How to Use Arrays of Mechanical Blocks in BricsCAD Mechanical

Quick answer: ARRAY, ARRAYRECT, ARRAYPOLAR, ARRAYPATH, and BMINSERT insert the same entities multiple times in a regular pattern, distributed uniformly along a line, circle, or arbitrary curve, or in higher-order rectangular or cylindrical patterns, using associative array technology (rectangular, polar, and path). These are persistent entities, editable at any time to change the element count or spacing, and every array in your model lists in the Mechanical Browser panel, resolving the “Arrays of entities” setting covered on this hub’s Mechanical Browser page. Mechanical blocks, subassemblies, standard parts, and holes can all be arrayed.

Creating an Array of Components

Use one of the array tools under Home > Modify in the Mechanical workspace ribbon: Rectangular Array, Polar Array, or Path Array. Alternatively, use INSERT with Specify On-screen ticked for the Insertion Point, then choose Multiple > Array options at the Command line.

Arrays in the Mechanical Browser

Arrays of mechanical blocks appear as special nodes, named after their type followed by a colon and an index (Rectangular:1, Polar:2, Path:3, for example). These nodes carry the same properties as regular associative arrays, letting you change the number of elements, the distance or angle between them, and other parameters, optionally assigning a persistent expression that automatically recomputes the property whenever its driving parameters change.

Each array node has two child nodes: Source (the inserted component and its parameters) and Elements (expandable into a list of individual array elements, each of which can be hidden or given its own visual style).

Arrays and the Bill of Materials

Arrays are transparent to product structure: mechanical blocks inside an array count as if inserted directly into the same assembly, so array-inserted blocks in a top-level array list as top-level mechanical blocks in a top-level BOM. The Quantity column reflects the total number of inserts of that mechanical block, including every instance inside arrays.

Arrays of Parametric Blocks

To make a block’s parameters available inside an array, link them first (via the Link to parameter context menu option) before creating the array; afterward, they’re editable in the Parameters Manager panel. The link removes once the array is created but can be restored the same way. Technically, parameters associate with the array’s source element, editing it parametrically then updates every other item in the array to match.

Standard parts and holes are already parametric mechanical blocks, so their parameters remain editable inside arrays too. This makes it easy to build a part with many holes, controlling their number, position, and size parametrically, and insert a parametric bolt alongside them, letting you build a parametric flange assembly with multiple configurations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do array-inserted mechanical blocks count separately in a top-level BOM? No, arrays are transparent to product structure, so array-inserted blocks in a top-level array list as top-level blocks, and the Quantity column includes them in the total count.

How do I make a mechanical block’s parameters editable once it’s part of an array? Link them using the Link to parameter context menu option before creating the array; afterward, they’re editable in the Parameters Manager panel.

Can I hide or restyle just one element within an array, rather than the whole array? Yes, expand the array node’s Elements child node to control individual elements.

What happens to other array items when I parametrically edit the source element? They all update to match, since parameters associate with the array’s source element specifically.