WB

Getting Started with

CATIA Version 5

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 1
 CATIA User Interface

•Let’s review the following key features:

?Multi-document support

?Standard and specific menus & toolbars (File, Edit, Insert, …)

?Standard manipulation (Copy-Paste, Drag & Drop, …)

?Intuitive (Highlight, co-pilot, cursor shapes, …)

?Contextual menu (Mouse Button 3)

?Specification Tree (including all technological features, constraints, relationships, …)

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Workbenches and associated toolbars …

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 2

 CATIA V5 Settings
WB
For these tutorials you will need to install a material catalogue:
Due to the Demonstration restrictions, the data you can use must be flagged. In order to use
the material catalogue, you have to replace the code file by the flagged one. Please do the
following:

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program Files\Dassault

Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\French directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program Files\Dassault

Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\German directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program Files\Dassault

Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\Japanese directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program Files\Dassault

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials directory

? Answer Yes in order to replace the old catalogue

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 3
 CATIA User Interface

• IMPORTANT

?The next pages are very important to use CATIA correctly.

?You MUST READ these pages and refer to them if you
don’t remember how to use some of the functionalities.

?First, open a CATIA file.

?Launch CATIA if it is not already launched

?Click on the Close button
?Maximise the CATIA window
?Close the Product1 window
?Open the file polepiece.CATPart under the
…\DATA\Assembly Design\ directory
?Select the polepiece.CATPart file

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click on the Open button

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 4

 CATIA User Interface
CATIA window Use the Window menu to list & Icons to minimise, maximise or
swap open windows close window

Menus
Icon of active
Window of workbench
active
document Use this icon to
quit a function
Tree
&
Toolbars of active
Geometry workbench

Tree Double arrow

scrollbar indicates more
toolbars
Toolbars

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Drag the >> sign to
Prompt zone move unseen toolbars

Undo icon to
cancel actions

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 5

 CATIA User Interface
• Dialogue boxes provide parameters for the
definition of features. They are standardised
across all functions.
?EX: if you double-click on a hole you will get the Hole Click the question mark and select a field to get help
Definition dialogue box. Click the cross to close the dialogue box

Name of the task

Select a tab to define particular attributes

Select an option from the drop down list
Key in a value or click up and down arrows

Fields not selectable (locked)

Select button to activate the option

Click check box to activate the option
Inactive field

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Click OK to confirm
Click Apply to pre-visualise the result
Click Cancel to leave the function

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 6

 CATIA User Interface

•Using the Mouse Function

MB2
To manipulate
objects
MB3
To display the
contextual menu

MB1
To select and
edit objects

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

MB means Mouse Button

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 7

 CATIA User Interface

•Panning Objects

?It’s important you practice using the

mouse.

?1. Position the cursor anywhere on the screen

?2. Press and Hold Mouse Button 2 (MB2)

?3. Move the mouse where you want to drag the part
? The cursor will change to a cross

?If the part disappears, get it back with the Fit-All-In icon in the View
toolbar.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 8
 CATIA User Interface
•Rotating Objects

?1. Position the cursor anywhere on the screen

?2. Press and Hold mouse button 2 (MB2)

? The axis appears in the centre of the screen

?3. Press and Hold mouse button 1 (MB1) while keeping MB2
pressed
? The cursor changes to a hand and a red circle appears
representing a virtual space ball

?4. Move the mouse to rotate the part

? The cursor will change to a cross

?To change the rotation axis, click once on MB2 on the element
that you want at the centre of the screen.
?P.S.: if you see a « + » or a Forbidden sign it means that you
have not held MB1 and you will duplicate the geometry

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 9
 CATIA User Interface
•Zooming

?1. Position the cursor anywhere on the screen

?2. Press and Hold mouse button 2 (MB2)

? An axis and a circle appear in the centre of the screen

?3. Press and release MB1 while keeping MB2 pressed

? The cursor changes to a double arrow

?4. Move the mouse up to zoom in

?5. Move the mouse down to zoom out

?To zoom step by step click on + and – icons in the View

toolbar

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 10
 CATIA User Interface

•Moving the Tree

?Using the Scrollbar ?Using the Mouse

? When and only when the size of the ? Moving the tree anywhere
tree exceeds the window you can use
the scrollbar to display the tree
downward or upward

Click up arrow to display

the top of the tree

Drag the bar up and down

as you wish

Click down arrow to

display the bottom of
the tree

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Click mouse button 1
Position the cursor (MB1) and drag the
on a tree branch. mouse to move the
tree.
The cursor changes
to a pointing finger The cursor changes to
a small hand

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 11

 CATIA User Interface

•Adjusting and Expanding the Tree

To adjust tree size:
Geometry dimmed while adjusting the size of the tree

Click on + to expand
Click on – to shrink

Click mouse Expand / Shrink

button 1 (MB1)
on a tree
branch

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

To reactivate the geometry, click
Zoom in and out,
again on a tree branch
as explained two
pages before

? Note that you can use the scrollbar to display the top or bottom of the tree

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 12

 CATIA User Interface
•CATIA Documents
?When working in CATIA you can create, modify and
save geometries within documents
?Documents are containers Current workbench

?Different Types of Documents Current document

The type of document depends on the workbench
you use to create and modify a geometry :

Assembly Design .CATProduct

Part Design

Sketcher .CATPart

WireFrame & Surface

Generative &

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

.CATDrawing
Interactive Drafting

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 13

 CATIA User Interface
•Terminology

?A Product Structure is a way to structure and organise your products

logically. You can navigate within the structure and work on its different
components
?A Document is a file including data you can create and manage with the
associated workbench (specific extension)
?A Workbench is a set of tools that allows you to create and manage your
geometry

Inactive documents
Current (or active)
have a grey title bar
workbench

Workbench
toolbars…
Current document

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

(blue title bar)

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 14

 WB

SKETCHER Workbench
Presentation

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 15
 Learning Sketcher

• Exercise

?Open a new Part : Start + Mechanical Design + Part Design

Select a plane, a Solid

1 face, or a Planar Surface
to Sketch on

Access the Sketcher

2 Workbench

Select the Polygon icon

3 and draw a sketch as
shown
? Click and release MB1 where you want to start a
line
? Click MB1 where you want to finish the line

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Hold MB1 then move the mouse and release MB1
to draw an arc ? If you want to exit the
? Double-click when you want to finish your profile function click on the
Select icon

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 16

 Learning Sketcher

• Exercise

Select the Constraints

4 icon and set dimensions
? To set a dimension, select a line, drag
the dimension to the desired position
? Click to create it

5 Change Dimensions as shown

? To modify a Dimension,
double-click on the green
dimension value box.
? Change the value and
click OK to validate

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

6 Exit the Sketcher

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 17

 Learning Sketcher

• Exercise

7 Click on the Pad icon

? Select the Sketch if necessary

8 Click OK to validate

? You can change the length

value before validation

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 18
 Learning Sketcher

• Exercise

9 Double- click on Sketch.1 in the Tree

to enter Sketcher

? Double-click on the 110

dimensions
? Change the value to 120
? Click OK to validate
? Exit the Sketcher

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 19
 Learning Sketcher

• Exercise

10 Select the face as shown and

enter Sketcher

11 Select the Circle icon

? Click to define the circle
centre
? Drag the mouse to define
the radius
? Click to create the circle

12 Exit the Sketcher

13 Select the Pocket icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

14 Click OK to validate
? You can change the depth
value before validation
Close all the windows except the
15 CATIA one. This is the END of the
Sketcher Training

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 20

 SKETCHER Workbench Presentation

• Let’s have a short Debriefing…

? The Sketcher is a set of tools to help the user quickly generate 2D geometry

? The completed Sketch can then be used to generate solids and surfaces

? The capability to define constraints between elements in the Sketcher allows for
quick modifications of the Sketch on subsequent solids or surfaces

? Others tools such as Animate Constraints enable the user to explore design
alternatives

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 21
 Learning Sketcher

• Accessing the Workbench

?Select Start + Mechanical Design + Sketcher

?Select a plane or a face of an object

You can also access the Sketcher

by selecting the Sketcher icon
from any Workbench

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 22
 Learning Sketcher

• Sketcher Workbench overview

?A new Sketch will appear in the Part Tree when entering the Sketcher Workbench

Tools & Operations

Part tree
Go to 3D
view

New Sketch Exit a

function

Constraints
Icons

Sketcher
Design Tools

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Work in
Standard normal view
tools

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 23

 Learning Sketcher
Exit Sketcher
• Sketcher Tools
Profile
Rectangles, Keyholes, Polygons…
Circles, Ellipses, Arcs…
Spline
Ellipse
Line
Axis
Points…

Corner
Chamfer
Trim options…
Break
Symmetry
Projection

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Constraints dialogue box
Constraints
Auto Constraints
Animate Constraints

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 24

 Learning Sketcher

• Terminology

The Sketch is the holding place for a group of 2D elements on

a specific plane. There can be more than one Sketch using the
same plane as support.

The V-H Axis is the origin

of the Sketch.

Sketches generally consist of a

Profile, Constraints, and
Dimensions (a type of
Constraint).

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 25
 Learning Sketcher

• General Process

Select a plane, a Solid 3

1 face, or a Planar Surface
to Sketch on An In-Work Sketch is
added to the
Access the Sketcher Specifications Tree
2 Workbench

4
Create Geometric 5
Elements and
Constraints
Exit the Sketcher

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Use the Sketch to
create a Solid or a
Surface

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 26

Part Design

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 1
 Tutorial Objectives

Description
? This tutorial is an introduction to Part Design.
Message
? This tutorial illustrates how CATIA can
?Design precise 3D mechanical parts with an intuitive and flexible user
interface
?Accommodate design requirements for parts of various complexities-
from simple to advanced
?Apply the combined power of feature-based design with the flexibility
of a Boolean approach
Duration
? 45 minutes
Product Coverage
? Part Design

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 2
 Scenario Major Steps
Here are the major steps of the scenario:
Step 1
? Add a new Part body
Step 2
?Create a Shaft feature
Step 3
? Create a Tap
Step 4
? Create a Circular Pattern
Step 5
? Create a Union Trim
Step 6
? Create an Edge Fillet feature
Step 7
? Create a Pad feature

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Step 8
? Create a Hole feature
Step 9
? Thread / Tap Analysis

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 3
 Settings 1/2
Depending on your needs, you may have to modify the CATIA V5 settings (units, default
directory, visualisation parameters, etc…)

In order to use the appropriate settings for this tutorial, you have two possibilities:

1. Do the following operations (simplest one):

?BEFORE STARTING YOUR CATIA V5 SESSION:
? Copy or replace the directory ..\Part Design\Data\CATSettings in:
For NT users C:\Winnt\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
For Windows 2000 C:\Documents and settings\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
or XP users
For Windows C:\Windows\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
98 users
XXXX is the name used to log on to your computer

? Do not forget to put this folder (CATSettings) in read mode:

? Select the folder (CATSettings)
? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and
uncheck the Read-only Attribute
? Select all the files in the folder

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and uncheck the Read-only
Attribute

2. Set them manually:

? Launch your CATIA V5 session and do the operations from page 40 onwards
IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 4
 Settings 2/2

For this tutorial you also need to install a material catalogue:

? Do not do this step if you have already done it in getting started or in a previous tutorial

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\French directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\German directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\Japanese directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials directory

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Answer Yes in order to replace the old catalogue

You are now ready to launch your CATIA V5 session

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 5
 Step 1: Read the CATPart

? You are going to read a CATIA V5 document

?Click file on the menu bar

?Select open
?The file selection definition box should appear
?Select Spindle_start.CATPart in the
…\Part Design\Data\ directory where you
installed the scenarios data

?Click Open to confirm the selection

?Answer Yes to the question because some

libraries are not installed in this demonstration
mode

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Maximise the window

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 6
 Step 1: Add a new Part Body

? You are going to add a new Part Body to allow

Boolean operations

?Reduce the Spindle Body tree by clicking on

the (+) sign
?Right click on Spindle Body
?Select Define In Work Object
?The Spindle Body should now be underlined in the
specification tree to indicate that it is the “In Work
Object”

?Click on Insert on the menu bar

?Select Body
?Body.2 appears in the specification tree and is now
the “in work” body

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 7
 Step 1: Rename the new Part Body

? You will learn how to rename a Part

Body

?Right click on Body.2 to display the

contextual menu
?Select Properties
?The Properties dialog box will appear
?Select Feature Properties tab
? Change the name from Body.2 to
Turret Body
?Click OK to confirm the change
?Turret Body will now be visible in the
specification tree

?You can compress the tree by

clicking on the minus symbol if you’ve
not already done so

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 8
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature

START POINT

? You are going to draw a sketch and use it to create a

Shaft
? Click on yz plane in the specification tree 1
? Click on the sketcher icon
? Deactivate the Snap to Point capability by
clicking on the icon (it must not be red)

? Click on the profile icon to create the white profile

as shown on the right
? Single-click at the indicated START point and
move cursor down creating a vertical line (1)
? The sketcher assistant tells you when the line is START POINT END
vertical with the blue colour line POINT

? Single click to stop your first line (2)

? Move the cursor left to continue your profile with a
horizontal line 3 2
? The sketcher assistant tells you when the line is
horizontal with the blue colour line
? Single click to stop your second line (3)

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

If you fail to create the sketch go to page 14

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 9
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature
START END
POINT POINT

?Move the cursor down to continue your

profile with a vertical line
? The sketcher assistant tells you when the line 4
is vertical with the blue colour line
?Single click to stop your third line (4)
5
?Move the cursor right to continue your profile
with a horizontal line
? The sketcher assistant tells you when the line
is horizontal with the blue colour line
7
?Single click to stop your fourth line (5)
6
?Move the cursor down to continue your
profile with a vertical line
? The sketcher assistant tells you when the line
is vertical with the blue colour line

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Single click to stop your fifth line (6)

?Continue the profile until the END point

checking the horizontal and vertical constraints
(blue lines)

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 10
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature
END
POINT

?Single click at the “END POINT” to

finish the profile and click on the
Profile icon again to exit the function
? Be sure that all geometrical
constraints shown on the right are
visible on the profile

? If one or more geometrical

constraints are missing, follow the
following steps to add the constraint(s)
?Select the line
?Click on Constraints Defined in a
Dialog Box icon
?In the Constraint Definition
window, click on Vertical or
Horizontal box option
?Click OK to confirm selection

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Repeat the same procedure for
any other missing geometrical
constraint(s)

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 11
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature

?Click on the Corner icon

?Select the two indicated lines

? An arc and and its radius are displayed

?Take care to have the pre-visualisation arc at the
correct location (as shown) before pressing “Enter”
?Enter “38” and the value will be
automatically placed in the Radius field - then
press “Enter”

?Click on the Corner icon

?Select the two indicated lines

? An arc and and its radius are displayed

?Enter 152 and the value will be
automatically placed in the Radius field - then

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

press “Enter”
?Take care to have the pre-visualisation arc on the
right location (as shown) before pressing “Enter”

? You should have this result

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 12
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature
Axis START
1 POINT 2

? Create an axis
? Click on the axis icon to add an axis as
shown on the right
?Click in the “1” area. Make sure the line is
blue
?Click in the “2” area

? Add a coincidence constraint between the axis

and START and END points of the sketched axis
line
? Click on the axis
?Press <CTRL> key to multi-select COINCIDENCE
elements CONSTRAINTS
? Click on the START point
? Click on Constraints Defined in a
Dialog Box icon
?The constraint definition box should
appear
? Check Coincidence box
? Click OK to confirm selection

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Repeat the same procedure for the axis and
the END point of the sketched axis line

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 13
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature

? You will add other dimensional

constraints to the sketched profile as
shown on the right
?Click on the Constraint icon
?Select the two indicated lines
?Click on the area where you want
to place the dimension
?Double click on this dimension to
edit it
?Enter “110” in the Value field and
press <Enter> key

?Repeat these operations to create

the result as shown in the picture
? Remember: to keep an icon active,
you can double-click on it instead of
clicking…

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? To create the “75” dimension you
need to select an edge from the 3D
geometry

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 14
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature

? Modify dimensional constraints to match

the illustration as shown on the right

?Repeat these operations to create

the result as shown in the picture

? When you create the “47”

dimension select the vertical line. Click
on MB3 and select the Position
Dimension option to place the
dimension – this will prevent you from
accidentally selecting the geometry
and creating a wrong dimension.
? If you accidentally create a wrong
dimension, you can restart by clicking
on the Select icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click the Exit Workbench icon

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 15
 Step 2: Create a Shaft feature

? If you fail to create the sketch:

?If you have not already exited the

Sketcher, click on the Exit
workbench icon

?Delete the Sketch.20 you just have

created with MB3 on Sketch.20 +
Delete

?Expand the Open_Body.1 by

clicking on the “+” symbol

?With MB3 on Sketch.20 select

Hide/Show

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? If you have succeeded in creating the
sketch, continue with the scenario on the
next page

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 16
 Step 2: Create a shaft feature

? You can now create the shaft feature

?Click on the shaft icon

?The shaft definition box should
appear
? Be sure the parameters in the
definition box match the parameters
shown on the right. Select the sketch
you have just designed if necessary.

