Create a geometric pattern
Learn how to use the Geometric Pattern command to create a pattern with size and distribution gradients across a face on a solid body in Fusion.
This feature is part of an extension. Extensions are a flexible way to access additional capabilities in Fusion. Learn more.
On the Design toolbar, select Plastic > Create > Geometric Pattern
.The Geometric Pattern dialog displays.
In the canvas, select a Face on a solid body to apply a pattern to it.
Select the Object Type to pattern across the face:
- Sphere: Patterns a primitive sphere across selected faces.
- Cylinder: Patterns a primitive cylinder across selected faces.
- Box: Patterns a primitive box across selected faces.
- Custom: Patterns a custom object across selected faces.
In the Size Limit 1 and Size Limit 2 fields, specify the minimum and maximum size of the objects in the pattern.
Specify a Spread value to control the rate of transition from one size limit to the other.
Select a Distribution Type:
- Rectangular: Distributes objects across the faces in a repeating rectangular pattern.
- Triangular: Distributes objects across the faces in a repeating triangular pattern.
- Hexagonal: Distributes objects across the faces in a repeating hexagonal pattern.
- Circular: Distributes objects across the faces in a concentric circular pattern.
- Radial: Distributes objects across the faces in a linear radial pattern.
For the Rectangular pattern type, select the Spacing Type and adjust its associated settings:
- Increment: Spaces objects in the pattern at the specified distance relative to each other.
- Distance: Specify the distance value between each object in the pattern.
- Extent: Spaces objects in the pattern evenly over the specified distance.
- Quantity: Specify the number of objects to spread evenly over the extent of the pattern.
- Increment: Spaces objects in the pattern at the specified distance relative to each other.
For the Circular and Radial pattern types, specify the Radial Distance.
Select the pattern Orientation:
- Parallel Direction: Places objects without rotation.
- Face Direction: Places objects aligned to faces direction.
Select the U Alignment:
- Align Left: Aligns objects in the pattern to the left of the face, relative to its U direction.
- Align Center: Aligns objects in the pattern to the center of the face, relative to its U direction.
- Align Right: Aligns objects in the pattern to the right of the face, relative to its U direction.
Specify a U Offset value to offset the pattern from the edge of the face in the U direction. Select the V Alignment:
- Align Bottom: Aligns objects in the pattern to the bottom of the face, relative to its V direction.
- Align Middle: Aligns objects in the pattern to the middle of the face, relative to its V direction.
- Align Top: Aligns objects in the pattern to the top of the face, relative to its V direction.
Specify a V Offset value to offset the pattern from the edge of the face in the V direction.
Check Clear Perimeter to remove incomplete objects from the perimeter of the selected faces.
Specify an Offset Perimeter value to offset the pattern from the boundary of selected faces.
Select an Operation, and adjust its associated settings:
Join: Combines the new body with an existing body.
Cut: Removes an area from an existing body.- Objects to Cut: Check or uncheck objects to cut.
Intersect: Creates a body at the intersection of an existing body and the new body.- Objects to Cut: Check or uncheck objects to cut.
New Body: Creates new bodies in the active component.
Click OK.
The Geometric Pattern displays on the selected faces on the solid body in the canvas.
Tips
- Adjust the size limits and spread to control the gradient across the pattern.
- Adjust the Operation to Cut material away from the existing body, Join material to it, Intersect the bodies to keep only the material that overlaps, or create New Bodies in the design.