Pattern

Status: Implemented

Pattern creates linear or circular arrays of solids, with an option to union the copies back into the source.

Walkthrough

Inputs

• id (string, default null) – names the clones (PATTERN when empty).
• solids (reference_selection, SOLID, default [], multiple: true) – solids to pattern.
• mode (options, default LINEAR) – LINEAR or CIRCULAR.
• count (number, default 3) – total instances including the original (truncated and clamped to at least 1).
• countMode (options, default count and pitch) – count and pitch uses the distance/angle as the step between adjacent instances; count and span treats it as the full extent and divides it across count - 1 intervals.
• linearInputMode (options, default vector distance) – transform uses the transform gizmo offset; vector distance uses a selected direction reference and distance.
• offset (transform, default position [10, 0, 0], rotation [0, 0, 0], scale [1, 1, 1]) – transform used for linear patterns; only position is applied.
• directionRef (reference_selection, EDGE / FACE / PLANE, default null, multiple: false) – edge direction or face/plane normal used in vector distance mode; world +X when empty.
• linearDistance (number, default 10) – linear spacing along the selected direction.
• axisRef (reference_selection, EDGE, default null, multiple: false) – edge supplying the axis direction and origin (its start point) for circular patterns; world +Y through the origin when empty.
• centerOffset (number, default 0) – distance along the axis from the reference origin to the pattern center.
• totalAngleDeg (number, default 360) – per-step circular angle in count and pitch mode, or total span in count and span mode. 0 is read as 360.
• booleanMode (options, default NONE) – NONE returns separate bodies; UNION fuses clones into each source and removes the originals.
• suppressed (string, default empty) – instance numbers that make no geometry, separated by commas or spaces (3, 5). Instance 1 is the source and cannot be suppressed.

Suppressing an instance

Select one copy (or a face of it) in the 3D view and press Suppress instance on the selection bar: that copy disappears and its number is added to suppressed. It is one undo step. While any copy of the pattern is suppressed, selecting another copy also offers Unsuppress instances (N), which brings them all back; you can also edit the list in the Pattern dialog.

A number keeps meaning the same place when the count changes: suppress instance 3, raise the count, and instance 3 is still empty while the new copies appear. A number past the count does nothing until the count grows back to it. A suppressed copy is also left out of a UNION.

Behaviour

• Linear mode translates clones by offset.position × instanceIndex or directionRef × linearDistance × instanceIndex.
• Circular mode rotates clones about the axis. In count and pitch mode count = 3 and totalAngleDeg = 90 creates copies at 90 and 180 degrees.
• Clone solids are named {id}_{instance}, starting at instance 2. Every face and authored edge name is namespaced with ::{cloneName}; topology edge names are then re-derived from those face names. A union result is named {sourceName}::UNION.