Replicate selected parts, faces, or features about an axis or Mate connector (implicit or explicit). Create new parts or modify existing parts by adding or removing material, or intersecting parts in its path. For information on creating linear patterns, see Linear Pattern. Circular pattern may also be used during an active sheet metal operation.

Onshape offers multiple pattern features, allowing you to create additional instances of parts, features, or faces within a part studio. The pattern types available are linear, circular, mirror, and curve pattern.

A linear pattern generates instances along a single direction or creates an array in two directions.

The circular pattern generates instances around an axis.

Mirror pattern reflects instances about a mirror plane.

A curve pattern generates instances along a curve or path.

Select a pattern type.

A part pattern creates additional instances of selected parts. When you choose a part pattern, Boolean options are available to create new, add, remove, or intersect.

The new tab creates new parts for each instance of the pattern. Use this operation carefully as multiple identical parts within a part studio show as separate and unique parts within an assembly and bill of materials, and this is not a recommended practice.

The add tab adds material to existing parts. For overlapping parts, an add operation can join multiple parts into one.

The remove tab removes material where the pattern instance intersects parts.

The intersect tab leaves material where the pattern instance intersects parts.

The Boolean options allow parts to be used as tooling bodies to add or remove material or preserve the intersection of the pattern instances and the existing geometry.

A feature pattern replicates one or more features selected from the features list.

By default, feature patterns do not account for the seed features end type. In cases where the end type varies, select reapply features to regenerate parts from the selected features, including feature dependencies and end conditions. Use this option only when necessary, as it can affect performance and regeneration times.

Face patterns replicate selected faces. They result in the best performance as the computational load is much lower for faces than for parametrically bound features or parts. Therefore, they are preferred over feature or part patterns when the resulting geometry is identical.

In cases where faces are tangentially connected or form a recognizable geometric feature, such as a pocket or protrusion, use create selection to select the subset of faces to be patterned more easily.

Set the type of face selection, select the face or faces and click add selection.

All patterns except mirror contain an option to skip instances. Skipping instances is helpful when encountering conflicting geometry or when you wish to exclude particular instances. Onshape displays a selection point outlined in gray for each instance. You can skip an instance by selecting its respective selection point or using a box selection to select multiple instances simultaneously. Onshape highlights the selection points of skipped instances in light blue.

The merge scope determines which parts are affected by the pattern feature. For example, indicate which parts should be cut by a patterned pocket by including them within the merge scope. Parts not included within the merge scope are unaffected by the pattern feature.

Select merge with all to include all parts in the merge scope.

The Circular pattern feature replicates selected parts, features, or faces about a center axis.

Start a new Circular pattern feature from the feature toolbar. Select the appropriate options for the Pattern type and seed instance. This example patterns three tooling bodies to remove geometry from the Upper and Lower Castings. With focus on Axis of pattern, select a circular edge, cylindrical face, Mate connector, or sketched circle. The primary axis of a Mate connector serves as the Axis of pattern. Alternatively, click the Select mate connector button to define an implicit mate connector as the pattern axis. Modify the Mate connector's alignment, position, or angle by clicking the mate connector icon in the Axis of pattern field.

Enter an Angle and Instance count. The Instance count includes the seed instance.

With Equal spacing checked, Onshape evenly spaces the instances across the pattern Angle. In this example, all three instances are spaced evenly across a 60-degree Angle. Uncheck Equal spacing to apply the Angle between instances. Now, the angle between instances is 60 degrees, increasing the angle between the first and final instance to 120 degrees. Toggle the Opposite direction arrow to switch the direction to the left or right of the original instance. In cases where the seed instance lies at the center of the pattern, check Centered to pattern instances symmetrically around the axis from the seed instance.

  1. Click Circular pattern icon:

    Circular pattern dialog

  2. Select a Result operation type:
    • New - Create new material that results in a new part.
    • Add - Create new material and add to the existing material.
    • Remove - Take material away from existing material.
    • Intersect - Leave material only where geometry overlaps.
  3. Select the pattern type: Part, Feature, or Face:
    • Part - To pattern an individual part
    • Feature - To pattern a specific feature (or features) listed in the Feature list.
    • Face - To pattern a specific face on a specific part
  4. With focus on the Entities to pattern field, select entities to replicate into a pattern.

    When selecting Faces to pattern, the Create SelectionCreate Selection Arrow Icon can be useful to select related faces.

