Circular Pattern in Solidworks – Illustrated Explanation

In this article of Mechanicalland, you will find information about how to use make circular patterns in Solidworks. So, you can make circular patterns by selecting objects to pattern and an axis for patterning around it. Also, we can make a circular pattern with the Circular Pattern command in Solidworks that we show all of the features of this command in this article.

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How to Use Circular Pattern Command in Solidworks?

Firstly, to make a circular pattern of a feature or a body in Solidworks, click on the pop-up menu as shown by the green arrow above then click on this command as shown by the green box above.

So, you can use the Circular Pattern feature of Solidworks to create different types of designs. Circular designs are very basic with this command in Solidworks. Otherwise, it will be very hard to obtain circular patterns manually.

And then, you need to select the part with the Circular Pattern command in Solidworks as shown by the green arrow above.

After that, proper selection of bodies and faces is very important here. You can select different kinds of features and faces in the Circular Pattern command of Solidworks. Also, you can select the features such as extrusions.  This is a very useful feature of this command that, you can multiply the specific parts of 3D models with this command.

For example, you want to multiply the hole of a flange circularly. So, you can select the hole feature to do it on that part.

Secondly, select the circular pattern axis from the drawing scheme of Solidworks. After that, you can select edges, lines, or linear features in Solidworks drawing as shown by the green arrow above.

You need to select the axis properly.

Define the Other Options of Circular Pattern

As shown in the green box above, you need to enter the angle values between instances and enter the number of instances value that you want. A preview of the values that you enter is shown by the green arrow above.

You can also enter the different values of angles to span by the Circular Pattern tool.

If you select the Equal Spacing as shown by the green arrow above, you need to enter a span angle value and number of instances in this span angle as shown by the green arrow again.

So, spacing options of Circular Pattern in Solidworks are also very useful.

You can select to adjust the values of selected instances individually. To do it, select the instances to vary option in Circular Pattern as shown in the green box above, then click on instances that you want to change their values as shown by red arrows. You can change the angle values etc. of these selected instances as shown by the green arrow.

This feature provides very independent designs of Circular Patterns in Solidworks.

If you complete the options and adjustments of Circular Pattern, click on the little Yes button as shown by the red arrow above.

As you can see above, the circular patterned geometry is obtained. The whole instances are united into one part as you can see. If we selected an axis that is far away from the main geometry, there will be separate instances from the Circular Pattern command in Solidworks.

Conclusion

So, as you see above, the use of the Circular Pattern command in Solidworks is very simple. You just need to enter the command and select the required sketches and shapes. And you need to specify the spacings of instances and angle of span.

Finally, do not forget to leave your comments and questions below about the Circular Pattern feature of Solidworks.

NOTE: We use all the screenshots and images for educational and informative purposes. Images used courtesy of Solidworks®.

Solidworks provides various kinds of tools and features like the above. You can obtain various kinds of designs with these features. Check these features below.

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