Copy Linear Array

Access: Open this function from the following location:

Select Edit > Move & Copy > Copy Linear Array from the Part menu bar.

Copy geometry in a linear pattern (along the X and Y axes).

Demo: Press the button below to view a short movie demonstrating the function:	Practice: Press the button below to open Cimatron with a practice ELT file similar to that used to create the movie (if the relevant feature already exists in the ELT file, you can either edit it or delete it and create a new feature).

The following is the Feature Guide for Copy Linear Array.

Tip: You can open the Feature Guide at any time by right-clicking the mouse in the graphic display area.

Required Step 1

Pick the entities to be copied. All types of entities can be picked. The cursor will tell you what you are picking, and you can use various geometry selection tools, such as the Selection Filter or the Face Selection Options to enable you to pick the entities you want.

If the Faces filter is selected, the following interaction is displayed:

If the Faces filter is selected (see Selection Filter or Quick Filter), the Include the entire feature / Only picked faces toggle option is displayed:

Include the entire feature

All faces belonging to the same feature (created by the same function) will be automatically selected.
Example:Example:

Only picked faces

Only individually picked faces are selected.
Example:Example:

This toggle option will not appear if you select objects, curves, sketches, or faces of different features.

Press <exit><exit>(middle mouse button) when the required entities are picked.

Required Step 2

Select the coordinate system for the array either by picking a UCS or by picking points. If points are picked, the array is created based on a set of XY axes. The first point you select is the origin of the axes, the second point determines the X direction and the third point sets the Y direction. The location of these points is not important, they are only used to set the relative copying directions from the selected entities.

Press <exit><exit>(middle mouse button) when the points are selected.

Required Step 3

Set the parameters of the copy array. Note that direction arrows are displayed.

When copying several faces from the same body, the faces are not unstitched, but keep the original topology. This does not apply if the Merge On option is used (when available).

The colors of parameters and their relevant direction arrows are color-coded for easy of identification.

X Counter

The total number of items in the X direction after copying, including the original (if the X Counter value is set to 1, the item will not be duplicated).

X Delta

Set the distance (spacing) between the copied entities in the X direction.

Y Counter

The total number of items in the Y direction after copying, including the original (if the Y Counter value is set to 1, the item will not be duplicated).

Y Delta

Set the distance (spacing) between the copied entities in the Y direction.

Full Array / Boundary

This is a toggle option Full Array / Boundary enabling you to select how the entities are to be copied into the array.

Full Array

Copy the selected entity to all array spaces.
Example:Example:

Boundary

Copy the selected entity only to the exterior rows of the array.
Example:Example:

Merge On / Off

This is a toggle option Merge On / Merge Off. See the examples for Copy Linear.

Revert Boolean

When using the Merge On mode, in some cases an undesirable result is obtained. The Revert Boolean button allows the correct Boolean operation to be performed.
Example:Example:

The bounded face copied below causes the main geometry to disappear. Pressing the Revert Boolean button corrects this result.

This option is displayed if the following combinations of options are used:

The faces filter in step 1.
The Only Picked Faces option in step 1.
Merge On in a subsequent step.

Overwrite Colors / Don't Change Colors

This toggle option is displayed when editing the feature created in the Feature Tree.

Notes:

You can reverse either copy direction by clicking on the relevant directional arrow.
An additional screen parameter, the toggle option Don't Change Colors / Overwrite Colors, is displayed when editing the following Copy features: Copy Linear, Copy Linear Array, Copy Radial Array, and Copy Mirror. See Editing Copy Features.

When you are finished, press OK or Apply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

When completed, the Copy Linear Array feature will appear in the Feature Tree as follows:

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.