CATIA Useful Methods By : Nayyar Rahman
To add advantages of OGS to GS In GSD ---------------Tools Toolbar--------------Insert Mode Command. Use this command to insert command below any operation (command) in specification tree and to update the parent child relationship. 1) Click on Insert mode Command from Tools toolbar. 2) Then Click on the command from specification tree. 3) Complete the new command..... Click OK. 4) the command gets updated in the specification tree. and the parent child relationship gets updated.
How to Shell a sphere •
Model a solid Sphere using shaft command, ------sketch Semicircle D of 50mm diameter
2) Shell Command ----------Add a value in Default Inside Thickness eg: 1mm 3) Select the sphere surface in " Face To Remove". 4) Again Select the same surface in "Other Thickness Faces“ 5) Click OK.
Only by selecting shell command and then clicking on OK the sphere is shelled. But we tend to select surface for shell where the command doesn't work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Name key features It is important to rename key features in the spec tree to provide a useful name for other users to know what that feature is defining.Example: Point.1Renamed to: Upper mounting point left sideKeep in mind you should not use special characters such as ", $, !, etc.
Selective V4 migration elements to V5 When you need a geometrical element from an existing V4 model you can selectively migrate just the one or more elements that you need without having to migrate the entire model. Open the V4 model in V5 and expand the *Master in the Spec Tree. Select just the elements that you want to migrate and copy them. In a new V5 CATPart document paste the selected V4 elements. Some of the older V4 models have lots of wireframe and solids that you do not need to migrate then have to clean up. It is best to just migrate only the elements that you might need to create your new part.
Save sections in Assembly Desgin without SPA license If you use e.g. a HD2 or MD configuration of CATIA (without DMU or SPA license), there is no button to save a dynamic section in Assembly Design. After closing the panel the section disappears.But not always. There is a workaround to save a section permanently in the CATProduct: Also it is possible to modify such a section afterwards (and save the modified section). First you open the product and any other part in 2 seperate windows of the same CATIA session. Select Windows / Tile Vertical to see both of them In the product: create a section as you need it. Instead of closing the section-panel you just select the other window containing the part with left mouse button Then you come back to the window of the product (left mouse button). The section panel appears again as before then you close the section panel by 'Cancel' (do not click on 'OK'!) That's all. The section is permanently saved in the product. In order to modify the section you double click on the Section-entry in the specificat ion tree (look for Applications/Sections). The sectioning panel appears again, you may modify the section and leave the panel now with 'OK'.
Dynamic Sectioning in Part Design Starting with R19 you can use an new function Dynamic Sectioning' directly in Part-Design Workbench. It works similar to sections in Assembly Design except there is no panel for options.In order to get it you have to modify the used environment by adding a new variable: PRT_DYNAMIC_SECTIONING=1You may do this either by using the 'Environment Editor' In the Windows start menu: All Programs / CATIA / Tools / Environment Editor Select the used environment-file in the upper panel of the window Right-click on the last line in the lower panel, choose 'New Variable' in the context-menu Key in for Name: PRT_DYNAMIC_SECTIONING Key in for Value: 1 Select OK File / Close Environment Editor Save the modified Environment: Select OK Or you may edit the environment-file itself with a text-editor: E.g. in windows explorer adressline you got to the home-directory of 'All Users', then sub directory .\Applications\DassaultSystemes\CATENV There you'll find the environment-file. In default installations it's name is CATIA.V5R19.B19.txt. Open this file with notepad or an other text-editor add a line at the end of the file as given above. Save the file close the editor. When CATIA V5R19 will be startet, you'll find in Part-Design a new toolbar with an icon for Dynamic Sectioning.
Lock your icons so they do not move From the View pull down menu select Toolbars and Customize. Then in the Customize dialog box select the last tab called Options. At the bottom you can check the box to Lock Toolbar Position.
Power input zone search You can use the power input zone to perform searches. If you type in T:Point it will search the spec tree and selects all of the points.
