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ptc-19990621-Visitor
1-Visitor
October 12, 2020
Question

Modeling large patterns

  • October 12, 2020
  • 5 replies
  • 3359 views

Hello,

 

I am trying to model a calibration target (similar to these larger and higher dot density).  I'm not allowed to share the .prt file but here's the process:

 

Extruded a sketch for the overall shape.

Extruded a rectangular sketch to cut the first slot, linear pattern to the edge of the part

Created a sketch for a dot on the "high" rows, did a extrude cut and, then a fill pattern using the outline of the part

Created a sketch for a dot on the "low" row, did a extrude cut and, then a fill pattern using the outline of the part.

 

All in all there are around 6000 dots.  Regeneration time often exceeds 30 minutes on a relatively fast Xeon machine.  Is there any suggestions to more efficiently model this. I would like to be able to see the dots because I use the ray trace plug-in to visualize how they look behind various shaped glass but they don't have to be extruded.

 

Thanks,

Matt 

5 replies

T
23-Emerald IV
TomU23-Emerald IV
23-Emerald IV
October 12, 2020

Take a look at the 'Identical' pattern type:

https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/r6.0/usascii/#page/part_modeling%2Fpart_modeling%2Fpart_six_sub%2FAbout_Pattern_Regeneration_Options.html%23

 

Also watch the video on this page about 'turbo patterns'.  The video is old but the concept still applies today.  Using patterning quilts and then solidifying the quilts is very efficient.

http://www.e-cognition.net/pages/TurboPattern.html

 

R
rreifsnyder15-Moonstone
15-Moonstone
October 12, 2020

Take a look at Geometry patterns and for a really large number like what you are talking about possibly a pattern of a pattern using geometry patterns. I'm not sure about what exactly you are looking for, I couldn't tell from your link if it was meant to be a random pattern or not but take a look. I'll attach 2 presentations I did from a number of years ago on Geometry Patterns and Pattern of a Pattern. It was on Wildfire 5 so the menus/icons look very different.

    M
    MartinHanak24-Ruby III
    24-Ruby III
    October 13, 2020

    Note: In non-shaded display mode Creo needs some time to compute hidden line display.

    K
    KenFarley21-Topaz II
    21-Topaz II
    October 13, 2020

    I can only concur on the geometry patterns. We have some parts that have thousands of rectangular cutouts and before learning about this option it took a couple of hours to regenerate a model. Now it takes minutes. Be aware that this only works with identical geometry (no partial cutouts).

    P
    ptc-19990621-VisitorAuthor
    1-Visitor
    October 14, 2020

    Thank you everyone for taking the time to share suggestions! I've tried them all so far.

     

    • Copy Geometry: This one would speed through the regeneration and then freeze Creo with less than 10 of ~6700 features left to regenerate.  I backed off on the density and it worked fine but unfortunately couldn't handle the full density
    • Pattern Regen Options: I was able to set the pattern for the "high dots" to identical and the "low dots" to variable from general. This sped up the regen a little.  The first group of dots generated in less than a minute but the second still takes 30+ minutes.  Perhaps the two patterns are related somehow and maybe if there is a way to create a single pattern that cuts into both the ridges and valleys of the calibration plate, it might speed things up
    • Turbo mode: Creating the pattern of quilts was very fast but after solidifying the first instance and doing a reference pattern, it was regenerating 3000 features at about one per second.

    As a bonus, I did discover I could launch multiple instances of Creo at the same time and try alternate strategies in parallel since each instance only consumes ~9% CPU and under 1 GB ram while trying to regenerate.

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