?Click on Preview to preview shaft

feature

?Click OK to confirm shaft feature

?The shaft feature is added to the
specification tree

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 17
 Step 3: Create a Tap

? We will add a tap at the end of the shaft

?Click on the thread / tap icon

?The thread / tap definition box should
appear

?Click on the cylinder surface

?Click on the limit face
? Be sure the parameters in the
definition box match the parameters
shown on the right. Select the sketch
you have just designed if necessary.
?Click on Preview
? The result is highlighted
?Click OK to confirm

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 18
 Step 4: Create a circular pattern

? You can create a multi instantiation of the shaft

and of the tap using the circular pattern icon
? Holding the < Crtl > key, Click on Shat.2 and
Thread.1 in the tree.
? Click and keep MB1 on the black arrow at the
bottom right of the Rectangular Pattern icon
? Drag the mouse then release MB1 on the circular
pattern icon
?If you don’t see the icon, it means that the
corresponding toolbar is hidden due to your display
settings. To find it, drag and drop the empty area from the
bottom right side to the centre of the 3D view. Repeat this
operation until you find the right toolbar. To put it back, do
the reverse operation
?The circular pattern definition box should appear
? Select Complete crown in the Parameters field
? Enter 3 for the Instance(s) field
? If not already done so.
? Click on the Reference element field

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Select the external cylinder in the 3D view
? Click OK to confirm circular pattern of shaft

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 19
 Step 5: Create a union trim

? You can use a Boolean operation to

assemble and trim the two bodies

?Right click on Turret Body in the

specification tree
?Select Turret Body object
?Select Union Trim…
?The trim definition box should appear

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 20
 Step 5: Create a union trim

?Click on the Faces to remove field

?Using the mouse, select the 3
faces of the shaft on the geometry as
shown on the right
? The faces should turn pink
?Click on the Faces to keep field
?Using the mouse, select the lower
band of the Spindle Body as shown
on the right
? The face should turn blue

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

FACES TO REMOVE
FACES TO KEEP

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 21
 Step 5: Create a union trim

?Click Preview to preview union trim

?Click OK to confirm union trim

?Trim.1 is added to the specification
tree

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 22
 Step 6: Create an edge fillet

? You can now create an edge fillet

EDGE 3

?Click on the edge fillet icon

? Key in 38mm for the radius field
?Click on Object(s) to fillet field
?Using the mouse,select the 3 inner
edges of the shaft as shown below EDGE 1
?Click OK to confirm edge fillet
feature

EDGE 2

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 23
 Step 7: Create a pad feature

? You will create a pad feature, using the

profile sketched on the surface, as shown
on the right

?Click on one of the 3 sketch

surface as shown
?Click on the Sketcher icon

SKETCH SURFACE

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 24
 Step 7: Create a pad feature

EDGE TO PROJECT
? Sketching the pad profile
? Click on the project 3D elements icon
? Select the edge you want to project, as
shown on the right
? Click anywhere off the geometry to
confirm selection of edge
?The colour of the edge should now be
yellow
? Click and hold MB1 on the black arrow at
the bottom right of the Circle icon
? Drag the mouse then release MB1 on the
Arc icon

? Select the origin as the centre point of

the arc
?Make sure the Double circle appears.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

This means there will be a coincidence
constraint between this point and the origin
ARC CENTER
POINT

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 25
 Step 7: Create a pad feature

?Click on the start point and end point area

of the arc as shown on the right
START POINT
END POINT

? Connecting the start point of the arc with the

endpoint of the projected edge as shown on the
right

?Click on the line icon

?Select the start point of the arc
?Here again, make sure a Double circle appears

?Select the endpoint of the projected edge

?Here again, make sure a Double circle appears

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

PROJECTED EDGE
?Click anywhere off the geometry to confirm ENDPOINT

creation of the line

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Page 26
 Step 7: Create a pad feature

SYMMETRICAL
? You will now duplicate an element using LINE

symmetry
?Click on the Symmetry icon
?Click on the line between the start LINE TO SYMMETRY

point of the arc and the endpoint of

the projected edge.

?Click on the vertical axis. This is

the line from which the element will
remain equidistant
?A line should appear between the
endpoint of the arc and the endpoint of
the projected edge as shown on the
right
?The symmetry symbol should appear
as shown on the right

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

VERTICAL AXIS

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Page 27
 Step 7: Create a pad feature

ARC ENDPOINT
? Adding a coincidence constraint
between the endpoint of the arc and the SYMMETRICAL
endpoint of the symmetrical line as shown LINE ENDPOINT
on the right. This will close the contour
? One of the scenarios on the right
should match what you have on your
screen
?Click on the endpoint of the arc
?Hold control key to multi-select
?Click on endpoint of the projected
edge
?Click on Constraints Defined in a
Dialog Box icon
?Check Coincidence box
?Click OK to confirm selection
? Of course, you could have created

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

the second line with the same
operations used for the first one: the
above operation was just to
demonstrate another functionality
?Click on the Exit Workbench icon

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Page 28
 Step 7: Create a pad feature

?Click on Pad icon

?The pad definition box should appear
?Select the profile you have just
created if needed
?Click on the Reverse Direction
button
?Click on the Type field
?Select Up to plane
?Click on the Limit field

LIMIT (Plane.1)

?Using the mouse select Plane.1 in

the 3D window as shown on the right

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 29
 Step 7: Create a pad feature

?Click OK to confirm pad feature

?Select View / Tree Expansion /

Expand First Level

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

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Page 30
 Step 7: Create a circular pattern

? Creating a multi instantiation of the pad

using the circular pattern icon

?Click on Pad.3 in the specification

tree
?Click on the Circular Pattern icon
?The circular pattern definition box
should appear
?Select Complete crown in the
Parameters field
?Enter 3 in the Instance(s) field
?Click on the Reference element
field
?Click on the external cylinder in the
3D view
?Click on Preview to preview

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

circular pattern of pad
?Click OK to confirm circular pattern
of pad

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Page 31
 Step 8: Create a hole feature

? You will use the drag and drop feature

of V5 to create a hole feature AREA FOR HOLE

?Drag and drop the Hole icon

?Make sure you keep MB1 pressed
when using drag and drop feature

?Release the icon on the surface

where you want to create the hole, as
shown on the right

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

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Page 32
 Step 8: Create a hole feature

? Changing the extension type of the hole

from Blind to Up To Plane
?Click on pull down arrow and
change setting from Blind to Up To
Plane
?Click on the Diameter field
? Key in 120 mm

?Click on Limit field

?Select Plane.1 in the 3D window as
shown on the right

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

LIMIT (Plane.1)

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Page 33
 Step 8: Create a hole feature

? You will now add a concentricity

constraint between the hole and the inner
hole of the shaft
?Click on the Sketcher icon in the
Hole Definition box
? This automatically takes you into
the sketcher workbench

?Click on centre point of the hole as SHAFT INNER HOLE

shown on the right
?Hold control key to multi-select
?Click on inner hole of the shaft as
shown on the right
? Click on Constraints Defined in a

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Dialog Box icon HOLE CENTRE POINT
?Check Concentricity box
?Click OK to confirm selection

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Page 34
 Step 8: Create a hole feature

?Click on the Exit icon

?Click on Preview to preview hole

feature

?Click OK to confirm hole feature

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 35
 Step 8: Create a circular pattern

? Creating a circular pattern of the hole

using the circular pattern icon
?Click on the Circular Pattern icon
?Click on Hole.6 in the specification
tree
?The circular pattern definition box
should appear
?Select Complete crown in the
Parameters field
?Enter 3 in the Instance(s) field
?Click on the Reference element
field
?Click on the external cylinder in the
3D view
?Click on Preview to preview

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

circular pattern of hole
?Click OK to confirm circular pattern
of hole

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Page 36
 Step 9 : Thread / Tap Analysis

? Check every tap / thread realised in

your part
? Click on the Tap – Thread
Analysis icon
? As previously, if the icon is not
visible, drag and drop the bottom
right toolbars…
? Switch off Show numerical value
? All manufacturing is highlighted.
? Click on Apply to show the threads
and taps.
?Click on Close to finish

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

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Page 37
 End of scenario

? You now have the final part as shown

on the right

? CONGRATULATIONS

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 38
Manual Settings

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 39
 Settings

Tools/Options
? We will configure the environment of
CATIA
?Select Tools + Options menu

? We will erase any previous

configurations.
?Click on General
?Click on the Reset Bottom
?Select for all the tabpages

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click YES

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Page 40
 Settings

Tools/Options
? Under General select Display on the
tree

?Check Fixed Size and enter 20 as

value in the field.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 41
Congratulations

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

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Page 42
 Generative Shape Design

Preface
What's New
Getting Started
Basic Tasks
Advanced Tasks
Workbench
Description
Glossary
Index

© Dassault Systèmes 1994-99. All rights reserved.

 Preface
CATIA Version 5 Generative Shape Design allows you to quickly model both simple
and complex shapes using wireframe and surface features. It provides a large set of
tools for creating and editing shape designs and, when combined with other products
such as CATIA.Part Design, it meets the requirements of solid-based hybrid modeling.
The feature-based approach offers a productive and intuitive design environment to
capture and re-use design methodologies and specifications.
This new application is intended for both the expert and the casual user. Its intuitive
interface offers the possibility to produce precision shape designs with very few
interactions. The dialog boxes are self explanatory and require practically no
methodology, all defining steps being commutative.
As a scalable product, CATIA.Generative Shape Design can be used with other CATIA
Version 5 products such as CATIA.Part Design and CATIA.FreeStyle Shaper and
Optimizer. The widest application portfolio in the industry is also accessible through
interoperability with CATIA Solutions Version 4 to enable support of the full product
development process from initial concept to product in operation.
The CATIA Generative Shape Design User's Guide has been designed to show you
how to create and edit a surface design part. There are numerous techniques to reach
the final result. This book aims at illustrating these various possibilities.
 Using This Book
This book is intended to help you become quickly familiar with CATIA Generative
Shape Design. You should already be accustomed with basic CATIA Version 5
concepts such as document windows, standard and view toolbars.
To get the most out of this guide, we suggest you start reading and performing the
step-by-step Getting Started tutorial.

This tutorial shows you how to build a shape design from a basic wireframe model.
The next sections present the main capabilities in the form of basic and advanced
user's tasks. It may be a good idea to take a look at the section describing the
workbench menus and toolbars.
 Where to Find More Information
Prior to reading this book, we recommend that you read the CATIA.Version 5
Infrastructure User's Guide.
The CATIA.Part Design User's Guide and CATIA.FreeStyle Shaper and Optimizer
User's Guide may also prove useful.
 What's New?
Editing Geometry:
Enhanced extrapolating surfaces or curves
New shape geometry capability: tritangent fillets and face-face fillets
Modified splitting and trimming capabilities

Creating Surfaces:
Enhanced lofted surfaces creation
Modified sweep creation capability

Creating Wireframe Geometry:

Enhanced spline creation capabilities
Modified projection creation capability

Using Tools
New analysis capabilities: mapping, draft and connection checking
 Getting Started
Before getting into the detailed instructions for using CATIA Generative Shape Design,
the following tutorial aims at giving you a feel of what you can do with the product. It
provides a step-by-step scenario showing you how to use key functionalities.
The main tasks described in this section are:

This tutorial should take about 20 minutes to complete.

 Entering the Workbench
This first task shows you how to enter the Shape Design workbench and open a
wireframe design part.

Before starting this scenario, you should be familiar with the basic commands
common to all workbenches. These are described in the CATIA Version 5
Infrastructure User's Guide.

1. Select Shape -> Generative Shape Design from the Start menu.
The Shape Design workbench is displayed.

2. Select File -> Open then select the GettingStartedShapeDesign.CATPart

document from the samples/ShapeDesign directory.
A wireframe design part is displayed.

In the rest of this scenario, you will use the construction elements of this part to
build up the following shape design.
 Lofting and Offsetting
This task shows you how to create a lofted surface and an offset surface.

1. Click the Loft icon .

The lofted Surface Definition
dialog box appears.
2. Select the two section curves.
3. Select the two guide curves.

4. Click OK to create the lofted surface.

5. Click the Offset icon .

6. Select the lofted surface.

7. Enter an offset value of 2mm.
The offset surface is displayed
normal to the lofted surface.
8. Click OK to create the offset surface.
 Splitting, Lofting and Filleting
This task shows how to split surfaces then create a lofted surface and two fillets.

1. Click the Split icon .

The Split Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the offset surface by

clicking on the portion that you
want to keep after the split.
3. Select the first plane as
cutting element.
4. Click OK to split the surface.
5. Repeat the previous
operation by selecting the
lofted surface then the second
plane as cutting element.
6. Click OK to split the surface.

7. Click the Loft icon .

The Lofted Surface Definition dialog box appears.
8. Select the edges of the two split surfaces as sections.
9. Click OK to create the lofted surface between the two split surfaces.

10. Click the Shape Fillet icon

.
The Fillet Definition dialog box
appears.
11. Select the first split surface
as the first support element.
12. Select the lofted surface as
the second support element.
13. Enter a fillet radius of 3mm.
The orientations of the
surfaces are shown by means
of arrows.
14. Make sure that the surface
orientations are correct, then
click OK to create the first fillet
surface.
15. Select the second split
surface as the first support
element.
16. Select the lofted surface as
the second support element.
17. Enter a fillet radius of 3mm.
18. Make sure that the surface
orientations are correct, then
click OK to create the second
fillet surface.
 Sweeping and Filleting
This task shows how to create swept surfaces and fillets on both sides of the
part.
You will use the profile element on the side of the part for this. In this task you will
also create a symmetrical profile element on the opposite side of the part.

1. Click the Sweep icon .

The Swept Surface Definition
dialog box appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the
Explicit profile type.

3. Select the guide curve.

4. Select the profile element.
5. Select the central curve as the
spine.
6. Click OK to create the swept
surface.
7. Click the Symmetry icon .
The Symmetry Definition dialog
box appears.
8. Select the profile element to
be transformed by symmetry.
9. Select the YZ plane as
reference element.
10. Click OK to create the
symmetrical profile element.

11. Click the Sweep icon

again.
12. Select the guide curve and
the profile element.
13. Select the central curve as
the spine.
14. Click OK to create the swept
surface.