Difference between Product and component Products can be saved and found in local file system. They are given an actual .catproduct extension. Components on the other hand, are assembly specific. Unless using a data manager like Enovia/Smarteam etc, they will not be saved as separate files or stored in local file system. To check this, create an assembly, and create some products, then create some components (All inside of one assembly). Go to Save management, and notice the components are nowhere to be seen. Only the products can be saved. The components act as more of a part management/part placeholder inside of a given assembly
USEFUL CATIA HOTKEYS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Esc (escape) - Abort the current process or exit the current dialog box (when there is one) F3 - Structure tree out or insert (Toggle specification tree display on and off) F9 - Toggle Hide/Show F10 - Toggle Swap Visible Space SHIFT - F1 - Context assistance (Get help on toolbar icons) SHIFT - F2 - Toggle the specification tree overview on and off - opens an overview on specifications tree in a new window. SHIFT - F3 - Structure tree activate around e.g. character size to modify (activate the graph if the model is active and inversely) SHIFT + left - rotate to the left SHIFT + right - rotate to the right SHIFT + UP - rotate upward SHIFT + down - rotate downward ALT + F8 - Macros start ALT + F11 - Visual basic wordprocessor Home - Display the top of the graph End - Display the bottom of the graph ALT + Enter – Properties ALT + SHIFT + Right arrow >> ROTATE the model ALT + SHIFT + Left arrow >> ROTATE the model
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CTRL + PAGE UP >> ZOOM IN the model or tree whichever is active CTRL + PAGE DOWN >> ZOOM OUT the model or tree whichever is active CTRL + RIGHT arrow >> Move the model to the right >> PAN CTRL + LEFT arrow >> Move the model to the Left >> PAN CTRL + TOP arrow >> Move the model to the TOP >> PAN CTRL + BOTTOM arrow >> Move the model to the Bottom >> PAN CTRL + SHIFT + Right arrow >> ROTATE the model around z axis Clockwise CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT arrow >> ROTATE the model around z axis Anti Clockwise CTRL + Tab - switch between the different windows (swap active document windows) CTRL + N - New document open CTRL + O - Document open CTRL + S - Document save CTRL + P - Document print CTRL + F – Search CTRL + U - Update CTRL + X - Cut out CTRL + C - Copying CTRL + V - Insert CTRL + Y - Redo CTRL + Z - Undo CTRL + F11 >>>to get the Prselection navigator, for selecting coincident / very close elements in geometry area.
Settings to see parameters and relations of a part Even after creating paramers and relations inside a part, these are not seen unless and untill you check following settings. Settings to see parameters and relations: 1. Tools -> Options -> Infrastructure -> Part Infrastructure -> Display -> Parameters, Relations
2. Tools -> Options -> General -> Parameters and Measure -> Knowledge -> With value, With formula (as per requirement)
To pattern multiple objects in one go Including multiple objects - E,g While using the Rectangular Pattern command in the Part Design module, you can include multiple objects in your pattern. To do so, just multi-select (while holding the CTRL key) the objects before clicking on the Rectangular Pattern command. You will then see the list of objects to pattern in the "Object to Pattern" section of the dialog box. =========================================================================================
Bring Toolbar from diffrent Workbench into current Workbench •Tools > Customize > Toolbars > New •Select required Workbench from "Workbenches" •Select available toolbar under selected Workbench •Click OK to confirm
Altering any View in CATIA 3D Session
View > Named Views Select the view as per requirement Click on Properties button
Manupulate as per requirement using the arrows
Click Appy to Preview OK to Confirm Click OK on the Named Views to close the command
Technique to easily rotate a big heavy assembly and part While working on big assemblies manier times its difficult to rotate assembly as desired. Now to change "instantaneous center of rotation of big assembly" 1. Middle click mouse button at desired location on part /assembly about which we want to rotate the part/assembly. That shifts the centre of rotation of part/assembly to the point which is clicked by mouse thus making it easy to rotate a big assembly. ======================================================================================== Trick to disable opening product file at startup Trick to disable opening product file at startup Take a new environment variable using "new" in For that 1. Right click my computer icon-- advanced-Environment variable 2. Click on "new" 3. Give variable name as ADL_ODT_IN variable value as 1 4. Click OK . Then start catia .
