kirra-docs

Add Pattern

Generates a rectangular grid of blast holes — a set number of rows and holes per row at a set burden and spacing — from a start point you click. This is the quickest way to lay out a regular bench blast that has no boundary to fit.

Add a Pattern? dialog The Add a Pattern? dialog, after clicking the pattern start point.

Prerequisites

Lay out a grid

This tool is click-first: you click the start point, then the dialog opens.

  1. Click Add Pattern on the Holes toolbar. Hole ID labels are switched on so you can see the numbering.
  2. Click the canvas where the first hole goes. The click snaps to nearby objects; the status line says what it snapped to.
  3. The Add a Pattern? dialog opens with the click in Start X / Start Y.
  4. Set the row layout — Orientation, Burden (m), Spacing (m), Offset, Rows, Holes Per Row and Row Direction.
  5. Set the hole properties — elevations, Diameter (mm), Type, Angle (°), Bearing (°) and Subdrill (m).
  6. Click Confirm.

How the grid is laid out

Row 3   *   *   *   *   *
Row 2     *   *   *   *   *    <- Offset 0.5: shifted half a spacing
Row 1   *   *   *   *   *      <- starts at your click, runs at the Orientation
        |<->|
       Spacing

The fields

Field Default What it does
Template – None – Fills the form from a saved pattern template. The template’s text setup and charging are applied to the new holes. A remembered template is re-read each time the dialog opens
Blast Name Created_Blast + a number The blast the holes go into. An existing name adds to that blast
Numerical Names Ticked Ticked: numbers. Unticked: row letter + position (A1, A2 … B1, B2 …)
Orientation 90 Bearing of the rows, in degrees
Start X / Start Y Your click First hole position
Start Z 100 Collar RL of every hole
Use Grade Z Unticked Ticked: holes run to Grade Elevation (m). Unticked: holes are set by Length (m)
Grade Elevation (m) Calculated Floor RL. Editing it recalculates the length
Length (m) 6.2 Collar-to-toe length, including subdrill. Editing it recalculates the grade
Diameter (mm) 115 Hole diameter
Type Production Hole type, free text
Angle (°) 0 Angle from vertical. 0 = vertical
Hole Pivot Location Collar Which point sits on each grid position: Collar, Grade or Toe
Bearing (°) 180 Direction angled holes lean (0 = North, clockwise)
Subdrill (m) 1 Vertical depth below grade
Offset 0.5 Stagger. The dialog’s note: “Staggered = -0.5 or 0.5, Square = -1, 0, 1”
Burden (m) 3.0 Distance between rows. Left blank, it is 1.0 m
Spacing (m) 3.3 Distance between holes in a row
Rows 6 Number of rows
Holes Per Row 10 Holes in each row
Row Direction Return (Forward Only) Or Serpentine (Forward & Back) — every second row is numbered from the opposite end, so hole 1 of a row is next to the last hole of the row before

The last values you used are kept for next time.

Note: Add Pattern has no Starting Hole ID field. With Numerical Names ticked, numbering continues from the highest numeric hole ID already loaded. Use Renumber Holes afterwards to set your own numbers.

What to expect

Other ways to use it

Method Result
Cancel in the dialog Closes it. The tool stays on — the next click opens the dialog again
Escape (twice) Leaves the tool and returns to Pointer Select
3D view Click the start point in 3D; the same dialog opens
Template list Reuses a saved pattern, including its text setup and charging
Pattern in Polygon A grid trimmed to a boundary instead of a fixed row count

Troubleshooting

“Invalid Blast Name” or “Invalid Type” Blast Name or Type is empty.

The rows step the wrong way. Rows always step to the left of the Orientation. Add 180° to the orientation and move the start point to the other end of the first row.

The numbers don’t start at 1. Numbering continues from the highest numeric hole ID already loaded. Renumber the pattern afterwards, or untick Numerical Names for row-letter names.