15. To create a fillet between the

side portion and the central part

click the Shape Fillet icon .

16. Select the side sweep
element and the central portion
of the part then enter a fillet
radius of 1mm.
17. Click Apply to preview the
fillet.
18. Select the other sweep
element and the central portion
of the part then enter a fillet
radius of 1mm.
19. Click OK to create the fillet.
 Using the Historical Graph
This task shows how to use the historical graph.

1. Select the element for which you want to display the historical graph.

2. Click the Show Graph icon .

The Historical Graph dialog box appears.

In this case, you can examine the history of events that led to the construction of
the Loft.1 element. Each branch of the graph can be expanded or collapsed
depending on the level of detail required.
The following icon commands are available.
Add graph
Remove graph
Reframe graph
Surface or Part representation
Parameters filter
Constraints filter.
3. Just click the Close icon to exit this mode.
 Transforming the Part
This task shows you how to modify the part by applying an affinity operation.

1. Click the Affinity icon .

The Affinity Definition dialog
box appears.

2. Select the end section

profile to be transformed by
the affinity.
3. Specify the characteristics
of the axis system to be used
for the affinity operation:
point PT0 as the origin
plane XY as reference
plane
horizontal edge of the
corner profile as
x-axis.

4. Specify the affinity ratios:

X=1, Y=1 and Z=1.5.
5. Click OK to create the new profile.
6. Edit the definition of the lofted surface to replace the section profile by the new
profile.

7. If needed, click the Update icon to update your design.

 Basic Tasks
The basic tasks you will perform in the CATIA - Generative Shape Design
workbench will involve creating and modifying wireframe and surface geometry
that you will use in your part.
The table below lists the information you will find in this section.
Theme
 Creating Wireframe Geometry
CATIA - Generative Shape Design allows you to create wireframe geometry such as points,
lines, planes and curves. You can make use of this elementary geometry when you create
more complex surfaces later on.

Creating Points Creating Lines Creating Circles

Creating Splines Creating Corners Creating Connect Curves

Creating Parallel Curves Creating Boundary Curves Creating Planes

Creating Projections Creating Intersections
 Creating Points
This task shows the various methods for creating points:
by coordinates
on a curve
on a plane
on a surface
at a circle center
tangent points on a curve.

1. Click the Point icon .

The Point Definition dialog box appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the desired
point type.

Coordinates
Enter the X, Y, Z coordinates.

The corresponding point is displayed.

On curve
Select a curve
Optionally, select a reference point.

If this point is not on the curve, it

is projected onto the curve.
If no point is selected, the
curve's extremity is used as
reference.
Select an option button to determine
whether the new point is to be
created:
a given distance along
the curve from the
reference point
 a given ratio between the
reference point and the
curve's extremity.
Enter the distance or ratio value.

The corresponding point is

displayed.
You can click the Nearest
extremity button to display the
point at the nearest extremity of
the curve.
You can click the Middle Point
button to display the mid-point
of the curve.
You can use the Reverse Direction
button to display:
the point on the other
side of the reference
point (if a point was
selected originally)
the point from the other
extremity (if no point was
selected originally).
On plane
Select a plane.
Optionally, select a point to define a reference for computing coordinates
in the plane.

If no point is selected, the projection of the local axis system's origin

on the plane is taken as reference.
Click in the plane to display a point.

On surface
Select the surface where the point is to be created.
Optionally, select a reference point.
Select a line to take its orientation as reference direction or a plane to take
its normal as reference direction.
You can also use the contextual menu to specify the X, Y, Z components
of the reference direction.
Enter a distance along the reference direction to display a point.
Circle center
Select a circle or circular arc.

A point is displayed at the circle center.

Tangent on curve
Select a curve and a direction line.

A point is displayed at each

tangent.

3. Click OK to create the point.

The point (identified as Point.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Lines
This task shows the various methods for creating lines:
point to point
point and direction
angle or normal to curve
tangent to curve
normal to surface.

1. Click the Line icon .

The Line Definition dialog box appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the desired line type.

A line type will be proposed automatically in some cases depending on your first element
selection.

Point - Point
Select two points.

The corresponding line is displayed.

Point - Direction
Select a reference Point and a Direction line.
A vector parallel to the direction line is displayed at the reference point.
Proposed Start and End points of the new line are shown.
Specify the Start and End points of the new line.
The corresponding line is displayed.

Start and End points are specified by entering distance values or by using the graphic
manipulators.
You can reverse the direction of the line by either clicking the displayed vector or selecting the
Reverse Direction button.
Angle or normal to curve
Select a reference Curve and a
Support surface containing that
curve.
Select a Point on the curve.
Enter an Angle value.
A line is displayed at the given
angle with respect to the
tangent to reference curve at
the selected point. These
elements are displayed in the
plane tangent to the surface at
the selected point.
You can click on the Normal to
Curve button to specify an
angle of 90 degrees.
Proposed Start and End points
of the line are shown.
Specify the Start and End points of
the new line.

The corresponding line is

displayed.
Tangent to curve
Select a reference Point and a
Curve.

A vector tangent to the curve

is displayed at the reference
point.
Proposed Start and End points
of the new line are shown.
Specify Start and End points to
define the new line.
The corresponding line is
displayed.
 Normal to surface
Select a reference Surface and a Point.
A vector normal to the surface is displayed at the reference point.
Proposed Start and End points of the new line are shown.
Specify Start and End points to define the new line.
The corresponding line is displayed.

3. For most line types you can select the Geometry on Support check box if you want the line to
be projected onto a support surface.
In this case just select a support surface.
The figure below illustrates this case.

4. Click OK to create the line.

The line (identified as Line.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Circles
This task shows the various methods for creating circles and circular arcs:
center and radius
center and point
two points and radius
three points
bitangent and radius
bitangent and point
tritangent.

1. Click the Circle icon .

The Circle Definition dialog box appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the desired circle
type.

Center and radius

Select a point as circle Center.
Select the Support plane or surface
where the circle is to be created.
Enter a Radius value.
Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon,
the corresponding circle or circular arc is
displayed.
For a circular arc, you can specify the Start and
End angles of the arc.

If a support surface is selected, the plane tangent to the surface at the selected point is used.
Start and End angles can be specified by entering values or by using the graphic manipulators.
Center and point
Select a point as Circle center.
Select a Point where the circle is to be created.
Select the Support plane or surface where the circle is to be created.

Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed.
For a circular arc, you can specify the Start and End angles of the arc.
Two points and radius
Select two points where the circle is to be
created.
Select the Support plane or surface
where the circle is to be created.
Enter a Radius value.
Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon,
the corresponding circle or circular arc is
displayed.
For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed
or complementary arc using the two selected
points as end points.
You can use the Second Solution button, to
display the alternative arc.

Three points
Select three points where the circle is to be created.
Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed.
For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed or complementary arc using the two of the selected
points as end points.
3. In each of the methods above, you can select
the Geometry on Support check box if you want
the circle to be projected onto a support surface.
In this case just select a support surface.

Bitangent and radius

Select two curves (in Curve 1 and Element 2 fields) to which the circle is to be tangent.
Select a Support surface.
Enter a Radius value.
Several solutions may be possible, so click in the region where you want the circle to be.
Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed.
For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed or complementary arc using the two tangent points as
end points.
Bitangent and point
Select two curves to which the circle is to be tangent.
Select a Point on the second curve.
Select a Support plane or surface.
Several solutions may be possible, so click in the region where you want the circle to be.
Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed.
 Complete circle

For a circular arc, you can choose the trimmed or complementary arc using the two tangent points as
end points.

Trimmed circle Complementary trimmed circle

Tritangent
Select three curves to which the circle is to be tangent.
Select a Support surface.
Several solutions may be possible, so click in the region where you want the circle to be.
Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed.
For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed or complementary arc using the two tangent points as
end points.
4. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.
The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Splines
This task shows the various methods for creating spline curves.

1. Click the Spline

icon .
The Spline Definition
dialog box appears.
2. Select two or more
points where the
spline is to be
created.
An updated spline is
visualized each time
a point is selected.

3. You can select the

Geometry on support
check box if you want
the spline to be
projected onto a
support surface.
It is better when the
tangent directions
belong to the
support, that is when
a projection is
possible.
In the figure above, the spline was created
on a planar support grid.
In this case just
select a surface or
plane.
4. If you want to set
tangency conditions
at the spline's
extremities, you can
right-click on the
Tangent Dir. field to
display a contextual
menu. Using this
menu, you can:
Edit
components
(specify the
tangent
direction at the
start and end
points of the
spline)
Specify the
line direction
by choosing
the X, Y or Z
axis.

You only have to

select a plane or a
line to create a
tangent.

5. It is possible to edit the spline by first selecting a point in the dialog box list
then choosing a button to either:
Add a point after the selected point
Add a point before the selected point
Remove the selected point
Replace the selected point by another point.
Note that there are prerequisites for the Points Specifications and you must
enter your information in the following order:
Tangent Dir. (tangent direction)
Tangent Tension
Curvature Dir. (curvature direction)
Curvature Radius (to select it, just click in the field)

The fields become active as you select values.

6. Click OK to create the spline.

The spline (identified as Spline.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

To add a parameter to a point, select a line in the Points list. This list is
highlighted.
You have two possibilities:
extended parameters
select any line or plane for the direction.
 Creating Corners
This task shows you how to create a corner between two curves or between a point and
a curve.

1. Click the Corner icon .

The Corner Definition dialog box appears.

2. Select a curve or a point as first reference element.

3. Select a curve as second reference element.
The corner will be created between these two references.
4. Select the Support plane or planar surface.
The reference elements must lie on this support.
5. Enter a Radius value.

6. Several solutions may be possible, so click in the region where you want the corner to
be.
7. You can select the Trim elements check
box if you want to trim and assemble the two
reference elements to the corner.

8. Click OK to create the corner.

The corner (identified as Corner.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Connect Curves
This task shows how to create a connect curve between two curves.

Open the Connect.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign

directory.

1. Click the Connect Curve icon .

The Connect Curve Definition dialog box
appears.
2. Select the first Curve and a Point on
the curve.
3. Use the combo to specify the desired
Continuity type:
Point, Tangency or Curvature.
4. If needed, enter a tension value.

5. Select the second Curve and a Point on the curve.

6. Use the combo to specify the desired Continuity type:
Point, Tangency or Curvature.
7. If needed, enter a Tension value.
The connect curve is displayed between the two selected points according to the
specified continuity and tension values.
Connect curve with point continuity at Connect curve with point continuity at
both points. one point
and tangent continuity at the other.

Connect curve with point continuity at Connect curve with tangent continuity at
one point one point
and curvature continuity at the other. and curvature continuity at the other.

Connect curve with curvature continuity Connect curve with tangent continuity at
at both points. both points.
8. An arrow is displayed at each extremity of the curve. You can click the arrow
to reverse the orientation of the curve at that extremity.
A graphic manipulator also allows you to modify the tension at the extremity of
the connect curve.

9. You can select the Trim elements check box if you want to trim and assemble
the two initial curves to the connect curve.

10. Click OK to create the connect curve.

The curve (identified as Connect.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Parallel Curves
This task shows you how to create a curve that is parallel to a reference curve.

Open the Parallelcurves.CATPart document from the

online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.
1. Click the Parallel
Curve icon .
The Parallel
Curve Definition
dialog box
appears.

2. Select the reference

Curve to be offset.
3. Select the Support
plane or surface on
which the reference
curve lies.
4. Specify the Offset by
entering a value or
using the graphic
manipulator.
The parallel
curve is
displayed on the
support surface
and normal to the
reference curve.
 5. Click OK to create the parallel curve.

The curve (identified as Parallel.xxx) is added to the specification

tree.

You can use the Reverse Direction button to display the parallel curve on the
other side of the reference curve.
 Creating Boundary Curves
This task shows how to create the boundary curve of a surface.

Open the Boundaries.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

1.Click the Boundary icon .

The Boundary Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Use the combo to choose the Propagation type:

Complete boundary: the selected edge is propagated around the entire surface
boundary.
Point continuity: the selected edge is propagated around the surface boundary until
a point discontinuity is met.
Tangency continuity: the selected edge is propagated around the surface boundary
until a tangent discontinuity is met.
None: no propagation or continuity condition is imposed, only the selected edge is
kept.

Tangent continuity
None

Point continuity All contours

3. Select a Surface edge.
The boundary curve is displayed according to the selected propagation type.

4. You can relimit the boundary curve by means of two elements.

5. Click OK to create the boundary curve.
The curve (identified as Boundary.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Planes
This task shows the various methods for creating planes:

from its equation

through three points
through two lines
through a point and a line
through a planar curve
tangent to a surface
normal to a curve
offset from a plane
offset through point
at an angle to a plane
mean plane through several points.

1. Click the Plane icon .

The Plane Definition dialog box
appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the
desired Plane type.

Once you have defined the plane, it is represented by a red square symbol,
which you can move using the graphic manipulator.
Equation
Enter the A, B, C, D components of the Ax + By + Cz = D plane equation.
Through three points
Select three points.

The plane passing through the three points is displayed.

Through two lines

Select two lines.

The plane passing

through the two line
directions is
displayed.

Through point and line

Select a Point and a Line.

The plane passing through the point and the line is displayed.

Through planar curve

Select a planar Curve.

The plane containing the curve is displayed.

Tangent to surface
Select a reference
Surface and a Point.

A plane is displayed
tangent to the
surface at the
specified point.
Normal to curve
Select a reference Curve
and a Point.

A plane is displayed
normal to the curve
at the specified
point.

Offset from plane

Select a reference Plane then enter an Offset value.

A plane is displayed offset from the reference plane.

Offset through point
Select a reference Plane and a Point.

A plane is displayed parallel the reference plane and passing through

the selected point.
Angle or normal to plane
Select a reference Plane and a Rotation axis.
Enter an Angle value.

A plane is displayed passing through the line. It is oriented at the

specified angle to the reference plane.
Mean through points
Select three or more points to display the mean plane through these
points.

It is possible to edit the plane by first selecting a point in the dialog

box list then choosing an option to either:
Remove the selected point
Replace the selected point by another point.

3. Click OK to create the plane.

The plane (identified as Plane.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Projections
This task shows you how to create geometry by projecting an element onto a
support element.
The projection may be normal or along a direction.
You can project:
a point onto a surface or wireframe support
wireframe geometry onto a surface support.
Open the Projection.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign
directory.

If you select Normal as

Projection type:

1. Click the Projection icon

.
The Projection
Definition dialog box
appears.
2. Select the element to be
Projected.
3. Select the Support
element.
4. Use the combo to specify
the direction type for the
projection:
Normal.
In this case,
projection is
done normal
to the support
element.
5. Whenever several projections are possible, you can select the Nearest
Solution check box to keep the nearest projection.
6. Click OK to create the projection element.
The projection (identified as Project.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

If you select Along a direction as

projection type:
1. Click the Projection icon
.
The Projection
Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the element to be

Projected.
3. Use the combo to specify
the direction type for the
projection:
Along a direction.
In this case, the
projection is done
along the selected
direction.
4. Select the Direction, that is
a line to take its orientation
as the translation direction
or a plane to take its
normal as the translation
direction.
You can also specify the
direction by means of X, Y,
Z vector components by
using the contextual menu
on the Direction field.
5. Whenever several projections are possible, you can select the Nearest
Solution check box to keep the nearest projection.
6. Click OK to create the projection element.
The projection (identified as Project.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Intersections
This task shows you how to create wireframe geometry by intersecting two
elements.
You can intersect:
two wireframe elements
two surfaces
a wireframe element and a surface.

