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8.2 Circular Pattern

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Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate CSWA

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1 Exam Overview & Logistics

1.1 Current Exam Facts & Format 1.2 Scoring, Points, Passing Score & Retakes 1.3 Time Management & Modeling Question Strategy

2 Workspace, Units & Design Intent

2.1 Interface & FeatureManager Tree 2.2 Document Units & MMGS Discipline 2.3 Design Intent Principles for CSWA

3 Sketch Foundations

3.1 Sketch Entities 3.2 Geometric Sketch Relations 3.3 Dimensions & Fully Defined Sketches

4 Sketch Construction Tools

4.1 Convert Entities, Offset & Mirror 4.2 Trim, Extend & Sketch Fillet/Chamfer 4.3 Construction Geometry & Sketch Planes

5 Extrude Boss & Cut

5.1 Extrude Boss/Base End Conditions 5.2 Extrude Cut Strategies 5.3 Contours, Thin Features & Common Extrude Traps

6 Revolves, Sweeps, Lofts & Edge Treatments

6.1 Revolve Boss & Revolve Cut 6.2 Sweep Boss/Base & Sweep Cut 6.3 Loft Boss/Base & Loft Cut 6.4 Fillet Features 6.5 Chamfer Features

7 Shell, Draft & Holes

7.1 Shell Feature 7.2 Draft Feature 7.3 Hole Wizard Fundamentals

8 Patterns & Mirror

8.1 Linear Pattern 8.2 Circular Pattern 8.3 Mirror Feature & Pattern Strategy 8.4 Fill Pattern & Choosing the Right Pattern Tool

9 Intermediate & Advanced Part Workflows

9.1 Multi-Feature Construction Order 9.2 Sketch Offset & Complex Profile Techniques 9.3 Editing, Rollback & Parent-Child

10 Materials & Mass Properties

10.1 Applying Materials & Density 10.2 Mass, Volume & Surface Area 10.3 Center of Mass, Coordinate Systems & Traps

11 Reference Geometry

11.1 Reference Planes 11.2 Axes, Points & Coordinate Systems 11.3 Mate References

12 Assembly Creation Basics

12.1 Inserting Components & Fixing the Base 12.2 Coincident, Concentric, Parallel, Perpendicular 12.3 Distance, Angle & Tangent Mates 12.4 Degrees of Freedom & Mate Diagnostics

13 Assembly Analysis & Advanced Mates

13.1 Advanced Mates Overview 13.2 Interference Detection 13.3 Assembly Mass Properties & Key Parameter Mods

14 Drafting Competencies

14.1 Standard & Projected Drawing Views 14.2 Section, Detail & Auxiliary Views 14.3 Dimensioning, BOM, Projection Standards & GD&T

8.2 Circular Pattern

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Circular Pattern copies seed features around an axis of revolution using an angle span and instance count—or Equal Spacing over a full or partial circle.

Valid axes include a temporary axis of a cylindrical face, a model edge (linear), a reference Axis feature, or a sketched centerline-related axis—wrong axis placement destroys bolt-circle diameter and mass.

Instance count includes the seed; Equal Spacing with 6 instances over 360° places copies every 60°.

CSWA Intermediate Part Creation explicitly emphasizes circular patterns; expect pulleys, flanges, and hub features with radial hole or boss arrays.

Seed choice and feature scope matter: pattern the complete unit (cut + related local features) and verify full 360° vs partial arc against the drawing before Mass Properties.

Last updated: August 2026

8.2 Circular Pattern

Quick Answer: Insert → Pattern/Mirror → Circular Pattern copies a seed feature around an axis (temporary axis, reference axis, or linear edge). Set number of instances (includes seed) and either Equal Spacing over an angle (often 360° ) or a fixed angular spacing. Intermediate CSWA parts use this constantly for bolt circles and radial bosses.

If Linear Pattern is the tool for grids, Circular Pattern is the tool for anything that repeats around a center—flange bolt holes, cooling holes on a hub, radial ribs, or bosses on a pulley. Official CSWA category language places circular pattern techniques in Intermediate Part Creation and Modification . Treat this section as high-yield: intermediate items are 15 points each, and a wrong axis or instance count fails mass just as hard as a wrong extrude depth.

