CATIA V5

EVENT | The 2015 edition of CATIA Creative Design & ICEM Conference | France, Paris, 17 - 18 Nov 2015

2015-10-22T22:37:00.001-07:00

Dear all,

The 2015 edition of CATIA Creative Design & ICEM Conference promises to be the most innovative yet. It is the place to share about product strategy, best practices and expertise, to discover new technologies and to network with peers of the worldwide user community. The focus of this conference will be design in the Age of Experience and Design Thinking. Dozens of sessions dedicated to CATIA users will be hosted by visionary speakers - The Conference welcomes on stage P. Hawkins - Microsoft Mobile, M. Ishikaw – Shaderfarm, C. Jouannet -SAAB Aeronautics, M. Podehl - Volkswagen, T. RAZIER - Dassault Aviation and many more. Last but not least, there will be a Social event which will be held at the Eiffel Tower in Paris at day 1 evening.

Have a look at the agenda: AGENDA

Have you registered your free seat? Registration is over here: CATIA Creative Design & Icem Conference Registration

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to comment this post.

Hope to see you again!

Catia Excellence Club | 3D PERSPECTIVES

2015-01-01T06:01:00.001-08:00

People who use CATIA have joined together in user groups all around the world. These groups offer members the opportunity to become friends with other CATIA users, get questions answered, and be represented by a recognized organization discussing with Dassault Systèmes. They are for everyone from first-time users to experts – from every profession, background and age. For the first time, we decided to bring together in the same place leaders of these user groups. We organized a dedicated and very special event for them, the CATIA Excellence Club, which took place in Paris from July 17 to July 18, 2014.

CATIA Excellence Club is a two days event where CATIA professionals, leaders and enthusiasts come together to share ideas, meet peers, form teams, understand and overcome challenges user groups face every day.

CATIA Excellence Club aims to help founders prepare for upcoming challenges they might face and support them in sharing fresh, new and up-to-date content with their CATIA users local community. Together with them, will find solutions to their issues or ideas they can implement easily!

From presentations to brainstorming sessions the event was composed from multiple experiences. Indeed, our user groups leaders got to have interesting discussions, listened and participated in workshops lead by CATIA experts, as well as an intimated dinning on a boat trip over the Seine in Paris.

CATIA Community Conference is our greatest opportunity to meet with the community and make their voice heard. It was a real pleasure for us to organize a memorable experience for everyone. Thank you to the user groups leaders who gave a speech and to our entire community for being so wonderfully energetic and excited!

We look forward to seeing everyone for the next one – wherever in the world it may be!

http://perspectives.3ds.com/uncategorized/catia-excellence-club-inspiring-people-energetic-atmosphere-and-great-time/

Different Sign Meanings

2013-02-24T07:39:00.003-08:00

3D XML-Dassault Systems

2013-02-24T03:20:00.002-08:00

Leveraging 3D as a new Multimedia support

With 3D XML, rich PLM information can be easily incorporated into technical documentation, maintenance manuals, marketing brochures, websites, email communications and many other everyday uses.le 3dxml player title.

Get your 3D XML player here to visualize 3D XML content in a standalone application or embedded in your web browser.

This player is free for download and use by end-users.

http://www.3ds.com/products/3dvia/3d-xml/1/

Free eDrawings Viewer for Catia,SolidWorks, DWG, and DXF Files

2013-02-24T03:09:00.002-08:00

Free eDrawings Downloads

Collaborate more effectively with everyone involved in product development by using eDrawings® software, the first email-enabled communication tool that dramatically eases sharing of product design information. Fast, reliable, and convenient, eDrawings files can supply representations of 3D models and 2D drawings created with the many of widely used CAD systems on the market. eDrawings offers unique capabilities like point-and-click animations that make it easy for anyone with a PC to interpret and understand 2D and 3D design data.

3D CAD design software CATIA - Dassault Systèmes

2013-02-13T06:13:00.001-08:00

CATIA goes far beyond traditional 3D CAD software tools to offer a unique Digital Product Experience, based on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Sustainable development is driving companies around the globe to create a constant stream of innovative and inspiring smart products. Engineering, Design, Systems Architecture and Systems Engineering of these products becomes more demanding.

CATIA V5 Wikipedia

2013-02-12T08:56:00.003-08:00

CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) (in English usually pronounced/k ə ˈ t i ə /) is a multi-platform CAD/CAM/CAEcommercial software suite developed by the French company Dassault Systemes. Written in the C++ programming language, CATIA is the cornerstone of the Dassault Systemes product lifecycle management software suite.

CATIA competes in the high-end CAD/CAM/CAE market with Siemens NX.

History

CATIA started as an in-house development in 1977 by French aircraft manufacturer Avions Marcel Dassault, at that time customer of the CAD/CAM CAD software to develop Dassault's Mirage fighter jet, then was adopted in the aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, and other industries.

Initially named CATI (Conception Assistée Tridimensionnelle Interactive — French for Interactive Aided Three-dimensional Design ) — it was renamed CATIA in 1981, when Dassault created a subsidiary to develop and sell the software, and signed a non-exclusive distribution agreement with IBM.

In 1984, the Boeing Company had chosen CATIA V3 as its main 3D CAD tool, becoming its largest customer.

In 1988, CATIA V3 was ported from mainframe computers to UNIX.

In 1990, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp chose CATIA as its main 3D CAD tool, to design the U.S. Navy's Virginia class submarine. Boeing had been also selling worldwide its CADAM CAD system through the channel of IBM since 1978.

In 1992, CADAM had been purchased from IBM, and the next year CATIA CADAM V4 was published.

In 1996, it was ported from one to four Unix operating systems, including IBM AIX, Silicon Graphics IRIX, Sun Microsystems SunOS, and Hewlett-Packard HP-UX.

In 1998, V5 was released, which was an entirely rewritten version of CATIA, with support for UNIX, Windows NT and Windows XP since 2001.

In 2008, Dassault announced and released CATIA V6. While the server can run on Microsoft Windows, Linux or AIX, client support for any operating system other than Microsoft Windows is dropped.

In November 2010, Dassault launched Catia V6R2011x, the latest release of its PLM2.0 platform while still continuing to support and improve its Catia V5 software.