Open the Intersectsurface.CATPart and the Intersectsurf.CATPart documents

from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

1. Click the Intersection icon .

The Intersection Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the two elements to be intersected.

The intersection is displayed.

This example shows the line resulting This example shows the curve resulting
from the intersection of a plane and a from the intersection of two surfaces.
surface.

3. Click OK to create the intersection element.

This element (identified as Intersect.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Surfaces
CATIA - Generative Shape Design allows you to model both simple and complex
surfaces using techniques such as lofting, sweeping and filling.

Creating Extruded
Creating Revolution Surfaces Creating Offset Surfaces
Surfaces

Creating Swept Surfaces Creating Fill Surfaces Creating Lofted Surfaces

Extracting Geometry
 Creating Extruded Surfaces
This task shows how to create a surface by extruding a profile along a given direction.

1. Click the Extrude icon .

The Extruded Surface Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the Profile to be extruded and specify the desired extrusion Direction.
You can select a line to take its orientation as the extrusion direction or a plane to take
its normal as extrusion direction.
You can also specify the direction by means of X, Y, Z vector components by using the
contextual menu on the Direction area.
3. Enter values or use the graphic manipulators to define the start and end limits of the
extrusion.

4. You can click the Reverse Direction button to display the extrusion on the other side
of the selected profile.
5. Click OK to create the surface.
The surface (identified as Extrude.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Revolution Surfaces
This task shows how to create a surface by revolving a profile around an axis.

1. Click the Revolve icon .

The Revolution Surface Definition dialog
box appears.

2. Select the Profile and a line indicating the desired Revolution axis.
3. Enter angle values or use the graphic manipulators to define the angular limits
of the revolution surface.

4. Click OK to create the surface.

The surface (identified as Revolute.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
There must be no intersection between the axis and the profile.
 Creating Offset Surfaces
This task shows how to create a surface by offsetting an existing surface.

Open the Offset.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

1. Click the Offset icon .

The Offset Surface Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the Surface to be offset.

3. Specify the Offset by entering a value or
using the graphic manipulator.
The offset surface is displayed normal to
the reference surface.
4. An arrow indicates the proposed
direction for the offset.

5. Click OK to create the surface.

You can display the offset surface on the other side of the reference surface by clicking
either the arrow or the Reverse Direction button.

The figure above shows the offset after

clicking the Reverse Direction button

The surface (identified as Offset.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

 Creating Swept Surfaces
You can create a swept surface by sweeping out a profile in planes normal to a spine
curve while taking other user-defined parameters
(such as guide curves and reference elements) into account.
You can sweep an explicit profile:
along one or two guide curves (in this case the first guide curve is used as the
spine)
along one or two guide curves while respecting a spine.
The profile is swept out in planes normal to the spine.
In addition, you can control the positioning of the profile while it is being swept by
means of a reference surface.
The profile position may be fixed with respect to the guide curve (positioned profile) or
user-defined in the first sweep plane.
You can sweep an implicit linear profile along a spine. This profile is defined by:
two guide curves and two length values for extrapolating the profile
a guide curve and a middle curve
a guide curve, a reference curve, an angle and two length values for
extrapolating the profile
a guide curve, a reference surface, an angle and two length values for
extrapolating the profile.
You can sweep an implicit circular profile along a spine. This profile is defined by:
three guide curves
two guide curves and a radius value
a center curve and two angle values defined from a reference curve (that also
defines the radius)
a center curve and a radius.

Swept Surfaces using an Explicit Profile

This task shows how to create swept
surfaces that use an explicit profile.
You can use the wireframe elements
shown in this figure.

Open the Sweep.CATPart document from

the online/Samples/ShapeDesign
directory.

1. Click the Sweep icon .

The Swept Surface Definition dialog box
appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the Explicit
profile type.

3. Select a Guide curve. The figure below shows the result

obtained after selecting
4. Select the planar Profile to be swept the first guide curve and the profile.
out.
5. If needed, select a Spine.
If no spine is selected, the guide curve is
implicitly used as the spine.
The figure below shows the result
obtained when you include
a linear spine element in the definition.
 .
The figure below shows the result
obtained when you include
a linear spine element in the definition.

6. If needed, select a Second guide

curve.

7. If you want to control the position of the profile during the sweep, you can select
a reference Surface. You can impose a Reference angle on this surface.
By default, the sweep follows the mean plane of the spine, otherwise it follows the
reference.
8. If you want to manually position the profile, click the Position profile >> button to
access the following positioning parameters.
These parameters and the graphic manipulators will allow you to position the
profile in the first sweep plane.
 Specify a positioning point in the first sweep plane by either entering
coordinates or selecting a point.
Specify the x-axis of the positioning axis system by either selecting a line or
specifying a rotation angle.
Select the X-axis inverted check box to invert the x-axis orientation (while
keeping the y-axis unchanged).
Select the Y-axis inverted check box to invert the x-axis orientation (while
keeping the y-axis unchanged).
Specify an anchor point on the profile by selecting a point. This anchor point
is the origin of the axis system that is associated to the profile.
If you want to go back to the original profile, click the Sweep original profile <<
button to access the original positioning parameters.
 9. Click OK to create the swept surface.
The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

Swept Surfaces using a Linear Profile

This task shows how to create swept surfaces that use an implicit linear profile.

1. Click the Sweep icon .

The Swept Surface Definition dialog box
appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the Line
profile type.
The possible cases are described
below.

Select two guide curves.

You can enter one or two length
values to define the width of the
swept surface.

Select two guide curves.

Select the As middle curve check
box to use the second guide
curve as middle curve.
 Select a guide curve, then select
the With Angle tab to specify a
reference curve and a reference
angle.
You can enter one or two length
values to define the width of the
swept surface.

Select a guide curve, then select

the With Angle tab to specify a
reference surface and a
reference angle.
You can enter one or two length
values to define the width of the
swept surface.

In any of the above cases, you can select a spine if you want to specify a spine
different from the first guide curve.
3. Click OK to create the swept surface.
The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

Swept Surfaces using a Circular Profile

This task shows how to create swept
surfaces that use an explicit profile.
You can use the wireframe elements shown
in this figure.

Open the Sweep.CATPart document from

the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.
1. Click the Sweep icon .
The Swept Surface Definition dialog box
appears.
2. Use the combo to choose the Circle
profile type.

The two following cases are possible using

guide curves.
Select three guide curves.

In the figure below, the radius value is 30.

Select two guide curves and enter a

Radius value.
You can then choose between four
possible solutions by clicking the
Other Solution button.
The two following cases are possible using
a center curve.
Select a Center Curve and enter a
Radius value.

In the example above, we selected a spine

Select a Center Curve and a

Reference angle curve.
You can relimit the swept surface by
entering two angle values.

In the example above, we selected the

following values:
Center curve: DemoGuide 3
Reference angle: DemoGuide 1
Angle 1: 0 deg
Angle 2: 60 deg

In any of the above cases, you can select a spine if you want to specify a spine
different from the first guide curve or center curve.
3. Click OK to create the swept surface.
The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating Fill Surfaces
This task shows how to create fill surfaces between a number of boundary
segments.
Open the Fill.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign
directory.

1. Click the Fill icon .

The Fill Surface Definition dialog
box appears.
2. Select curves or surface
edges to form a closed
boundary.
You can select a support
surface for each curve or edge.
In this case continuity will be
assured between the fill surface
and selected support surfaces.

3. Use the combo to specify the

desired continuity type between
any selected support surfaces
and the fill surface: Point or
Tangent.
The fill surface is displayed
within the boundary.

4. You can edit the boundary by first selecting an element in the dialog box list
then choosing a button to either:
Remove the selected element
Replace the selected element by another curve or support surface
Add a curve at the end of the list.
5. Click OK to create the fill
surface.

The surface (identified as Fill.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

 Creating Lofted Surfaces
This task shows how to create a lofted surface.
You can generate a lofted surface by sweeping two or more planar section curves along an automatically
computed or user-defined spine. The surface can be made to respect one or more guide curves.
Open the Loft.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

1. Click the Loft icon .

The Lofted Surface Definition dialog
box appears.

2. Select two or more planar section curves.

Example of a loft defined by three planar sections:
The curves must be continuous in point.
You can select tangent surfaces for the start and
end section curves.
A closing point can be selected for a closed
section curves.
 Example of a loft defined by 2 planar sections and 2 guide
3. If needed, select one or more guide curves. curves:

Guide curves must intersect each section curve

and must be continuous in point.
The first guide curve will be a boundary of the
loft if it intersects the first extremity of each
section curve.
Similarly, the last guide curve will be a boundary
of the loft if it intersects the last extremity of each
section curve.

You can make a loft tangent to an adjacent surface by selecting an end section that lies on the adjacent
surface.
In Figure 2 a loft tangent to the existing surface has been created:

Figure 2
Figure 1

You can also impose tangency conditions by specifying a direction for the tangent vector (selecting a plane
to take its normal, for example). This is useful for creating parts that are symmetrical with respect to a plane.
Tangency conditions can be imposed on the two symmetrical halves.

4. In the Spine tab page, select the Spine check box to use a spine that is automatically computed by the
program or select a curve to impose that curve as the spine.
Note that the spine curve must be normal to each section plane and must be continuous in tangency.

You can create lofted surfaces between closed section curves. These curves have point continuity at their
closing point.
By default, the closing points of each section are linked to each other.
The red arrows in the figures below represent the closing points of the closed section curves. You can
change the closing point by selecting any point on the curve.
 The surface is twisted A new closing point has been imposed
to get a non-twisted surface

5. It is possible to edit the loft reference elements by first selecting a curve in the dialog box list, or by
selecting the text on the figure, then choosing a button to either:
remove the selected curve
replace the selected curve by another curve
add another curve
More possibilities are available with the contextual menu and by right-clicking on the red text or on the
object. For example, it is possible to remove and replace tangent surfaces and closing points.
The following example illustrates the result when the tangency condition is removed between the blue loft
and the adjacent surface.

6. Click OK to create the lofted surface.

The surface (identified as Loft.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

Sections can be 3D curves with following restrictions:

the intersection between one 3D profile and all guides must be coplanar (if three guides or more are
defined)
in case of a user-defined spine, this spine must be normal to the plane implicitely obtained above.

Coupling
This task presents the two kinds of coupling during the creation of the lofted surface:
coupling between two consecutive sections
coupling between guides

These couplings compute the distribution of isoparameters on the surface.

Open the Loftcoupling.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

Coupling between two consecutive sections

This coupling is based on the curvilinear

abscissa.

1. Click the Loft icon .

The Lofted Surface Definition dialog
box appears.

2. Select the two consecutive sections.

3. Click OK to create the loft.

If you want to create a coupling between particular points, you must add guides.

Coupling between guides

This coupling is performed by the spine.

If a guide is the concatenation of several curves, the resulting loft will contain as many surfaces as curves
within the guide.
 Extracting Geometry
This task shows how to perform an extract from elements (curves, points, solids, and so forth.).

1. Select an edge or the face of an element.

The selected element is highlighted.

2. Click the Extract icon .

The extracted element (identified as Extract.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

 Performing Operations on Shape Geometry
CATIA - Generative Shape Design allows you to modify your design using techniques such as trimming,
extrapolating and filleting.

Splitting Geometry Trimming Geometry Joining Geometry Shape Fillets

Edge Fillets Variable Radius Fillets Face-Face Fillets Tritangent Fillets

Transforming
Translating Performing Symmetry Transforming Geometry by
Geometry by Rotating Geometry
Geometry on Geometry Affinity
Scaling

Inverting the
Extrapolating Surfaces Extrapolating Curves Orientation of Creating Nearest Sub-element
Geometry
 Splitting Geometry
This task shows how to split a surface or wireframe element by means of a cutting element.
You can split:
a wireframe element by a point, another wireframe element or a surface
a surface by a wireframe element or another surface.

1. Click the Split icon .

The Split Definition dialog box appears.

2. Select the element to be split.

You should make your selection by clicking on the portion that
you want to keep after the split.

3. Select the cutting element.

A preview of the split appears. You can change the portion to be
kept by selecting that portion.
You can also select the portion to be kept by clicking the Other
side button.

4. Click OK to split the element.

The created element (identified as Split.xxx) is added to the
specification tree.
When necessary, the cutting element will be extrapolated in order to split a surface correctly (as shown in
following figure).
 Trimming Geometry
This task shows how to trim two surfaces or two wireframe elements.

1. Click the Trim icon .

The Trim Definition dialog box appears.

2. Select the two surfaces or two

wireframe elements to be trimmed.
A preview of the trimmed element
appears. You can change the portion to
be kept by selecting that portion.
You can also select the portions to be
kept by clicking the Other side of
element 1 and Other side of element 2
buttons.

You should make your selections by clicking on the portions that you want to
keep after the trim.
When necessary, the cutting elements will be extrapolated in order to trim
surfaces correctly.
3. Click OK to trim the surfaces or
wireframe elements.
The trimmed element (identified as
Trim.xxx) is added to the specification
tree.
 Joining Surfaces or Curves
This task shows how to join surfaces or curves.
The surfaces or curves to be joined must be adjacent.

1. Click the Join icon.

The Join Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the surfaces or curves to be

joined.
3. You can edit the list of elements in
the definition list by means of the
Remove and Replace buttons.

4. Click OK to create the joined surface or curve.

The surface or curve (identified as Join.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Shape Fillets
This task shows how to create a shape fillet between two other surfaces.

Open the Shape-fillet.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign

directory.

1. Click the Shape Fillet icon .

The Fillet Definition dialog box appears.

3. Select a surface as the first support element.

4. Select another surface as the second support element.
5. Enter the value of the fillet Radius.
Up to four fillet locations may be possible.
To help you decide on the location an arrow is displayed on each selected surface.
You can click on the arrows to specify the desired fillet location.
6. Use the combo to choose the desired
type of extremity for the fillet:
Straight
Smooth
Maximum
Minimum.

Straight fillet

Maximum fillet
Smooth fillet

7. Click the Trim support elements check box to trim the support elements and
assemble them to the fillet.
8. Click OK to create the shape fillet.
The surface (identified as Fillet.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Edge Fillets
Edge fillets are useful for providing a transitional surface along a sharp internal
edge of a surface.
This task shows how to create a constant radius fillet along the internal edge of a
joined surface.
Open the Fillet.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign
directory.

1. Click the Edge Fillet icon .

2. Select the joined surface.

The Edge Fillet Definition dialog box

appears.
3. Use the combo to select the
desired type of extremity for the fillet:
Smooth
Straight
Maximum
Minimum.

4. Enter the value of the fillet Radius.

A preview of the fillet appears.
5. You can choose the Propagation
type:
Tangency: the fillet is
propagated up to the first edge
that is not continuous in
tangency.
Minimal: the fillet is
propagated up to the first
geometric limitation.
6. Click OK to create the fillet
surface.
The surface (identified as
EdgeFillet.xxx) is added to the
specification tree.
 Variable Radius Fillets
This task shows how to create a variable radius fillet. In this type of fillet the
radius varies at selected points along a selected edge.

1. Click the Variable Radius Fillet icon .

The Variable Edge Fillet Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the edge to be filleted.

CATIA detects the two vertices and displays
the default radius value.
3. Use the combo to select the desired type
of extremity for the fillet:
Smooth
Straight
Maximum
Minimum.
4. You can choose the propagation type:
Tangency: the fillet is propagated up
to the first edge that is not continuous
in tangency.
Minimal: the fillet is propagated up to
the first geometric limitation.

5. To add an additional point on the edge to

make the variable radius fillet, click the
Points field and select a point on the edge.
6. Enter a new Radius value for this point.
7. Set the Propagation mode to Cubic to
obtain a smooth transition from one radius to
another.
8. Click OK to confirm the operation.
The edge is filleted. The specification tree indicates this creation.

