I have a simple part with 2 holes on the same PCD. When I add a centered pattern centre line I want it to avoid going through another hole on a different PCD. Whatever I do, Inventor places the PCD centre line on the side that passes through this other hole. I've even tried rotating the view 180

Have you tried selecting in both CW and CCW order?

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ChrisB IV 2011 Tube & Pipe (mostly)
Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit, Dell Precision T7500
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"I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said: "I drank what?!""

Yes, that was my first thought but it makes no difference.

Since posting this I've drawn another version of the same part that has additional holes in it, including a hole which sits between the 2 round holes but opposite the slotted hole. On that drawing Inventor places the centreline on the left side of the view where I want it.

How did you create the two small holes? If you create the top one as a single hole, and then use the circular pattern tool (2 occurrences) Inventor is pretty good about drawing the centered pattern line in a CCW direction (pick the top hole first).

The 2 holes are not the same so I can't pattern them.

hmmm.... I can only get IV to create the center line in a CCW fashion, even with individual, different diameter holes. Tried different drafting standards (ANSI, ISO, BSI), it always goes CCW from first to second selected hole. Can you post your part and drawing?

Doesn't work for me, I've tried selecting the holes CW & CCW but the c/line still ends up on the RH side. I even tried rotating the view 180

If I am understanding the problem you are having - it would seem to me the solution is based upon what side of your part you pick to define the center of the pattern. See the attached file. Hope this helps.

That didn't quite work for me, I deleted the c/line from the drawing in my 1st post then re-created it by selecting the O.D. on the RH side of the view then picking the holes. I could still get the c/line to come out on the RH side. BUT, having deleted the c/line & started again I realise that the position of the line is now following the CW/CCW rule suggested by cbenner earlier. It certainly didn't work that way before so maybe I had some sort of glitch which has been cleared by closing the drawing for a while.

Whatever the reason I now have the c/line where I want it & the drawing looks much neater. I guess I'll have to see if I have the same problem again at any time.

Thanks for all the help.

Yes, I must have just had a series of picks that made it appear that way, it most certainly is putting the cl in based upon a ccw direction from the first hole picked.

I'm drawing another larger version of the same part & have exactly the same problem. I've tried everything I tried before including closing the drawing & restarting Inventor but nothing is working.

Outside of the fact that its not automatic, have you considered sketching that Bolt Circle into the .idw, and referencing your geometry of those two holes? It's not automated like you want it, but if you reference the appropriate geometry, at least that sketch in the view on the .idw will update properly if you have change the .ipt file.

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@BreakingChad
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I could sketch the lines as you suggest but it just seems wrong. I should be able to pick where the c/line goes without having to resort to that.

OK this seemed to easy to be a problem so I had to try it for myself.
I made a simple part and produced two views from it.
For Me, it works as it should. It follows the pattern you use to select the members in the PCD pattern.
Here is what order I pick in and what I get:

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Todd Hudgins

Still won't work for me, Ive made a video of the actions (hope this works).

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/70042915/Centred%20Pattern.wmv