Use the
Block Copy tool to create multiple copies of the root
Assembly and any of the assembly items
in the Project Tree in a grid format.
To create a block of copies in a grid format:
- In the Project Tree, select the root
Assembly or the assembly
from which you want to create a block of copies in a grid format. The
Assembly panel is displayed below the splitter bar.
- In the
Tools area of the
Assembly panel, click the
Block Copy
button to display the
Block Copy panel.
- In the
Transform Relative To area, select the origin you want to use when copying and pasting the assembly. To copy and paste the assembly relative to:
- the origin of the root
Assembly, select
World Centre. This method is selected by default.
- its own origin, select
Component Centre.
- In the
Tangent Plane
area, select the axes along which you want to paste the resulting rows and columns of copies. To paste rows along the:
- X axis and columns along the Y axis, select
X-Y Plane.
- Y axis and columns along the Z axis, select
Y-Z Plane.
- Z axis and columns along the X axis, select
Z-X Plane.
Note: The options in the
Tangent Plane area are colour coordinated with the model datum shown in the 3D view. This makes it easier to display the direction in which the resulting rows and columns of copies are pasted.
- To paste the rows of copies in the opposite direction, select
Reverse row direction.
Note: The default direction in which the resulting rows and columns are pasted depends on whether a positive or negative value is used when defining the offset distance.
- To paste the columns of copies in the opposite direction, select
Reverse column direction.
- In the
Shape of surface to paste along area, select the shape along which you want to paste the rows and columns of copies. To paste the copies:
- along a flat surface, select
Plane.
- around a cylindrical surface, select
Cylinder.
- around a spherical surface, select
Sphere.
- In the
Offset box, specify the distance between each copy.
Note: You can use a positive or negative value when specifying the offset distance. When using a positive value, the resulting copies are pasted in a clockwise direction around a cylindrical or spherical surface, and forwards along a flat surface. When using a negative value, the resulting copies are pasted counter-clockwise around a cylindrical or spherical surface, and backwards along a flat surface.
- In the
Number of Rows box, specify the total number of rows in which you want to paste the assembly copies.
- In the
Number of Columns box, specify the total number of columns in which you want to paste the assembly copies.
- To keep the original assembly item and store each resulting copy as a new assembly item in the Project Tree, select
Nest inside new assembly.
- Click
Accept
to copy and paste the assembly according to your settings.
Note: You can click

on the
Project panel or

on the splitter bar to close the
Block Copy tool settings.
Note: The availability of this feature is license dependent.