This is the fillet you would obtain using the

Linear propagation mode. In this case there
is a straight transition from one radius to
another.
 Tritangent Fillets
This task shows how to create a tritangent fillet.
The creation of tritangent fillets involves the removal of one of the three faces
selected.

Open the Tritangent.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign

directory.
1. Select the support.

2. Click the Tritangent Fillet icon.

The Tritangent Fillet
Definition dialog box
appears.

3. Select the Extremities that is the

relimitation mode:
Smooth
Straight
Maximum
Minimum
4. Select the two Faces to fillet.

5. Select the Face to remove.

The fillet will be tangent to
this face.
6. Click OK.
The faces are filleted. The
creation of this fillet is
indicated in the specification
tree.
 Face-Face Fillets
This task shows how to create a face-face fillet.
You generally use the Face-Face fillet command when there is no intersection
between the faces or when there are more than two sharp edges between the
faces.

Open the Facefillet.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign

directory.
1. Select the
support
2. Click the
Face-Face Fillet

icon .
The
Face-Face
Fillet
Definition
dialog box
appears.

3. Select the
Extremities that
is the
relimitation
mode.
4. Select the two
Faces to fillet.
 The
application
previews
the fillet to
be
created.
5. Enter a radius
value in the
Radius field if
you are not
satisfied with the
default one. This
value must be
greater than 0.
6. Click OK.
The faces
are
filleted.
This fillet
is
indicated
in the
specification
tree.
 Translating Geometry
This task shows you how to translate a point, line or surface element.

Open the Translate.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign

directory.
1. Click the Translate icon
.
The Translate Definition
dialog box appears.

2. Select the Element to be

translated.
3. Select a line to take its
orientation as the translation
direction or a plane to take
its normal as the translation
direction.
You can also specify the
direction by means of X, Y,
Z vector components by
using the contextual menu
on the Direction field.
4. Specify the translation
Distance by entering a
value or using the drag
manipulator.

5. Click OK to create the translated element.

The element (identified as Translat.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
The original element is unchanged.
Performing a Symmetry on Geometry
This task shows you how to transform geometry by means of a symmetry
operation.
Open the Transform.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign
directory.

1. Click the Symmetry icon .

The Symmetry Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the Element to be transformed by symmetry.

3. Select a point, line or plane as Reference element.

The figure below illustrates the resulting

symmetry when the line is used as
reference element. The figure below illustrates the resulting
symmetry when the point is used as
reference element.

4. Click OK to create the symmetrical element.

The element (identified as Symmetry.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
The original element is unchanged.
Transforming Geometry by Scaling
This task shows you how to transform geometry by means of a scaling operation.

Open the Transform.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign

directory.

1. Click the Scaling icon .

The Scaling Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the Element to be transformed by scaling.

3. Select the scaling Reference point, plane or planar surface.
4. Specify the scaling Ratio by entering a value or using the drag manipulator.

The figure below illustrates the resulting The figure below illustrates the
scaled element when the plane is used resulting scaled element when the
as reference element (ratio = 2). point is used as reference element
(ratio = 2).

5. Click OK to create the scaled element.

The element (identified as Scaling.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
The original element is unchanged.
Transforming Geometry by Affinity
This task shows you how to transform geometry by means of an affinity
operation.
Open the Transform.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign
directory.

1. Click the Affinity icon .

The Affinity Definition dialog box appears.

2. Select the Element to be transformed by affinity.

3. Specify the characteristics of the Axis system to be used for the affinity
operation:
the Origin
the XY plane
the X axis.

4. Specify the affinity Ratios by entering the desired X, Y, Z values.

The figure below illustrates the resulting affinity with ratios X = 2, Y =1 and Z=1.

The figure below illustrates the resulting affinity with ratios X = 2, Y =2 and Z=1.

The figure below illustrates the resulting affinity with ratios X = 2, Y =2 and Z=1.5
5. Click OK to create the affinity element.
The element (identified as Affinity.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

The original element is unchanged.

 Rotating Geometry
This task shows you how to rotate geometry about an axis.

Open the Transform.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign

directory.

1. Click the Rotate icon .

The Rotate Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select the Element to be rotated.

3. Select a line as the rotation Axis.
4. Enter a value or use the drag
manipulator to specify the rotation
Angle.

5. Click OK to create the rotated element.

The element (identified as Rotate.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
The original surface is unchanged.
 Extrapolating Surfaces
This task shows you how to extrapolate a surface boundary .

1. Click the Extrapolate icon

.
The Extrapolate Definition
dialog box appears.

2. Select a surface Boundary.

3. Select the surface to be Extrapolated.

4. Specify the Limit of the extrapolation by either:
entering the value of the extrapolation length
selecting a limit surface or plane.
 5. Specify Extremities conditions:
Tangent: the extrapolation sides are tangent to the edges adjacent
to the surface boundary.
Normal: the extrapolation sides are normal to the orginal surface
boundary.

5. Select the Assemble result check box if you want the extrapolated surface to
be assembled to the support surface.

6. Click OK to create the extrapolated surface.

The surface (identified as Extrapol.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Extrapolating Curves
This task shows you how to extrapolate a curve.

1. Click the Extrapolate icon .

The Extrapolate Definition dialog box
appears.

2. Select a point or a curve.

3. Select the curve to be Extrapolated:

entering the value of the extrapolation length
selecting a limit surface or plane.
4. Specify Continuity conditions:
Tangent: the extrapolation sides are tangent to the edges
adjacent to the surface boundary.
Curvature
5. Click OK to create the extrapolated curve.

The surface (identified as Extrapol.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

Inverting the Orientation of Geometry
This task shows you how to easily invert the orientation of a surface or curve.

1. Select the Insert > Operations > Invert Orientation command.

2. Select the surface or curve whose orientation is to be inverted.

An arrow is displayed indicating the orientation of the element.
3. Click the arrow to invert the orientation of the element.

4. Click Invert Orientation again to accept the inverted element.

The element (identified as Inverse.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Creating the Nearest Entity of a Multiple
Element
This task shows you how to create the nearest entity of an element that is made up from several
sub-elements.

1. Select the Insert > Operations > Near command.

The Near Definition dialog box appears.

2. Select the element that is made up from several sub-elements.

3. Select a reference element whose position is close to the sub-element that you want to create.

This example shows a parallel curve comprising This example shows the sub-element that is nearest
three sub-elements. to the reference point.

4. Click OK to create the element.

This element (identified as Near.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
 Editing Surfaces and Wireframe
Geometry
CATIA - Generative Shape Design provides powerful tools for editing surfaces
and wireframe geometry.

Editing Definitions Copying and Pasting Deleting Geometry

 Editing Surface and Wireframe
Definitions
This task shows how to edit the definition of an already created geometric
element.
1. Activate the Definition dialog box of the element that you want to edit in
one of the following ways:
Select the element then choose the xxx.object -> Definition
command from the contexual menu
Select the element then choose the Edit -> xxx.object ->
Definition command
Double-click the element identifier in the specification tree.

2. Modify the definition of the element by selecting new reference elements

or by entering new values.

3. Click OK to save the new definition.

 Copying and Pasting
This task shows how to copy and paste open body entities in your part design.

1. Select the elements that you want to copy either directly in the part geometry
or in the specification tree.
2. Select the Edit -> Copy command.

3. Click the Open Body entity in the tree where you want to paste the selected
elements.
4. Select the Edit -> Paste command.
The elements are copied into the target Open Body.

The identifiers of copied elements are incremented with respect to the original
elements.
The original elements and copied elements can be edited independently.
Deleting Surfaces and Wireframe
Geometry
This task shows how to delete geometry from your design.

1. Select the entity you want to

delete.
2. Select the Delete command
either from the Edit menu or the
contextual menu.
The Delete dialog box
appears.

3. Set the desired options for managing the deletion of parent and children
entities
4. Click OK to validate the deletion.
 Using Tools for Shape Design
CATIA - Generative Shape Design provides powerful tools to help you manage
and analyse your surfaces and wireframe geometry.

Updating Your Design Using the Historical Graph Working with a Support

Creating Datums Creating Constraints Managing Groups

Performing a Mapping Checking Connections

Performing a Draft Analysis
Analysis between Elements
 Updating Your Design
This task explains how and when you should update your design.
The point of updating your design is to make the application take your last
operation into account. Indeed some changes to geometry or a constraint may
require rebuilding the part. To warn you that an update is needed, CATIA
displays the update symbol next to the part name and displays the corresponding
geometry in bright red.

1. To update the part, click the Update icon .

However, keep in mind that some operations such as confirming the creation of
features (clicking OK) do not require you to use the update command. By default,
the application automatically updates the operation.

Controlling your update is possible: just select the Tools -> Options
command and uncheck the automatic update option to make sure you will update
your part only when you wish to do so.

2. To update the feature of your choice, just select that feature and use the
Update contextual command.
 Using the Historical Graph
This task shows how to use the Historical Graph.

1. Select the
element for
which you
want to
display the
historical
graph.
2. Click the
Show Graph

icon .
The Historical
Graph dialog
box appears.

The following icon commands are available.

Add graph
Remove graph
Reframe graph
Surface or Part graph representation
Parameters filter
Constraints filter.

3. Just close the dialog box to exit this mode.

 Working with a Support
This task shows how to work on a support, which may be either a plane or a
surface.
This will allow you to easily reference a surface or plane whenever you need
one. For example, you will not have to explicitly select the support element again
when creating geometry.
1. Click the Work on Support

icon .
The Work on Support dialog
box appears.

2. Select the plane or surface to be used as support element.

If a plane is selected, a grid is displayed to facilitate visualization.

When you no longer need the support, just click on the icon again then click the
Remove Support button.
 Creating Datums
This task shows how to create geometry with the History mode deactivated.
In this case, when you create an element, there are no links to the other
entities that were used to create that element.

1. Click the Create Datum icon to deactivate the History mode.

It will remain deactivated until you click on the icon again.
If you double-click this icon, the Datum mode is permanent. You only have
to click again the icon to disactivate the mode.
A click on the icon activates the Datum mode for the current or the next
command.
The History mode (active or inactive) will remain fixed from one session to
another: it is in fact a setting.
 Creating Constraints
This task shows how to set geometric constraints on geometric elements.
Such a constraint forces a limitation. For example, a geometric constraint might
require that two lines be parallel.

To set a
constraint
between
elements:
1. Multi-select two
or three elements
to be constrained.
2. Click the
Constraint with
dialog box icon

.
The Constraint
Definition dialog
box appears
indicating the
types of constraint
you can set
between the
selected elements.
3. Select one of
the available
options to specify
that the
corresponding
constraint is to be
made.
4. Click OK.
The corresponding
constraint symbol
appears on the
geometry.
To set a
constraint on a
single element:
1. Select the
element to be
constrained.
2. Click the
Constraint icon

.
The corresponding
constraint symbol
appears on the
geometry.
 Managing Groups
This task shows how to manage groups of elements in an Open Body entity as
follows:
creating a group
editing a group
collapsing and expanding a group
moving a group to a new body.

Creating a group
1. Right-click the desired Open Body entity in the specification tree.
2. Choose the Create Group command from the contextual menu.
The Group dialog box appears.
The Support area indicates the name of the Open Body entity where the group is
to be created.
3. If needed, modify the proposed default group name that appears in the Name
area.
4. Select entities to be included in the group and remain visible in the tree.
5. Click OK to create the group

In the Group dialog box you can:

click the check box to specify whether group is expanded or collapsed.
click the Remove Group button to reset the group definition.

Editing a group
1.Right-click the desired group in the specification tree and select the Edit Group
command from the contextual menu.
2. You can then:
rename the group
remove the group
add entities to the group.

Collapsing and expanding a group

1. To collapse a group, right-click the desired group in the specification tree and
select the Collapse Group command from the contextual menu.
The portion of the specification tree related to the group appears reduced.
2. To expand a collapsed group, right-click the desired group in the specification
tree and select the Expand Group command from the contextual menu.
All the entities belonging to the group are then visible in the specification tree.
Moving a group to a new
body
1. Right-click the desired group
in the specification tree and
select the Change Body
command from the contextual
menu.
A dialog box entitled Change
Body appears.
2. Select the new body where
the group is to be located.
3. Click OK to move the group
to the new body.
 Checking Connections between Elements

This task shows how to analyze how two surfaces are connected, following a blend, match or fill operation for
example.
Three types of analyses are available:
1. Distance: the values are expressed in millimeters
2. Tangency: the values are expressed in degrees
3. Curvature: the values are expressed in percentage.

Open the Connectchecker.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

1. Select both surfaces to be analyzed.

2. Click the Connect Checker icon .

The Connect Checker dialog box is

displayed, identifying by color
ranges the maximum and minimum
values for the analysis. The color
range can be linear, sharp left,
sharp right or center.
The analysis representation in the
color range varies according to the
chosen option.
 3. Choose the type of analysis to be
performed: Distance, Tangency or
Curvature.
4. Check the analysis results on the
geometry.
Here you are analyzing the distance
between the surfaces. Each color
section indicates on the geometry
the distance between the surfaces.

From the Connect Checker dialog box, you can choose a number of visualization and computation options:
the comb: that is the spikes corresponding to the distance in each point.
the envelope: that is the curve connecting all spikes together
some information: the minimum and maximum values

Finally, the scaling option lets you define the visualization of the comb. In automatic mode, the
comb size is zoom-independent and always visible on the screen, otherwise you can define a
coefficient multiplying the comb exact value.

5. Check the Information button:

Two texts are displayed on the
geometry localizing the minimum
and maximum values of the
analysis as given in the Connect
Checker dialog box.

You can also choose the

discretization, that is the numbers of
spikes in the comb:
Coarse: 15 spikes are
displayed
Medium: 30 spikes are
displayed
Fine: 45 spikes are
displayed.
6. Switch to Linear mode and check the
Fine discretization then compare with the
previous results.
7. Click the Quick... button in the Connect
Checker dialog box to obtain a simplified
analysis taking into account tolerances
(distance, tangency and curvature).
The comb is no longer displayed.
The Connect Checker dialog box
changes to the Quick Violation
Analysis dialog box :

8. Use the spinners to define the tolerances.

For example, the red area indicates
all points that are distant of more
than 0.1 mm. The green area
indicates points that are closer than
0.1 mm but at which the tangency
difference is greater than 2 degrees.
Points that would match the first two
tolerance constraints and at which
the curvature difference would be
greater than 5% would appear in
blue. There are none in this case.
The maximum deviation values on
the current geometry are displayed
to the right of the dialog box.

9. Click OK to create the analysis as an element in the specification tree.

This allows the automatic update of the analysis when you modify any of the surfaces, using the
control points for example.
If you do not wish to create the analysis, simply click Cancel.

You can edit the color range in both dialog boxes by double-clicking the color range manipulators
(Connect Checker) or color areas (Quick Violation Analysis) to display the Color chooser.
If you wish to edit the Connection Analysis, simply double-click it from the specification tree.
If you no longer need the Connection Analysis, right-click on Connection Analysis in the specification
tree then choose Delete.
 Performing a Draft Analysis

This task shows how to analyze the draft angle on a surface.

Open the Draftanalysis.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

1. Select a surface.

2. Click the Draft Analysis icon .

The Draft Analysis dialog box is displayed and the analysis is

visible on the selected elements.

You can modify the values in the color range to highlight specific
areas of the selected surface. To do this, click and drag the
arrows delimiting the colors, or directly key in the values. You can
also choose a different display for the color range: Linear, Sharp
left, Sharp center or Sharp right.

The values are expressed in degrees, ranging from -90 to 90 degrees.