In June 2011, Dassault launched V6 R2012.

Scope of application

Commonly referred to as a 3D Product Lifecycle Management software suite, CATIA supports multiple stages of product development (CAx), from conceptualization, design (CAD), manufacturing (CAM), and engineering (CAE). CATIA facilitates collaborative engineering across disciplines, including surfacing & shape design, mechanical engineering, equipment and systems engineering.

CATIA provides a suite of surfacing, reverse engineering, and visualization solutions to create, modify, and validate complex innovative shapes. From subdivision, styling, and Class A surfaces to mechanical functional surfaces.

CATIA enables the creation of 3D parts, from 3D sketches, sheetmetal, composites, molded, forged or tooling parts up to the definition of mechanical assemblies. It provides tools to complete product definition, including functional tolerances, as well as kinematics definition.

CATIA facilitates the design of electronic, electrical as well as distributed systems such as fluid and HVAC systems, all the way to the production of documentation for manufacturing.

Systems engineering

CATIA offers a solution to model complex and intelligent products through the systems engineering approach. It covers the requirements definition, the systems architecture, the behavior modeling and the virtual product or embedded software generation. CATIA can be customized via application programming interfaces (API). CATIA V5 & V6 can be adapted using Visual Basic and C++ programming languages via CAA (Component Application Architecture); a component object model (COM)-like interface.

Although later versions of CATIA V4 implemented NURBS, V4 principally used piecewise polynomial surfaces. CATIA V4 uses a non-manifold solid engine.

Catia V5 features a parametric solid/surface-based package which uses NURBS as the core surface representation and has several workbenches that provide KBE support.

V5 can work with other applications, including Enovia, Smarteam, and various CAE Analysis applications.

Industries

CATIA can be applied to a wide variety of industries, from aerospace and defense, automotive, and industrial equipment, to high tech, shipbuilding, consumer goods, plant design, consumer packaged goods, life sciences, architecture and construction, process power and petroleum, and services. CATIA V4, CATIA V5, Pro/ENGINEER, NX (formerly Unigraphics), and SolidWorks are the dominant systems.

Aerospace

The Boeing Company used CATIA V3 to develop its 777 airliner, and used CATIA V5 for the 787 series aircraft. They have employed the full range of Dassault Systemes' 3D PLM products — CATIA,DELMIA, and ENOVIA LCA — supplemented by Boeing developed applications.

The development of the Indian Light Combat Aircraft has been using CATIA V5.

Chinese Xian JH-7A is the first aircraft developed by CATIA V5, when the design was completed on September 26, 2000.

European aerospace giant Airbus has been using CATIA since 2001.

Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier Aerospace has done all of its aircraft design on CATIA.

The Brazilian aircraft company, EMBRAER, use Catia V4 and V5 to build all airplanes.

Vought Aircraft Industries use CATIA V4 and V5 to produce its parts.

The Anglo/Italian Helicopter company, AgustaWestland, use CATIA V4 and V5 to design their full range of aircraft.

The Eurofighter Typhoon has been designed using both CATIA V4 and V5.

The main supplier of helicopters to the U.S Military forces, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., uses CATIA as well.

Bell Helicopter, the creator of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, has used CATIA V4, V5, and now V6.

Automotive

Many automotive companies use CATIA to varying degrees, including BMW,Porsche, Daimler AG, Chrysler, Honda,Audi,Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda, Bentley Motors Limited, Volvo, Fiat, Benteler International, PSA Peugeot Citroën,Renault, Toyota,Ford, Scania, Hyundai, Škoda Auto, Tesla Motors[citation needed], Valmet Automotive, Proton n], Tata motors, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited. Goodyear uses it in making tires for automotive and aerospace and also uses a customized CATIA for its design and development. Many automotive companies use CATIA for car structures — door beams, IP supports, bumper beams, roof rails, side rails, body components — because CATIA is very good in surface creation and Computer representation of surfaces. Bombardier Transportation, Canada is using this software to design its entire fleet of Train engines and coaches.

Shipbuilding

Dassault Systems has begun serving shipbuilders with CATIA V5 release 8, which includes special features useful to shipbuilders. GD Electric Boat used CATIA to design the latest fast attack submarine class for the United States Navy, the Virginia class.^[13] Newport News Shipbuilding also used CATIA to design the Gerald R. Ford class of supercarriers for the US Navy.^[14] In 2004 it has been adopted by the Beneteau Group for development of new sailing and leisure motor boat^.

Industrial equipment

CATIA has a strong presence in the Industrial Equipment industry. Industrial Manufacturing machinery companies like Schuler and Metso use CATIA, as well as heavy mobile machinery and equipment companies like Claas, and also various industrial equipment product companies like Alstom Power and ABB Group.

Other

Architect Frank Gehry has used the software, through the C-Cubed Virtual Architecture company, now Virtual Build Team, to design his award-winning curvilinear buildings. His technology arm,Gehry Technologies, has been developing software based on CATIA V5 named Digital Project. Digital Project has been used to design buildings and has successfully completed a handful of projects.

File compatibility and CATIA V4 /V5 /V6 conversion

Dassault Systemes provides utilities to convert CATIA V4 data files so they are accessible to CATIA V5 and CATIA V6. Still, cases show that there can be issues in the data conversion from CATIA V4 to V5, from either differences in the geometric kernel between CATIA V4 and CATIA V5, or by the modelling methods employed by end users. Experiment results show that there can be data loss during the conversion (from 0% to 90%). The percentage loss can be minimized by using the appropriate pre-conversion clean-up, choosing the appropriate conversion options, and clean-up activities after conversion. On the other hand, transition from V5 to V6 is facilitated because they are sharing the same geometric kernel. Third-party file translators also up-convert CATIA files between versions.

Surpass The Blank Product File

2013-02-05T05:18:00.000-08:00

When launching CATIA, the program automatically opens an empty Product. Some users find it annoying to have to close this every time you start CATIA. Here is the procedure to avoid this.
1. Right-click on the My computer icon in the desktop Select Properties

2. Go to Advance tab, click Environment variables button3. Click New button in User variables
4. Add the variable “CATNOSTARTDOCUMENT=NO”
5. Click OK. A default Product file should not open next time CATIA is launched.

