SOLIDWORKS: Lesson III –
Patterns & Mirrors
UCF Engineering
Solidworks Review

Last lesson we discussed several more
features that can be added to models in order
to increase their complexity.

We are now going to discuss several ways
that SolidWorks can allow us to create
properly designed models both easier and
faster.
Patterns

The first feature that we are going to discuss
is patterns.

Patterns can be placed in two ways: Linear
Patterns, or Circular Patterns.

Although both are creating “copies” of an
existing feature, the method that they do this
is what distinguishes them.
Linear Pattern
A linear pattern creates a copy of a feature
similar to a grid:
Linear pattern
To define a linear pattern, you must specify the
direction of the patterns, (up to 2 directions), the
number of copies in each direction, and the distance
between copies.
Linear Pattern
Lets take a look at how we can pattern a simple feature using
the linear patterning command…
Let’s begin by creating a
NEW PART!
Begin by choosing
Extruded Boss/Base
TOP PLANE
Draw a rectangle on the
plane that is 2x1using the
origin as a starting point
Exit the sketch
Draw your sketch by starting on the origin
Linear Pattern
Since we originally used Extrude let’s enter 0.05
for the depth and click the green check.
Linear Pattern
Let’s do an EXTRUDED CUT on the top surface of our part.
Click Extruded cut, then choose the TOP surface. Change
view to NORMAL TO.
Choose CIRCLE
Linear Pattern
Choose SMART DIMENSION,
then click on the origin of
the circle then the origin of
the sketch in the bottom left.
Drag the dimension so that
it becomes a VERTICAL
dimension and enter 0.25.
Do the same for the
HORIZONTAL. Then
dimension the diameter by
simply clicking on the
circumference. Enter 0.20.
Linear Pattern
Exit the sketch to see the hole as a
CUT. In property manager choose
under DIRECTION choose
THROUGH ALL.
Click the green check to see our hole.
Linear Pattern
Select the CUT by either selecting the Cut-Extrude choice in
FEATURE MANAGER or simply click on the cut in the design
and it should highlight.
Choose LINEAR PATTERN
from the dynamic toolbar.
Linear Pattern
You will notice that the extruded
cut we made shows up in property
manager as a feature we want to
pattern.
Then above in the DIRECTION we
notice it is blank, so highlight this
area, then select the bottom
horizontal edge to the top face of
our rectangle.
Linear Pattern
In property manager, enter 0.5
for the distance and 4 for
the # of instances you want
if it isn’t already chosen for
you.
Linear Pattern
For Direction 2, highlight the area and
choose the left edge of the
rectangle. Enter 0.4 for the distance
and 2 for the # of instances. Click
OK in property manager to see the
final pattern
Linear Pattern
Suppose you discover you made a mistake in the diameter of
the circle. Double Click on the original feature then change
the dimension of the diameter.
Double click on the dimension to change it to 0.30. Click OK, then OK in
property manager. Be sure to click the stoplight to re-build the part.
Circular Pattern
The circular pattern is very similar to the linear,
however, instead of patterning along two dimensions,
it patterns about an axis.
Circular Pattern
For a circular pattern, you must define the axis
of revolution, the total revolution angle, and
the number of copies to make.
Circular Pattern
Lets take a look at how we can
pattern a simple feature using
the circular patterning
command…
Let’s begin by:
 Create a New Part
 Choose Extruded Boss/Base
 Choose Top Plane to sketch on
 Make a Circle with the origin of
the sketch as the origin of the
circle
 Dimension the circle so that
the diameter is 1
 Exit the sketch
 Extrude the circle to 0.05
Circular Pattern
Let’s now make an extruded
cut on the top face of the
circle. Choose Extruded
Cut, select the top plane
and change view to “normal
to”.
Draw a circle vertically above
the origin. You will see a
vertical line to assist you in
centering the line properly.
Dimension the circle so that
it is 0.25 away from the
origin of our cylindrical base
with a diameter of 0.2.
Circular Pattern
Now you may notice that our
small circular sketch is
under defined. Even though
we placed it vertically above
the origin we really haven’t
defined it as such. Click on
the origin of the small circle,
hold down CTRL, then
select the origin of our
base. Add a vertical relation
to these points in property
manager.
Circular Pattern
Exit the sketch, change
your view to isometric,
then choose “through
all” in the direction
section of property
manager to finish the
cut.
Circular Pattern
To make a circular pattern we
need an axis of revolution.
We know it is the center of
our base but we can’t see
the axis. To see this axis,
choose VIEW at the top
then choose “temporary
axis”
You probably won’t see the
axis unless you ZOOM in to
look at the origin.
Circular Pattern
Click on the feature you want
to pattern either by clicking
on the feature in feature
manager or clicking on the
feature in the design.
Click on circular pattern ( you
may need to expand your
button by clicking on the
small arrow on the right of
the toolbar).
Circular Pattern
You should see that in property
manager that the axis space is
highlighted. Choose the axis at the
center of your design as you want
the pattern to revolve around that
axis.
You can now make your pattern TWO
different ways. If “equal spacing” is
checked simply specify the number
of patterns you want.
Or you can uncheck “equal spacing”
and specify the number of patterns
as well as the angle between them.
Click “Equal Spacing” and make 5
copies! Click OK to exit property
manager
Circular Pattern
If you need to change anything, you can simply click on the feature, click on
the dimension you want to change such as the radius of the cut or its
dimension from the axis. Then click the stoplight button to re-build the part.
Mirrors