You can modify them by clicking on their corresponding arrow or by entering a value directly in the
field.
The precision for entering values is 0.1 degree.
The cursor manipulation for colors is limited between -20.0 et 20.0 but the analysis is still performed
between -90 and 90 degrees.
If you see no visualization on the selected element, move the pointers in the dialog box to redefine
the draft values.
3. Activate the On the fly analysis checkbox and move the pointer over the
surface.
Arrows are displayed under the pointer, identifying the normal to the
surface at the pointer location (green arrow). As you move the pointer
over the surface, the normal display is dynamically updated.

If you click the green arrow (Normal), you can invert it.
In this case, the draft analysis is not possible any longer, the
whole surface becomes red (highest value).
If you click the red arrow, it freezes the location for the arrow
allowing general manipulations according to the compass.
The displayed value indicates the angle between the draft
direction and the normal to the surface at the current point.

4. Bring the compass onto the selected surface to locally manipulate it and
have a different view of the analysis without modifying the analysis
values.
These values can be edited by double-clicking the compass which
displays the Compass Manipulation dialog box.

5. Once you have finished analyzing the surface, click Close in the Draft Analysis dialog box.

If you have moved to another capability, you need to redisplay the Draft Analysis dialog box by clicking

the Draft Analysis icon then by clicking Reset to remove the draft analysis from the element.
A draft analysis can be performed just as well on a set of surfaces.
Double-click the arrows from the color range to display the color chooser allowing you to re-define the
color range.
 Performing a Mapping Analysis

This task shows how to analyze the mapping curvature of a surface.

Open the Mappinganalysis.CATPart document from the online/Samples/ShapeDesign directory.

1. Select a surface.

2. Click the Mapping Analysis icon .

The curvature analysis dialog box is displayed and the analysis is
visible on the selected element.

3. Choose the linear option from the dialog box.

Available options to display the color range are: linear, sharp left,
sharp center or sharp right.
The values are ranging from 0 to 1, corresponding to the minimum
and maximum Mapping curvature respectively.
The surface now looks like this:

4. Modify the values in the color range to highlight specific areas of the
selected surface.
To do this, click and drag the arrows delimiting the colors, or
directly key in the values.
5. Click Close to exit the analysis capability, or click Reset to come back to default values for the color
range.

Mapping analyses can be performed on a set of surfaces.

Double-click the arrows from the color range to display the color chooser allowing you to re-define the
color range.

You can display the control points by clicking the Control Points icon , still viewing the Mapping
Analysis. This allow you to check the impact of any modification on the surface according to the
Mapping Analysis.
 Advanced Tasks
The advanced tasks you will perform in the CATIA - Generative Shape Design
workbench include managing the specification tree and interoperating with other
workbenches.
Tasks
 Managing Open Bodies in the
Specification Tree
This task shows how to manage the specification tree. This involves;
inserting open body entities
removing open body entities
changing body.

You will find other useful information in the Managing Groups section.

You can insert and manipulate open bodies in the specification tree in much the
same way as you manage files in folders.
These management functions have no impact on the part geometry.
You should refer to the Copying and Pasting section for information about how
open bodies can be used in a part edition context.

Inserting an Open Body

1. In the specification tree, select the branch where you want the new open body
to be inserted.
This branch is known as a father location which can be a part, a body or another
open body entity.
2. Select the Insert > Open Body menu command.
The Insert Open Body dialog box appears.
3. Select the entities that are to be included in the
new open body.
4. Click OK to create the open body at the desired
location.
Removing an Open Body
This is only possible when the father location of the open body is another open
body.
1. Right-click the desired open body then select the Remove Open Body
contextual command.
The open body is removed and its constituent entities are included in the father
open body.

Moving an open body to a new body

1. Right-click the desired open body in the
specification tree and select the Change Body
command from the contextual menu.
The Change Body dialog box appears.
2. Select the new body where the open body is to
be located.
3. Click OK to move the open body to the new
body.
 Using Hybrid Parts
This task shows how to create a hybid part comprising wireframe, surface and solid
geometry.
You must have access to the Part Design product.

1. In the Generative Shape

Design workbench, open a
document comprising solid
entities.

2. Click the Line icon then

create construction lines
between the opposite vertices
of the two pads.
These lines are created in an
Open Body entity.

3. Click the Loft icon and

create a lofted surface between
the curved edges of the two
pads.
Create another lofted surface
between the bottom edges of
the two pads.
4. Click the Sweep icon
and create a swept surface
between two opposite vertical
edges of the two pads.
Create another swept surface
on the other side of the side of
the two pads.

5. Click the Join icon then

select the four surfaces to
create a single joined surface.

6. Open the Part Design workshop and select the Closed Surface icon .
7. Slect the joined surface in
order to close it.
The model and specification is
updated with the Close Surface
feature.
 Using Multi-Documents
This task shows how to use multi-documents in order to design in the context of
a product.
You will copy an open body from one document to another, edit the original part
and the copied part independently and finally update the copied part with
modifications made to the original part.

Select Tool -> Options command and in the Part General page make sure that
the Keep link with selected object and Synchronize all external references for
update options are set.
1. Select the
Open Body of
Part1 in the
specification tree.
2. Select the Edit
-> Copy
command.

3. Open a new CATPart document called Part2 and position the cursor anywhere
in the specification tree.
4. Select the Edit
-> Paste Special
command.
The Source
Definition dialog
box appears.

5. Select the
AsResult
WithLink option
and click OK.
In this case the
Open Body is
copied without its
design
specifications.
Note that the
AsSpec option
copies the
selected object
along with its
design
specifications.
The Open Body
is represented in
Part2 as an
External
Reference
object.
6. Edit Part2 by
adding a lofted
surface between
the two curved
end sections.
Remember that
this modification
has no effect on
the original part.

7. Return to the
Part1 document
and edit the two
fillet surfaces by
increasing the
radius values, for
example.
In the Part2
document, an
update symbol is
displayed next to
Part2 in the
specification tree.
The elements in
the part that are
impacted by the
modifications to
Part1 are
highlighted in
red.

8. Select the
Update
command to
update Part2.
Part2 now
includes the
modifications
made to Part1.
 Workbench Description
This section contains the description of the icons, menus and Historical Graph that
are specific to the CATIA - Generative Shape Design workbench, which is shown
below.
You can click the hotspots on this image to see the related documentation.

Menu Bar
Wireframe Toolbar
Surfaces Toolbar
Operations Toolbar
Tools Toolbar
Constraints Toolbar
Historical Graph
 CATIA - Generative Shape Design Menu Bar
The various menus and menu commands that are specific to CATIA - Generative Shape Design are described below.

Start File Edit View Insert Tools Windows Help

Tasks corresponding to general menu commands are described in the CATIA Version 5 Infrastructure User's Guide.

Edit
Please note that most of the edit commands available here are common facilities offered by the CATIA Version 5 Infrastructure.
The specific CATIA - Generative Shape Design edit commands depend on the type of object being edited: Open Body or other
entity.
Command... Description...

Undo Cancels the last action.

Redo Recovers the last action that was undone.
Update See Updating Your Design

Cut
Copy See Copying and Pasting and Using
Paste Multi-documents.
Paste Special

Delete See Deleting Geometry

Search Allows searching and selecting objects.

Links Manages links to other documents.

Properties Allows displaying and editing object properties.

Allows scanning the part and working locally on

Scan or Define in Work Object
an object.

XXX object -> Definition See Editing Definitions

XXX object -> Change Body Allows Managing Open Bodies
Reset Properties Allows resetting object properties

Insert
 For... See...

Open body Managing Open Bodies

Sketcher Refer to the CATIA Version 5 Part Design User's Guide.

Wireframe Insert -> Wireframe

Surfaces Insert -> Surfaces

Operations Insert -> Operations

Constraints and Analysis Insert -> Constraints and Analysis

Insert -> Wireframe

For... See...

Point Creating Points

Line Creating Lines

Plane Creating Planes

Projection Creating Projections

Intersection Creating Intersections

Circle Creating Circles
Spline Creating Splines
Corner Creating Corners
Connect Curve Creating Connect Curves
Parallel Curve Creating Parallel Curves
Boundary Creating Boundary Curves

Insert -> Surfaces

For... See...

Extrude Creating Extruded Surfaces

Revolve Creating Revolution Surfaces
Offset Creating Offset Surfaces
Sweep Creating Swept Surfaces
Fill Creating Fill Surfaces
Loft Creating Lofted Surfaces
Extract Extracting Geometry from Solids

Insert -> Operations

For... See...
 Join Joining Curves and Surfaces
Split Splitting Geometry
Trim Trimming Geometry
Shape Fillet Filleting Surfaces

Edge Fillet Edge Fillets

Variable Fillet Variable Radius Fillets
Face-Face Fillet Face-Face Fillets
Tritangent Fillet Tritangents Fillets
Translate Translating Geometry
Rotate Rotating Geometry

Symmetry Performing Symmetry on Geometry

Scaling Transforming Geometry by Scaling

Affinity Transforming Geometry by Affinity

Extrapolate Extrapolating Geometry
Invert orientation Inverting the Orientation of Geometry

Near Creating Nearest Entity of a Multiple Element

Insert -> Constraints and Analysis

For... See...

Constraint Creating Constraints

Constraint Defined in Dialog BoxChecking Connections
Connect Checker between elements
Draft Analyis Performing a Draft Analysis
Mapping Analysis Performing a Mapping Analysis

Tools
Please note that most of the Tools commands available here are common facilities offered by the CATIA Version 5
Infrastructure.
Specific CATIA - Generative Shape Design commands are described in the present document.
Command... Description...

Formula Allows editing parameters and formula.

Image Allows capturing images.
Macro Allows recording, running and editing macros.
Allows viewing the parents and children of a selected
Parent/Children
object.
Show Historical graph See Using the Historical Graph
Work on Support See Working with a Support
Customize Allows customizing the workbench.
Options Allows customizing settings.
Search Order Allows specifying a search order list.
 Wireframe Toolbar
This toolbar contains the following tools for creating wireframe elements.

See Creating Points

See Creating Lines
See Creating Planes
See Creating Projections
See Creating Intersections
See Creating Circles
See Creating Splines
See Creating Corners
See Creating Connect Curves
See Creating Parallel Curves
See Creating Boundary Curves
 Surfaces Toolbar
This toolbar contains the following tools for creating surfaces.

See Creating Extruded Surfaces

See Creating Revolution Surfaces
See Creating Offset Surfaces
See Creating Swept Surfaces
See Creating Fill Surfaces
See Creating Lofted Surfaces
See Extracting Geometry from Solids
 Operations Toolbar
This toolbar contains the following tools for performing operations on surface and
wireframe elements.

See Joining Curves and Surfaces

See Splitting Geometry
See Trimming Geometry

See Tritangent Fillets

See Shape Fillets

See Edge Fillets

See Variable Radius Fillets
See Face-Face Fillets
See Translating Geometry
See Performing a Symmetry on Geometry
See Transforming Geometry by Scaling

See Transforming Geometry by Affinity

See Rotating Geometry
See Extrapolating Geometry
 Tools Toolbar
This toolbar contains the following tools to help you model your shape designs.

See Updating Constraints

See Using the Historical Graph
See Working with a Support
See Creating Datums
 Constraints and Analysis Toolbar
This toolbar contains the following tools to help you manage constraints between
geometric elements and perform analysis.

See Creating Constraints.

See Checking Connections between Elements

See Performing a Draft Analysis

See Performing a Mapping Analysis

CATIA - Generative Shape Design
Historical Graph
In this chapter we will describe the Historical Graph's commands and contextual
commands that are specific to the CATIA - Generative Shape Design workbench.

Historical Graph Commands

Command... Description...

Add Graph Adds a selected element to the graph.

Remove Graph Removes a selected element from the
graph.
Reframe Centers the graph in the window.
Surface or Part graph representation Gives a horizontal or vertical representation.
Parameters Displays any parameters associated to the
elements in the graph.
Displays any constraints associated to the
Constraints
elements in the graph.
 Historical Graph Contextual Commands
Command... Description...

Reframe Centers the graph in the window.

Print Allows you to obtain a print of the graph.
Graph All Restores the graph to the window.
Clean Graph Clears the graph from the window.
Refresh Refreshes the graph display.
 Glossary
A
affinity An operation in which an element is transformed by applying X, Y,
Z affinity ratios with respect to a reference axis system.

C
child A status defining the hierarchical relation between a feature or
element and another feature or element.
constraint A geometric or dimension relation between two elements.

E
An operation in which an element is extended a specified amount
while respecting tangency or curvature conditions. Typically a
extrapolate
surface boundary can be selected for in order to extrapolate the
surface a specified length.
A surface that is obtained by extruding a profile along a specified
extruded surface
direction.

F
feature A component of a part.

A surface that is obtained by filling a closed boundary that is made

fill surface
up from a number of segments.
fillet A curved surface of a constant or variable radius that is tangent to
and joins two surfaces. Together these three surfaces form either
an inner or outer corner.

J
An operation in which adjacent curves or adjacent curves can be
join
joined.

L
A surface that is obtained by sweeping one or more planar section
curves along a spine, which may be automatically computed or
lofted surface
user-defined. The surface can be made to follow one or more
guide curves.
 O
A surface that is obtained by offsetting an existing surface a
offset surface
specified distance.

P
parent A status defining the hierarchical relation between a feature or
element and another feature or element.
part A 3D entity obtained by combining different features. It is the
content of a CATPart document.
part body A component of a part made of one or several features.

profile An open or closed shape including arcs and lines.

R
revolution surface A surface that is obtained by revolving a profile around an axis.

An operation in which an element is rotated by a specified angle

rotate
about an given axis.

S
scaling An operation that resizes an element to a percentage of its initial
size.
sketch A set of geometric elements created in the Sketcher workbench.
For instance, a sketch may include a profile, construction lines and
points.

split An operation in which one element is cut by another element.

swept surface A surface obtained by sweeping a profile in planes normal to a
spine curve while taking other user-defined parameters (such as
guide curves and reference elements) into account.
An operation in which an element is transformed by means of a
symmetry
mirror symmetry with respect to a reference plane, line or point.