Manage Large Assemblies - Ways to improve performance

2012-05-02T08:30:00.002-07:00

There are several items that the CATIA end user can change to improve performance when
working with large assemblies. Some of these changes deal with improving the performance of
local transformation (rotation, moving, and zooming), some deal with reducing the time to open
an assembly, and others deal with ways of reducing the addressable memory usage to obtain
better overall performance when working with the large assemblies.

Each of these methods is a trade off: in order to obtain better performance, the user will need to
reduce what is seen on the display, change the way saving is done, and change the way of
working with the overall large assembly.
Some of these changes can be achieved by making some changes under CATIA’s
Tools>Options, while others are done interactively with some contextual menu changes and
other selections.
The following examples show some of the changes that the end user could do to improve
performance when working on large assemblies. For detailed information on each of these
items, the user should consult the CATIA online documentation.
Examples of Interactive Changes
Use Visualization mode to improve loading time and decrease addressable memory usage.
When parts are displayed in Visualization Mode, just a subset of the data is loaded in memory.
The remaining data is loaded when needed. Switch to design mode only the parts to be edited
or needed for constraint creation.
Select the option “Do not activate default shape on open” prior to opening an assembly. This
reduces unneeded information in no-show space, and improves performance. This option
should be used in combination with the Visualization mode to further improve performance.

Manage Large Assemblies - Ways to improve performance

Removing the edges when shading improves display performance.Create Selection Sets to
manage working configurations such as multi-selecting components to be activated.
Examples of Tools – Options Changes
Lowering the level of detail displayed on the screen will improve local transformation.This is
done by increasing the setting values of the “Level of Detail” and “Pixel Culling” for “While
Moving”, so that less data is displayed while moving.
Decrease the Undo Stack. By default, the last 10 interactions can be undone at any time. But,
this option uses a lot of addressable memory. By decreasing the Undo Stack Size to 2,
addressable memory is freed up to allow the loading of larger assemblies.
Activating the use of Cache optimizes the use of Visualization Mode by reducing addressable
memory usage and the time to open the assembly.
Disable the Automatic Save. Automatic Save enables the recovery of a user’s work in case of a
CATIA crash, but in most cases, assemblies cannot be recovered after a crash. Since automatic
saves can take almost a minute for very large assemblies, disabling this option will eliminate
CATIA hangs every 30 minutes or so.

Open assemblies with every component deactivated, and activate only the Representation of
the part needed for design. This will improve local transformation performance and reduce
addressable memory usage

Importing Toolbars from any workbench to the required workbench

2012-05-02T08:28:00.002-07:00

During the design process sometimes necessity arises where you to use toolbars in other
workbenches in the current workbench.

For example, while working with the Part design workbench, sometimes it is necessary to
perform certain tasks using the tools available in the Surfaces toolbar in the Shape design
workbench.

Following steps can be followed to import Surfaces toolbar in the Part design workbench from
the Shape design workbenches:

1.Select Start > Mechanical design > Part design to invoke the Part design workbench. The
default user interface for Part design is displayed.
2. Select the Customize option from the Tools pull-down menu; the Customize dialog box is
displayed, as shown in Figure
3. Select the Toolbars tab from the Customize dialog box. The options available in the Toolbars
tab are displayed, as shown in the Figure
4. Choose the New button from the Toolbars tab of the Customize dialog box; the New Toolbar
dialog box is displayed.
5. Select the Shape design workbench from the Workbenches area; all the toolbars available in
the Shape design workbench are displayed in the Toolbars area. Select the Surfaces toolbars
from the Toolbars area of the New Toolbar dialog box. Name of the toolbar is displayed in the
Toolbar Name edit box. See Figure
6. The Surfaces toolbar is now displayed in the Part design workbench.Similarly you can import
and use any toolbar from any workbench to the required workbench.

Methodology for Drafting Large Assemblies

2012-04-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

There are many different techniques that can be employed to improve the performance when working with the drafting of large assemblies. Simply put, use smart drafting techniques to generate in drafting only what is needed for the views. This will keep the data size down, which yields the best performance. If the smart drafting techniques aren’t sufficient, the assemblies should be simplified using the Convert Product to CATPart function. The following two sections show some of the smart drafting techniques and discusses simplified assemblies.

Examples of Smart Drafting Techniques for Large Assemblies

· Limit the number of scenes to the minimum number necessary to convey the Visualization of the assembly. Each scene created substantially increases the size of the CATProduct.

· Create Raster-generated views as images. This allows the user to quickly generate overall views for large assemblies that can be opened in visualization mode. Although there are restrictions on generating raster views, when used, they reduces data size andimprove addressable memory usage.

· Manually manage which elements are shown in the assembly, before generating them views. Anything that shouldn’t be seen in the view should not be visible in the assembly.

· Create views by multi-selecting only the nodes in the tree of the elements intended to be seen in the drawing, not the entire assembly.

Simplified Assemblies

A simplified assembly is created when the contents of an assembly are merged into one or more CATParts and then reassembled into a new CATProduct. The selected components of the original CATProduct(s) are converted into individual bodies within the CATParts. Assemblies over 200MB should be considered for the creation of simplified assemblies. Assemblies should be simplified using the Convert Product to CATPart function if the smart drafting techniques are not sufficient. Simplifying assemblies is best done after the design is nearly completed and ready for detailing. This technique is not intended to be used during the stages of the design when changes often occur because manual synchronization of the original data is required if there is a change.

CATIA V5: BIW WELDING FIXTURE DESIGN

2012-04-25T09:57:00.001-07:00

CATIA V5: BIW WELDING FIXTURE DESIGN

BIW WELDING FIXTURE DESIGN

2012-04-25T09:53:00.002-07:00

BIW WELDING FIXTURE DESIGN

No matter what your knowledge about fixture design, you use the following stages in design of your BIW weld fixture:

Study and understanding of process

Concept design

Create 3D-Modeling

You study your process

You start design by study production process of body-in-white (BIW) this process provides valuable information for the design phase.

The purpose of study BIW process includes the following:

The special focus on the structure of a body (BIW) enables you to find the logic and flow of body panels, and the relationships between them.

