Draft Array
Draft Array |
Menu location |
---|
Draft → Array |
Workbenches |
Draft |
Default shortcut |
None |
Introduced in version |
- |
See also |
PolarArray, CircularArray, PathArray, PointArray, Clone |
Description
The Draft Array tool creates an orthogonal (3-axes), polar, or circular array from a selected object.
This tool can be used on 2D shapes created with the Draft Workbench but can also be used on many types of 3D objects such as those created with the Part Workbench or PartDesign Workbench.
To create polar and circular arrays directly, use the corresponding PolarArray and CircularArray tools; to position copies along a path use PathArray; to position copies at specified points use PointArray; to create copies or clones, and manually place them use Move, Rotate, and Clone.
To create App Links instead of simple copies, use LinkArray, Path LinkArray, and the proper option with PolarArray and CircularArray .
Orthogonal array (left) and polar array (right) from a solid object.
Circular array from a solid object
How to use
- Select an object with which you wish to make an array.
- Press the Draft Array button. If no object is selected, you will be invited to select one.
- The Array object is immediately created. You must change the properties of the array to change the number and direction of copies created.
Each element in the array is an exact clone of the original object, but the entire array is considered a single unit in terms of properties and appearance.
Options
There are no options for this tool. Either it works with the selected object or not.
Properties
- DataBase: specifies the object to duplicate in the array.
- DataArray Type (
Enumeration
): specifies the type of array to create,"ortho"
,"polar"
, or"circular"
. - DataFuse: if it is
true
, and the copies intersect with each other, they will be fused together into a single shape.
For orthogonal arrays:
- DataInterval X: specifies the interval between each copy on the X axis.
- DataInterval Y: specifies the interval between each copy on the Y axis.
- DataInterval Z: specifies the interval between each copy on the Z axis.
- DataNumber X: specifies the number of copies on the X axis.
- DataNumber Y: specifies the number of copies on the Y axis.
- DataNumber Z: specifies the number of copies on the Z axis.
For polar arrays:
- DataAxis: specifies the normal direction of the array circle.
- DataCenter: specifies the center point of the array circle.
- DataAngle: specifies the aperture of the circular arc to cover with copies; use 360 to cover an entire circle.
- DataNumber Polar: specifies the number of copies to place in the circular arrangement.
- DataInterval Axis: specifies the interval between each copy on the DataAxis direction.
For circular arrays:
- DataNumber Circles:
- DataRadial distance:
- DataSymmetry:
- DataTangential Distance:
The number property, either X, Y, Z, or Polar, also includes the original object, so this number will be at least one.
An interval is not a simple distance, but a vector (x, y, z). If more than one value is non-zero, the copy will be created in the main direction, but will also be displaced in the other non-zero directions.
For example, if DataInterval X is (2 m, 1 m, 1 m), and DataNumber X is 3, it will create 3 copies in the X direction; the first copy will be at the original position, the second will be displaced 2 m on X, 1 m on Y, and 1 m on Z; the third copy will be displaced 4 m on X, 2 m on Y, and 2 m on Z. Each array element will be moved slightly to one side (Y direction) and up (Z direction) beside the main X direction.
The DataInterval Axis property works in the same way. If the original shape lies on the XY plane, creating a polar array with DataInterval Axis (0, 0, z) allows you to make spiral arrangements.
Scripting
See also: Draft API and FreeCAD Scripting Basics.
The Array tool can be used in macros and from the Python console by using two different functions, depending on if you wish to obtain standalone copies of your base object, or a parametric array object that stays linked to the original object.