T
An operation in which an element is displaced a specified distance
translate
along a given direction.
trim An operation in which two element cut each other mutually.
 W
Elements such as points, lines or curves that can be used to
wireframe element
represent the outline of a 3D object.
 Index
A
Affinity icon
affinity operation

B
boundary curves
Boundary icon

C
Circle icon
circles
Connect Curve icon
connect curves
constraints
copying
Corner icon
corners
Create Datum icon
creating
boundary curves
circles
connect curves
corners
datums
extruded surfaces
fill surfaces
groups
intersections
lines
 lofted surfaces
offset surfaces
parallel curves
planes
points
projections
revolution surfaces
splines
surface or curve from solid
swept surfaces

D
datums
deleting

E
Edge Fillet icon
edge fillets
editing object definitions
Extract icon
Extrapolate icon
extrapolated surfaces or curves
Extrude icon
extruded surfaces

F
Fill icon
fill surfaces
G
groups

H
historical graph

I
Intersection icon
intersections
Invert Orientation command

J
Join command
joined surfaces or curves

L
Line icon
lines
Loft icon ,
lofted surfaces

N
Near command
Nearest sub-element
O
Offset icon
offset surfaces
operations
affinity
extrapolate
fillet
invert element orientation
join
rotate
scaling
split
symmetry
translate
trim

P
parallel curves
Parallel Curve icon
part
pasting
Plane icon
planes
Point icon
points
Projection icon
projections

R
Revolve icon
revolution surfaces
Rotate icon
S
Scaling icon ,
Shape Fillet icon ,
shape fillets
Show Graph icon ,
Spline icon
splines
Split icon
support grid
surface or curve extracted from solid
Sweep icon ,
swept surfaces
Symmetry icon

T
Translate icon
Trim icon

U
Update icon
updating your design

V
Variable Fillet icon
variable radius fillets

W
wireframe element
Work on Support icon
Working on support
Generative Drafting

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 1
 Tutorial Objectives

Description
? This Tutorial is an introduction to Generative Drafting.
Message
? To show how CATIA V5 allows the user to automatically generate
associative drafting from 3D mechanical parts produced with CATIA Version
5.
? To show a higher productive environment for drawings dress-up and
annotation
Duration
? 45 minutes
Product Coverage
? Part Design, Generative Drafting

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 2
 Tutorial Major Steps
Here are the different steps of this tutorial:
Step 1
? Prepare the drawing
Step 2
? Create main views
Step 3
? Use the Wizard to generate views
Step 4
? Create a Detail view
Step 5
? Create a Section view
Step 6
? Create Dimensions
Step 7
? Create a Breakout view
Step 8

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Finish the drawing
Step 9
? Finishing

Note : in the ..\Generative Drafting\Data directory you can find several drawings named with the
different steps of this tutorial. If you have some difficulties or if you need to stop and continue sometime
later, you can load them at the end of each step to continue the tutorial.
IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 3
 Settings 1/2
Depending on your needs, you may have to modify the CATIA V5 settings (units, default
directory, visualisation parameters, etc…)

In order to use the appropriate settings for this tutorial, you have two possibilities:

1. Do the following operations (simplest one):

?BEFORE STARTING YOUR CATIA V5 SESSION:
? Copy or replace the directory ..\Generative Drafting\Data\CATSettings in:
For NT users C:\Winnt\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
For Windows 2000 C:\Documents and settings\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
or XP users
For Windows C:\Windows\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
98 users
XXXX is the name used to log on to your computer

? Do not forget to put this folder (CATSettings) in read mode:

? Select the folder (CATSettings)
? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and
uncheck the Read-only Attribute
? Select all the files in the folder

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and uncheck the Read-only
Attribute

2. Set them manually:

? Launch your CATIA V5 session and do the operations from page 32 onwards
IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 4
 Settings 2/2

For this tutorial you also need to install a tooling and a material catalogue:
? Do not do this step if you have already done it in getting started or in a previous tutorial

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\French directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\German directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\Japanese directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials directory

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Answer Yes in order to replace the old catalogue

You are now ready to launch your CATIA V5 session

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 5
 Step 1: Open the Part

Opening Files
? Close all the windows in CATIA
? Open the file Spindle.CATPart under
the … \Generative Drafting\Data directory
?NB: There are several ways of
opening the files

?In the Browse window, check the

Show Preview option
?Select the Spindle.CATPart file
?Click on Open button

?Answer Yes to the question

because some libraries are not
installed on this CATIA demonstration

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

mode

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 6
 Step 1: Open a new drawing

Opening files
? Select Start + Mechanical Design +
Drafting in the menu bar to access the
Drawing workbench

? Check that the first layout is

selected
?In the New Drawing Creation
window, click on the Modify button
?Choose ANSI for the Standard and
C ANSI for the Format
?Validate by clicking on OK in the
New Drawing window
?Validate by clicking on OK in the
New Drawing Creation window

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? A new drawing window is opened

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 7
 Step 1: Add the Company Background

Adding the template

?Select File + Page Setup in the Menu bar

?In the Page Setup window, click on Insert

Background View…
?Click on the Browse button in the displayed
window
?Browse your hard disk in order to find and
select the DS_Template.CATDrawing file
?Click on the Open button
?Click on Insert button in the Insert element
into a sheet window
?Click OK in the Page Setup window

? The frame is inserted in the Background

view

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? If you want to have access to this
background layer, select Edit + Background in
the Menu bar. Before going to the next page,
return to the Working view by selecting Edit +
Working Views in the menu bar

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 8
 Step 1: Change the Scale

Modification of the scale

? You can access the properties of the
whole sheet
?Click MB 3 (Mouse Button 3) on
Sheet.1 in the specification tree
?Select Properties

?In the Global scale field, key in

1/32
?Click on OK to validate
? The whole sheet will now have this
new scale value

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click on the Snap to point icon on
the bottom toolbar to deactivate it
? The icon should turn blue

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 9
 Step 2: Start the Drawing

Creating the front view

? You will now learn how to create a front view
? Click on the Front view icon on the right
Toolbar
? Select Window + Tile horizontally in the
menu bar

? Click in the bottom window and

OUTSIDE of the geometry

? Drag the mouse cursor over the various

3D planes on the specification tree
WITHOUT clicking
? If you click on the plane you will create the
corresponding 2D view. To delete a created
view, refer to the next page
? The preview window shows you the
result

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Click the front face of the Spindle
? If you have trouble selecting it, don’t
hesitate to zoom in before clicking

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 10
 Step 2: Start the Drawing

Orientating the front view

? You can rotate the views before creating them
? Click on the arrows of the compass to
orientate the front view
? When you have the view positioned as
shown here, click anywhere on the grid
? To have the same orientation you should
click 3 times on the left rotation arrow (the
inside circular arrow)
? After a few seconds, the view is created
? If you have failed, you need to delete the
view and re-do it. (See page11 on how to
delete a view).

? Select and drag the text box, placing it

under the front view as shown

? Maximise the drawing window

? Zoom out to see the whole page

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Select the front view frame and drag it to
position it as shown

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 11
 Step 2: Generate some other views

Creating a projection view

? How to create a left view
?Click the Projection view icon behind the
Front view icon
? You have to click on the black arrow at the
bottom right of the front view icon

?Drag the projection view around the front

view to preview the different projections you
could create
?Now position the projection view as shown
on the right and click MB1

? Another way to create views

?Delete the views by clicking MB3 on the

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

frame (and not inside the frame) of both
views and then selecting the Delete function
? Another way is to select a view and use the
Delete key of the keyboard

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 12
 Step 3: Generate some other views

Using the Wizard

? You can generate the views one by one as you
did in the last pages or use the wizard creation
?Click on the Wizard icon in the View
toolbar.
?Click the different vertical icons to preview
what you could create, then finish by selecting
the 3rd configuration
? By selecting this icon, you can create the
Front, the Left and the Top views
? If you want to delete a specific view, click
MB3 on the view

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click on the Next button

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 13
 Step 3: Generate some other views

Using the Wizard

? You can also choose the view by view
selection instead of a whole or
complementary configuration

?Click on the Isometric view icon

and drag the preview result to
position it as shown then click MB1 to
position it

?Key in 1 for the Minimum distance

between each view

?Click on the Finish button

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Reduce the drawing window

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 14
 Step 3: Generate some other views

Using the Wizard

?Zoom in and click MB1 on the
Front face
?Maximize the drawing window
?Rotate the views using the
Compass as previously explained
?When satisfied, click anywhere on
the sheet to create the views

?Move the Front view by dragging

its frame
? The other views will move
automatically

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Move another view
? The other views will not move

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 15
 Step 4: Create a Detail

Creating a detail view

? How to create a detail view
?Zoom in on the Front view (check that this
view is active)
?Click the Detail view icon
?Click once in the place shown
? A circle is generated showing you the area of
the detail view
?Drag the mouse to change the radius
?Click the sheet when the radius is as shown

?Zoom out to see the top left corner of the

sheet

?Drag the mouse to the top left side of the

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

sheet and click there
? The detail is created here with a 1:16 scale
factor (x2)

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 16
 Step 4: Create a detail

Creating a detail view

?Click MB3 on the Detail view blue

frame and select Properties

?Key in 8 instead of 16 in the Scale

field

?Uncheck the Centre Line option

?Validate the properties by clicking

OK

?Zoom out and reposition the detail

view

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 17
 Step 5: Create a Section

Creating a section view

? How to create a section view
?Double-click the frame of the Detail A view to
activate it
?Zoom in on the Detail A view to see the hole
?Click the Offset Section view icon
?Pass the cursor on the circle to detect the
coincidence constraint then click
? Automatically you will define a section profile
that passes through the circle centre
?Draw a vertical line as shown
? You should see the line turning blue when it is
vertical
?Double click to end the profile creation

?Zoom out to see the whole sheet

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Drag the section view on the left and click
MB1 to create it
?Move the Section view

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 18
 Step 6: Create dimensions

Generating dimensions
? You can automatically generate dimensions on one of
the views
? Zoom out and double-click MB1 on the blue frame
of the Section view
? The colour of the frame changes to red. This means
the Section view is now the active window
? Key in 0.08 in the font size field

? Click on the Thread Dimension icon behind the

Dimension icon
? Select the top line that represents the thread by
clicking MB1
? the thread dimensions are displayed
? Select dimension value to move and drag it to the
left or right as shown
? Multi select the two values (use CTRL key) and
click MB3 then MB1 on Properties to customise

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

extension line.
? Click on the Extension Line tab then Key in 0 in as
blanking value.
? Click OK to validate the modification

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 19
 Step 6: Create dimensions

Generating dimensions
? You can automatically generate dimensions on
one of the views
?Zoom out and double-click MB1 on the blue
frame of the Bottom view
? The colour of the frame changes to red. This
means the Bottom view is now the active
window

?Click on the Dimension icon

?Select the bottom line by clicking MB1
? A diameter dimension is displayed
?Without clicking, drag the mouse. When the
dimension is correctly positioned, click MB1
? If you make a mistake, delete it with Delete
key of the keyboard or with the contextual menu

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Drag the value to the right of the dimension
line
?Click on the dimension arrow to reverse its
orientation
?Click anywhere to finish

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 20
 Step 6: Create dimensions

Generating dimensions
? Click on the Dimension icon
? Select the bottom line again
? Select the top line
? The value displayed automatically
switches from a diameter value to a length
value
? Drag and position the dimension as you
did before
? Click anywhere to finish
? Click MB3 on the dimension and select
Properties
? Select the Extension line Tab then key in
0 in as blanking value
? Click Ok
? On the dimension value, click MB3 and
select Set as Default
? Select the Only User Default Properties

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

option
? Now you will re-use automatically the
properties defined for the next length
dimension creation.

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 21
 Step 6: Create dimensions

Generating dimensions

?Behind the Dimension icon, select the

Stacked Dimension icon
5
?Select the bottom line again
4
?Then select the next 4 lines as shown
? They have to be selected in the right order 3

?Without clicking, drag the mouse and 2

position the dimensions as shown here
? If you drag one dimension, the others follow
?NB: If you click MB1, you can move each 1
dimension individually.
? You will note that you have the same
properties as the last length dimension created

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

(text size, blanking value)
?Validate the creation by clicking MB1
? You can then move the dimensions one by
one so that they do not overlap

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 22
 Step 6: Create dimensions

Using automatic generation

? You can also generate 3D dimensions using
the wizard
? Zoom in on the Detail view
? Double-click the frame of the Detail view
to activate it
? The frame should turn red
? Click anywhere on the sheet to deselect
it

? In the Menu bar, select Tools +

Dimension generation + Filters…

? Select the Detail view frame in the 2D

sheet (this is very important if you don’t
want to generate the dimensions in all
the views)

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Click the Sketcher wireframe
constraints option in the Dimension
Generation Filters window
? Click OK

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 23
 Step 6: Create dimensions

Using automatic generation

?Click the Generating Dimensions
icon in the Generation toolbar.

?Select the Detail frame again

? Some dimensions are
automatically generated

?Reduce the Drawing window

?Check Generated constraints in
the Generated dimensions analysis
window
? The corresponding dimensions are
displayed in the 3D view
?NB: Checking different options will

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

generate different dimensions.

?Click OK to close

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 24
 Step 6: Create dimensions

Using automatic generation

?Maximise the drawing window

?Zoom in on the Detail view

?Delete the dimensions you don’t

want to see

?Move and place the others as you

have done before
? You should be an expert by now…

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 25
 Step 7: Create a Breakout view

1 2
Creating a Breakout view
? You will learn how to generate a Breakout view
?Double-click on the Front view frame to
make it active
?Click on the Breakout View icon behind the
Broken View icon

?Click on the axis (1) 5

?Click on the Centre when you have the
double-circle (2)

?Click on the other axis (3)

?Move the mouse to the left and click MB1

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

when the perpendicular symbol and the vertical
dotted line are displayed (4)

?Click on the first point to close the profile (5)

4 3

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 26
 Step 7: Create a Breakout view

Creating a breakout view

? A preview is displayed to show you
the depth limit of the broken view. This
limit is represented by a green line

?Zoom out to see the Right view

?Move the mouse over the vertical

edges in that Right view
? You will see the dynamic preview
1
?Click on the edge you need
? As shown (1)

?Click OK in the Preview window to

validate

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? You can see the result in the Front
view

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes

Page 27
 Step 7: Create a Breakout view

Creating a breakout view

? CATIA gives you the option to
propagate this breakout view to
another view.

?Click MB3 on the Front view frame

+ Front view object + Apply Breakout
To

?Select the Isometric view frame

? The breakout view now appears in
the Isometric view.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 28
 Step 8: Change Standard

Changing Standards
? CATIA gives you the option to
switch the standards if you want to
exchange drawings with a supplier or
subcontractor from another country.

?In the File menu, select Page

Setup

?Select the ISO Standard and the

A2 ISO format
?Click OK
? You can see that all dimensions
automatically change to an ISO
representation.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 29
 Step 9: Finishing

Finishing steps
? You can remove the view frames
?Select the Detail view in the tree
?Click MB3 + Properties
?Click the Frame option to deselect
it

?Click OK to validate

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 30
This is what you can create

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 31
Manual Settings

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 32
 Settings

Tools/Options
? Select Tools + Options menu

? Under General select Parameters on

the tree

?Select Units tab

?Select the Length line
?Select Inch (in) in the pull down
menu

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 33
 Settings

Tools/Options

? Under Mechanical Design select

Drafting on the tree

?Select Generation tab

?Select the options as shown

?Click OK to validate

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 34
CONGRATULATIONS

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 35
Assembly Design

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 1
 Tutorial Objectives

Description
? This Tutorial is an introduction to Assembly Design.
Message
? Assembly Design is easy to use and powerful. The basics of product
structure, constraints, and moving assemblies and parts can be learned
quickly.
? In this tutorial you will understand the power of associativity in CATIA V5,
creating design in context and realising operations directly in the assembly
design.
? We will see the facility to use sub assemblies and constraints.
Duration
? 45 minutes
Product Coverage
? Assembly Design, Part Design

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 2
 Tutorial Major Steps
Here are the major steps of the tutorial:
Step 1
? Add a part into an assembly
Step 2
? Fix create constraints between this new part and other parts
Step 3
? When the tweeter is inserted, repeat this operation with the woofer
Step 4
? Create Holes in the Box to add screws
Step 5
? Add screws from a catalog
Step 6
? Modify the size of the Box and check the associativity
Step 7
? Assembly Feature
Step 8

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Manipulation with respect to the constraints
Step 9
? Exploded view
Step 10
? Hyperlinks

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 3

 Settings
Depending on your needs, you may have to modify the CATIA V5 settings (units, default
directory, visualisation parameters, etc…)

In order to use the appropriate settings for this tutorial, you have two possibilities:

1. Do the following operations (simplest one):

?BEFORE STARTING YOUR CATIA V5 SESSION:
? Copy or replace the directory ..\Assembly Design\Data\CATSettings in:
For NT users C:\Winnt\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
For Windows 2000 C:\Documents and settings\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
or XP users
For Windows C:\Windows\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
98 users
XXXX is the name used to log on to your computer

? Do not forget to put this folder (CATSettings) in read mode:

? Select the folder (CATSettings)
? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and
uncheck the Read-only Attribute
? Select all the files in the folder

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and uncheck the Read-only
Attribute

