Corrections to Linear Pattern and Polar Pattern tool videos

Contents

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:38 Linear Pattern Tool Correction
  • 01:54 Using the Linear Pattern tool with four features
  • 02:52 Polar Pattern Tool Correction
  • 04:39 Using the Polar Pattern Tool to create tool handle pockets with a single fillet
  • 05:17 Creating a polar pattern with two separate fillet features
  • 06:30 Adding a second fillet to an existing polar pattern
  • 06:55 Polar pattern with two fillets in a feature

    This tutorial contains corrections for some errors that I made in my tutorials demonstrating how to use the Linear Pattern and Polar Pattern tools.

    Linear Pattern Tool corrections

    I demonstrated that you could only use the Linear Pattern tool with a single feature in the model. This is not entirely correct. FreeCAD allows you to create a linear pattern from multiple features. You need to have selected all the features to be included in the linear pattern BEFORE starting the Linear Pattern tool for this to occur.

    Polar Pattern Tool corrections

    Just like in the Linear Pattern demonstration, I showed that you could only use the Polar Pattern tool with a single feature in the model. Again, this is not entirely true because FreeCAD does allow you to select multiple features before starting the Polar Pattern tool. You may still get transformation errors depending upon the plane of rotation, especially if you select a plane where the rotation is not applicable.

    Polar patterns with fillets

    I am using the example of a tool handle to show how to create hand grips using a pocket and fillets. Creating a polar pattern the pocket and a single fillet works as expected; however, adding a second fillet to my example causes a transformation error to occur.

    I'm not entirely certain why this happens, but I think that it is related to the shape of the handle where the fillet is being created, combined with limitations within the FreeCAD software that is creating the polar pattern. 1

    • 1 I understand that the algorithm in the underlying CAD library used to create fillets is brittle and has not been worked on in some time. This could be a large part of the problem.