The Curve Drive Pattern PropertyManager appears when you create a new curve driven pattern feature, or when you edit an existing curve driven pattern feature.
The PropertyManager controls the following properties:
Pattern
Direction. Select a curve, edge, sketch entity, or select a sketch
from the FeatureManager to use as the path for the pattern. If necessary,
click Reverse Direction 
to change the direction of the pattern. The example below
uses the upper edge of the model as the Pattern
Direction for Direction 1.
Number
of Instances 
. Set a value for the number of instances
of the seed feature in the pattern.
Equal spacing. Sets equal spacing between each pattern instance. The separation between instances depends on the curve selected for Pattern Direction and on the Curve method.
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Equal spacing check box cleared |
Equal spacing check box selected |
Spacing
(Available if you do not select Equal
spacing). Set a value for the distance between pattern instances
along the curve. The distance between the curve and the Features
to Pattern is measured normal to the curve.
Curve method. Defines the direction of the pattern by transforming how you use the curve selected for Pattern Direction. Select one of the following:
Transform curve. The delta X and delta Y distances from the origin of the selected curve to the seed feature are maintained for each instance.
Offset curve. The normal distance from the origin of the selected curve to the seed feature is maintained for each instance.
Alignment method. Select one of the following:
Tangent to curve. Aligns each instance tangent to the curve selected for Pattern Direction.
Align to seed. Aligns each instance to match the original alignment of the seed feature.
of Curve method and Alignment
method selections.
Face normal
(For 3D curves only). Select the face on which the 3D curve lies to create
the curve driven pattern.
Select to create the pattern in a second direction.
If you select the Direction
2 check box without selecting a sketch element or edge for Pattern Direction in Direction
2, an implicit pattern is created, based on what you selected for
Pattern Direction for Direction
1.
Pattern
Direction. Select a curve, edge, sketch entity, or select a sketch
from the FeatureManager to use as the path for the second direction of
the pattern. If necessary, click Reverse
Direction to change the direction of the pattern.
The example below uses the side edge of the model as the Pattern
Direction for Direction 2.
Number
of Instances . Set a value for the number of instances
of the seed feature in the pattern.
Equal spacing. Sets equal spacing between each pattern instance. The separation between instances depends on the curve selected for Pattern Direction and on the Curve method in Direction 1.
Spacing
(Available if you do not select Equal
spacing). Set a value for the distance between pattern instances.
Pattern seed only. Replicates only the seed pattern, which creates a curve pattern under Direction 2, without replicating the curve pattern created under Direction 1.
Features
to Pattern 
. Select the seed feature to pattern in
the graphics area.
If the feature to pattern includes fillets or other additions,
use the flyout FeatureManager design tree to select these features.
Faces
to Pattern 
. Select all the faces that make up the
feature in the graphics area to create the pattern. This is useful with
models that import only the faces that make up the feature, and not the
feature itself.
When using Faces
to Pattern, the pattern must remain within the same face or boundary.
It cannot cross
boundaries.
For example, a cut across the entire face or different levels (such as
a raised edge) would create a boundary and separate faces, and prevent
the pattern from propagating.
Solid/Surface
Bodies to Pattern 
. In multibody parts, select the
bodies to pattern in the graphics area.
Instances to
Skip 
. Select each pattern instance to skip in
the graphics area. Selected instances are removed from the pattern.
The pointer
changes to 
when you hover over each pattern instance. Click
to select a pattern instance. The coordinates of the pattern instance
appear. To restore a pattern instance, click the instance again, or delete
the pattern instance from the Instances
to Skip box.
Vary sketch. Allows the pattern to change its dimensions as it is repeated.
Geometry pattern. Creates the pattern using an exact copy of the seed feature. Individual instances of the seed feature are not solved; end conditions and calculations are ignored. The Geometry Pattern option speeds up the creation and rebuilding of a pattern.
You cannot create geometry patterns of features that
have faces merged with the rest of the part.
Propagate Visual Properties. Propagates SolidWorks colors, textures, and cosmetic thread data to all pattern instances.
