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FreeCAD: Copying and arranging in a circle

FreeCAD 0.19

This article explains how to copy a solid and arrange in a circle. It is possible to create shapes as shown in the following figures.

Sample 1
Sample 2

Steps

  1. Create new documentNew Document icon and create a solid that is used as source.

    PolarArray1
    Solid that is used as source shape

  2. Switch to Draft workbenchDraft workbench.

  3. Select source shape in model tree and execute Polar Array toolDraft_Array to show the dailog in tasks tab.

    Fig. Executes Polar Array tool
    Executes Polar Array tool
    Fig. Dialog for Polar Array tool
    Dialog for Polar Array tool

  4. In the dialog, set parameters as following and click OK. Then 12 copies will be made in a circular pattern around the axis in the Z-axis direction starting at (0.0,0.0,0.0). If you want to change the rotation axis, you can change it in the Data tab after copying.

    ParametersValue
    Polar angle360
    Number of elements12
    Center of rotation(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
    Fuseuncheck
    Link arraycheck

    When the copy is done, the shape will look like as following figure.

    Fig. Result of Polar Array operation
    Result of Polar Array operation

  5. The number of copies, rotation axis, etc. can be changed after creation by selecting the created "Array" in the model tree and changing the array copy parameters in the Data tab at the bottom of the combo view.

    Fig. Changing Polar Array parameters
    Changing Polar Array parameters

References