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Manual / Modify

ARRAY - Rectangular / Polar / Path

Copy objects in rows (ARRAY/ARRAYRECT), around a point (ARRAYPOLAR) and along a path (ARRAYPATH, MEASURE, DIVIDE).

What it does

Command Alias Syntax Meaning
ARRAY AR – Asks for each value on the command line: count → X spacing → Y spacing.
ARRAYRECT AR2 ARRAYRECT <count> [dx] [dy] Copies objects in a row, with spacing dx, dy per copy.
ARRAYPOLAR ARP2 ARRAYPOLAR <count> [total angle] Copies objects around the centre point you click (the default total angle is 360°).
ARRAYPATH – ARRAYPATH <count> Distributes N copies along a path (same as DIVIDE).
DIVIDE DIV DIVIDE <count> Places copies at the points that divide a path into N equal parts.
MEASURE ME MEASURE <distance> Places a copy every given distance along a path, rotated to the tangent.

Where to find it

  • Ribbon: Draw › Modify › Array (submenu: Rectangular Array, Polar Array, Array along Curve (MEASURE))
  • Command line: see the table above

Steps for ARRAY (prompts for each value)

  1. Select the objects.
  2. Type AR and press Enter. At Array item count <4>:, type the count and press Enter.
  3. At Array X spacing <20>:, type the X spacing and press Enter.
  4. At Array Y spacing <0>:, type the Y spacing and press Enter.

ARRAY asking for the count on the command line
ARRAY asking for the count on the command line

4 holes at 40 spacing
4 holes at 40 spacing

Steps for ARRAYPOLAR

  1. Select the hole.
  2. Type ARRAYPOLAR 8 and press Enter.
  3. At ARRAYPOLAR: click the centre, click the centre point.

ARRAYPOLAR with 8 copies around a circle
ARRAYPOLAR with 8 copies around a circle

Steps for MEASURE / DIVIDE

  1. Select the object to copy.
  2. Type ME 20 (every 20 mm) or DIV 5 (divide into 5 parts).
  3. Click the path (Line, Polyline, Arc, Circle).

Note: Polar Array on the Ribbon asks for the count → total angle → centre point. Press Enter at any prompt to accept the default value.

Try it: Wall clock face

A 200 mm laser-cut clock face with 12 hour slots and 60 minute dots, all made from one slot and one dot. The 8 mm centre hole fits a standard quartz clock movement.

  1. Dial: C, Enter, 0,0, Enter, 100, Enter, then Esc.
  2. Shaft hole: C, 0,0, 4, then Esc.
  3. The 12 o'clock slot: REC, -3,78, @6,14, then Esc.
  4. Click the slot, type ARRAYPOLAR 12 and press Enter. At ARRAYPOLAR: click the centre, type 0,0 and press Enter (or click the centre). Twelve slots appear around the dial.
  5. Minute dot: C, 0,72, 1.5, then Esc. Click the dot, type ARRAYPOLAR 60, then 0,0.

Clock face with 12 hour slots and 60 minute dots
Clock face with 12 hour slots and 60 minute dots

Challenge: Make a 24-hour dial: run ARRAYPOLAR 24 on the first slot instead of 12.

See also