INTRODUCTION DESIGN SOFTWARE CATIAV5

computer-aided three-dimensional interactive application) is a multi-platform

software suite for computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM),
computer-aided engineering (CAE), PLM and 3D, developed by the French company Dassault
Systèm
HISTORY
CATIA started as an in-house development in 1977 by French aircraft
manufacturer AVIONS MARCEL DASSAULT, at that time customer of the CADAM
software[1] to develop Dassault's Mirage fighter jet. It was later adopted by 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 November 2010, Dassault Systems launched CATIA V6R2011x, the latest
release of its PLM2.0 platform, while continuing to support and improve its CATIA V5
software.
In June 2011, Dassault Systems launched V6 R2012.
In 2012, Dassault Systems launched V6 2013x.
In 2014, Dassault Systems launched 3DEXPERIENCE Platform R2014x [10] and
CATIA on the Cloud, a cloud version of its software.

SCOPE OF APPLICATION
Commonly referred to as a 3D Product Lifecycle Management software suite,
CATIA supports multiple stages of product development (CAx), including conceptualization,
design (CAD), engineering (CAE) and manufacturing (CAM). CATIA facilitates collaborative
engineering across disciplines around its 3DEXPERIENCE platform, including surfacing &
shape design, electrical, fluid and electronic systems design, mechanical engineering and
systems engineering.
 CATIA facilitates the design of electronic, electrical, and distributed systems
such as fluid and HVAC systems, all the way to the production of documentation for
manufacturing

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
CATIA enables the creation of 3D parts, from 2D sketches, sheet metal, composites, and
molded, forged or tooling parts up to the definition of mechanical assemblies. The software
provides advanced technologies for mechanical surfacing & BIW. It provides tools to complete
product definition, including functional tolerances as well as kinematics definition. CATIA
provides a wide range of applications for tooling design, for both generic tooling and mold &
die. In the case of Aerospace engineering an additional module named the aerospace sheet metal
design offers the user combine the capabilities of generative sheet metal design and generative
surface design.

DESIGN
CATIA offers a solution to shape design, styling, surfacing workflow and visualization to
create, modify and validate complex innovative shapes from industrial design to Class-A
surfacing with the ICEM surfacing technologies. CATIA supports multiple stages of product
design whether started from scratch or from 2D sketches (blueprints).

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 Dassault Systems' own Solid Works platform are the dominant systems

File compatibility and CATIA V4 /V5 /V6 conversion

Dassault Systems 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 difference in the geometric kernel between
CATIA V4 and CATIA V5 or by the modeling methods employed by end users. 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.

Conversion from CATIA Version 4 to Version 5 created construction problems for the
Airbus A380 aircraft. These problems resulted in $6.1B of additional costs due to years of
project delays when aircraft wiring was too short to make connections.
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.

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

BASIC COMMANDS TO CATIA V5

SPECIFICATION TREE
MOUSE CONTROLS

VIEW TOOLBAR
OTHER COMMONLY USED TOOLS:
Sketcher Module

The Sketcher workbench is a set of tools that helps you create and constrain 2D geometries.
Features (pads, pockets, shafts, etc...) may then be created solids or modifications to solids using
these 2D profiles. You can access the Sketcher workbench in many ways. Two simple ways are
by using the top pull down menu (Start – Mechanical Design – Sketcher), or by selecting the
Sketcher icon. When you enter the sketcher, CATIA requires that you choose a plane to sketch
on. You can choose this plane either before or after you select the Sketcher icon. To exit the
sketcher, select the Exit Workbench icon.

The Sketcher workbench contains the following standard workbench specific toolbars.

• Profile toolbar: The commands located in this toolbar allow you to create simple geometries
(rectangle, circle, line, etc...) and more complex geometries (profile, spine, etc...).
• Operation toolbar: Once a profile has been created, it can be modified using commands such
as trim, mirror, chamfer, and other commands located in the Operation toolbar.
• Constraint toolbar: Profiles may be constrained with dimensional (distances, angles, etc...) or
geometrical (tangent, parallel, etc...) constraints using the commands located in the Constraint
toolbar.
• Sketch tools toolbar: The commands in this toolbar allow you to work in different modes
which make sketching easier.
Part Design Module

Part design environment is used to create 3D models from the basic 2D sketches created in
sketcher environment.

