Repeating Elements

Define Repeat Rules for an Element

1. Select a Template member, and press the Define Repeat Rule button.

   The Template Member Parameters window opens:

   

   The word Repeated in the Repeat column indicates that this Template member is linked to a Repeat Rule.

2. To define a Repeat Rule, select the member to be repeated in the list above and press this button.

   The Repeats Definition window opens:

   

   The Number of repeats is provided as an expression. The expression must result in a positive whole number which defines the number of repeats to be produced.

   The three sections Cartesian, Linear and Radial define different types of Repeat pattern as described below.

Cartesian Repeat

Each repeat element is displaced from the previous repeat element by an X, Y, Z offset.

Linear Repeat

Each repeat element is displaced from the previous repeat element by distance in a given direction.

Radial Repeat

Repeats are generated at an angular displacement around a given axis of rotation. In addition to the angular displacement, each repeat element can be displaced from the previous repeat element by a given distance along the axis of rotation.

The Rotate Element option specifies whether the orientation of each repeat element is fixed and identical to the master element, or whether each repeat is rotated as shown below.

This view shows the display during definition of a radial repeat. The rotation axis is shown on the display, and the master repeat element is highlighted - in this case the pyramid shown in red.

This view shows the display of an instance of the Template showing the Repeated elements.

It is often necessary to parameterize the Repeat Rule element itself. The example below shows a rule on the angular increment.