  5. Set focus in the Axis of pattern field, and then select an edge, face, or conic or cylindrical face of the part, linear sketch entity or Mate connector (implicit or explicit) about which to place the replicated pattern parts. ( Click the Mate Point Connector Icon in order to select implicit Mate connectors.)

    Once a Mate connector is selected, click the Mate connector icon in the dialog field (outlined in blue below) to open a dialog with which to edit the Mate connector:

    Circular Pattern Dialog with Mate connector as axis

  6. Enter the distance between each pattern part, and then the number of repetitions, or Instance count (the minimum number of instances you are able to use is 1).
  7. The Equal spacing box allows you to place the pattern parts equally spaced within the specified degrees:

    Circular pattern example, without Equal spacing checked, parts placed 90 degrees apart

    Without Equal spacing checked, above, the parts are placed 90 degrees apart.

    Circular pattern example, with Equal spacing checked, the parts are equally spaced within 90 degrees.

    With Equal spacing checked, above, the parts are equally spaced within 90 degrees.

  8. Use Centered to make the seed instance/face/feature the center of the pattern:

    Circular pattern example, with Equal spacing checked, the parts are equally spaced within 90 degrees.

    The seed instance is at the top of the pattern (outlined in red), with the pattern circling to the left, above, with the Centered checkbox unchecked.

    The seed instance is still at the top, outlined in red above, and with the Centered box checked.

    The seed instance is still at the top, outlined in red above, and with the Centered box checked, the pattern extends out from both sides of the seed instance.

  9. Check the Skip instances option to specify instances of the pattern to skip:
    • Click the instance's selection handle to add it to the list of instances to skip.

      Circular pattern with two instances skipped

    • Click the X next to the instance in the list to add it back to the Part Studio.
    • Click CLEAR to remove all instances from the Instances to skip list.
  10. (Feature pattern type only) Select Reapply features to regenerate the feature for each instance (specified in Instance count), in lieu of simply recreating the initial pattern instance.

Pattern an individual part

One section was created and then patterned as Add to create this part:

example of Circular Pattern tool used on an individual part

For sheet metal, this blade was selected as the part and an edge was selected as the pattern axis.

example of a blade selected as the part and an edge selected as the pattern axis example of a blade selected as the part and an edge selected as the pattern axis

Pattern a specific feature (or features) in the Features list without Reapply features selected (a faster, more lightweight feature pattern). This is not available for sheet metal.

In the following example, the initial extrude was Up to next (bringing the extrude up to the face of the surface). Without Reapply features selected, the features patterned (extrude) are patterned from the initial features and not regenerated (so the Up to next does not update for each instance of the pattern):

example of Up to next Extrude without Reapply features selected

Pattern a specific feature (or features) listed in the Feature list with Reapply features selected. This is available for sheet metal.

In the following example, the initial extrude was Up to next (bringing the extrude up to the face of the surface). With Reapply features selected, the features patterned (extrude) are regenerated for each instance of the pattern so Up to next is applied to each instance of the pattern.

example of Up to next Extrude with Reapply features selected

Pattern a specific face on specific part

The selected faces are the cylindrical face and its top face (for two cylinders), then patterned at 90 degree angles, 4 instances.

example of a pattern on a specific face on a specific part

The selected face on this sheet metal piece is the flange. The axis or Mate connector (implicit or explicit) is the highlighted circle.

Image shows the selected face on a piece of sheet metal as the flange, and the axis as the highlighted circle

New - Create new material that results in a new part:

example of Circular Pattern: new material

Add - Create material and add to the existing material (in this instance, Merge with all was selected):

example of Circular Pattern: add material

Take material away; select the part to pattern and then Remove:

example of Circular Pattern: remove

Select the part to pattern, and then Intersect:

example of Circular Pattern: intersect

  • When selecting a face or edge to set the Axis of pattern, you can use the Opposite direction arrow to flip the result if necessary.
  • When patterning a feature, you can select from the Feature list, in any order. Regardless of the order selected, the features are applied in the order listed in the Feature list.
  • If you select a pattern in the Feature list, you will pattern that pattern, but not the seed. In order to include the seed, select it as well.
  • When patterning a boolean feature, you must also select the features to which the boolean was applied.
  • When creating Feature patterns, all aspects of a feature are applied; for example, the end conditions in an Extrude feature. (By contrast, Face patterns do not recognize these types of modifiers.)

  • If Reapply features is enabled for the feature pattern, external references will regenerate automatically on a per-instance basis.

