Repeat feature

[HamsterNL]

I am working with Creo 4.0, so I hope that a later version of Creo can handle this...

With the "repeat" function in an assembly, a user can choose which constraints he want to keep, and which constraints he want to change, and then repeatingly place that component into that assembly. It's a very usefull feature.

I would like to "repeat" a feature in a part, just like how I can "repeat" a component placed in an assembly.

Ideally, I would select a feature, RMB --> Repeat, decide which references to keep the same and which to change, and then start placing that feature a couple of more times.

I know that I can "copy & paste" a feature, but then Creo will start asking for all references...that's not what I want. I also don't want to create a UDF, as sometimes it's just a simple hole which I want to repeat. A pattern is not an option, as I am going to toggle those features ON and OFF with Pro/PROGRAM.

Maybe I am overlooking an existing feature of Creo to "repeat" features in a part?

[HamsterNL]

The closest thing Creo has is the "Paste Special", and then I need to deselect "Dependant copy" and select "Advanced reference configuration":

But then I can only paste one new feature, not multiple, and I need to "copy & paste special" over and over again. So it's close...but not close enough 🙂

[tbraxton]

When I have needed to do what you are describing with a feature, I use a mapkey  with the paste special functionality. The mapkey will eliminate all of the UI interaction except for the selection of the references. The mapkey will allow you to place the copied features by only selecting the references.

!* Paste special independent
mapkey cvv @MAPKEY_NAMEPaste special independent;@MAPKEY_LABELPaste special;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Command `ProCmdEditPasteSpecial@PopupMenuTree` ;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `paste_special` `makecopyiesPB` 0;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `paste_special` `pastebyrefPB` 1;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `paste_special` `okPB`;

[HamsterNL]

Yes, a mapkey will make that process a bit quicker, but it won't allow me to paste features multiple times. I'd still have to use that mapkey multiple times.

For example, if I would like to copy a feature 4 more times and only change 1 reference...

The optimal solution would be:

• Select feature
• RMB
• Repeat
• Select reference I would like to change
• Click "Add"
• Select the 4 new references
• Click "Done"

So 10 clicks in total.

With a mapkey solution:

• Select feature
• Type mapkey (for example "cs")
• Select reference I would like to change
• Select new reference
• Click "Done"

So 6 clicks to make one copy...24 clicks to make 4 copies...(or 21 clicks if the original feature was still selected by Creo.)

That being said, I am still going to create that mapkey 🙂

[MartinHanak]

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@HamsterNL wrote:

The closest thing Creo has is the "Paste Special", and then I need to deselect "Dependant copy" and select "Advanced reference configuration":

But then I can only paste one new feature, not multiple, and I need to "copy & paste special" over and over again. So it's close...but not close enough 🙂

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Hi,

I did simple test in Creo 4.0 M140 ... I created following model.

• I selected Extrude 2 and Hole 1 in model tree
• RMB > Copy
• RMB > Paste Special ... enabled me to copy both features at once

Also I tried to make group containing two mentioned features. I was able to make a copy successfully.

[HamsterNL]

I think I was a bit unclear...I would like to copy one feature multiple times, not multiple features just once.

(being able to copy multiple features for multiple times would also be very nice)

So in your example, I would like to copy only the hole feature two more times at the location of the two extra datum planes.