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Path Array

In one sentence: Distributes copies of an object at evenly-spaced positions along a curve, optionally aligning each copy to the path tangent.

Overview

Workbench: Draft
Menu: Draft → Modification → Array Tools → Path Array
Command: Draft_PathArray

Parameters

Property Description
Path Object The wire, edge, or spline to distribute along
Count Number of copies
Align Rotate each copy to follow the path tangent
Align Mode Original / Frenet / Tangent
Tan Vector Local axis to align with the path tangent
Start Offset / End Offset Fraction of path length to leave empty at start/end

Align modes

Mode Description
Original Keep the original orientation — no alignment
Frenet Align with the natural Frenet-Serret frame of the path
Tangent Align a chosen local axis with the path tangent

Python API

import Draft

post = App.ActiveDocument.getObject("Body")
path = App.ActiveDocument.getObject("Wire")
arr = Draft.make_path_array(
    obj=post,
    pathobjwire=path,
    count=10,
    use_link=True,
    align=True
)
App.ActiveDocument.recompute()

Common mistakes and pitfalls

Alignment requires a smooth path

If the path has sharp corners (a polyline), the tangent changes discontinuously at each vertex. Copies near corners may flip or rotate unexpectedly. Use a smooth B-spline path for well-behaved aligned arrays.

See also