This article gives you Overview of Various approaches in CATIA V5 Automation
Advantages of Automation/Customization
Cost Reduction
Improved Efficiencies
Improved Quality Through Standardization
Customization
Provide additional functionality not provided in native products Manipulate existing function to better fit customer processes
Examples of Automation The application of automation in the design process is virtually unlimited. Some examples of automation at work:
batch script for the conversion of drawing files to PDF
export of points from Excel spreadsheet to CAD model
export of points from CAD model to Excel spreadsheet
grid of points, centered in CAD model (for element layout)
automatic spline creation (from selection of points) create normal (perpendicular) lines to a surface
Automation tools
CATIA V5
CATScript,
VBScript
VBA
VB 6.0
CAA
Pro/Engineer
Mapkey
Pro/Program
Pro/Web.Link
J-Link
Pro/Toolkit
Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk Inventor API
Unigraphics NX
Knowledge Fusion (KF) UFUNC
CATIA V5 Automation Tiers CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application)
Open architecture allowing to optimize solutions. Process centric solutions
Native CATIA Automation 1.
Parameters – A feature defining a document or object property.
2.
Formula – A feature used to define or constrain a parameter
3.
Design Table – A table containing values to be applied to a document to manage parameter
4.
Templates – A Document used to store and reuse intent
5.
Power Copy – A set of features (geometric elements, relations, constraints) grouped in a generic context to be used in a specific context Let us see them in Detail
1.Parameters
Intrinsic Parameters -
Created by CATIA as a byproduct of geometry creation
Cannot be deleted without deleting associated geometry
User Defined – Parameters created by the user for a specific purpose
Magnitude (Real, Length, Speed)
String
Boolean
Geometric (Point, Circle, Plane)
Import From Spread Sheet
2. Formula
Formulae – Relations specifying a constraint on a parameter.
Formula Wizard – A tool provided to assist with the syntax and format while applying a formula to a parameter.
3. Design Tables Design Table
Provides a means to create and manage component families.
These components can be for example mechanical parts differing in their parameter values. An associative link is created between spread sheet and Part or Product Design Tables can be created in following formats
Excel Spread Sheet
Tab Delimited Text Files
CATIA Design Table
4.Templates
A document (Part, Product, Drawing, Process) created in a general context for reuse in a specific context.
The new context is defined be modifying parameters or replacing specification geometry.
5.PowerCopy
A Power Copy is a set of features (geometric elements, formulas, constraints and so forth) that are grouped to be used in a different context, and presenting the ability to be completely redefined when pasted.
A Graphical interface is provide to guide user through selection of inputs and valuation of parameters.
Can be instantiated from a Document or from a feature catalog.
CATIA Knowledgeware
The CATIA V5 Knowledgeware turns implicit design methods into explicit knowledge for obtaining the optimum design.
Quick assessment of the best alternative for a design amongst numerous combinations of parameters and constraints. Disadvantages
Complex Models Difficult to Maintain
Lacks Debugging Help
Requires Additional Licenses
Knowledgeware Applications 1.
Knowledge Advisor
2.
Knowledge Expert
3.
Product Engineering Optimizer
1.Knowledge Advisor KNOWLEDGE ADVISOR is a CATIA product which allows users to embed knowledge within design and leverage it to assist in engineering decisions, in order to reduce errors or automate design, for maximum productivity Knowledge can be embedded in design in form of 1.
Parameters (Already Covered in Native CATIA Automation)
2.
Formulae (Already Covered in Native CATIA Automation)
3.
Rules
4.
Checks The rule and check capabilities require the Knowledge Advisor product.
A RULE is a set of conditional statements, whereby the relationship between parameters is controlled. A Check is a set of instructions used to analyze the value of specific parameters. It causes no events. It simply provides feedback to users in following ways
Silent : No message is displayed Information: A user defined message is displayed
2.Knowledge Expert
The Knowledge Expert product allows you to create and manipulate relation-type features. These particular features are organized into a hierarchy.
Expert Rule: An expert rule is a set of instructions whereby you can start an action for any object having a type defined in a type list.
Expert Check: An expert check is a relation which only verifies that a condition is true for all the objects of one or more given types. It does not modify the document it is applied to.
3.Product Engineering Optimizer
The Product Engineering Optimizer is tool to optimize product and part designs by minimizing, maximizing or targeting specific parameter values.
Problem Tab
Constraints Tab
Computation Results Tab
VB/VBA
Macros / .CATScripts
Free, Rapid Deployment, Easy to Reuse Recorded macros, Limited Flexibility, Difficult to Debug
Great tools for rapid deployment of simple automation applications
Personal time saving operations
They are limited in scope and flexibility.
Free, Graphical User interface (Forms), Editor Provides Debugging Capability
Offer increased flexibility and complexity through implementation of user interface forms and modules
Requires a short learning curve
VBA Environment is Not Object Oriented
VBA / .CATvba
VB6 & VB.NET– Runs Outside of CATIA, Increased Implementation of Components and Type Libraries, Individual Module Files Makes Collaboration and Sharing Code Easier.
How VB Automation works?
How does it work?
Dassault Systemes has “exposed” several CATIA objects so that they can be created, manipulated, and deleted by COM compliant applications
How does VB talk to CATIA?
dll’s – Dynamic Linked Libraries
These are compiled files that contain all of the functions that make CATIA V5 perform an action.
These files are both compiled and encrypted
These files are located in the UNLOAD directory for CATIA V5 (normally “c:\program files\Dassault Systemes\B20\intel_a\code\bin”)
tlb’s – Type Library Files
These files are necessary for “exposing” functions to Windows.
They act as maps which point to the mangled functions inside of the dll files that make CATIA V5 work.
The tlb files are located in the UNLOAD directory for V5.
Any external application needs to have access to (and reference) these type libraries
CAA CAA (Component Application Architecture)
More Powerful and Faster than VB, Harder to Learn, Provides Access to Interfaces not currently available to Visual Basic.
The Primary language for development is C++. Java is also supported but it not as common. Advantages of CAA
Single source code for both WINDOWS and UNIX
New wizards like workbenches, interactive commands, dialog boxes etc., can be created
Add new data and behaviors on an existing feature without overloading standard behaviors
No specific Run time license is required
Customized GUI using
Conclusion
