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Online PatGenerator English version Online PatGenerator Nederlandse versie
 

Online PatGenerator

It is possible to design your own custom hatch patterns. But creating even very simple patterns, such as "standard" tile or running bond patterns, is difficult. For these two patterns Buro Klein Gebbinck has developed this Online PatGenerator.

Hatch pattern

Examples

Six examples of hatch patterns created with the Online PatGenerator:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6

PatGenerator

Tip:
Click on the title of a section in this form to show or hide the help panel of that section.
A help panel can also be hidden by clicking in the help panel.
Pattern type

Select a pattern.

Joint type

The joints in the hatch pattern can be represented by single or double lines.

Name and description
Error: characters or length
Error: length

You have to supply a name for the pattern. The description is optional.

Hatch patterns are stored in pat files, which are text files that can be edited using Notepad or any other plain text editor.

Some rules that apply to pat files:
  • A line in a pat file may not contain more than 80 characters.
  • The name of a hatch pattern should not be longer than 28 characters. See below.
  • The name of a hatch pattern must be unique and cannot contain spaces. Because the name of the pattern can also be the file name, the following characters should not be used: "*/:<>?\|
  • After every pattern a blank line is required.
If you want to store the pattern in a separate file the following applies:
  • You can store only one pattern per file.
  • The name of the file has to be the same as the name of the pattern with the .pat extension.
  • Apparently AutoCAD's _BHATCH command can only handle pat files with names that are no longer than 32 characters. This results in a maximum of 28 characters for the pattern name (the .pat extension uses 4 characters).
  • The last line in the pat file must be a blank line.
  • The pat file has to be placed in the search path of your CAD software.

You can also add a hatch pattern to your main pat file. Depending on your CAD software and the setting of the MEASUREMENT drawing variable, the name of this file is acadiso.pat or acltiso.pat (AutoCAD), icadiso.pat or iso.pat (Bricscad), cad.pat or aclt.pat (AutoCAD), or icad.pat or default.pat (Bricscad). File names containing "iso" are used if MEASUREMENT is ON, meaning drawing units are metric. Check the search path of your CAD software to find the location of your main pat file.

Bricscad supports custom hatch patterns in separate files since version 12.1.0. To use custom hatch patterns in earlier Bricscad versions they have to be added to your main pat file.

Dimensions
Error: not a valid positive number
Error: not a valid positive number
Error: not a valid positive number
Error: not a valid positive number

Enter the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the elements and the joints. The dimensions for joints can only be entered if the "double lines" joint type has been selected.

  • Only use positive numbers.
  • Use a dot as the decimal separator.
  • Instead of a number it is also possible to enter a mathematical formula. The result of the formula has to a positive number.
    An example of a formula: 2900/46-50.
Base point, rotation and rounding
Error: not a valid number
Error: not a valid number
Error: not a valid number
Error: rounding too high
Click again on: [Generate pattern]

In a drawing hatches are constructed relative to a specific start point: the HPORIGIN. In a new drawing this point lies on the origin. In some cases, for instance if you want to create a brick pattern hatch, it can be necessary to move the HPORIGIN to a logical point on the hatch boundary so that the pattern lines up properly. Depending on the setting for HPORIGINMODE the HPORIGIN can also be moved automatically.

The HPORIGIN is stored relative to the current UCS. So instead of moving the HPORIGIN you can also move the origin of the UCS.

Base points

The definition of the hatch pattern determines how the hatch is constructed relative to the HPORIGIN. The base point of the hatch pattern will be put on the HPORIGIN. For this base point the PatGenerator offers five standard positions within the dimensions of the joint: TL (Top Left), TR (Top Right), MC (Middle Center), BL (Bottom Left) and BR (Bottom Right).

If the joint type is "single line" the base point automatically becomes MC (Middle Center).

Using offset X and offset Y it is possible to move the base point away from the selected standard position. If you don't want to move the base point you have to enter 0 for both offsets.

The pattern definition can be rotated. Just enter the required rotation (in degrees). Enter 0 if you don't want to rotate the pattern.

Finally choose a value for the rounding.

  • Positive and negative numbers are allowed for the offsets and the rotation.
  • Use a dot as the decimal separator.
  • Instead of a number it is also possible to enter a mathematical formula.
    An example of a formula: (2900/46-50)/2.
  • When using formulas and rotations other than 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees, the lines in the hatch pattern can become too long. A line in a pattern may not be longer than 80 characters. This problem can be solved by choosing a smaller rounding value.