClone = acEnt.Clone() as Entity;
Vector3d acVec3d = new Vector3d(0, 0, dLevelsOffset * nLvlsCount);
acEntClone.TransformBy(Matrix3d.Displacement(acVec3d));
acBlkTblRec.AppendEntity(acEntClone);
acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acEntClone, true);
nLvlsCount = nLvlsCount + 1;
}
}
}
// Save the new objects to the database
acTrans.Commit();
}
}
Sub CreateRectangular3DArray()
' Create the circle
Dim circleObj As AcadCircle
Dim center(0 To 2) As Double
Dim radius As Double
center(0) = 2: center(1) = 2: center(2) = 0
radius = 0.5
Set circleObj = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace. _
AddCircle(center, radius)
' Define the rectangular array
Dim numberOfRows As Long
Dim numberOfColumns As Long
Dim numberOfLevels As Long
Dim distanceBwtnRows As Double
Dim distanceBwtnColumns As Double
Dim distanceBwtnLevels As Double
numberOfRows = 4
numberOfColumns = 4
numberOfLevels = 3
distanceBwtnRows = 1
distanceBwtnColumns = 1
distanceBwtnLevels = 4
' Create the array of objects
Dim retObj As Variant
retObj = circleObj.ArrayRectangular _
(numberOfRows, numberOfColumns, _
numberOfLevels, distanceBwtnRows, _
distanceBwtnColumns, distanceBwtnLevels)
ZoomAll
End Sub