Draft PointArray

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Draft PointArray

Menu location
Draft → PointArray
Workbenches
Draft, Arch
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
0.18
See also
Draft Array, Draft PathArray

Description

The PointArray tool places copies of a selected shape along various selected points.

The PointArray tool can be used on 2D shapes created with the Draft Workbench, but can also be used on many types of 3D objects such as those created with the Part, PartDesign, or Arch Workbenches.

To position copies in an orthogonal array use Draft Array; to position copies along a path use Draft PathArray; to create copies or clones, and manually place them use Draft Move, Draft Rotate, and Draft Clone.

Object arranged at specific points

How to use

  1. Select an object that you wish to distribute.
  2. Select a point compound.
  3. Press the Draft PointArray button.

To create a point compound select various Draft Points and then press the Draft Upgrade button.

Each element in the array is an exact clone of the original object, but the entire array is considered a single unit in terms of properties and appearance.

Options

There are no options for this tool. Either it works with the selected objects or not.

Properties

  • DataBase: specifies the object to duplicate.
  • DataCount: (read-only) specifies the number of copies of the base object. This number will depend on the number of Draft Points in the compound.
  • DataPointList: specifies the compound object with the points needed to place the copies of the base object.

Scripting

See also: Draft API and FreeCAD Scripting Basics.

The PointArray tool can be used in macros and from the Python console by using the following function:

PointArray = makePointArray(base, ptlst)
  • Creates a PointArray object from the base object, by placing the copies along ptlst.
  • ptlst is an object with Geometry, Links, or Components attributes that define the position of the copies.

Example:

import FreeCAD, Draft

Polygon = Draft.makePolygon(3, radius=500.0)

p1 = Draft.makePoint(FreeCAD.Vector(1500, 0, 0))
p2 = Draft.makePoint(FreeCAD.Vector(2500, 0, 0))
p3 = Draft.makePoint(FreeCAD.Vector(2000, 1000, 0))

# Create a compound of points
addList, deleteList = Draft.upgrade([p1, p2, p3])

# Extract the compound from the list
compound = addList[0]

PointArray = Draft.makePointArray(Polygon, compound)