======================================================================================== Get the Assembly Product Tree in text file Open the Assembly in CATIA File > Save As as shown below with .txt extension
Renaming parts quickly in an assembly without desk problem Suppose we want to rename some of the part /product files in an assembly avoiding desk problem. 1.Open an assembly first. 2.Right click on the part files to rename and select the option " open in new window". 3.Then go to file "save as" option and save the file with new name/number. This way rename all the required parts without desk problem.This is fast. ======================================================================================== Tip to reduce Assembly size While carrying out assembly we require different parts/subassemblies as a reference for doing assembly. Now to reduce the size of assembly do following 1.Insert a component in an assembly. 2.Under that component bring all the reference parts/sub-assemblies that we will be using as reference 3.All the remaining parts that are coming in given assembly put them as usual under a product . 4. Idea behind bringing all the reference parts/sub-assemblies under a "component " is nothing but "avoiding duplication of sub-assemblies"though the parts under a component will create a sub-assembly ,it (that subassembly) will not have its separtes existence outside the producty file. That reduces assembly size. ======================================================================================== Trick to give dimension of different unit without changing default unit Many times a condition arises in which one of the dimension of component is in different unit than remaining dimensions. E.g in a component only one dimension is given in inches and other are in mm. In that case we can directly put the dimension given in inch.TO DO THAT THE PROCEDURE IS AS FOLLOWS 1. Dimension the component including the dimension which is supposed to be in inch. 2. 2. then double click the dimension that we want in inches , it will display that dimension followed by default unit like suppose here default unit is "mm". 3. 3. In dimension editor delete the dimension and suppose we want to put dimension as 1 inch replace that dimension by dimension " 1in " and hit enter.It will automaticaly convert that 1 inch to appropriate value in mm.
Best Practices for Power Copies 1)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. 2)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 the sketch if you want to use that sketch in a PowerCopy. 3)Create sketches on an axis system, in order to better control the Sketch position and the sketches should be fully constrained. ======================================================================================== Adding a logo or text to 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. ======================================================================================== Open profile sketch easy to see It is easy to identify if a sketch is an open profile without having to open the sketch. The area that is open will have black dots at the vertex instead of the white dots that show connection.
Ceating center of gravity of any object using formula editor This tip helps you create center of gravity of any object (e.g. body, curve or surface) using formula editor. 1. Open the Part containing object. 2. Click the f(x) icon. The Formula Editor opens. In the New parameter of type scrolling list, select Point and click New parameter of type. Then click Add Formula.
3.The Formula Editor opens. Enter the following formula by using the Dictionary-> Point Constructors -> centerofgravity (Body,…): Point Operator: centerofgravity() 4. Position the cursor between the parenthesis and double-click the object in the geometry or in the specification tree. If you select Part Body. The formula is displayed as follows: Geometrical Set.1\Point.1= centerofgravity(PartBody )-Click OK when done. Click Yes in the Automatic update window.You will get center of gravity of PartBody as Point.1 You can also create center of gravity using Measure -> Create Geometry. But this will not work for all geometries (e.g. 3D curves)
Positioning parts in Circular array when array is not used for creation of feature in reference Part Requirement: Sometimes we need to position bolts in circular array fashion, but suppose we don’t have Circular Pattern available in Reference Plate to make use of Reuse Pattern. Scenario: Let’s have a scenario where I need to position Hexagonal Headed Bolt in Circular Plate where we have Six Holes on certain PCD. Holes created in Circular Plate are not created using Circular Pattern. Hence we can’t use Reuse Pattern option from Product Structure Tools. To do so, we can use following steps… STEP1: Using Existing Component command, get a Bolt & position it in any Hole of Circular Plate. Refer Figure 1 below
STEP2: Select Bolt from Specification Tree, Copy it & Paste it Five Times in Product1 as we have Total six Holes in this scenario. Refer Figure 2 below
Figure 1 Figure 2
STEP3: Drag & Drop Compass on Circular Plate which should snap at its axis. Then Right click & Select Edit…Refer Figure 2. STEP4: Key in Angle increment Value at Along W as 60 deg. Select second bolt from Specification & click Circular Arrow. This will position second bolt at second Hole. Repeat the procedure for rest of the Bolts. Refer Figure 3 below
Figure 3
Opening an assembly in relatively less time than regular process Do the necessary settings Open assembly (it will appear as in picture)
Right click the tree and select active node command
How to get Surfaces Toolbar in Part Design This tip is especially useful for solid modelling projects which needs some sort of work in Surfaces too. In such cases swapping between Part Design and GSD workbench may be irritating. Rather I would make a Toolbar with commands which I use most in GSD and bring it down to Part Design. This increases productivity and also hassles of swapping workbenches. Step1: From Part Design workbench, Go to Tools--> Customize Step2: Click on "Toolbars" tab,
Step3: Now Click "New" Button. Step4: A "New Toolbar" window pops up. In the workbenches section, scroll down to "Shape Design Workbench" and select "Surfaces" from the "Toolbars" list. Give a name to the toolbar. Eg. "My GSD" and click "OK".
