AutoCAD Array How to use this in 2024? (40% unknown) Apr'24

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Hey Guys, Earlier we learned the first Array which is the ‘Rectangular Array’ command. But today we are learning about AutoCAD Array and How to use the Path AutoCAD Array command

Now we will learn about the second Array which is the ‘Path Array‘. So, let’s get started.

About AutoCAD Array

Modify panel in AutoCAD — Modify the panel in AutoCAD

The Array command is very useful for distributing evenly copies of objects along with a row, column, any path, or circular path.

This command is a very time-saving command.

This command is placed on the Modify panel in the Home tab.

Or we can type ‘ARRAY’ in the command bar and press the Enter key to invoke the array command.

Array command has three methods to evenly copy the object.

We can select another two methods of the Array by clicking on the Array command’s drop-down menu.

It is necessary to already draw any object to use the Array command.

We will see the second array type which is ‘Path Array’.

How do I create an array in AutoCAD? (Path AutoCAD Array)

The polar array evenly distributes copies of selected objects along with the path.

The path can be an arc, polyline, spline, circle, or helix.

We can invoke the path array command from the Array command drop-down menu in the Modify panel in the Home tab.

Or we can type ‘ARRAYPATH’ in the command bar and press the Enter key.

The object and path must be already drawn for the use array command.

After invoking the command, it will ask for ‘select object’.

Select the object and right-click.

Then it will ask for ‘select path curve’.

Select a path that is drawn by us.

The object will be copied automatically along with the path as shown below.

How to Modify Path AutoCAD Array?

1. Path AutoCAD Array panel

After right-clicking, the object will be copied in along with the path, and one panel will be open at the top of the workspace as shown below.

We can adjust the number of items and space between them and the angle of the object as per requirement.

Also, We can add rows and space between them.

We can adjust the number of levels and space between them for the 3D purpose.

If you don’t need the copied array rotated, then click on ‘Align array’.

All arrays will be aligned as shown below:

Align objects in Path array command-AutoCAD

By default, we can select the entire copied array by clicking on one array.

But if we want to separate the entire array then click on ‘Associative’.

It will separate the entire copied array.

We can also change ‘Basepoint’ from this panel.

Click on the base point and select the object point that you want as a base point.

2. Direct dragging

Path Array modify — Path Array modification in AutoCAD

To add more rows to the path array, select a rectangular blue dot point on the first copied object.

And drag it on the upper or lower side.

To increase space between two objects, select a triangular blue dot point, and drag it.

Edit Source of Path Array

We can edit our source which was first drawn by us.

Close the array and select again all copied arrays.

One new panel will open with some new options as shown.

Select ‘Edit source’ from there.

Then it will ask ‘Select an object in the array’.

Select the object that we want as the new source object.

Click on OK.

Replace Item

For example, if we want to replace a circle instead of a rectangle, then click on ‘Replace item’.

Then it will ask for ‘select replacement object’.

Select the newly drawn object (circle) and right-click.

Then it will ask for ‘select base point of replacement objects.

Select any base point as per the requirement of the newly drawn object (any point of a circle).

At last, it will ask to Select an item in the array to replace.

Select those objects (rectangles) which we want to replace as shown.

Replace item in command — Replace item in Path array command-AutoCAD

Explode AutoCAD Arrays

We can explore all copied arrays by clicking on the ‘Associative’ option from the Path panel as said above.

The second method is to use the ‘EXPLODE’ command:

Select the ‘Explode’ command from the modify panel in the Home tab.

Or type ‘EXPLODE’ in the command bar and press the Enter key to invoke the Explode command.

Then select objects which we want to explode, and right-click.

All commands will explode

People ask questions About AutoCAD Array:

Which three types of arrays can be used in AutoCAD?

Array command has three methods to evenly copy objects.
1. Path Array
2. Rectangular Array
3. Polar Array

What is the path array in AutoCAD?

The path array command calls the arrangement of one copied object along the specified path.
The path can be closed or opened as a line, polyline, etc. The Path array command positions the items on the specified path.

Path array command evenly distributes copies of selected objects along with the path. And that path can be an arc, polyline, spline, circle, or helix.

What is the Array command function? / Why is the array used?

The Array command AutoCAD creates many copies of one object and arranges it in a pattern.
You can create many copies of one object in a regularly spaced rectangular shape, polar shape, or along with a path array.

The Array command Distributes and arranges the copies of the one selected object in the combination of rows, columns, levels, polar, path, etc.

How do I change the path of an array in AutoCAD?

We can change the path of an array by modifying the path (line, polyline, etc.) When we modify the path, the Arrays will automatically arrange according to a modified path.

How to modify the path?

To modify the path, just click on the path (Line, Polyline, curve, etc.) and modify the vertex points.
By modifying the vertex points, we can path an Array in AutoCAD

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