Here’s a time saving technique that’s useful anytime Creo users need to increase (or decrease) numerical values on a part, either as solid material, or even to simply have sketches to label items.
To create an incremental numerical pattern within a part, first go to Tools > Parameters.
Then create a new parameter and set the value to what you want your initial value for your pattern to be. In this example we are starting with zero and calling the parameter “Number”.
Then create a sketch, sketch a point.
Open your relations and set number to be equal to a dimension from that point. In this example the point is coincident with our vertical reference and the dimension from our horizontal reference is used.
Click ok. Then click on the text icon in your sketching group.
Click on the bottom and then top of where you want your text to exist. Then in your text window, set text to use parameter and select the parameter you created earlier. Set your horizontal and vertical alignment for the text how you want it. In this example, vertical is on the default setting of bottom and horizontal is changed to center.
Click ok. Complete the sketch. Then select the sketch and click pattern. Use a dimension, table, or axis pattern. In this example we are using an axis pattern. The number of pattern instances is set to 10. Within the dimensions flyout menu, the dimension for the point created within our sketch and used to drive our Number parameter is selected and set to an increment of one.
The angle icon is selected to evenly space the instances about 360 degrees. Then, the pattern is completed and displays as shown in this example:
By modifying the initial value of the parameter Number to 12, the increment of the pattern to -1, and the direction to go the other way, the pattern can be changed to a clock face like shown:
This same method with only slight changes can also be used to create an incremental numerical grid. For this you place the point within your first sketch to have both a vertical and horizontal dimension. Both are set to zero in the example shown below.
Then set your number relation to equal the sum of both of the dimensions from you point added. In the example below sd13 and sd15 are these dimensions and “num” is the name of the parameter.
Click ok, then complete the sketch. Add an additional parameter for the number of columns you want to have in your grid. Then, create a dimension pattern of the sketch. For this pattern you need to have both the horizontal distance for your point and the horizontal distance for your text within the same direction box (to do this, hold “ctrl” while selecting). Then place both your vertical distance from your point and your vertical distance from you text within the second direction box. For your increments for both the horizontal and vertical distances for your point, set them to equal one. Set the increments for your text how far you want the text spaced apart.
Set the number of rows that you want within your pattern (don’t worry about setting columns yet). Complete the pattern. Then open your relations and set the number of columns for your pattern to equal the column parameter that you created earlier. Also set the increment for vertical distance of your point to equal the column parameter.
Complete your pattern. In this example, the following grid will then display:
The number of columns and rows can now easily be changed, as can the starting value and the increment of the pattern.
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