What Circular Pattern builds

The feature takes one or more seed features and creates additional instances rotated about a common axis of revolution . Each instance inherits the seed’s shape while revolving its position around that axis. The result is associative: change the seed diameter or the pattern count, and all instances update together.

  • Goal on the drawing Circular Pattern setup
  • 6 holes on a bolt circle, equally spaced Axis = hub center; Instances = 6; Equal Spacing; 360°
  • 4 bosses at 90° Instances = 4; Equal Spacing 360° (or 90° spacing without equal-spacing mode)
  • Holes only on a 180° arc Partial angle 180° with correct instance count and spacing mode
  • Seed hole already at 12 o’clock Pattern around center; do not also mirror unless the sheet needs both
  • Axis of revolution — the critical selection

Without a correct axis, the pattern orbits the wrong center. Mass, CoM, and hole positions all fail.

Acceptable axis selections (CSWA-relevant)

Temporary axis of a cylindrical or conical face

Show temporary axes ( View → Hide/Show → Temporary Axes or the Heads-up visibility controls, depending on version).

Click the axis that runs through the true center of the hub/boss cylinder that defines the bolt circle.

Model edge that is linear and coincident with the design centerline

Example: a vertical edge on a rectangular center rib that lies on the axis of symmetry (less common than temp axes for round hubs).

Reference Axis feature ( Insert → Reference Geometry → Axis )

Define from cylindrical face, two planes, edge + vertex, etc.

Useful when temporary axes are cluttered or the center is defined by intersecting planes.

Sketch centerline / axis-capable line in some workflows when exposed as a selectable axis reference

Many users create a reference axis from the sketch or from Front/Right plane intersection for clarity.

  • Axis choice Typical use
  • Temp axis of Ø hub Bolt circle on a cylindrical boss
  • Axis feature from Right ∩ Front planes Part centered on origin; clear FeatureManager intent

Temp axis of a hole Rarely correct for patterning that hole around the hub—usually you need the hub axis, not a satellite hole’s axis

Random outer edge of a flange Wrong—pattern radius collapses or offsets

Exam trap — patterning about a seed hole’s own axis: If you select the temporary axis of the seed hole instead of the hub, instances spin about the hole center (nearly on top of each other or in a tiny orbit). Always select the center axis of the circular layout , not the axis of the feature being copied.

Exam trap — offset axis: An axis parallel to the true center but offset by a few millimeters produces a wrong bolt-circle diameter. Preview in a view looking along the axis; instances should land on the drawn circle.

  • Equal Spacing vs angle increment
  • Equal Spacing (most common for full bolt circles)

Enable Equal Spacing and set the total angle (usually 360° ) plus Number of Instances . SOLIDWORKS divides the angle into equal steps.

Formula intuition: For full circle Equal Spacing, angular step ≈ 360° / N between adjacent instances (seed included in N).

Examples:

  • Instances (incl. seed) Equal Spacing angle Step between neighbors
  • 4 360° 90°
  • 5 360° 72°
  • 6 360° 60°
  • 8 360° 45°
  • Fixed angular spacing (Equal spacing off)

You specify the angle between instances and the count. Three instances at 30° spacing occupy a 60° sector from first to last step pattern logic—read the PropertyManager preview carefully so you do not double-count.

Full 360° vs partial patterns

  • Drawing shows Angle / mode
  • Complete bolt circle 360° Equal Spacing
  • Features only on an upper semicircle 180° with appropriate N
  • Three holes over a 90° sector Partial angle + correct N or fixed spacing

Partial pattern trap: Leaving 360° Equal Spacing when the drawing only shows three holes on a quarter flange creates extra holes through solid regions that should remain blank—mass drops too far. Match the visible count and arc.

Instance count includes the seed (again)

Same rule as Linear Pattern:

N = total features after the pattern completes, including the original seed.

Six bosses on a hub → Instances = 6 , not 5.

Worked example: Seed cut at the top of a flange. Drawing: 6× Ø10 equally spaced on a bolt circle. Circular Pattern → axis through flange center → Equal Spacing → 360° → Instances 6 . Preview should show six holes at 60° increments.