    In a sketch, the seed sketch dimensions and constraints to the origin or default plane will not be reapplied. You can use this behavior to scope which dimensions or constraints are reapplied within a pattern:

    • You can pattern sketch features that are dimensioned or constrained to the origin or default planes and choose not reapply those dimensions and constraints.
    • You can also create explicit construction sketches along the default planes or origin when reapplying features along them.

  • If Mate connectors are Part patterned in a Part Studio, they will all be added to the Assembly when the Part Studio is inserted. If you don't see your Mate connectors when the Part Studio is inserted into the Assembly, make sure the Part is listed as the Mate connector owner entity.
  1. Tap Circular pattern tool.

    Circular Pattern tool icon

    Circular Pattern dialog

  2. Specify Pattern type:
    • Part - To pattern an individual part
    • Feature - To pattern a specific feature (or features) listed in the Feature list
    • Face - To pattern a specific face on a specific part
  3. Select a Result body operation type:
    • New - Create new material that results in a new part.
    • Add - Create new material and add to the existing material.
    • Remove - Take material away from a part.
    • Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist.
  4. Select entities (parts, features, or faces) to pattern.
  5. Select the axis of the pattern (an edge, sketch, or circular/conical face).
    1. Optionally, tap the Mate connector icon to select or create implicit Mate connectors.
  6. Specify the angle. This angle will be the distance between each part, unless you chose to use Equal spacing (see step 9 for more info).
  7. Specify the instance count.
  8. Optionally, toggle to switch to the opposite direction.
  9. Optionally, toggle to use equal spacing. Equal spacing will place the patterned entities within the specified angle/degrees.
  10. Optionally, toggle Centered to make the seed instance/face/feature as the center of the pattern.
  11. Optionally, toggle Skip instances and select the instances to skip. Double-tap an instance to add it back to the Part Studio.
  12. Tap checkmark.

Pattern an individual part.

A part is patterned 4 times using Circular part pattern around the axis of a sketch circle to add material to the existing part.

Example of a circular part pattern

Pattern a specific feature (or features) listed in the Feature list.

An extrude feature is patterned 4 times using Circular feature pattern around the axis of a sketch circle to add material to the existing part.

Example of a circular feature pattern

Pattern a specific face on a specific part.

The highlighted cylindrical faces of the part are patterned 4 times using Circular face pattern to add material to the existing part.

Example of a circular face pattern

New - Create new material that results in a new part.

Example of a circular pattern new material

Add - Create material and add to the existing material.

Example of a circular pattern add material

Take material away.

Example of a circular pattern remove

Leave material only where intersections exist.

Example of a circular pattern intersect

  1. Tap Circular pattern tool.

    Circular Pattern tool icon

    Example of Circular Pattern dialog

  2. Specify Pattern type:
    • Part - To pattern an individual part
    • Feature - To pattern a specific feature (or features) listed in the Feature list.
    • Face - To pattern a specific face on a specific part
  3. Select a Result body operation type:
    • New - Create new material that results in a new part.
    • Add - Create new material and add to the existing material.
    • Remove - Take material away from a part.
    • Intersect - Leave material only where intersections exist.
  4. Select entities (parts, features, or faces) to pattern.
  5. Select the axis of the pattern (an edge, sketch, or circular/conical face).
  6. Specify the angle. This angle will be the distance between each part, unless you chose to use Equal spacing (see step 9 for more info).
  7. Specify the instance count.
  8. Optionally, toggle to switch to the opposite direction.
  9. Optionally, toggle to use equal spacing. Equal spacing will place the patterned entities within the specified angle/degrees.
  10. Optionally, toggle Centered to make the seed instance/face/feature as the center of the pattern.
  11. Optionally, toggle Skip instances and select the instances to skip. Double-tap an instance to add it back to the Part Studio.
  12. Tap checkmark.

Pattern an individual part.

A part is patterned 4 times using Circular part pattern around the axis of a sketch circle to add material to the existing part.

Example of circular part pattern

Pattern a specific feature (or features) listed in the Feature list.

An extrude feature is patterned 4 times using Circular feature pattern around the axis of a sketch circle to add material to the existing part.

Example of circular feature pattern

Pattern a specific face on a specific part.

The highlighted cylindrical faces of the part are patterned 4 times using Circular face pattern to add material to the existing part.

Example of circular face pattern

New - Create new material that results in a new part.

Example of circular pattern: new material

Add - Create material and add to the existing material.

Example of circular pattern: add material

Take material away.

Example of circular pattern: remove

Leave material only where intersections exist.

Example of circular pattern: intersect