The select of master control point, which are holes or surfaces related to your body part & assembly to arrive at the dimensional integrity of the BIW by giving the steel parts in the correct position during joining.

The analyzing of body is made up of several hundreds of stamped components which are joined together by spot welding with welding gun for understanding of welding points and allocate them to welding operations.

Study of cycle time diagrams, for check reach ability and optimizing it. Cycle time is estimating the required working time for each station.

You create your concept design based on process study

Now you can use of process study for defining the design criteria and finding or verifying the concepts.

The welding fixture design is created with the following steps:

The clamping plans for accurate positioning of components, while the components are aligned to a suitable plane for welding they are designed in the carline plane (as in BIW).

Design of the weld fixture is unit based on clamping plan, therefore there are a number of fixture unit types used in the welding fixtures for the purpose of each unit and due to the complexity and shape of the component geometry, the choice of elements as well as configuration of each unit tends to change from case to case.

The check of weld accessibility and spot weld for unrestricted access to each weld point, before and after the fixture design, the accessibility of the weld guns to all the spot points can be simulated and studied thoroughly to avoid guns colliding with other fixture elements.

You create 3D Modeling fixture

You need knowledge and experience in 3D Modeling software for creating 3D-Model and 2D drafting, detailing & 3D concept design.

The 3D Modeling becomes the basic for following item:

Create 3D Modeling of the weld fixture for visualizing the entire fixture in a three-dimensional environment.

3D Modeling of weld fixture generated by cad software, which lets you detect collisions, check reach ability spot weld and carry out weld accessibility study for ensuring your fixture efficiency.

The 3D CAD Model of weld fixture unit enables you to make CAD Model of clamp location plan for ensuring that plan problems and waste are discovered before your fixture drawing to send for manufacturing.

By 3D Modeling of weld fixture, you can quickly prepare manufacturing drawings.

PRODUCTION PROCESS OF BODY-IN-WITHE (BIW)

In the study phase of planning process you find or verify the concepts of the body-in-white manufacturing process. For design welding fixture, trying to understand processes is essential. It is starting with process logic and flow, and defines the relationships between operations.

The process study is a solution that to help you quickly define and evaluate process to arrive at the best plan for designing your fixture. The result is process study containing a full description of how a product is assembled, manufactured and increases your profitability by improving critical success factors in your fixture design.

The process study allows designer to leverage and optimize existing resources and to better integrate the designing process from beginning to end can not only help designer create fixture faster, but you can also begin design earlier in the overall cycle or even start later, in order to accommodate unanticipated changes.

The Assembly Process studying allows evaluating alternatives, coordinating resources, optimizing throughput, plan for multiple variants, implement changes and estimate costs and cycle times, from the very early stages of concept planning through process.

Studying, Analyzing and Managing Manufacturing Processes enables you to collaboratively plan and analyzing manufacturing processes for your fixture. You can create optimal design and accommodate multiple plan variations, quicker and faster than ever before.

Process study provides a collaborative environment for planning designing processes. A broad range of applications enable you to define and verify body assembly sequences, create clamping plan layout, define the required time for each operation, verify plan performance, perform plan balancing and analyze of spot welding and guns.

The body-in-white Manufacturing Process includes:

Automotive body assembly

Electric resistance welding

Cycle time diagrams

Automotive body assembly

The major process of an automotive body is electric resistance welding. Resistance welding is a group of fusion welding processes that use a combination of heat and pressure to accomplish coalescence and where electric resistance welding is not applicable ,CO2,ARC WELDING and MIG-BRAZING are performed.

The body of automotive is made up of several hundreds of stamped components which are joined together by spot welding process.

Overall quality of the car body (BIW) and quality of the sub assemblies, apart from quality of each stamped part, depends remarkably on quality of the welded joint.

You should study of part joining, welding operations such as spot-welding and define welding points and allocate them to welding operations.

The study of welding process can be classified as follow:

The number of welding spot

The position and volume number of welding spot

The type of welding gun

The material and sheet metal thickness for setting of welding condition

Cycle time diagrams

The cycle time is estimating the required working time of each station.

Cycle time study is based on the information such as:

Part loading

Clamping

Gun forward

Welding

Gun retreat

Unclamping

Part unloading

PORTABLE WELDING GUN

Almost all of the automotive body parts are assembled by resistance spot welding.

A spot welder consists of a transformer to obtain a large welding current, timer to control the time in which to feed the current, electrodes to hold welded articles, pressurizing cylinder to apply the necessary for the material being welded.

Secondary cable lets necessary current through transformer flow to gun, spring balancer to lighten the welding gun and the cable.

Resistance spot welding is passed between two copper electrodes, the process can be performed by the operator holding a portable welding machine and moving it around the parts being welded.

These portable machines called portable welding guns. The manual weld guns can have easy access to weld the components together.

The resistance spot welding machines are classified according to combinations of individual sections as follows:

Fixed type

Stud type

Portable type:

Conventional weld gun

Integral weld gun

Conventional weld gun

Conventional weld guns have a large transformer located remotely from the weld gun. The welding current is delivered to the weld gun arms through a large, water-cooled secondary cable.

J type or C type

S type or X type

The conventional weld guns were used in various applications because the weld controllers did not have the ability to detect and react to any hazard associated with using primary power connected directly to the weld gun.

Integral weld gun

Integral weld gun or tarn's guns have a smaller transformer located right on the weld gun, from which the current is delivered through short jumpers or shunts that are air cooled.

Tran's guns are also called weld guns, because the transformer is part of the unit.

The two configurations of portable tarn's guns are:

C gun

Scissors gun

For example C gun for welding around a door opening on a small flange and Scissors gun for welding large, deep boxes requiring a long reach.

There are following characterizes for tarn's guns:

Design

Flexibility

Ergonomics

Cost efficiency

Sketcher Basics 1

2012-04-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

Sketcher workbench

The Sketcher workbench enables us to create and edit 2D geometry. You can set constraints between geometrical elements.

1 Entering Sketcher Workbench

Creating a sketch: To create a sketch,

Select Start -> Mechanical Design -> Sketcher from the menu bar.

