I recently saw a request about Parametric Honeycomb and I took that as a good challenge for basic CATIA license like Mechanical Designer.

So how can I have parametric honeycomb in CATIA?

Problem:

On a planar surface I have a rectangular shape that I want to fill with honeycomb. I want to be able to drive the design with the following parameters:

The size of the hexagon (between 10mm and 150mm)

Both dimension of the rectangular shape (from 50mm to 500mm)

Out of scope:

Rotation angle of the hexagon, position of the hexagon

Solution (one of many...)

Rectangle shape and Parameters

Create one length parameter and define min and max limits. Copy / paste the parameter to create second one. Rename parameters.

Create a Sketch with a rectangle, create dimensions link with parameters on two sides.

Hexagon with parameter

Patterning

Using Rectangular Pattern, I could not find something that will update properly, or provide the required geometry with the spacing and length option so I decided to use instances and spacing option. I had to compute the number of instances (and add one for geometry/update purpose).

 instance number = ceil ( length of the rectangle / spacing ) +1

The first direction for the pattern is vertical, so I create a construction line in the sketch and create its output feature. The spacing along this direction is actually the size of the hexagon.

The second direction is angled, so I again create the construction line and its output feature in the Sketch. I also create the reference dimension so I can use it in formula.

The third direction is horizontal and the spacing is defined by adding two dimensions. So I create the supporting elements in the Sketch.

Once I have all directions as output features and parameters defined I create the first Rectangular Pattern. The join the resulting geometry with the hexagone sketch so I can pattern that again.

Finally

I put some color to make it look better

The data

Please find here the file so you can play with it or use it to present chapter 2 about position / angle of the hexagon.