Mirroring is another way that SolidWorks can
create a “copy” of a feature.

When mirroring, you must choose a feature
to mirror, and a plane to mirror about.
Mirrors

Oftentimes the plane that you wish to mirror
about is not one of the standard planes (front,
top, or right).

To create a new plane, you must use the
Features > Reference Geometry > Plane
command to define a new reference plane.
Mirrors
Lets take a look at how we can copy a
simple feature using the mirror
command…
Make a new part.
Choose:

Extruded Boss/Base

Choose Top Plane

Make a rectangle with the ORIGIN
at the middle.
To ensure that the origin is at the center
of our rectangle we must make sure
that the origin lies on a line that lines
up with the MIDPOINT of each edge
of our rectangle.
RIGHT CLICK on the top horizontal line
of our rectangle and CHOOSE
MIDPOINT
Mirrors
Click on the MIDPOINT, hold
CTRL, and select the origin.
In property add the relation,
VERTICAL.
Mirrors
Right click on a vertical edge to
select the MIDPOINT. Hold
CTRL, select the origin, then
add the relation HORIZONTAL
in property manager.
Mirrors
Exit the sketch, change view to
isometric and extrude to
some distance.
Click on extruded boss/base
and choose the top surface
of your rectangular cube
and change the view to
“normal to”. Draw a simple
triangle using “line”, on the
surface
Mirrors
Exit the sketch and switch your view
to isometric. Extrude the triangle to
a depth of 0.02, then click ok to
see the extruded triangular feature.
Mirror
So if we want to mirror this triangle, we
simply click on the feature in feature
manager or the part in our design.
From the dynamic toolbar choose MIRROR
Mirror
In property manager, we see it is asking for
a mirror face or plane. In our design
field, we see our part which we can
expand to view various things. Expand
and select right plane as this is the
plane we want to mirror about. Notice
that this plane is right on our origin.
Mirror
You should see a preview
of the mirror. Click OK
in property manager to
finish the mirror.
Patterns and Mirrors

This is all well and good, but couldn’t we
simply have drawn all of these patterned or
mirrored features ourselves?

Yes, we could have, but there are several
major advantages to creating the copies in
the proper fashion.
Patterns and Mirrors

First, and probably the most obvious, is that it
saves time; drawing all of those copied
features can be quite time consuming and
there is no reason to do it if we don’t have to.

