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Pattern to follow curve

Pattern to follow curve

Pattern to follow curve

(OP)
I have set up a sketch of the path that I would like my part to follow.  I have set up a pattern of points that follow this curve with appropriate spacing.  I then use a reference pattern to bring in the part I want to follow the curve.  My problem is that I have not found a way to get the parts to orient themselves with the curve.  I can bring each part in manually by having it align to the next point in the pattern, but if I try to pattern with that, it will locate and orient to the first point.

Thanks for the help!

RE: Pattern to follow curve

The problem may be that you don't need to create points.

I am using Wildfire 4.0, and there is an option to pattern along a curve (not sure if it is in previous versions - it's the last option on the list).

I created the below by using the end point of the sketch as a reference for the part.

RE: Pattern to follow curve

(OP)
Thank you very much for the tip.  I have run in to one issue, however.  After wrapping around the first arc, the pattern is now shifted off of the curve for the rest of the shape.  The linked file below shows where this happens, and for the rest of the pattern along the bottom, it is shifted to the left of the curve.  It seems to be following the shape of the curve, but it does not stay on it.

RE: Pattern to follow curve

(OP)
BTW, I'm in WF 3.0

RE: Pattern to follow curve

(OP)
Nevermind, I discovered that it uses the center of the part to follow the curve and I was not using the center of the part to place it.  By moving the placement point, I got something that is acceptable.

Thank you very much for your help.

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