Select the Sketcher icon and click the preferred reference plane either in the geometry area or in the specification tree, or select a planar surface. This creates a "Simple" sketch (sketch, for which we do not specify the origin and orientation of the absolute axis,).

To edit a sketch: Double-click the sketch or an element of the sketch geometry. You can select it in the geometry area or in the specification tree. 3D, right-click the sketch in the specification tree, Move to[sketch name] object in the contextual menu, select Edit.

2 Creating a Positioned Sketch

In positioned sketch, we can decide the reference plane, and the origin and orientation of the absolute axis. Creating a positioned sketch enables you to define (and later change) explicitly the position of the sketch absolute axis.

Advantages of Positioned Sketch:

You can use the absolute axis directions like external references for the sketched profile geometry.Creating a positioned sketch ensures associativity with the 3D geometry. Click the down arrow next to the Sketcher icon, and select the Sketch with Absolute Axis Definition icon. The Sketch Positioning dialog box appears. In the

3 Using Tools For Sketching

This task shows how tools in sketcher workbench can assist you when sketching elements.

Snap to Point If activated, As you are sketching the points are snapped to the intersection points of the grid.

Construction/Standard Elements: You can create two types of elements: standard elements andconstruction elements. Note that creating standard or construction elements is based upon the same methodology. If standard elements represent the most commonly created elements, on some occasions, you will have to create geometry just to assist your design. Construction elements aim at helping you in sketching the required profile. Click the Construction/Standard Element option command from the Sketch tools toolbar so that the elements you are now going to create be either standard or construction element. As construction elements are not taken into account when creating features, note that they do not appear outside the Sketcher.

Geometrical Constraints: When Active, the Geometrical Constraint option command creates Geometrical Constraint when sketching elements.

Dimensional Constraints: When Active, the Dimensional Constraint option command allows forcing a dimensional constrain on one or more profile type elements, When you use the value fields in the Sketch tools toolbar for creating profile.

CLASS A SURFACING

2012-04-25T09:37:00.002-07:00

A Class surfacing and its importance: A class surfaces are those aesthetic/ free form surfaces, which are visible to us (interior/exterior), having an optimal aesthetic shape and high surface quality.

Mathematically class A surface are those surfaces which are curvature continuous while providing the simplest mathematical representation needed for the desired shape/form and does not have any undesirable waviness.

Curvature continuity: It is the continuity between the surfaces sharing the same boundary. Curvature continuity means that at each point of each surface along the common boundary has the same radius of curvature.

Why Class A is needed:

We all understand that today products are not only designed considering the functionality but special consideration are given to its form/aesthetics which can bring a desire in ones mind to own that product. Which is only possible with high-class finish and good forms. This is the reason why in design industries Class A surface are given more importance.

Understanding Class A surfaces:

1. The fillets - Generally for Class A, the requirement is curvature continuous and Uniform flow of flow lines from fillet to parent surface value of 0.005 or better (Position 0.001mm and tangency to about 0.016 degrees).

2. The flow of the highlight lines - The lines should form a uniform family of lines. Gradually widening or narrowing but in general never pinching in and out.

3. The control points should form a very ordered structure - again varying in Angle from one Row to the next in a gradual manner (this will yield the good Highlights required).

4. For a Class A model the fillet boundary should be edited and moved to form a Gentle line - and then re-matched into the base surface.

5. Matched iso-params in U & V direction are also a good representation of class A.

6. The degree (order) of the Bezier fillets should generally be about 6 (also for arc Radius direction) sometimes you may have to go higher.

7. Also you have to take care of Draft angle, symmetry, gaps and matching of surfaces Created with parent or reference surfaces.

8. Curvature cross-section needles across the part - we make sure the rate of Change of curvature (or the flow of the capping line across the top of the part) is Very gentle and well behaved.

The physical meaning:

Class A refers to those surfaces, which are CURVATURE continuous to each other at their respective boundaries. Curvature continuity means that at each "point" of each surface along the common boundary has the same radius of curvature.

This is different to surfaces having;

Tangent continuity - which is directional continuity without radius continuity - like fillets.

Point continuity - only touching without directional (tangent) or curvature equivalence.

In fact, tangent and point continuity is the entire basis most industries (aerospace, shipbuilding, BIW etc ). For these applications, there is generally no need for curvature.

By definition:

Class A surface refers to those surfaces which are VISIBLE and abide to the physical meaning, in a product. This classification is primarily used in the automotive and increasingly in consumer goods (toothbrushes, PalmPC's, mobile phones, washing machines, toilet lids etc). It is a requirement where aesthetics has a significantcontribution. For this reason the exterior of automobiles are deemed Class-A. BIW is NOT Class-A. The exterior of you sexy toothbrush is Class-A, the interior with ribs and inserts etc is NOT Class-A.

GSD: Difference between join and healing

2012-02-08T07:58:00.001-08:00

The maximum Join merging tolerance you can specify is 0.1mm. As in previous responses, Join will not modify the underlying surface. i.e if you have a step od 0.1mm and run a NC tool path over the join, you would still see a step in the result, yet visually you woul not see any step in the CAD geometry. Whereas Heal will physically modify all or part of the surfaces.

Boolean Operations In CATIA V5

2012-02-08T07:48:00.001-08:00

What is Boolean operation?
-->Boolean is an operation we can Unite two different bodies together or subtract one from another.

In Catia you can insert "N" number of Bodies, Body2, body3, body4,........so on.
You can insert new body by pull down menu INSERT---------> Body.
Under part body create a 100mm X 100mm sketch on XY plane and extrude it by 25mm.
Now insert another body that's body2, now create a sketch on YZ plane 50mm X 50mm and extrude using pad command around 50mm, make it mirror Extend. This block should penetrate the block which created under part body.
IMP Note: you might have observed the " + and -" symbol on body2 or body3. It’s called Polarity of that body. The Polarity of the body will be decided by the first feature used in that body. Ex: Instead of Pad if you use a pocket the Polarity will be negative, all positive feature henceforth became -ve like PAD, SHAFT, RIB...., and _ve features became positive like POCKET, GROVE, SLOT.....

