Part Modeling > Edit Features > Pattern > Fill Patterns > Example: Making Fill Pattern Members Follow a Surface Shape
  
Example: Making Fill Pattern Members Follow a Surface Shape
This example shows you how to make pattern members follow the shape of a selected surface.
Create a Fill Pattern as described in another example. Follow the steps below to make the pattern members follow the shape of a selected surface as shown in the following illustration.
 
* For pattern members to follow the shape of a selected surface, make the pattern leader and the sketch plane tangent to the selected surface. However, it is not essential that the sketch plane and the pattern leader be tangent to the selected surface.
1. On the Pattern tab, click Options and select the Follow surface shape check box. The surface collector becomes active.
2. Select a surface in the model along which the pattern members are to be projected.
1. Minimum distance between the pattern member center and the sketch boundary
2. Reference sketch
3. Pattern leader
4. Surface selected for the pattern members to follow
5. Spacing between pattern members
3. Select the Follow surface direction check box to specify that each pattern member is oriented to follow the shape of the surface.
4. If required, change the spacing between pattern member centers by typing a new value in the box adjacent to on the tab. Alternatively, in the graphics window, drag the handle or double-click the value for Space and type a new value.
5. If required, change the minimum distance between the pattern member centers and the sketch boundary, by typing a new value in the box adjacent to on the tab. A negative value makes the center lie outside the sketch. Alternatively, in the graphics window, drag the handle or double-click the value associated with the handle and type a new value.
6. If required, exclude a pattern member at a certain location by clicking the corresponding black dot. The black dot changes to white to show that the pattern member has been excluded.
7. Click . The system projects the pattern members onto the selected surface, orients the pattern members to follow the selected surface, and patterns the selected feature.