Grid and circular arrays

Arrays let you go from one object to many in one operation. Useful for repeating patterns, gear teeth, dot matrices, decorative borders.

Two array types

Grid Array

Steps

1. Select the object(s) to duplicate.
2. Menu: Arrange → Grid Array. See Grid Array dialog.
3. Decide whether to drive each axis by count or by total dimensions.
4. Set rows / columns, spacing, and layout options.
5. Click Apply.

Useful options

• Mirror Alternate Cols / Rows: mirror every other column or row. Creates a tile-like alternating pattern.
• X / Y Shift: offset each row or column. Creates a brick pattern when combined with Half Shift.
• Random Orientation: randomly rotate each copy for a less-uniform look. Use a fixed seed for reproducibility.
• Spacing Mode: Center to Center vs Edge to Edge: pick which makes sense for what you are spacing.

Example: 100 dog tags on a sheet

• 10 columns × 10 rows = 100 total positions, including the original.
• H / V Spacing = 5 mm.
• Spacing Mode: Edge to Edge (so you specify the gap, not the total pitch).
• The 5 mm gap is a metric example; enter the equivalent value if your current Display Unit is inches.
• Group Results = on if you want the generated roots wrapped in a group.

Circular Array

Steps

1. Select the object(s).
2. Menu: Arrange → Circular Array. See Circular Array dialog.
3. Set count, radius, center mode, angle range.
4. Click Apply.

Useful options

• Center Mode: Object: use another object's center as the rotation center.
• Start Angle / End Angle: for partial-arc arrays (e.g. 180° fan), not just full circles.
• Rotate Copies: make each copy orient along its radius. Without this, all copies stay axis-aligned.

Example: gear teeth

• Select one tooth.
• Count = number of teeth.
• Center Mode: Explicit, X / Y = the gear's center.
• Start Angle = 0, End Angle = 360 (full ring).
• Rotate Copies = on.

Virtual arrays

Both dialogs have a Create Virtual Array toggle. When it is on, Beam Bench creates separate VirtualClone copies linked to the source geometry. The original and every clone remain separate canvas objects; the result is not one parametric array object.

There is currently no post-creation editor for array count, radius, or spacing. To change the layout, undo and create the array again. Use virtual copies when you want later source-geometry changes to propagate to linked copies; editing a clone in a way that requires independent geometry unlinks that clone.

Length units

Length fields follow the current Display Unit. In Grid Array this includes Total Width, Total Height, H/V Spacing, and X/Y Shift. In Circular Array it includes Radius and explicit center X/Y. Beam Bench converts those displayed values to millimeters internally.

Verify it worked

• All copies are present in the expected pattern.
• Spacing is consistent.
• Selection is grouped (or not) per your option choice.

Related

• Grid Array dialog
• Circular Array dialog
• Copy Along Path dialog: for arrays along an arbitrary path
• Modifiers Toolbar