Now insert another body i.e. body3 and create sketch on ZX plane, extrude using pocket it has to intersect/penetrate through both the blocks. Now Body3 having –ve Polarity”

1 Assemble.
The assemble command work on depending on the polarity of the bodies. Now select Assemble command then select Body2 (If you select Part Body you will get error) pop-up will appear, in that you can select part body, then you click on preview then Ok. Here now it will remove only Intersected material between two selected bodies. If you select body3 which is having _ve polarity, then you select either part body or body2 it will remove now, whole body3 and where this body is intersected with the selected body. If you select body2 then body3 here it will remove body2 and where this body is intersected with body3.
It’s clear that, if you select two bodies which are having same polarity It will remove only Intersected material between two bodies. If you selecting two bodies which having both +ve and –ve polarity, in this case it will remove the first selected body and where it is intersected with 2nd body.
2. Add
In add option irrespective of polarity of the bodies it will remove only intersected material between two bodies. Here the bodies may be +ve or _ve or any combination.
3. Remove
In this feature also it never bothers whether the bodies are +ve /-ve or the combination of any. It will remove first selected body and where it is intersected with the second body.
4. Intersect
To get a common material between two bodies we can use this option. Here also it won’t bother whether the bodies having different polarities.
5. Union Trim
Using this option we can remove unwanted material from both the bodies. We can use this option to create T joint for pipes.
6. Remove lump
This option is used within a body to remove unwanted lump in the body. Here we can use this option even in part body also. Assume you have “N” number of lumps in those if you don’t need some of the lumps you can select the face of the lumps which you don’t need then you can say ok it will remove all the lumps which faces you have selected. If you select both faces to remove and faces to keep and if you leave some lumps In this case it will remove the lumps which you have not selected. When you using this command I suggest please select only faces to remove or faces to keep, that is enough.
Interview questions on Boolean operations:
1. What is the difference between assemble and add.
2. What is alternative option for intersect in part design.
3. What is alternative option for remove lump in part design?
4. What is polarity of the body?
5. Is it possible to change the polarity of the body?

LAW CREATION

2012-01-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

I fought the Law and…

I won! Surfacing Laws can be evasive, so this is my humble attempt to make them clear.

If you have been given the task of creating a surface that smoothly transitions from one

closed curve to the next, while controlling the intermediate cross-sections, Laws are for YOU!

Simply put, the concept is to match the Law to the planar area of the Generating curves

in a Surf2+Curve+Crv-Crv.

In order to do this, you must first analyze the enclosed area of the sections by creating a planar face with Limit2.

With the Analysis+Inertia routine, using the default density of 1.00, determine and record the areas of the G-Curve

generated Faces. Be sure to keep these in order in your notes, since their order is important to the definition process.

The next step is to create a plane through each of the planar G-Curves, and place them adjacent to the curves for clarity

and reference. Place a Limit point on one of the planes at the furthest extremity in the stack of G-Curves.

Now, use Curve2+Spine to define the flow from one section to the next by selecting the point and first through last

planes in order (The point lies on the first plane in the series).

After generating the Spine, Analysis+Numeric the curvilinear length of the Spine curve.

Limit1+Break the Spine at each section plane, and analyze the length of each segment,

keeping good records of each span and which pair of G-Curves each span lies between.

Limit1+Concatenate+Curve the Spine back together, since you need it intact for the Law

to be distributed along.

Now for the FUN part! Solve the following equation for R on each section:

Sqrt of Area/Pi = R. The conversion of the Area to a Radius value is necessary for the

successful completion of the Law.

In 2D, somewhere slightly away from the part, draw a line the same length as the Spine you

analyzed earlier. Use Point+Limits to create end points on the line. With Point+Spaces,

select the line and the start point, followed by the value equal to the first segment of the Spine

length, and so on. At one end of the line, use Point+Coord to select the end point and key in

0,(Radius value) to establish the first point offset for the Law. Continue this process, basing the

coordinate point on the next consecutive value of R that you solved earlier. In other words,

you are charting a gap defining the Radius resultant for each consecutive G-Curve Area, at the

specific point that it will occur along the Spine.

Once these points are charted, an Arc can be calculated through these points, and it is a good

idea to impose tangency at each end, so that the area is held momentarily as the surface exits

the final G-Curve.

Law+Create+Area: In 3D mode, select the Varying Arc that you just calculated through the

Radius points, then the Line that was initially created in 2D, then the Spine that was concatenated,

Yes:Compute and type in a name for the Law.

This law can now be used in Surf2+Curve+Crv-Crv as one of the variables controlling your

new surface. You will notice that Area is an input parameter in your FK Menu after Spine

selection and before G-Curve selection. For a complete list of possible inputs, look at the

Analysis panel with Alt+ on the 10-key pad (Alt- removes the analysis panel).

CATIA QUESTIONS

2012-01-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

How can I change the background on my Catia V5 window?

Replace C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B13\intel_a\resources\graphic\icons\ClientMDIBackgroundNT.bmp with the new image.

What is the purpose of thick surface in CATIA V5?

The purpose of a Thick Surface is to model a solid to represent a constant thickness of material from a given contour. This can be used to model sheet-metal, plastic, or even a machined part that needs to mate with a defined surface.

Do we have layer concept in CATIA V5 like what we have in unigraphics and Pro-e?

Yes, however, the Layers have to be created before they can be applied to the geometry. Do not expect filters to function as they did in Catia V4. You can write a script to sort geometry into geometric sets based on layer attribute.

What is a UUID, and how does it affect my Catia work?

