To Create a Curve Pattern along a Sketched Curve
Use this procedure to create a curve pattern along a 2D sketched curve.
To create a curve pattern along a 3D chain, see To Create a Curve Pattern along a Chain of Curves and Edges.
1. Select the feature that you want to pattern and click > 
Pattern. The Pattern tab opens.
Pattern. The Pattern tab opens.2. Under Type, select 
Curve. The Curve pattern options open.
Curve. The Curve pattern options open.3. To use a sketched curve for the pattern members to follow, under Settings, make sure that 
Sketch is selected.
Sketch is selected.4. Select or create a sketched curve to define the pattern:
◦ Select a sketched curve
With the 
Sketch collector active, select a sketch.
Sketch collector active, select a sketch.◦ Create a sketched curve
To sketch a curve, click the References tab and click Define. In Sketcher, a read-only construction point is placed at the pattern leader origin, with horizontal and vertical construction lines passing through the point. Click 
OK to complete the sketch.
OK to complete the sketch.When you select a curve or sketch a curve, a preview of the pattern along the curve is displayed, based on default values. Each pattern member is identified by 
.
.5. To use an origin different than the default geometric center of the lead feature or geometry to place the pattern leader, click the Use alternate origin collector, and then select a datum point, vertex, or coordinate system.
6. Define the pattern members using one of these methods:
◦ To define the distance between members, click 
Spacing, and then type a value for distance between pattern members in the box.
Spacing, and then type a value for distance between pattern members in the box.◦ To define the number of pattern members, click 
Number of Members, and then type a value for the number of pattern members in the box.
Number of Members, and then type a value for the number of pattern members in the box.7. Click the Options tab to set one or more of the following optional parameters:
◦ Regeneration option—Reduces regeneration time by selecting a more restrictive regeneration option, depending on the complexity of the pattern:
▪ Identical—All the pattern members are identical in size, are placed on the same surface, and do not intersect each other or part boundaries.
▪ Variable—The pattern members can vary in size, or be placed on different surfaces, but they cannot intersect each other or part boundaries.
▪ General—There are no pattern member restrictions.
◦ To position pattern members to follow the shape of a selected surface, select the Follow surface shape check box. Click the collector, and select the surface.
The following options become available:
▪ To orient pattern members to follow the surface direction, select the Follow surface direction check box.
▪ Select a Spacing option:
▪ As projected—Projects pattern members straight onto the surface.
▪ Map to Surface Space—Projects the pattern leader straight onto the surface, and places the remaining pattern members according to the uv-lines that pass through the pattern leader. This spacing option works best for pattern members situated near the pattern leader. It is available only for solid surfaces.
▪ Map to Surface UV Space—Projects the pattern leader straight onto the surface. The remaining pattern members are mapped to the uv-space of the surface based on their relative xy-coordinates to the first member in the sketching plane.
◦ To orient the pattern members according to the curve direction, select the Follow curve direction check box.
8. To change the start point and direction of the curve:
a. Click the References tab, and click Edit to enter Sketcher mode.
b. Select a curve end from the sketch as the start point for open sketches, or select any vertex from the sketch for a closed sketch.
c. Click > > > . The selected curve end or vertex is set as the start point.
9. To exclude a pattern member, click the corresponding black dot (). The black dot changes to white (
) to show that the pattern member has been excluded. To re-include the pattern member, click the white dot again. The pattern leader is identified by 
.
). The black dot changes to white () to show that the pattern member has been excluded. To re-include the pattern member, click the white dot again. The pattern leader is identified by .10. Click 
OK. The feature is patterned.
OK. The feature is patterned.