Aligning Components with Parts having Fill Patterns

[JS_10459867]

Hi,

I have an assembly in which I am using fill pattern to create an array of parts. The spacing and the sketch of the fill patterns are parametric, i.e., I defined variables for them so that I can test various combinations of space and fill area to prototype faster. I have other components which I want to center with respect to the pattern. There are 2 ways that I have tried:

1. Align the components with the planes of the global coordinate system. This does not align the components with the fill pattern because the fill pattern instance is not symmetric, which means the resulting fill pattern is also not symmetric with respect to the X and Y planes of the global coordinate system. Is there a way to center the fill pattern with respect to the global X and Y planes? Note that offsetting the fill pattern instance to create a symmetry there would not work since the dimensions of the fill pattern instance are also defined variably and would often change. 

2. Align the components with the outermost surface of the fill pattern. This does not work if the fill pattern parameters are changed since the alignment corresponds to a specific instance within the fill pattern. 

Any help is greatly appreciated in this. Thanks.

[tbraxton]

Screen shots would help define the issue you are asking about. The term global csys is ambiguous in the context of Creo Parametric are you referring to the default csys in your part model?

[tbraxton · Accepted solution]

Here is an example of using a fill pattern to control component placement in an assembly. If you are careful with the component placement constraints this is pretty robust with regeneration. This is seen when changing the sketch reference for the fill pattern in the video.

This example is using csys alignment for each component placed on a pattern member of the fill pattern. 

Creo 7 models enclosed for reference.