Selecting sketches from a linear pattern

[Bruce Griffing]

I am using VM for SW. I designed a simple pattern for a Tee nut. It consists of a through hole, two counter-bores and 4 drilled holes for the tangs. I then repeated this structure using the linear pattern feature in Solidworks. Now when I want to select all of the similar holes in CAM to generate gcode, I can only select the original sketches, not the repeated ones. How do I do this?

[BanduraMaker]

I think what you want to do is use the "select curves as regions" and then select the sketch with the repeating pattern. You'll have a design tree just to the right of the dialogue box and you'll have to expand it to show the sketches within the feature. If your original is on the same sketch, it is also selected.

If there's anything in there that's extraneous to the operation you can delete it from the list.

There's an additional advantage to using select curves as regions because the link is maintained if you update the feature. If you select flat area features you have to re-select in VM each time you update the feature.

[Bruce Griffing]

Andy-
Thanks for your comment. The operation I am trying to set up is a drilling operation. My choices are 1-drill poiints/circles or 2-holes in a flat area. I have tried both without much success.
Bruce

[BanduraMaker]

I just tried using "select drill points/circles" and it worked fine. The sketch has two holes that I repeated 4 times total. I just selected it, hit generate and boom.

[Bruce Griffing]

Andy-
Are you using VM or VM for SW?
Bruce

[BanduraMaker]

VM for SW - see the screen shots above.

[Bruce Griffing]

Andy-
Thanks for your efforts - it is nice to have someone make suggestions. I think the difference between my case and yours is this - the holes in question are all inside a shallow countersink for the flange of the Tee nut. There are 9 of these structures spaced across the workpiece. Each countersink has 4 drilled holes. So there are 36 holes of this size in all. But they don't share a common surface. I will post an image of the part.
Bruce

[BanduraMaker]

OK I see what's going on now. I didn't really read the part where you're patterning a "feature", not a sketch element.

I made a quickie like what you have and tried it and got the same thing - VM doesn't seem to want to deal with the linear pattern of features. VM should be told about this. I could get it to work by using the flat area thing though. You just have to click on each pocket, hit ok and the use select again.

But for your current issue, I'd just re-draw it patterning the holes in a sketch rather than as a feature. Probably the simplest way to do it.