Some of the commands in workbench explained below

PAD command
In most CAD software, the equivalent of this is called EXTRUDE, but in CATIA we call it
PAD. This command adds material in the third direction, a direction other than the sketch.
POCKET command
The POCKET commands somehow the opposite of PAD command. It simply helps remove
geometry belonging to an already create part. On the figure below the POCKET command is
helping to create the cylinder hole in the middle of the cube.

SHAFT command
It is like revolve command in other CAD software, the SHAFT command is mostly used to
make shaft like parts. It requires an axis, around which the sketch will be resolved.
RIB command
This command which is usually known as SWEEP is called RIB IN CATIA. It adds material
along a guide curve. RIB is used to make components like springs, pipes etc.

SLOT command
SLOT removes the material along a guide curve. Here is an example of slot. While using SLOT,
I have used the same guide curve that was used for RIB. This ensures that the cross section will
be uniform throughout.
1. Step 4: Assembly Module

Assembly environment is used to provide mating to two or more part models to from complete
assembly

We have two approaches in assembly

Top -down approach

Bottom -up approach
Entire design structure will be created in product environment in Top - down approach whereas
in bottom - up parts will be created separately and will be mated using mating or constraint tools.

2. Step 5: Drafting Module

Drafting is a process of generating 2D machine drawing for the 3D part models to send it to the
manufacturers.

Catia drafting is of two types

1. Interactive Drafting

2. Generative Drafting
ASSEMBLY DESIGN IN CATIA
The Assembly Design used to create an assembly starting from scratch. Here is illustration of the
several stages of creation you may encounter for an assembly.

Creating an Assembly Document

This task will show you how to enter the Assembly Design workbench to create a new assembly
from scratch. Select the Start -> Mechanical Design -> Assembly Design command to launch the
required workbench. The Assembly Design workbench is opened. You can see that “Product1” is
displayed in the specification tree, indicating the building block of the assembly to be created. To
create an assembly, you need products. The application uses the term “product” or “component”
to indicate assemblies or parts. You can use parts to create products. Those products can in turn
be used to create other products. The product document contains: a specification tree to the left
of the application window, specific toolbars to the right of the application window, a number of
contextual commands available in the specification tree and in the geometry. Note that these
commands can also be accessed from the menu bar.
Inserting a Components

This task will show you how to insert a component into an existing assembly. In the specification

tree, select Product1 and click the New Component icon . The structure of your assembly
now includes Product1 (Product1.1).

Inserting a New Product

This task will show you how to insert a product in an existing assembly. In the specification tree,

select Product1 and click the New Product icon. The Product2 (Product2.1) is created in the
specification tree.

Inserting a New Part

This task will show you how to insert a new part in an existing assembly. In the specification
tree,

select Product1 and click the New Part icon . If geometry exists in the assembly, the New
Part: Origin Point dialog box is displayed, proposing two options to locate the part: Click Yes to
locate the part origin point on a selected point, on another component for example. Click No to
define the origin point of a component based on the origin point of the parent component.

Defining a Multi-Instantiation

This task shows you how to repeat components as many times as you wish in the direction of
your

choice. Select the component you wish to instantiate. Click the Define Multi-Instantiation icon .
The Multi-Instantiation dialog box is displayed, indicating the name of the component to be
instantiated. The Parameters option lets you choose between the following categories of
parameters to define: Instances & Spacing, Instances & Length and Spacing & Length. To define
the direction of creation, check x-axis. The application previews the location of the new
components. Click OK to create the components.

