About Patterns of Sheet Metal Features

There are special considerations for creating patterns in sheet metal.

Sheet metal features behave much the same as solid features in patterns. For example:

• You can create rectangular, circular, and mirror patterns.
• You can pattern secondary (child) features, such as corner rounds, corner chamfers, corner seams, and bends, only when the parent feature is included.
• For faster computation, use Identical termination instead of Adjust to Model where possible.
• You can suppress one or more occurrences of a feature in a pattern (not the base feature) to flow around an irregular shape, for example.

Some special considerations for sheet metal features in patterns include:

• Fold features usually extend along an entire edge and are not always good candidates for patterns.

• A sheet metal cut (without the cut across bend option) is like an extruded cut. You can get different results using the Identical compared to Adjust to Model termination method.

• Cut across bend features pattern results differ depending on the bend geometry and termination method. Compare results when using Identical and Adjust to Model methods.

• Patterns of multiedge flanges are not supported.

• Only Identical termination method is available for:

  • Face features, with or without associated bends
  • Flanges
  • Contour flanges
  • Hems

When you are not certain of the results, experiment with termination methods and the number of pattern instances to determine the best approach.