Browser 0.4 and Windows 0.3

Pattern tool

Repeat sketch geometry, bodies or supported features with editable linear, circular and path layouts.

Updated October 20266 min readWorkspace & 3D

Choose your version. The browser app is 0.4; Windows remains 0.3. Tools and project formats differ. See version differences.

Browser 0.4 — the current browser workflow is described first. Expand the Windows section for the unchanged installed version.

Repeat sketch geometry

In Browser 0.4 sketch mode, Pattern supports linear, circular, along-path and Populate layouts with a reversible preview. Linked patterns retain their source and guide references; changing the guide updates the copies. Use Detach before independent copy editing.

Repeat bodies or features

In 3D, choose Pattern, select its source and configure the available layout, count and spacing. Supported body and creation-feature patterns can follow a sketch path. Inspect orientation and the exact preview before Create. A feature pattern must remain valid on its target; a repeated cut that removes no material is rejected.

Windows 0.3 instructions
Local OCCT editing update

In the local OCCT editor, choose Pattern, a Target body, and Repeat: Whole body or Individual feature. Feature seeds are earlier extrusions (including holes/pockets), revolves, sweeps or lofts on that body. Choose Linear, Circular or Along path. Path patterns use connected sketch curves; choose 2?32 instances, spacing in millimetres (0 fits the path), optional tangent rotation and Reverse path. Count includes the original, which stays in place. Closed paths omit the duplicate endpoint. Source edits rebuild copies; missing or suppressed seeds require repair. Finishing-feature groups and direct body-edge path picking are not included.

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Recommended tests

Use a simple recessed plate for Path mode and a round plate for Circular mode.

  1. Create an ordinary Push/Pull Join or Cut that can serve as the reusable feature.
  2. Choose Pattern in the 3D toolbar and select the seed.
  3. In Path, select a straight cap edge and compare Single edge, Connected chain, and Whole loop.
  4. Switch to Circular; the seed stays selected, while the incompatible path selection is cleared.
  5. Click an exact circular top or bottom rim, set the instance count and angle, then create the pattern.

Choose Path or Circular in the same task card

The 3D toolbar has one Pattern command. Its Path and Circular tabs share seed selection, live Boolean preview, numeric scrubbing, validation, and creation controls. Switching tabs preserves the compatible seed but clears the previous path or axis reference so stale geometry cannot affect the new preview.

The resulting history feature remains named Path Pattern or Circular Pattern. These are separate associative definitions because a selected path and an angular axis require different parameters and rebuild rules.

Choose one existing Join or Cut as the template

The seed must be an ordinary Push/Pull Join or Cut on a prismatic Extrude body. Its linked sketch supplies the exact profile; its operation, direction, and distance supply the material change and depth. Select the feature in 3D Objects before opening Pattern, or choose it from the shared Seed feature list.

The seed is not duplicated separately

While a pattern is active, Cadivari uses the original feature as the pattern template. Deleting or suppressing the pattern restores the seed unchanged in its authored position.

Pattern one edge or a connected chain or an entire loop

Choose Path, set the scope, then click a straight top or bottom cap edge on the seed body. Single edge patterns only the clicked edge. Connected chain starts from the first edge; click neighboring edges to extend the chain, or click a selected endpoint to remove it. Whole loop derives the complete closed perimeter from one edge.

Count places the requested number of instances at equal intervals on every selected edge. Spacing keeps the requested centre-to-centre distance exact and centres any unused length symmetrically. Corner margin protects an equal span at both ends before either distribution is calculated.

The selected path can belong to the base Extrude or to an earlier Push/Pull Join or Cut. Each selected edge remains a semantic history reference, so changing the source sketch rebuilds the instances.

Pattern around an exact circular rim

Choose Circular, then click a top or bottom rim created from one exact Circle entity on the same body. Cadivari uses the associated circle centre and plane normal as an infinite axis. The rim may come from the base Extrude or an earlier Join or Cut, but it cannot belong to the seed itself.

Instances is the total number of generated copies, including the seed position. Total angle controls the angular span, and Start angle rotates the complete distribution away from the authored seed. A full 360-degree pattern omits the duplicate endpoint; a partial pattern includes both ends of its span.

Rotate with pattern turns every profile around the axis and is normally best for radial slots, flange lugs, and outward-facing features. Keep orientation moves each profile centre around the orbit while preserving the original sketch orientation.

Drag a field label to scrub its value

Hold the primary mouse button on a numeric label and drag horizontally. Dragging right increases the value and dragging left decreases it while the solid preview rebuilds live. Hold Shift for fine changes, or press Escape before releasing to restore the value from the start of the drag.

The input box remains a normal editable field for exact typed values. Path count, spacing, and margin plus Circular count and angle fields all use the same interaction.

Edit the sources or pattern values at any time

Path Pattern stores the seed, semantic edge references, scope, distribution, count, spacing, and margin. Circular Pattern stores the seed, semantic circular rim, count, total angle, start angle, and orientation. Select either feature in 3D Objects to edit its supported values. Editing a seed sketch, seed depth, path-source sketch, or axis Circle rebuilds all instances.

One seed can drive only one active Path or Circular Pattern. Cadivari prevents deleting a referenced seed or geometry source before its pattern. Legacy Perimeter Cut Pattern v1 features remain readable and resolve as Path mode with Whole loop scope and Count distribution.

The evaluated solid is exported

Every instance passes through the same exact prismatic Boolean evaluator as an ordinary Push/Pull Join or Cut. Body splits, validated meshes, and 3MF export therefore receive the rebuilt solid rather than viewport-only copies.

Guarded combinations

  • Prismatic New Body Extrudes with cap-parallel Push/Pull Join or Cut seeds
  • Path: Single edge, uninterrupted connected chain, or complete straight loop
  • Path: source loops made only from connected Lines or one Rectangle
  • Path: 1-32 Count instances, or at most 32 Spacing instances, per selected edge
  • Circular: exact circular axes authored by one Circle entity on the same body
  • Circular: 2-64 instances and total angles greater than zero and no more than 360 degrees
  • Circular: Rotate-with-pattern and fixed-orientation modes
  • One active Path or Circular Pattern per seed feature
  • Curved Path edges, arbitrary construction axes, and patterned feature groups remain future extensions
  • Mixed Shell, Chamfer, Fillet, Loft, or Revolve histories remain guarded by the current prismatic solid kernel