02.02 Basic Pattern Tools Fusion 360
Examples of Patterns in the Environment
Examples of Rectangular Patterns
A rectangular pattern can have 1, 2, or 3 directional axis to form a grid to arrange the pattern. The windows in a building, legs of a table or chair, drawers in a cabinet, buttons on a game controller, wheels on a car, pixels on a computer monitor, and the aisles in a retail store are all laid out in neat rectangular rectangular patterns.
Where else do you see rectangular patterns?
Examples of Circular Patterns
A circular pattern follows the contour of a circle. It may or may not go all the way around the circumference of the circle. The blades on a drone, cutouts on a custom car rim, bars on a merry-go-round, ridges on a cut drinking glass, grid fins on a rocket, nubs on the grip handle of a mountain bike, and are examples of circular patterns.
Where else do you see circular patterns?
Examples of Patterns Along a Path
The lamp posts along a winding parkway, LEDs in a fancy car headlight, cut outs in an organic chair, and ridges along the grip of a cordless drill are examples of patterns along a path.
Where else do you see patterns along a path?
Pattern Tools in Autodesk Fusion
Fusion 360 allows you to create patterns of objects or features. This is a powerful way to make complex additions to a model in a quick and editable way. You can create a rectangular pattern, a circular pattern, or a pattern on a path.
Examine everyday objects around you and look for different types of patterns.
- Rectangular Pattern - Lays out objects or features along a rectangular pattern from a central origin. Rectangular Pattern Video Demo
- Circular Pattern - Lays out objects or features along a circular pattern from a central origin.
- Pattern Along a Path - Lays out objects or features along a custom linear path that can be organic, geometric, or a combination. Video demonstration of pattern along a path.
Pattern Best Practices in Fusion
In Fusion it is better to make patterns in the 3D workspace rather than in 2D sketches. This is also true formirroring objects in Fusion. Avoiding 2D sketch patterns increases efficiency, improves performance, and allows more flexibility for design iteration. The recommended workflow is to create a solid, or extrude, or design feature and [//]: # (TODO: This is also a highly portable comment method.) <!– TODO 3D Patterns vs 2D Sketch Patterns video Fusion>