Second, and most importantly, is that if you
change the original feature in a pattern or
mirror, all of the children also change.
Patterns and Mirrors

Performing patterns and mirrors properly is
an important part of maintaining design intent

If the features in your part are intended to be
the same, then it is important that your
modeling practice reflects that.
Solidworks Exercise
Lets use what we have learned to model the
following part:
Solidworks Exercise
It is always useful to think about HOW you might design this part.
Upon inspection we see that this is basically 3 rectangles. One
front plate with 2 side plates. You might notice that the side
plates are symmetrical about the center plate. So we can use
mirror to build one side. We can use pattern, to place the smaller
holes on the front plate.
Solidworks Exercise
Right click on the part in
feature manager and
choose DOCUMENT
PROPERTIES. Lets
click UNITS and
change the units to IPS
to dimension the part in
INCHES.
Solidworks Exercise
Let’s begin by selecting a
NEW PART, then
extruded boss base.
Choose the FRONT
PLANE. Change view
to normal to if not
already seen.
Solidworks Exercise
Begin by drawing a
rectangle about the
origin. Add relations to
the rectangle edges of
vertical and horizontal
using midpoints and the
origin. See slides 28-30
to remember how to do
this.
Solidworks Exercise
Dimension the rectangle
according to our
original design sketch.
We see the bottom
edge is 5 inches and a
side is 4 inches.
Exit the sketch, and
extrude the part
according to the
design, which is 0.3.
Solidworks Exercise
Now lets add the circle in
the middle. Choose
Extruded CUT, choose
top face, change view
to normal to. Place a
circle using the origin to
begin and dimension
the circle with a
diameter of 2.40 in.
Solidworks Exercise
Exit the sketch, then change to
isometric view to see the 3D
design. Choose “through
all” in property manager to
extrude the cut.
Solidworks Exercise
Now lets pattern the outer
circles. Choose
Extruded CUT, the top
face, change view to
normal view. Place a
circle in the bottom right
corner and dimension
with a radius of 0.4 in.
Solidworks Exercise
We need this circle to be at an angle of
45 degrees to the vertical. One way
to do this is to use a centerline.
Choose Centerline and draw a line
from the origin to the center of our
small circle. Draw a second center
line from the origin straight down.
Make sure you see 90 degrees as
well as a vertical line icon.
Solidworks Exercise
Lets dimension the centerline
from the origin to our circle
as 1.90 or you can enter
3.80/2 .
Then you can dimension the
ANGLE. Click on your first
centerline, then click the
second centerline and the
angle will appear. Change
this to 45 degrees.
Solidworks Exercise
Exit the sketch, switch
view to isometric and
extrude the cut using
“through all”. Click OK
in property manager to
see the result.
Solidworks Exercise
Enable your temporary axis
(Choose view at top). Then
select the feature you want
to pattern, which was our
small circle.
Click CIRCULAR PATTERN. In
property manager, the axis
field is highlighted so
choose the temporary axis
you made at the origin
Make 4 instances for 4 holes,
then click OK.
Solidworks Exercise
Now we have 4 equally
spaced holes.
Solidworks Exercise
Now lets make our side which we will
mirror. Choose Extruded Boss Base
and choose the right side face.
One thing that may be useful is using
the GRID. To see the grid, right click
out in the design field and choose it.
It helps you visualize WHERE you
are sketching.
Solidworks Exercise
Turn off the grid and
change your view to
“normal to”.
Using the line tool, sketch
the basic shape. Hit
escape to get out of the
line tool.
Solidworks Exercise
Now lets dimension the
shape according to our
original design.
We also need 3 circles.
So add 3 circle in the
general area.
Solidworks Exercise
To dimension the circle
we can select ALL by
holding down CTRL.
Then add the relation
EQUAL. The diameter
of the circles are 0.40.
Finish the dimensioning
then exit the sketch and
switch to isometric
view.
Solidworks Exercise
Click on the button for BLIND
to reverse the direction of
the EXTRUDE. We want to
extrude inward!!! You
should see the arrow switch
to inward.
Extrude the selection to 0.3 also
so that the thickness is the same
as the front piece.
Click OK in property manager.
Solidworks Exercise
You should now see your finished
side panel.
Now click on the new extruded
side in feature manager. Next
choose MIRROR. Expand the
part in the DESIGN FIELD,
chose right plane.
Solidworks Exercise
The last thing we need to do is FILLET the
front edges. Hold down CTRL and select
the OUTER and INNER edges.
Select 0.5 inches
for the radius.
Then Click OK.
Solidworks Exercise