After researching the web for a generic answer, this is what I found: What is a UUID? UUID stands for a Universal Unique IDentifier. These are 128 bit numbers assigned to any object within a DCE cell which is guaranteed to be unique. The mechanism used to guarantee that UUIDs are Unique is through combinations of hardware addresses, time stamps and random seeds. There is a reference in the UUID to the hardware address of the first network card on the host which generated the UUID - this reference is intended to ensure the UUID will be unique in space as the MAC address of every network card is assigned by a single global authority and is guaranteed to be unique. (Alternate addresses might be a problem here, but the author has not tested creating a UUID on a machine with an alternate address set) The next component is a timestamp which, as DCE always moves clocks forward, will be unique in time.Just in case some part of the above goes wrong, there is a random component placed into the UUID as a catch-all for uniqueness.The timestamp component though is one of the reasons why DCE does not react well to clocks going backwards.A UUID may be generated using the uuidgen command, the following is an example of a generated UUID:- 58f202ac-22cf-11d1-b12d-002035b29092 This has come from a machine with the hardware address shown in the output of the command below:- lscfg -vl ent0 DEVICE LOCATION DESCRIPTION ent0 01-01 IBM ISA Ethernet Adapter Network Address.............002035B29092 From this it may be observed that the Network address of the ethernet adapter matches the last portion of the uuid. Dassault has made their applications permanently identified with a UUID by creating their Interface Definition Language file with the uuidgen command, giving it the "-i" option. What this means to us is that unless all files originate from a single point seed file (thus always having the same UUID), Component Replace and Drawing replace links will always fail.

Why can't I snap a DMU section to a plane in V5R12sp3?

This is a Catia regression. Create a small extruded surface and use the plane as the support. You will then be able to use this surface as your Geometrical Target.

My Assembly will not load or functions update.

Full Memory issue and V5 Parm Synch issue. Load and Update a few of the larger Products individually, and then the Top level Product. Create a Top level Parm and fx to drive the lower level parameters via KWA Parm Explorer.

How does a Power Copy work, and how do I create them?

A Power Copy allows you to create a feature, imbed rules and dependencies and then copy all of this information into a part as a single unit. For UG users, this is a 'Wave' and for V4 Users, this is similar to a 'Ditto'. There are a few rules to live by such as 1) Never reference H or V in sketches 2) Isolate indexing planes before using them to support a sketch 3) Provide isolated geometries that can lock the degrees of freedom down when copied into a part file 4) design the PC from the Users perspective (to fit their design process) 5) Emulate Best Practices and Decision Criteria with Rules and Checks 6) Chat with CatiaV5Dr on AOL AIM for additional Help.

How do you switch sketches on a part design?

1) Create a Curve Parameter 2) Create a String Parameter with 2 or more values 3) Create 2 Sketches 4) Create a Rule that watches the String Parameter and sets the Curve Parameter = 1 Sketch 5) Create a Pad that uses the Curve Parameter as it's profile 6) Chat with CatiaV5Dr on AOL AIM for additional help

How can I change the startup CATIA Graphic to my company Logo?

Replace the C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B12\intel_a\resources\graphic\splashscreens\CATIASplash.bmp with your own Company Logo!

Why can I not save an Iges or Step file when my Product is open?

First, check to see if you have the proper license checked out. Now, make sure that the Parts and/or Products are in Design Mode. This can be done Globally by unchecking the Work in Cache Mode option or by switching the desired data to Design Mode via the Right Click Contextual Menu.

How can I change the background on my Catia V5 window?

Replace C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B13\intel_a\resources\graphic\icons\ClientMDIBackgroundNT.bmp with the new image.

I am unable to read V4 Data that contains E3D Logical lines.

Deselect the radio button in Tools+Options+Compatibility+V4 Data Reading that says 'Open In Light Mode'. E3D has strong links to the Drafting views in V4 that require a complete load of the .model file to be viewed. I have not verified it, but suspect that the Tubing Module in V4 has the same issue when read into V5 due to it's similar architecture.

Why do I lose CATDrawing links to Imported CATParts?

Non-Catia Data Migration - When dealing with Cad Data that did not originate in Catia, and basing CATDrawings on it, many issues will arise. The following workflow will reduce the number of issues due to STEP and IGES Import methods into V5. The root of the problem that is experienced while linking CATDrawings to CATProducts and CATParts of new versions of files is due to an encryption routine Windows that CATIA utilizes to create a unique identifier for each and every new CATPart and CATProduct that is created. This encryption routine creates and embeds an Object called a UUID which stands for Universal Unique IDentifier. These are 128 bit numbers assigned to any object within a DCE cell which is guaranteed to be unique. The mechanism used to guarantee that UUIDs are Unique is through combinations of hardware addresses, time stamps and random seeds. What that means to you and me is that the File Name that we see when we save the file or reference it to create a CATProduct or CATDrawing is NOT the ID that is being referenced by CATIA, and can therefore not simply be replaced with another file of the same name. Assuming that the Cad data is not originating in V5, the process for revising a CATPart (non-native) while maintaining links to CATDrawings is this: 1) Non-V5 Modeling------>2) STEP/IGES Export/Import------>3) New CATPart with Original UUID------>4) CATDrawing------>5) Non-V5 Modeling------>6) STEP/IGES Export/Import------>7) New CATPart with New UUID------>8) Copy/Paste from New CATPart with New UUID to Existing CATPart with Original UUID------>9) Open CATDrawing to verify link Basically, the concept is to establish the relationship from the CATDrawing Child file to it's Parent CATPart or CATProduct and maintain this relationship by changing the contents of the CATPart or CATProduct but re-use the original file so that it's UUID remains intact.

How do I display stresses in the sketch window?

Add this string to your environment file SHOW_CST_CHILDREN = 1

How do I enable the Product to Part conversion?

Add this string to your environment file IRD_PRODUCTTOPART = 1

How do I enable Part Comparisons?

IRD_PART_COMPARISON = 1

How do I migrate a Solidm to CATPart?

Add this string to your environment file and paste 'As Spec' CATMigrSolidMUV4AsPart=1

How do I save a V5 Solid to a V4 Volume?

Add this string to your environment file V5V4SaveAsVolume=1

How do I control the max gap in the automatic topology cleaner?

Add this string to the envirnment file V5V4CleanTolerance=0.01

How do I concatenate small surfaces with larger adjacent surfaces

Add this string to your environment file V5V4MaxSimplif=1

How do I save an entire CATDrawing as a single PDF?

Add the following string to your Environment file SAVE_AS_ONE_PDF=1

How can I add a logo or text to my part design?

Import the image into a CATDrawing and/or type text onto the lower left corner of a CATDrawing and then save it as a .dxf file. Close the CATDrawing and read the .dxf, and then Copy/Paste the lines into a sketch plane. From there, treat the sketch as a normal sketch and use Pad/Pocket, scaling or whatever to make it fit your needs. There is a shockwave viewlet on my website, if you would like to see this demonstrated.