Fast Multi-Instantiation

This task shows you how to repeat components using the parameters previously set in the Multi
Instantiation command. You will use the Fast Multi-Instantiation command to quickly repeat the
component of your choice. The operation is very simple. Select the component you wish to

instantiate. Click the Fast Multi-Instantiation icon . The result is immediate. Three
components are created according to the parameters defined in the Multi-Instantiation dialog
box.

Using Assembly Constraints

This section describes the notions and operating modes you will need to set and use constraints
in your assembly structure. Constraints allow you to position mechanical components correctly
in relation to the other components of the assembly. You just need to specify the type of
constraints you wish to set up between two components, and the system will place the
components exactly the way you want. Setting constraints is rather an easy task. However, you
should keep in mind the following: You can apply constraints only between the child
components of the active component. You cannot define constraints between two geometric
elements belonging to the same component. You cannot apply a constraint between two
components belonging to the same subassembly if this subassembly is not the active component.
The active component is blue framed (default color) and underlined. Double-clicking activates it.
The selected component is orange framed (default color).

Creating a Coincidence Constraint

Coincidence-type constraints are used to align elements. Depending on the selected elements,
you
may obtain concentricity, coaxiality or coplanarity. Click the Coincidence Constraint icon Select
the face to be constrained. Select the second face to be constrained. Green arrows appear on the
selected faces, indicating orientations. The Constraint Properties dialog box that appears displays
the properties of the constraint. The components involved and their status are indicated. You can
define the orientation of the faces to be constrained by choosing one of these options: Undefined
(the application finds the best solution), Same, opposite. Click OK to create the coincidence
constraint. This constraint is added to the specification tree too.

Creating a Contact Constraint

Contact-type constraints can be created between two planar faces (directed planes). Click the

Contact Constraint icon . Select the faces to be constrained. As the contact constraint is
created, one component is moved so as to adopt its new position. Green graphic symbols are
displayed in the geometry area to indicate that this constraint has been defined. This constraint is
added to the specification tree.
Creating an Offset Constraint

When defining an offset constraint between two components, you need to specify how faces

should be oriented. Click the Offset Constraint icon . Select the faces to be constrained. The
Constraint Properties dialog box that appears displays the properties of the constraint. The
components involved and their status are indicated. You can define the orientation of the faces to
be constrained by choosing one of these options. Click OK to create the offset constraint.

Creating an Angle Constraint

Angle-type constraints fall into three categories: Angle, Parallelism (angle value equals zero),
Perpendicularity (angle value equals 90 degrees). When setting an angle constraint, you will
have

to define an angle value. Click the Angle Constraint icon . Select the faces to be constrained.
The Constraint Properties dialog box is displayed with the properties of the selected constraint
and the list of available constraints. Keep the Angle option. Enter angle in the Angle field and
keep

Sector 1. Note that four sectors are available: . Click OK to create the angle
constraint.

Fixing a Component

Fixing a component means preventing this component from moving from its parents during the
update operation. There are two ways of fixing a component: by fixing its position according to
the geometrical origin of the assembly, which means setting an absolute position. This operation
is referred to as “Fix in space”. By fixing its position according to other components, which
means setting a relative position. This operation is referred to as “Fix”.
Fix in Space: Click the Fix icon . Select the component to be fixed, that is the light blue
component. The constraint is created. A green anchor is displayed in the geometry area to
indicate that this constraint has been defined. Fix:Double-click the fix constraint you have just
created to edit it. In the dialog box that appears,click More to expand the dialog box. Uncheck
the Fix in space option to the left of the dialog box.The lock symbol is no longer displayed in the
specification tree, meaning that the component is positioned according to the other components
only. Move the fixed component. Click OK toconfirm. Update the assembly: now the component
remains at its location.

Fixing Components Together

This task consists in fixing two components together. The Fix Together command attaches
selected elements together. You can select as many components as you wish, but they must
belong to the

active component. Click the Fix Together icon . You can select the components in the
specification tree or in the geometry area. The Fix Together dialog box appears, displaying the
list of selected components. In the Name field, enter a new name for the group of components
you want to create. Click OK. The components are attached to each other. Moving one of them
moves the other one too.

