SOLIDWORKS 2022 What’s New – Assemblies: Pattern Driven Component Pattern Logic Enhanced

Since SOLIDWORKS’ release in 1995, Dassault Systemes has iterated many times over to give us the mature CAD product we know and love today. Enhancements – both large and small – help to drive the CAD program that has aged like a fine wine.

Seemingly small enhancements, however, can be just as important as the big ones. For example, in the 2013 release of SOLIDWORKS, they introduced the “right-click to confirm command” feature that has helped saved me tons of time and gives me a much better user experience.

Though the Pattern Driven Component Pattern looks no different from the surface, the enhanced logic of the command makes this easier to use. Frustrated users in 2021 and earlier releases may get a dialog that looks like this:

Error Message: To drive this pattern, you must select a feature or component that is not the seed instance.

As users, we hate to see errors like this that don’t quite make sense. I thought I did everything right when I inserted my fastener into the model and commanded SOLIDWORKS to pattern the remaining patterned holes with the fastener. Yet, I still got this error.

This error was caused because I used two hole wizard holes in the original “seed” instance, but I only used one fastener. No matter which face I selected, I would still get the error above.

The red box highlights my seed instance, and the red “prohibition” symbol shows all of the invalid selections that I cannot select for my “driving feature or component” in the PropertyManager.

In 2022, I can now pattern an instance of this component, regardless of whether it belongs to the seed or a patterned instance.

This improved flexibility with the Pattern Driven Component Pattern command allows users to increase their production without the need to debunk error messages. It makes for a more streamlined, robust process. It just goes to show how smaller enhancements are still incredibly important to improve a software like SOLIDWORKS.

I hope this part of the What’s New series gives you a better understanding of the new features and functions of SOLIDWORKS 2022. Please check back to the CATI Blog as the CATI Application Engineers will continue to break down many of the new items in SOLIDWORKS 2022. All these articles will be stored in the category of “SOLIDWORKS What’s New.”

Jordan Kleinschmidt, CSWE
Application Engineer
Computer Aided Technology

What is Design Innovation Month?

DESIGN INNOVATION MONTH 2021 – Webinars, Virtual Showroom, Contests
Design Innovation Month is CATI’s massive “What’s New in 2022” event for SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE, and 3D printing & 3D scanning technology.  That’s six weeks of live and on-demand webinars, demonstrations, in-depth blog posts, and prizes!  Best of all, it’s free of charge!  Check the DI Month Hub for all the details and to sign up for your next event.