About Assembling Components to a Pattern
Use a pattern to quickly assemble multiple instances of a component. Place the first component (pattern leader) in the assembly, and then select it from the Model Tree and pattern multiple placement definitions. You can assemble multiple instances of a component to a pattern in the following ways:
• Dimension (Nontable)—Assembles the first component on a surface with a Distance constraint. Use the offset value of the constraint applied as dimensions to create a nontable standalone pattern.
• Direction—Assembles component in a specified direction. Select a plane, flat surface, linear curve, coordinate system, or axis to define the first direction. Select a similar reference type to define the second direction.
• Axis—Assembles the component to the center of the pattern. Select a datum axis to define and enter the angle between pattern members and the number of members in the pattern.
• Fill—Assembles the first component on a surface, and then use a sketch on the same surface to generate a component fill pattern.
• Table—Assembles the first component on a surface with Coincident or Distance constraints. Use the offset values of the constraints applied as dimensions. Click Edit to create a table, or click Table and select an existing table pattern from the list.
• Reference—Assembles the first component to the leader of an existing component or feature pattern, then use Reference to pattern it. This option is only available when a pattern already exists.
• Curve—Assembles components to a referenced curve in the assembly. Open Sketcher from the Reference tab to sketch a curve if there are no existing curves in the assembly.
• Point—Assembles component to points from a sketch or a datum point feature.
A pattern leader is indicated by 
, and the pattern members are indicated by 
. To exclude a pattern member, click the corresponding black dot. The dot changes 
, and the pattern member is excluded. Click the dot again to include the pattern member.
, and the pattern members are indicated by . To exclude a pattern member, click the corresponding black dot. The dot changes , and the pattern member is excluded. Click the dot again to include the pattern member.Use the same method to pattern groups as you would use to pattern components.