Using the Quick Constraint Command

The Quick Constraint command creates the first possible constraint as specified in the priority
list.

Double-click the Quick Constraint icon . Select the two entities to be constrained. The
possible constrain between these will be according to list specifying the order of constraint
creation: Surface contact, Coincidence, Offset, Angle and Parallelism. The first constraint in the
list can now be set. A surface contact constraint is
Changing Constraints

Changing a constraint means replacing the type of this constraint by another type. This operation
is possible depending on the supporting elements. You can select any constraints, not necessarily
in

the active component. Select the constraint to be changed. Click the Change Constraint icon The
Change Type dialog box that appears, displays all possible constraints. Select the new type of
constraint. Click Apply to preview the constraint in the specification tree and the geometry. Click
OK to validate the operation.

Deactivating or Activating Constraints

Deactivating or activating constraints means specifying if these constraints must be taken into
account during updates or not. Select any activated constraint. Right-click and select the
Deactivate contextual command. The constraint is deactivated. The graphic symbol representing
the deactivated constraint is now displayed in white. Repeat step and right-click to select the
Activate contextual command to activate the selected constraint.

Updating an Assembly

Updating an assembly means updating its components as well as its constraints. The application
lets you choose between updating the whole assembly or the components of your choice. The
constraints are in black, indicating they need an update. The default color is black, but the
application allows you to redefine the colors you want. To do so, refer to Customizing Constraint
Appearance. Select the Tools -> Options command, then expand the Mechanical Design section
to the left to access Assembly Design options. You can choose between two update modes within
the Assembly Design workbench: Automatic or Manual. Check the Manual option in the Update

frame. Click OK to confirm and close the dialog box. Click the Update icon

to update the whole assembly. The assembly is updated.

Using a Part Design Pattern

This task shows you how to repeat a component using a pattern created in Part Design. Select the
rectangular pattern in the tree or in the geometry. Control-click to select the component to be

. The Instantiation on a pattern dialog box is displayed, indicating the name of the pattern,
the number of instances to be created (for information only) and the name of the component to
be repeated. There are two work modes: Using associativity with the geometry: the option “Keep
link with the pattern” is on, Using no associativity: the option is off.

To define the first instance of the component to be duplicated, three options are available: Reuse
the original component, create a new instance, cut & paste the original component.

Click OK to repeat the second component. The new component “xxx on RectPattern.xx” is
displayed in the tree. An entity “Assembly features” has been created in the tree. “Reused
Rectangular Pattern.1” is displayed below this entity. If you use the option “generated
constraints”, the Reuse Constraints section displays the constraints detected for the component
and makes all original constraints available for selection: You can define whether you wish to
reproduce one or more original constraints when instantiating the component.

Moving Components

6.8.1 Manipulating Components

Snapping Components

The Snap command projects the geometric element of a component onto another geometric
element belonging to the same or to a different component. Using this command is a convenient

way to translate or rotate components. Depending on the selected elements, you will obtain

different results.

First Element Last Element Result

Selected Selected

point point Identical points.

point line The point is projected onto the line.

point plane The point is projected onto the plane.

line line Both lines become collinear.

line plane The line is projected onto the plane.

plane line The plane passes through the line.

Smart Move

The Smart Move command combines the Manipulate and Snap capabilities. Optionally, it creates
constraints. The Quick Constraint frame contains the list of the constraints that can be set. This
list displays these constraints in a hierarchical order and can be edited by using both arrows to
right of the dialog box. The application creates the first possible constraint as specified in the list
of constraints having priority.

Sectioning

This task you will create section planes, orient the plane with respect to the absolute axis system,

invert the normal vector of the plane. Click the Sectioning icon. The section plane is
automatically created. The plane is created parallel to absolute coordinates Y, Z. The center of
the plane is located at the center of the bounding sphere around the products in the selection you
defined. Line segments visualized represent the intersection of the plane with all products in the
selection. The Sectioning Definition dialog box contains a wide variety of tools letting you
position, move and rotate the section plane. A Preview window, showing the generated section,
also appears. 3D section cuts cut away the material from the plane. Click the Volume Cut icon in
the Sectioning Definition dialog box to obtain a section cut. You can position section planes with
respect to a geometrical target (a face, edge, reference plane or cylinder axis). You can view the
generated section in a separate viewer.

