First, create a box. Since this is a tutorial on the array tool, scale will not be a factor for simplicity sake. Using 1 m as the width and depth will come in handy when the manual offset is used. Also make sure to keep the center of the box at the origin (0, 0, 0). This also adds simplicity for later.
You will find the array tool on the Multiply Tab,
and in the Duplicate Column.
Click on the Array tab to bring up the Array Box. Since a checker board is 8 by 8, put the X and Z Count at 8 each. The Y Count should stay at 1, otherwise you would have squares hovering directly above your board. The Count can never go below 1. If you were to array an object with 1 as all of the Count values, it would be the same as doing nothing. Since we want the board squares to be right next to each other, use the Automatic Offset, and leave the default values at 100%. If you wanted the squares to overlap, go below 100% and if you want them to be not touching, go above 100%. Automatic Offset is handy if you don't know the exact size of your objects, but know about how far away you want them from each other. The Merge Points Box is checked because the squares are going to be right next too each other, so it will get rid of some points that don't need to be there.
After clicking OK, your Top View should look like this:
Change to a new layer and create a disc. Keeping the center at the origin again makes things line up correctly.
After entering the disc you should have this:
The checker is protruding through the middle of the board right now, but that will be fixed later.
On the checker layer, go to the array tool and enter these values:
The Manual Offset moves the center of the selected object the distance specified. Since we know each checker square is 1 m2, we place a checker on every other square to the right, and one on each one in front.
The middle row of checkers now needs to be moved. This can be done however you please. I lassoed the row after some zooming and then used the number box to move them 1 m to the right.
Leaving you with half of the board:
Now that one side is done, we need to do the other. Tools like Mirror, or Copying and Pasting could be done, but this is an array tutorial, so we're going to do that.
Highlight a checker and array it to the other side.
Now copy that checker and paste it onto another layer. Remember to delete the checker left on the second layer. Placing the checker on another layer will be helpful for surface naming and using the Array tool.
The steps for this are similar to before, but the Z Offset will be in the negative direction.
Again, highlight the middle row of checker and move them. This will be in the negative X direction.
You should be left with this:
Turn both of the checker layers on. Be sure to have the board in the background as a reference. Turn on the move tool. Zoom in on the Back view until you see one checker and the board. Grab the checker layers and move them up. If you keep an eye on the coordinates, you can make sure that you aren't moving the checkers in any direction but the Y-axis.
Now it's time to add color to the board. I created a lift to the board by creating a polygon around the bottom and then Beveling it. Then select every other square surface and name them appropriately. If you've never played checkers, the pieces go on the black squares.
A finished object could look like this:
Another part of the array tool is the Radial Array. Radial Array take the selected object, polygon or whatever and places the defined amount of the object in a circle around a specified point. This is where it becomes important to know where the object that is being arrayed around is located, and knowing the dimensions of object that is being arrayed.
As an example for the Radial Array, I used an object created earlier (also created using the Array tool). First, you want to center the board and pieces at the origin. This can be done by clicking the Center Tab, found on the Modify Tab, in the Move Column. The object was placed in another layer, and placed level with the board and a good enough distance away that it won't touch the corners of the board.
Now bring up the Array Tool. Select the Radial Tab, instead of the Rectangular Tab. Select how many Rubix Cubes you want to have hanging out around the board. The Y-axis is chosen, because it is the axis perpendicular the table top look that we are going for.
After clicking OK, you should be left with this:
Here is an example of what choosing a different axis looks like.
A final picture could look like this:
Like in most computer generated objects, perfection takes away from the reality. Nobody will ever really get all the pieces exactly in the center of the squares, or have all of the Rubix Cubes perfectly rotated 45° and an equal distance from the center. That is what the Jitter is for in the Array Tool Box. Increasing the jitter will add random distance imperfections to the placement of the objects.
The Array Tool is a simple tool to use that can cut down on your time when similar shapes or objects are needed. Copying and Pasting can be used, but the Array Tool is a more precise way. A similar tool with more degrees of freedom is the clone tool.