Simple array
The basic signature is as follows:
array_list = array(objectslist, arg1, arg2, arg3, arg4=None, arg5=None, arg6=None)
To create a rectangular array, use it like this:
array_list = array(objectslist, xvector, yvector, xnum, ynum)
array_list = array(objectslist, xvector, yvector, zvector, xnum, ynum, znum)
To create a polar array, use it like this:
array_list = array(objectslist, center, totalangle, totalnum)
- Creates an array from the objects contained in
objectslist
, which can be a single object or a list of objects. - In case of a rectangular array,
xvector
,yvector
, andzvector
determine the distance between the base points of each copy, in the X, Y, and Z directions; andxnum
,ynum
, andznum
are the number of copies in the respective direction. - In case of a polar array,
center
defines the center of the array circle,totalangle
is the angle of the arc in degrees to cover with copies, andtotalnum
is the number of copies to arrange around the circle, including the original object. array_list
is returned with the new copies.array_list
is either a single object or a list of objects, depending on the inputobjectslist
.
This function internally uses Draft.move()
and Draft.rotate()
with copy=True
.
Example:
import FreeCAD, Draft
Rect = Draft.makeRectangle(1500, 500)
array_list = Draft.array(Rect, FreeCAD.Vector(1600, 0, 0), FreeCAD.Vector(0, 600, 0), 3, 4)
Parametric array
The basic signature is as follows:
Array = makeArray(baseobject, arg1, arg2, arg3, arg4=None, arg5=None, arg6=None, name="Array")
To create a rectangular array, use it like this:
Array = makeArray(baseobject, xvector, yvector, xnum, ynum, name="Array")
Array = makeArray(baseobject, xvector, yvector, zvector, xnum, ynum, znum, name="Array")
To create a polar array, use it like this:
Array = makeArray(baseobject, center, totalangle, totalnum, name="Array")
- Creates an
Array
object from the givenbaseobject
. - In case of a rectangular array,
xvector
,yvector
, andzvector
determine the distance between the base points of each copy, in the X, Y, and Z directions; andxnum
,ynum
, andznum
are the number of copies in the respective direction. - In case of a polar array,
center
defines the center of the array circle,totalangle
is the angle of the arc in degrees to cover with copies, andtotalnum
is the number of copies to arrange around the circle, including the original object.
Example:
import FreeCAD, Draft
Rect = Draft.makeRectangle(1500, 500)
xvector = FreeCAD.Vector(1600, 0, 0)
yvector = FreeCAD.Vector(0, 600, 0)
Array = Draft.makeArray(Rect, xvector, yvector, 3, 4)
Tri = Draft.makePolygon(3, 600)
center = FreeCAD.Vector(-1600, 0, 0)
Array2 = Draft.makeArray(Tri, center, 360, 6)
- Drafting: Line, Polyline, Fillet, Arc, Arc by 3 points, Circle, Ellipse, Rectangle, Polygon, B-spline, Cubic Bézier curve, Bézier curve, Point, Facebinder, ShapeString, Hatch
- Annotation: Text, Dimension, Label, Annotation styles, Annotation scale
- Modification: Move, Rotate, Scale, Mirror, Offset, Trimex, Stretch, Clone, Array, Polar array, Circular array, Path array, Path link array, Point array, Point link array, Edit, Subelement highlight, Join, Split, Upgrade, Downgrade, Wire to B-spline, Draft to sketch, Set slope, Flip dimension, Shape 2D view
- Draft Tray: Select plane, Set style, Toggle construction mode, AutoGroup
- Snapping: Snap lock, Snap endpoint, Snap midpoint, Snap center, Snap angle, Snap intersection, Snap perpendicular, Snap extension, Snap parallel, Snap special, Snap near, Snap ortho, Snap grid, Snap working plane, Snap dimensions, Toggle grid
- Miscellaneous: Apply current style, Layer, Manage layers, Add a new named group, Move to group, Select group, Add to construction group, Toggle normal/wireframe display, Create working plane proxy, Heal, Show snap toolbar
- Additional: Constraining, Pattern, Preferences, Import Export Preferences, DXF/DWG, SVG, OCA, DAT
- Context menu:
- Layer container: Merge layer duplicates, Add new layer
- Layer: Activate this layer, Select layer contents
- Text: Open hyperlinks
- Wire: Flatten
- Working plane proxy: Write camera position, Write objects state
- Getting started
- Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
- Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate
- Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
- Workbenches: Std Base, Arch, Assembly, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework
- Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub