Draft PathArray: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:25, 15 November 2018
Draft PathArray |
Menu location |
---|
Draft → PathArray |
Workbenches |
Draft, Arch |
Default shortcut |
None |
Introduced in version |
0.14 |
See also |
Draft Array, Draft PointArray |
Description
The PathArray tool places copies of a selected shape along a selected path. The path can be a wire or one or more edges.
The shapes can optionally be aligned with the tangent of the path. If required, a translation Vector can be specified to shift the shapes so the centroid is on the path.
How to use
- Select an object which you wish to distribute.
- Select a path object or some edges along which the object will be distributed.
- Press the Draft PathArray button.
The base object should be centred around the origin, even if the path starts somewhere else.
The count, alignment, and position of the copies along the path can be changed after creation by changing its properties.
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 path.
- DataPathObj: specifies the path object.
- DataPathSubs: specifies the sub-elements (edges) of the path object. This property does not yet appear in the property editor.
- DataCount: specifies the number of copies of the base object.
- DataAlign: if it is
true
the copies are aligned to the path; otherwise they are left in their default orientation.
- Note: in certain cases the shape will appear flat, in reality it may have moved in the 3D space, so instead of using a flat view, change the view to axonometric.
- DataXlate: specifies a translation vector (x, y, z) to displace each copy along the path.
- Note: when DataAlign is
true
, the vector is relative to the local tangent, normal or binormal coordinates; otherwise the vector is relative to the global coordinates.
Scripting
See also: Draft API and FreeCAD Scripting Basics.
The PathArray tool can be used in macros and from the Python console by using the following function:
PathArray = makePathArray(baseobject, pathobject, count, xlate=None, align=False, pathobjsubs=[])
- Create a
PathArray
object from thebaseobject
, by placing as many ascount
copies alongpathobject
.- If
pathobjsubs
is given, it is a list of sub-objects ofpathobject
, and the copies are created along this shorter path.
- If
- If
xlate
is given, it is aFreeCAD.Vector
that indicates an additional displacement to move the base point of the copies. - If
align
isTrue
the copies are aligned to the tangent, normal or binormal of thepathobject
at the point where the copy is placed.
Example:
import FreeCAD,Draft
p1 = FreeCAD.Vector(500, -1000, 0)
p2 = FreeCAD.Vector(1500, 1000, 0)
p3 = FreeCAD.Vector(3000, 500, 0)
p4 = FreeCAD.Vector(4500, 100, 0)
spline = Draft.makeBSpline([p1, p2, p3, p4])
object = Draft.makePolygon(3, 500)
PathArray = Draft.makePathArray(object, spline, 6)
Technical explanation for the Align property
When DataAlign is false
, the placement of the copied shapes is easy to understand; they are just moved to a different position in their original orientation.
When DataAlign is true
, the positioning of the shapes becomes a bit more complex:
- First, Frenet coordinate systems are built on the path: X is tangent, Z is normal, Y is binormal.
- Then the original object is copied to every on-path coordinate system, so that the global origin is matched with the on-path coordinate system origin.
The following images show how the array is produced, depending on which plane the path is.
Path on XY Plane:
Path on XZ Plane:
Path on YZ Plane:
As you reorient the path but not the object, the result is consistent: the object remains aligned to the path the way it was before reorienting the path.
Editor: thank you to user DeepSOIC for this explanation.
- 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