Assembly Features

Prior to creating assembly features, keep in mind the following. You can create assembly
features only between the child components of the active product. The active product at least
must include two components, which in turn must contain one part at least. You cannot create
assembly features between two geometric elements belonging to the same component. The
different assembly features you can create are: Split, Hole, Pocket, Remove, Add, Perform a
Symmetry.

Assembly Split

The dialog box that appears when you click Assembly Split, displays the names as well as the
paths of the parts that may be affected by the split action. Move the parts to the list ‘Affected
parts”. Arrows in the geometry indicate the portion of parts that will be kept after splitting. If the
arrows point in the wrong direction, click them to reverse the direction. Click OK to confirm. To
edit an assembly split, double-click ‘Assembly Split.X’ in assembly features available in history
tree.

Creating Scenes

Scenes enable you to: work on the evolution of an assembly in a separate window from the
actual assembly and to impart updates to the assembly as you see fit. Save a copy of an assembly
in a separate window, work on the evolution of that assembly directly on the assembly. You can
modify the following attributes either in the scene or in the assembly without the modifications
being replicated in the other: the viewpoint, the graphical attributes of the components, the
“show” or “hide” state of the components, the “active” or “not-active” state of the components.
Scenes are identified by name in the specification tree and by a graphical representation in the
geometry area.

. The Edit Scene dialog box and a scene representation in the document window are
displayed. Click Ok to end the scene creation. You are now in a scene window: The background
color turns to green. Scene 1 is identified in the specification tree. Perform the required
modifications. For instance modify: viewpoint, graphical attributes, show-no show. Within a

scene, click the Reset selected products icon to reposition the components as they were in the
initial product. Note that color attributes and the show-hide specification are not taken into
account when using the Reset selected products icon. Click the Exit From Scene icon

to swap to the initial window. Double-click Scene 1 either in the specification tree or in the
geometry area to swap to the scene window.

Exploding a Constrained Assembly

This task shows how to explode an assembly taking into account the assembly constraints. This
Explode type is applicable only to specific cases. When the assembly is assigned coincidence

constraints: axis/axis & plane/plane. Click the Explode icon . The Explode dialog box is
displayed. Wheel Assembly is selected by default, keep the selection as it is. The Depth
parameter lets you choose between a total (All levels) or partial (First level) exploded view.
Keep All levels set by default. Set the explode type. 3D is the default type. Keep it. Click Apply
to perform the operation.

Detecting Interferences

Checking for interferences is done in two steps: Initial computation: detects and identifies the
different types of interference. Detailed computation: computes the graphics representation of
interferences as well as the minimum distance. Two interference types are available: Contact +
Clash, Clearance + Contact + Clash. Results differ depending on the interference type selected
for the analysis. Four computation types are available: Between all components, Inside one
selection, Selection against all, Between two selections. Click Apply to check for interferences.
A progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and, if necessary, interrupt (Cancel option) the
calculation. The Check Clash dialog box expands to show the results. Clash: red intersection
curves identify clashing products. Contact: yellow triangles identify products in
contact. Clearance: green triangles identify products separated by less than the specified
clearance distance.

Customizing Assembly Design

6.14.1 Customizing Assembly Design Settings

This task will show you how to customize Assembly Design settings. Select Tools -> Options.
Click the Mechanical Design category, then the Assembly Design subcategory. The General tab
appears, displaying the following options: Update, Access to geometry, Move components.

Customizing General Settings

Select the Tools -> Options… command. Click the Infrastructure category, then the Part
Infrastructure subcategory. The General tab appears, containing three categories of options:
External References, Update and Delete Operation