If you accidentally set Instances = 5, one hole is missing; mass is too high (for holes) and the visual no longer matches.

  • Seed feature choice
  • What to select

The Extruded Cut , Hole Wizard , Extruded Boss , or other feature that defines one radial unit.

Related local features that must repeat with each unit (for example, a counterbore feature stack, or a small fillet only on that boss)—multi-select features to pattern.

What not to do

Do not pattern the entire base revolve that creates the hub unless the drawing wants multiple hubs.

Do not leave the seed under-defined; every copy inherits dimensional mistakes.

Do not create six separate Hole Wizard positions manually when one seed + circular pattern is enough—edits become painful.

Hole Wizard + Circular Pattern: Common robust workflow: place one Hole Wizard hole at the correct bolt-circle radius and angular position, then Circular Pattern that Hole Wizard feature about the center axis. Alternative: sketch multiple points in Hole Wizard’s placement sketch—also valid, but pattern-of-feature is often cleaner when the exam later changes count.

Seed position on the bolt circle

Position the seed at the correct radius (distance from axis to hole center) and at a starting angle that matches the drawing (for example, first hole on the vertical centerline). Patterning only rotates copies; it does not fix a seed that sits at the wrong radius. Wrong radius → wrong material removal locations → wrong mass and CoM.

Features vs bodies in circular patterns

  • Scope When
  • Features to Pattern Default for holes/bosses on a single body
  • Bodies to Pattern Multi-body radial copies of whole solids
  • Faces to Pattern Specialized face copying

For standard CSWA flanges, use Features . Body patterns appear when a multi-body design intentionally repeats separate solids around an axis.

Geometry Pattern and other options

As with linear patterns, Geometry Pattern may be available. Prefer the default feature pattern for exam stability when seeds use face-referencing end conditions. Use Instances to Skip if a drawing omits one position on an otherwise equal pattern (for example, five holes on a six-position bolt circle with one station empty).

Vary sketch and instance-by-instance modifiers exist in professional workflows; associate-level drawings almost always want constant identical copies.

Circular vs Linear decision table

  • Cue on the sheet Choose
  • Pitch along a straight edge; rectangular grid Linear Pattern
  • “Equally spaced on Ø80 bolt circle,” PCD, or radial marks Circular Pattern
  • Symmetric left/right features not on a circle Mirror
  • Single pair across a midplane Mirror often better than 2× circular
  • Intermediate part scenarios (exam style)

Scenario A — Flange with bolt circle: Revolve or extrude the flange body → seed hole at correct PCD → Circular Pattern 6× about temp axis → fillets → material → Mass Properties. Modification: change to 8× equally spaced; edit instance count only; re-measure.

Scenario B — Hub with radial bosses: Extrude one boss at radius R → Circular Pattern 4× → optional circular pattern of cuts on bosses → mass. Wrong axis through a boss instead of hub center is the failure mode.

Scenario C — Partial pattern on a sector bracket: Only three holes along a 120° arc. Set angle and instances to match; do not force 360°.

Modification and mass discipline

Edit CirPattern feature (count, equal spacing angle, or axis if rebuild requires).

Rebuild; confirm no unwanted cuts through critical walls.

Material still present; units still MMGS (or as specified).

Mass Properties / CoM as required—radial hole count changes mass significantly on steel parts.

CoM note: Symmetric full-circle patterns about the origin often keep CoM near the axis; partial patterns or skipped instances shift CoM . If the exam asks for center of mass coordinates, re-measure after every pattern edit.

Circular Pattern checklist

Build body; locate true center axis (temp axis or reference axis).

Create one correct seed at proper radius and start angle.

Circular Pattern → select seed feature(s) → select hub axis (not seed hole axis).

Equal Spacing + 360° for full circles; set N including seed .

Preview along-axis view; compare to drawing count and PCD.

Skip instances only if the sheet shows gaps.

Modify via Edit Feature; always re-run Mass Properties.

Mastering Circular Pattern is non-negotiable for intermediate CSWA credit. Axis discipline, seed radius, and instance count (including seed) are the three checks that separate a clean 15-point model from a near-miss mass entry.