Where can a CatiaV5 automation document be accessed via web?

Follow this link to the CAA Web site, and register for free access. http://www.caav5.com/developers/autofr.htm

What is the difference in Knowledge Management and Knowledge Engineering?

Knowledge Management is the discipline of extracting, storing and balancing Intellectual Property in a parseable database. The act of leveraging this IP with Applications and Processes is Knowledge Engineering. In the simplest form, the use of a standards document by a designer is Knowledge Engineering. I reserve the term 'Knowledge Engineering' for the act of developing Software Applications leveraging Database Knowledge in order to compress design cycles by providing new efficiencies.

What is the difference in Knowledge Management and Knowledge Engineering?

Knowledge Management is the discipline of extracting, storing, classifying, balancing and maintaining relevant information for use in various tasks, one of which is Engineering. Knowledge Engineering is the discipline of leveraging this Knowledge by dissemination, automation, process inclusion, CAD connection, run-time document creation, and cross database connections for higher level analysis.

What are the Best Practices for Power Copies?

Creating a PowerCopy As far as possible, minimize the number of elements making up the PowerCopy. When defining PowerCopies including sketches, use profiles constrained with respect to edges or faces rather than to planes. Additionally, set the option Create geometrical constraints off before sketching. Generally speaking, it is always preferable to use profiles both rigid and mobile. It is preferable to constrain elements with respect to external references such as faces, edges, reference or explicit planes. It is preferable not to use projections nor intersections in your sketch if you want to use your sketch in a PowerCopy. Avoid constraints defined with respect to reference planes. Before creating your PowerCopies, make sure that your sketch is not over-constrained. Make sure that your sketch is iso-constrained (green color). You can use non-iso-constrained sketches, but it will be more difficult to understand and control the result after instantiation. Create sketches on an axis system, in order to better control the Sketch position. Avoid access to sub-elements. Formulas are automatically included if you select all the parameters. For complex design, integrate knowledge rules. Managing inputs: Always rename your inputs to help the end user understand what he needs to select. A formula is automatically included in a Power Copy definition when all its parameters are included. Otherwise, i.e. if at least one parameter is not selected as part of the Power Copy, select the formula to make it part of the definition. If you do so, all the formula parameters that have not been explicitly selected, are considered as inputs of the Power Copy. Note that when including parameters sets containing hidden parameters in a PowerCopy, the hidden parameters are automatically instantiated when instantiating the PowerCopy. Preview: In a Part document, create only on

How do I disable License errors at startup?

Add this Variable string to your Environment file CATLM_ODTS=1

How can I enable Wilson's spline curves?

Add this string to your Environment file L_WILSON_LAN=1

How do I display logs in DOS windows?

Add this string to your environment file CNEXTOUTPUT = console

I am working on a large tool,and need other designers to complete project on time. How do I work 1 tool with 3 designers? Merging seems to create more problems. Possiblly a PPR Hub, or does collaborative design work this way?

Your best bet is to sub-divide the work in the old fashioned way. Dassault has not provided a working collaboration toolset that I am aware of that allows multiple designers to work on different pieces of the Product structure. If you discover a way, share it with us all.

1. I have generated a fitting simulation video, but I need to reverse it. Manually re-sequencing all of the tracks will take me about 3 hours to reverse it so it assembles instead of dis-assembles. What video software do you use to edit these videos? I am hoping it may have a reversal feature.

2. What is Fitting Simulation?

I have generated a fitting simulation video, but I need to reverse it. Manually re-sequencing all of the tracks will take me about 3 hours to reverse it so it assembles instead of dis-assembles. What video software do you use to edit these videos? I am hoping it may have a reversal feature.

Try Photoshop Premiere, or another software package called Digital Video Editor (this may not be commercially available any more). Those are the only two software packages that I remember having the inverse play/record function. I can run your file through DV Editor if you would like to ftp it to me.

Category: Fitting Simulation

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2. What is Fitting Simulation?

As the name implies, a user can create a step by step video sequence using the Compass that describes how components can be assembled or disassembled while analyzing Clash and Clearance. The resultant simulation can also be used to generate an AVI file. If there is interest, I can record a demonstration and post it on my Web site. The general concept is to create a Shuttle to use as a container for parts that travel as a unit, and record key frames in the form of Tracks as you move them relative to each other. This is different than Kinematics because no Joints are required.

Law Creation

2009-10-16T00:17:00.001-07:00

Law Creation

Many V5 functions offer the possibility to define feature properties using laws whether it is a length, an angle or a parameter. For instance, the angle of a drafted surface can be constant, but it could also vary from one value to another through any intermediate values.
In GSD, the Swept Surface parameters can change along the guide curve, such as the angle of linear sweep with reference surface.
To create a law, various methods can be used, depending on the commands involved. 1/A panel lets you define the law type: constant, linear or S-type.

The "Advanced" option requires the selection of user-defined laws.
2/ GSD Laws

The GSD Law icon provides you with another simple way to create a law: create two sketches describing the parameter evolution and that is it!

Third possible method: the KWA workbench lets you define a law using an equation.

CLASS A Surfacing

2009-08-16T04:52:00.000-07:00

A Class surfacing and its importance:

A class surfaces are those aesthetic/ free form surfaces, which are visible to us (interior/exterior), having an optimal aesthetic shape and high surface quality.

Curvature continuity: It is the continuity between the surfaces sharing the same boundary. Curvature continuity means that at each point of each surface along the common boundary has the same radius of curvature.

Why Class A is needed:

We all understand that today products are not only designed considering the functionality but special consideration are given to its form/aesthetic which can bring a desire in ones mind to own that product.

Which is only possible with high-class finish and good forms.

This is the reason why in design industries Class A surface are given more importance.

How to make good class surface?

To achieve a good class surface it requires good surfacing skills and understanding of the form or flow of the reference object. In this highlight plot (color plot /zebra plot), curvature plot (needle/value) of the surface is a very help full tool.

Highlight plot :

Highlight is the behavior of the form or Shape of a surface when a light or nature reflects on it. This reflection of light or nature gives you an understanding about the quality of surface. This reflection required should be natural, streamline and with uniformity.