Step5: "My GSD" toolbar will appear in the "Toolbars" list. Now you need to add/remove desired surface based commands in it. Note that Adding/removing any commands to this toolbar will not affect any standard toolbars in CATIA. To add commands "Click Add commands" button as shown in pic above. You can then see list of all surface based features. You can add as many as you like. In my e.g. I have added "Positioned Sketch, Join, Split, etc. Step6: Similarly you can remove any commands which you find not useful. Step7: When you are done your new toolbar "My GSD" will appear in the right-click context menu list of toolbars, which you can access in PartDesign itself!
Creating a Plane Parallel to Monitor Screen In Plane definition, Select plane type as Equation.
Orient the model to required orientation In the bottom of the Plane definition dialog box, you will find a button for parallel to screen, Press the parallel to screen button to get the A,B, & C values of the equation. The position of the plane in the Screen normal can be controlled by specifying D value (It is the distance between selected axis system to plane in normal direction) or Position the plane with a point. Usage: Patching surfaces
Export Parameters and Measures to an Excel Worksheet Creating a Design Table to Transfer Parameters to an Excel Worksheet. 1. Click on the Design Table Icon. 2. Select Create a design table with current parameter values and Vertical or Horizontal Orientation. Select OK when finished. 3. Use the filter area to bring up and select your desired Parameters. Click the Arrow button to transfer the parameters to the inserted side.
4. Select Folder and save Design Table.
5. Design Table configuration window will open click OK to finish. (This window will always show the information in the vertical position, click the edit table button if you want to preview.)
5. Click open in Excel. Change type field to Text. Open the Design Table you saved.
7. Click Next through the Text Import Wizard and click Finish at the end. (Use Default Selections.)
8. Click Save or Save As to save the file in Excel format.
Delete useless elements Extra geometry that is not needed to define the model is sometimes left in the dataset. This increases the model size and makes the organization of the data harder to work with. Exceptions Fastener locations, ICD definition, reference geometry, etc. How to check Use the Delete Useless elements command and see if elements can be deleted. It is important to understand what elements may need to be deleted and do not rely on the function itself as the default setting only keeps elements required to define the solid.
Using single sketch for multiple pat design commands We can use one single sketch for multiple operations by using the profile feature in sketcher. Also another method is to use the single sketch by right click and select the profile definition and one can select its subelements or any single entity.(the entity should be closed) ======================================================================================== How To Find Out Version And Revision Of Any Catia Part Product Without Opening It . Right Click On Any Catia Part/Product-> Open With Notepad (as shown above)-> In Notepad Find (ctrl-F) CATIAV, And It Will Show The Version And Revision Of That Catia Part/Product. Hope, the tip will help you to save your time.
