Geometry

Digitize

The Digitize Pattern tool allows you to digitize a physical pattern with the machine. By jogging the cutting machine around, using the laser crosshair or pen depending on your machine, and entering points using the touch screen, a digital pattern can be created. Multiple entities with multiple tools can be created in one digitizing session. Lines and polylines are the only entity types supported. Further pattern refinement can be done in the Pattern Editor. As you digitize, the entity will be drawn in the Digitize Pattern Window.

To start the digitizing process, make sure you have a Plotter/Cutter defined in PatternSmith. Click the Digitize Pattern button and go to the machine to start digitizing. You will see this screen (or one similar depending on machine model) on the machine.

To start, jog the machine to the first point and touch the Digitize button. Continue entering points until you are finished. Press enter twice on the last point to complete an entity. Click the X to finish digitizing and close this screen. Click OK in the Digitize Pattern window to finish digitizing and create the pattern.

Name – If desired, a pattern name can be entered. This is the name that will display in the Pattern Explorer. It will also display when you hover the cursor over the pattern.

Tool – Choose the tool for the entity currently being created.

Close Polylines – When Close Polylines is enabled, the tool will always make a closed polyline – the start will be coincident with the end forming a closed shape – around a perimeter for example. Disable this option to create multiple entities to make up a patten.

Add Seam – Enabling Add Seam will automatically add a seam to the entities being created. The seam width and tool can be specified. It may be necessary to change the direction of the entity in the Pattern Editor to get the seam on the correct side. If you digitize in a counterclockwise direction for the perimeter and clockwise for internal features, your seam will be on the correct side.

Create Box Pattern

Create Box Pattern will create a box pattern. This is the only pattern creation tool that is outside the Editor.

Enter the Height, Width, Quota, Tool, Seam, Text Element, and Radius Corners to produce your box.

Scale

Scale will scale up or down any selected patterns. Select the patterns you want to scale. Enter the scale factor and click Scale. The patterns will be scaled by the same amount in both axes. If you need to scale by different factors in X and Y, use the Scale tool in the Pattern Editor.

Combine

Combine will combine the selected patterns into one pattern. You can only combine patterns prior to
nesting any copies of them. If a pattern already has nested copies, make a copy of the pattern and use that copy to combine with others.

Extract Patterns

Extract Patterns will look for closed perimeters in a single pattern and break them out into individual patterns. This tool is useful for patterns that have been imported as one large pattern, typically a DXF file from another pattern design software program.