A pattern creates more instances of a feature along different directions defined by the pattern. The instances created are the same size as the original feature being patterned. Exploding a pattern will allow you to vary instances of the pattern to be a different size than the original feature that is being patterned.
For example, there is a pattern of holes and if one of those holes is desired to be a different size, the pattern can be exploded.
To explode a pattern, right-click on the pattern you wish to explode click *object > Explode…
After the pattern has been exploded, the pattern instances will be separate features in the specification tree. Initially, the holes have the same specifications as the original hole, but are in the position that they were placed by the pattern feature that has been exploded. Each instance can now be modified independently.
In this scenario, Hole.3 is modified to be a larger than the other holes.
Once exploded, it is also possible to move an instance to be in a different location than intended by the original pattern.
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