Linear Array of 3D Elements

The command creates arrays by placing copies of source objects along a one, two or three directional vectors.

Main concepts of creating a linear array are described in the Classes of Arrays of 3D Elements section.

In order to create a linear array, perform following steps upon calling the command:

1.Choose a type of the array to be created ( array of constructions, array of operations, array of bodies, array of faces, array of fragments);

2.Select source objects of the array;

3.Define a directional vector in the first direction

4.Define a number of copies, step and total length in the first forward direction;

5.Define a number of copies in the first reverse direction (optional step);

6.Define a directional vector and other parameters of array in the second and third directions in the similar way as it was defined in the first direction (optional step);

7.Apply a layout and half-step shifts (optional step);

8.Apply limitations and exclusions (optional step);

9.Define optional parameters of the array (optional step);

10.Confirm the operation ( in the automenu or in the header of the parameters window).

 

Apart from the General Parameters (selecting a type of the array and source objects), Limitations, Exclusions and Options tabs the command's parameters window contains three tabs similar to each other:

•First Direction (rows);

•Second Direction (columns);

•Third Direction (height).

These tabs contains the similar sets of parameters described below. The geometrical meaning of these parameters is described in the Classes of Arrays of 3D Elements section.

Defining a Direction, number of Copies, Step and Length in the First Direction (rows) is mandatory for creating an array. Two of the latter three parameters are defined by user, the third one is calculated automatically from values of two others.

 

A directional vector can be selected upon activating the Direction/First point input box on the corresponding directional tab. These input boxes are connected to following automenu options:

Activating the input box activates the automenu option and vice versa. In result, filters for selecting points and directions become active on the filter toolbar, so you can select the desired object in the 3D scene or in the model tree. An icon representing a type of a selected element, its name and name of its parent operation (in case of selecting a geometric entity) are displayed in the Direction/First point input box. You can Clear the selection, using the button located in the right side of the input box.

In case of selecting a direction, no additional selection is required.

In case of selecting a point, the additional Second Point input box becomes available in the tab of the corresponding direction below the Direction/First point input box. Second Point input boxes are connected to following automenu options:

Activating the input box activates the automenu option and vice versa. In result, filters for selecting points become active on the filter toolbar, so you can select the desired object in the 3D scene or in the model tree. An icon representing a type of a selected element, its name and name of its parent operation (in case of selecting a geometric entity) are displayed in the Second Point input box.

The array is created in direction from the first point to the second one. Regardless of whether the direction is defined by a single object or by two points, you can Reverse it, using the button located to the right side of the Copies input box.

You can either Clear the selection in Direction/First point and Second Point input boxes individually, using buttons located in the right side of each input box, or clear both input boxes at once, using one of the following automenu options:

 

One of the following combinations of array's parameters can be selected in the Parameters drop-down list, which is located below the Direction/First point and Second Point input boxes in each directional tab of the command's parameters window:

•Number of Copies and Step;

•Total Length and Step;

•Number of Copies and Total Length.

Depending on the selected combination only two of the three input boxes located below (Copies, Step and Length) are accessible, while the value in the third input box is calculated automatically.

By default, even if the selected combination of parameters allows manual input of total length's value, the Length input box is inaccessible due to automatic application of the option, which defines total length as the length of the directional vector. This option can be disabled, using the By Vector button, which is located to the right side of the Length input box. The similar button is located to the right side of the Step input box, allowing to define the Step as the length of the directional vector. Both options can not be applied at once for Length and Step in the same direction.

 

The Half-Step Shift checkbox is located below the Length input box.

The detailed information on half-step shift is available in the Layout and Half-Step Shift in Arrays of 3D Elements section.

 

Bottommost parts of each directional tab in the command's parameters window contain the Reverse Direction checkbox combined with the drop-down list. The drop-down list contains two options: Symmetric and Value. The checkbox is disabled by default, so copies in each direction (rows, columns and height) are positioned on the same side in relation to the source object (forward direction). Enabling the checkbox applies the Symmetric option, so the number of copies in reverse direction becomes equal to number of copies in forward direction. Upon selecting the Value option, the input box for typing in the custom number of Copies in reverse direction appears below the drop-down list.

More information on the reverse direction of arrays is available in the Classes of Arrays of 3D Elements section.

Topics in this section:

•Edit Linear Array of 3D Elements

See Also:

•Types of Arrays of 3D Elements

•Classes of Arrays of 3D Elements

•Limitations and Exclusions in Arrays of 3D Elements

•Referencing 3D Elements of Array

•Optional Parameters of Arrays of 3D Elements

•Dynamic Preview

•Preview of Operation Result

•Common Parameters of 3D Elements