Quick method to check for Surface Tangency Areas that have a surface tangency issue will impact downstream users such as Stress, Manufacturing, and even other designers trying to use the non-tangent surface. How to check When you need a quick method to check for surface tangency issues it is recommended to have the CATIA V5 visualization setting set to Shading with Edges without Smooth Edges. You will notice a sharp black line in everywhere there is not a smooth tangent area. This method works on your Part Design solid model as well as your Surface data. Keep in mind that CATIA has several functions that can perform more detailed analysis of surface quality checking. This is just a quick method and a built-in feature that every Designer has access to this function without any requiring special licenses
======================================================================================== Holes built using the Hole function It is recommended that all holes in your solid part to be created using the hole function and not by creating pockets, split with surface, Boolean removes, etc. Downstream processes will be looking for holes create by the hole function. It is also earier for users to modify the location and size of the hole if the hole feature was used. Exceptions Large cutouts that can be circular milled or produced by other manufacturing processes. How to check Select on the 3D geometry for the hole and you should see a hole feature highlighted in the spec tree.
Deactivated feature elements There should not be any deactivated features in the spec tree when you are done with the model and it is ready for release. As shown on the sample below the EdgeFillet.1 is deactivated as indicated by the special symbol on the icon. If a user activates the feature that is currently deactivated it will impact downstream datasets that are linked to this model. Some linked datasets can include drawings, stress models, NC datasets, etc, and the users of those datasets will be required to update the model but will not be notified of what has changed and it may have significant impacts to the design or manufacturing. ========================================================================================
Solid Combine vs. Boolean operation The use of Solid Combine function in most cases can provide a smaller dataset size and make the spec tree easier to manage.
Create a Closed End Helical Spring If you are having trouble creating springs in CATIA, here’s one solution. Instead of using complex law curves, why not use the Helix command that already exists within the Generative Shape Design workbench? To create the spring, you need three helixes – the start, end of the spring and one for the center. By linking the parameters for the helix using the Formula Editor, you can create a spring that will update in height and pitch automatically Create a new part file and add a reference line to act as the spring axis. Then add a point at a distance from where you want the spring to start. . Using this point and the axis, create a helix using an S type law. Start at 0 and end at a pitch value that you want. Using the end point of this helix and the axis, create a second helix that follows on from the first one using the same pitch value and the height you want. Similar to the first helix, and using the end point of the second helix and the axis, create a third helix using an S type law, starting at the pitch value and ending at 0. Join these curves together and create a rib using a section sketched at the start of the spring. At this stage you have a closed end helical spring. Now link the heights, pitches and revolutions of each spring so that when you update an overall height parameter, the entire spring updates. This is customized to the spring parameters that are desired
CATIA Custom Toolbar Creating and customizing your own toolbars in CATIA can be very useful and time saving, depending on the commands and icons you frequently use. CATIA allows you to add commands to the standard toolbars but also gives you the option of creating your own. 1.Select Tools | Customize to display the Customize dialog and click the Toolbars tab to display the toolbar options. 2.Click New to display the New Toolbar dialog and enter a name for your toolbar 3.Click OK to create the toolbar and return to the Customize dialog. The newly created toolbar displays in the Toolbars list . 4.Click Add commands and while pressing CTRL, select the commands you most frequently use. Click OK to add them to the toolbar.
Creating Thread Type in the Part Design Workbench Have you ever had problems finding the thread you want for an application, or had to look it up in a reference book? This is time consuming and repetitive depending on your industry. The Hole command in the Part Design workbench offers two default thread files - Metric Thin Pitch and Metric Thick Pitch. This procedure explains how to add your own thread type, which can be update as required. 1.Open Excel or Notepad and save the file with a suitable filename. 2.Create four columns with headings, as shown in the graphic. 3.Enter the values for your threads. 4.Save the file then close it. 5.Open a new CATPart and add a hole to a solid. Activate Threaded on the Thread Definition tab in the Hole Definition dialog. 6.Click Add and navigate to where you saved your Excel or Notepad file. Once you have added the file, your name and values appear in the Type menu. The Thread Description box lists the values in the key column. The other thread values display according to the selected key value.
Publication naming Default names for publications do not help downstream users. Look in the Spec Tree to see if there is default names used for the publications. Provide logical naming of the publication names to help identify the element that you are publishing for other users. An example would be "Interface point A for top mounting location" instead of the default name of "Point.1"
