About Direction-based Patterning
Direction-based and axis-based patterning use a distance relative to a reference and not an inherent dimension in the feature to develop the pattern. This is similar to patterns created by using the coordinate system-based method. That method of patterning creates patterns that combine translations and rotations. In this case, the tool path being patterned has no underlying dimensions. Therefore, this method copies the tool path to the locations identified by the translations and rotations.
You can use the following direction-based patterning methods:
• Translation in first direction
• Translation in the first and second direction
• Rotation in first direction—Equivalent to a single direction axis pattern.
• Rotation in the first and second directions—Equivalent to a coordinate system pattern with rotations in the first and second direction.
• Single-direction, coordinate system offset—You must specify the X-, Y-, and Z-offsets of the reference coordinate system to create a single direction pattern along a vector in space.
• Two direction, coordinate system offset—You must specify the X-, Y-, and Z-offsets of the reference coordinate system in both the first and second direction.
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The last two methods are equivalent to a coordinate system pattern. In these methods, the reference is a coordinate system. You can also use a machine coordinate system or an NC sequence coordinate system as a reference.
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Additionally, you can use two-direction combinations for the direction-based patterning methods:
• Translate-Rotate—Equivalent to a coordinate system pattern with a single translation in the first direction and rotation in the second direction.
• Translate-Coordinate system offset—Equivalent to a coordinate system pattern with a single translation in the first direction and an offset from a coordinate system in up to 3 orthogonal axes for the second direction.
• Rotate-Translate—Equivalent to a coordinate system pattern with a rotation in the first direction and a single translation in the second direction.
• Rotate-Coordinate system offset—Equivalent to a coordinate system pattern with a rotation in the first direction and an offset from a coordinate system in up to 3 orthogonal axes for the second direction.
• Coordinate system offset-Translate—Equivalent to a coordinate system pattern in which the first direction is offset from a coordinate system in up to 3 orthogonal axes while the second direction is a translation in a single direction.
• Coordinate system offset-Rotate—Equivalent to a coordinate system pattern in which the first direction is offset from a coordinate system in up to 3 orthogonal axes while the second direction is a rotation about a selected axis.