Chapter 8 Creating and Working with Solid Model Features
203
Creating 3D Arrays Creating 3D Arrays
An array is an arrangement of objects in a 2D or 3D pattern. An array can be
created as a rectangular, polar, or path array. You probably used arrays to complete
some of the problems in previous chapters. A 2D array is created on the XY plane of the
current UCS. A 3D array is an arrangement of objects in 3D space. The ARRAYRECT,T
T
ARRAYPOLAR, and
ARRAYPATH
commands can be used to create both 2D and 3D
arrays. These commands provide the same functions as the Rectangular,
r
Polar, and
r
Path
options of the
ARRAY
command and are available in the drop-down menu located
in the
Modify
panel of the
Home
tab on the ribbon. See Figure 8-11.
An array can be created as an associative or non-associative array. Creating an
associative array creates an array object, which can be modified t as a single entity. For fi
example, you can edit the source object to change all of the items in the array at once.
You can also perform other modifications, such as deleting one or more items in the fi
array, while maintaining the associativity of the arrayed items.
When creating a 3D array, the information you specify depends on the type of
array being created. Many of the options are similar to those used when creating a 2D
array. The following sections discuss 3D rectangular, polar, and path arrays.
NOTE OT OT TE
The legacy
3DARRAY
command can also be used to create 3D arrays,
but it is limited to creating rectangular and polar arrays and cannot
create associative arrays. Using the ARRAYRECT,
T T
ARRAYPOLAR, or
ARRAYPATH
command is the preferred method to create a 3D array.
3D Rectangular Arrays
In a 3D rectangular array, as with a 2D rectangular array, you must enter the y y
number of rows and columns. However, you must also specify the number of levels,
which represents the third (Z) dimension. The command sequence is similar to that
used when creating a 2D array.
An example of where a 3D rectangular array may be created is the layout of struc-
tural columns on multiple floors of a commercial building. In fl Figure 8-12A, you can
see two concrete floor slabs of a building and a single structural column. It is now a fl
simple matter of arraying the column in rows, columns, and levels.
To draw a 3D rectangular array, select the
ARRAYRECT
command. Select the
object to array and press [Enter]. An initial pattern of three rows, four columns, and
one level forms. You can select one of the array grips and drag to increase or decrease
the number of rows, number of columns, or spacing dynamically. See Figure 8-12B.
Without exiting the command, you can then adjust the row, column, level, and spacing
Figure 8-11.
The ARRAYRECT,T
ARRAYPOLAR,
and
ARRAYPATH
commands can be
accessed from the
drop-down menu
located in the
Modify
panel of the
Home
tab on the ribbon.
ARRAYRECT
Ribbon
Modify
Rectangular Array
Type
ARRAYRECT