2. Set them manually:

? Launch your CATIA V5 session and do the operations from page 50 onwards
IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 4
 Settings 2/2

For this tutorial you also need to install a material catalogue:

? Do not do this step if you have already done it in getting started or in a previous tutorial

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\French directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\German directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\Japanese directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials directory

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Answer Yes in order to replace the old catalogue

You are now ready to launch your CATIA V5 session

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 5
 Start Scenario

We will work on the product that appears when

CATIA starts
? CATIA starts in the Product Structure
workbench with Product1 selected in the tree
?Select Start + Mechanical Design +
Assembly Design to access the assembly tools
? Here we will change the name of the product
?Click on the “Product1” name in the
specification tree
?Click MB3 + Properties to display the
Properties dialogue box
?Select Product tab
?Double-Click in the Part Number field
?Enter “Loudspeaker” instead of Product1
?Click OK

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 6
 Step 1: Open the Box

Opening an existing part

? Opening Two_Way_Box.CATPart
?File + Open in the Menu Bar
? CATIA also supports Windows
standard hotkeys such as <CTRL>+O
for open and <CTRL>+N for new

?Select Show Preview to preview a

part or an assembly
? You can preview your models
before you open them. Notice the
preview is very fast. This is because
you are only reading the image in the
NT metafile
?Select Two_Way_Box.CATPart in
the … \Assembly Design \Data\
directory

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? The path will depend on where you
installed the data
?Click Open

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 7

 Step 1: Customise a Hotkey

Customising a Hotkey
? You could use the pulldown Window-Tile
Vertically to do this action, but we would like you
to take a moment to see how easy it is to create
a Hotkey
? Click MB3 on any icon and choose
Customize from the contextual menu
? You can also use Tools + Customize in
the Menu bar
? Select the Commands tab
? Select Window on the left part of the
window
? Select Tile Vertically on the right part of
the window
? Click on Show Properties button
? Enter F4 into Accelerator
? Click Close

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? You can check the result of your customisation
? Hit F4 to tile your windows vertically

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 8

 Step 1: Add first part to assembly

Dragging and dropping the part into the product

? You will insert the Part into the Assembly
? Select the side or front face of the Box and drag it
onto the top of the tree in the assembly window
(holding MB1)
? You will see a ‘+’ on your cursor as shown
? You could also have selected Two_Way_Box at the
top of the part tree and dragged it onto Loudspeaker at
the top of the Assembly tree

? Now you will continue inserting and constraining further

parts in the assembly window
? Maximise the assembly window (Product.1)
? Select Fit all in
? Select Fix Component icon
?If you don’t see the icon, it means that the
corresponding toolbar is hidden due to your display
settings. To find it, drag and drop the empty area from
the bottom right side to the centre of the 3D view.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Repeat this operation until you find the right toolbar. To
put it back, do the reverse operation
? Two_Way_Box.CATPart is already selected
? Click on the ‘+’ sign of the Constraint line to display
the constraints you have created

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 9

 Step 1: Use the Hide/Show mode

? You will now see that you can use 2 layers in

the 3D view: the Show view and the No Show
view. The No Show view is used to store all the
unneeded elements.
? Select the Anchor in the 3D view or the
Fix.1 (Two_Way_Box.1) line in the tree
? Click on the Hide/Show icon on the
bottom toolbar to hide the constraint
visualisation

? We will temporarily hide this constraint.

Notice the constraint is now greyed out in the
tree as well as hidden in the geometry view
? Click on the Swap visible space icon
? This displays the No Show layer
? You should now see the constraint and the
geometry used to create the box
? Click Swap visible space again to go
back to the Show view

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Select Fit All In

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 10

 Step 2: Add the Tweeter to the Assembly

Adding the Tweeter to the Loudspeaker

? Now you are in the right workbench, you
can insert the tweeter
?Click MB3 on Loudspeaker at the
top of the tree or the Existing
Component icon
?In the contextual menu choose
Components + Existing
Component…

?In the Insert an Existing

Component window, Open
…\Assembly Design \Data\

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

tweeter\tweeter.CATProduct

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 11

 Step 2: Move tweeter in assembly

Moving the Tweeter

? You can roughly position a part using the
Compass ( At the top right of the screen )
? Place the mouse cursor on the red dot of
the Compass
? When the cursor becomes a cross, hold
down MB1
? Drag the Compass onto the front face of
the tweeter sub-assembly then release MB1
? The compass will turn bright green,
indicating that it can be used to move the part

? Place the mouse cursor on the vertical

axis and when it turns orange, hold MB1
and drag the tweeter outside the box

? Using the other axis of the Compass,

repeat the operation to position the tweeter

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

as shown

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 12

 Step 2: Move tweeter in assembly

Moving the Tweeter

? You can also rotate a part…
?Select here to rotate the tweeter
~30° clockwise about the x axis
?Drag the red dot compass away
from the tweeter holding MB1 and
shift
? Shift resets the compass (z axis
up)

?Click MB3 on the face of the

tweeter. Select Reframe On to zoom
in on the tweeter

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click off the geometry to deselect
the tweeter face

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 13

 Step 2: Add constraints

Creating Coincidence Constraints

? You’ll now fix some assembly constraints
? Select Coincidence Constraint icon

? Select these 2 cylindrical surfaces (both

internal hole faces)
? DO NOT HESITATE TO ZOOM on these
faces to be sure you select them (please
refer to the Get Started scenario to find out
about zooming)
? The tweeter will snap into place

? Select these 2 cylindrical surfaces (both

internal hole faces) while holding <CTRL>

? Select Coincidence Constraint again

? The tweeter will rotate into place

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? You have seen two ways for the creation
of a constraint : icon – object / object - icon

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 14

 Step 2: Add Constraints

Creating Contact Constraints

? Now you have created some
coincidence constraints, you will create a
contact constraint to finish mounting the
tweeter on the box
?Click on the Contact Constraint
icon

?Select this face on the tweeter

?Select this face on the box

? The tweeter will snap into place

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 15
 Step 2: Hide Constraints

Hiding constraints and planes

? As before, you can make the view
clearer by moving the new constraints
onto the No Show layer
?Holding the <CTRL> key Select
Constraints from the tree and this
plane from the geometry

?Select Hide/Show icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 16
 Step 2: Assembly level associativity

Modification of one part

? You will now use both views: The Assembly
context view and the Part context view. You need
to modify the dimension between the two holes
because they are too close
? Windows + Tile Vertically in the menu
bar or Hit F4 key if you already have gone
through the Part Design scenario where you
learn how to create a Hotkey
? In the Part window (Two_way_box
.CATPart ) double-click the internal face of
the tweeter hole
? Double-click the 223 dimension value
? Move the definition panel to see the 223
dimension value.
? Modify it from 223mm to 240mm and
press <Enter>
? Select OK in Hole Definition dialog box

? Click inside the assembly window

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? “Notice the tweeter automatically moves to
fit the hole. This is an example of Assembly
level associativity.
? Maximise the assembly window
? Zoom out or Fit All In to show the entire
speaker

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 17

 Step 3: Add Woofer to assembly

Adding the Woofer to the Loudspeaker

? Now you will repeat the operation for the
Woofer
? Click MB3 on Loudspeaker at the top of
the tree
? Click the Existing Component icon
? Preview the parts that make up the woofer
? Select … \Assembly Design\
Data\250mm Driver.CATProduct
? Click Open
Moving the woofer
? Drag the compass onto the Diaphragm of the
woofer
? The compass should be as shown
? Click MB3 on the compass and choose
Edit
? Type in 350
? The x direction is already selected.
? Click Apply new position

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Select Close in Compass Manipulation
dialog box
? Drag the compass away from the woofer
? Click anywhere in the background to de-
select the geometries

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 18

 Step 3: Constrain woofer

Creating Coincidence Constraint

? Adding a coincidence constraint
?Select Coincidence Constraint
icon
?Click MB1 to select this cylindrical
surface on the Diaphragm
?Click MB1 to select this cylindrical
surface on the box

Creating Contact Constraint

? Adding a Contact constraint
?Select Contact Constraint icon
?Select this face on the woofer
? If the orientation of the view is not
as shown, you can rotate the view

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Select this face on the box
? The woofer should snap into place

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 19

 Step 3: Parallelism Constraint

Creating Parallelism Constraint

? To show you some other possibilities,
we will create a parallelism constraint to
orientate the Woofer into the Box
?Select Angle Constraint icon
?Select the plane from the box
?Select the plane from the woofer
?In the Constraint Properties
window, check Parallelism
? If this were not a symmetrical part
you could select the green arrow to
rotate it
?Click OK

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 20
 Step 3: Hide constraints and planes

Hiding constraints and planes

? You can now Hide the new constraints
?Holding <CTRL> ( on the key
board ) select the plane on the woofer
and the 3 constraints at the bottom of
the tree
?Click MB3 and select Hide/Show
?Hit F3 to hide the tree
?Double-click the box in the
geometry view
? This will bring us into the part
Design workbench.
? We are now editing the box in the
the assembly view
? Click MB2 on the hole to re-centre on it
?Zoom in on this hole

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 21
 Step 4: Part Design in the assembly view

Making a hole in the box

? Use the assembly view to create the corresponding
holes in the Box part
? Select this edge
? Hold <CTRL> and select this surface
? We are going to put a hole in the box that will stay
concentric to this hole in the woofer
? Select Hole icon
? Answer Yes to the question if it appears
? The link between the hole of the Box and the circle of
the Woofer hole will remain. Any modification made to the
hole in the box will also be applied to the hole in the
woofer
? Select Up To Next
? Selecting Up To Next means that if we modify the
thickness of box, the hole will be adjusted accordingly
? Enter 4mm in the Diameter field

? Select Positioning Sketch to check the

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

concentricity
?You can see that a coincidence constraint has been
automatically created
? Select Exit Workbench icon to exit the sketcher

? Click OK to close the Hole Definition window

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 22

 Step 4: Part Design in the assembly view

Patterning the hole

? You will now create a series of holes around the woofer
axis
? Click and hold MB1 on the black arrow at the
bottom right of the Rectangular Pattern icon
? Drag the mouse then release MB1 on the Circular
Pattern icon
? Select Complete Crown in the Parameters field
? Click MB3 on Instance(s) field and select Edit
Formula
? Select one of the 3 other holes on the woofer (not
where the hole is apply ).
? You will need to pan down
? Select Number of Holes
? External parameter selection dialogue box
? Select OK to close External Parameter selection
window
? Select OK to close Formula Editor window
? Select the Reference element field
? Select the cylindrical surface of the box shown as

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

the reference element
? You may have to zoom in on this area to select the right
face
? Select YES
? Select OK
? The hole pattern on the box is driven by the hole pattern on
the woofer

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 23

 Step 4: Assembly Level associativity

Illustrating assembly level associativity

? As the number of holes are linked, any
modification of the number of Woofer holes will
have the same result for the Box ones
? Double click the hole in the woofer
?The hole you are already zoomed in on
? This brings us into Part design for the
woofer
? Double click again on it to edit the
definition of the circular pattern
? Zoom out to see the holes
? Change Instances from 4 to 6
?Use the up arrow or enter the value
? Select OK
? Notice the box has turned bright red
indicating the hole pattern should be updated
to match the pattern in the woofer
? Hit F3 to show the tree
? Double click Loudspeaker at the top of
the tree
? the links are automatically updated and

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

you enter the Assembly Design workbench

? Zoom in to add the first screw to the hole

as shown
? Next we will add screws to the assembly
using a standard parts catalog

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 24

 Step 5: Insert screw from catalog

Inserting screw from catalog

? You will now insert some screws into the
series of holes
? Select the Catalog Browser icon
? Remember to put the bottom toolbar out to
find the missing icons…

? Select Browse another catalog button

? Find and Double-click … \Assembly

Design\Data\ISO_4762.catalog
? You don’t have access to the Standard
Part catalog because you are in a
Demonstration Mode. If you want to use
the Full provided Catalog, do not hesitate
to contact your Business Partner

? Drag and drop ISO 4762 screw M5x20…

into Loudspeaker at the top of the tree

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? You see the screw in the tree but not in
the 3D view. This is normal… In fact, the
screw is inside the Loudspeaker… In the
next step, we will move it.

? Close the Catalog

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 25

 Step 5: Assembly Constraints

Moving the screw

? Position the screw to create the
constraints
?Drag the compass onto the front of
the speaker
?Select Screw from tree
?If not already selected
?Dragging the compass, select
either a green axis or a blue plane
and move the screw to its
approximate position
?When you are satisfied with the
position of the screw, drag the red dot
of the compass away from the
tweeter holding MB1 + shift
? Shift resets the compass (z axis

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

up)

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 26

 Step 5: Assembly Constraints

Constraining the Screw

? Create a Coincidence constraint between the
screw and the hole axis
?Select the Coincidence Constraint icon
?Select the cylindrical surface of the screw
?Select the internal cylindrical surface on
woofer
? The screw snaps into place

?Select the Contact Constraint icon

?Select the flat face on the woofer hole
?Select the flat face on the screw
? Don’t hesitate to rotate the assembly using
MB2 + MB1 (see Get Started exercises) then
select the back face of the screw

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 27
 Step 5: Align screws with reference pattern

Aligning the screws with the reference

pattern
? Here you will reuse the existing pattern to
create as many screws as you have holes
? Select the screw in 3D Geometry View
? Select Reuse Pattern icon
? Select here
? Select this hole on the woofer
? Check All under Re-use Constraints
? Select OK
? We now have 6 screws with their
constraints. You cam reduce the Constraints
tree by clicking on the (-) sign
Creating another series of screws
? Duplicate the screw using an existing one
? Hit F3 to show the tree
? Drag the last screw into Loudspeaker in
the tree holding <CTRL> key
? You should see a “+” sign
? This will create another series of screws

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Move the compass onto the face of the
box
? Select the last screw in the tree
? Hit F3 to hide the tree
? Drag the compass to move the screw
near the tweeter

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 28

 Step 5: Screw in the Tweeter

Constraining the screw

? Creating the constraints
?Select Coincidence Constraint
icon
?Select the cylindrical surface on the
screw
?Select the cylindrical surface on the
tweeter
?This time we are using the top left
hole, which is #4 in the pattern
? The screw snaps into place
?Select Offset Constraint icon
?Select the flat surface on the
tweeter
?Select the flat surface on the far
side of the screw
?Rotate the view if necessary
?Set Orientation to Opposite

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Set Offset to 0
?Click OK

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 29

 Step 5: Align screws with reference pattern

Aligning the screws

? Creating and positioning the 3 other screws
? The coincidence constraint is already
selected
? Select Reuse Pattern icon
? Select All under Re-use Constraints
? Click OK
? We now have 10 screws with their
constraints
? This time we did not have to select the
pattern, as the hole in the tweeter is already a
member of the pattern

? Hiding all the constraints

? In the tree, select all the constraints you
have just created and the three planes. Use
the <CTRL> key (for multi selection) and
click on the Hide/Show icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? The speaker is now complete. Let’s see
what it looks like with another box
configuration

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 30

 Step 6: Design Table

Designing Table
? Modify the height of the Box
? Double-click the side of the box
? This brings us into Part Design
? Double-click on Configuration in the
tree
? Select this button in the window
? Double click on line 2
? Click OK
? The assembly needs to be updated
? Double-click on Loudspeaker at the top
of the tree
? This will update the locations of the
woofer, tweeter and the screws
? Hit F3 to hide the tree

? Play a MP3 on your PC

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Select View + Full Screen
? Click MB3, then select Full Screen again
to exit the Full Screen view

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 31

 Step 6: Design Table

Designing Table
? Return to the first size:
? Double-click the side of the box
? This brings us into Part Design
? Double-click on Configuration in the
tree
? Select this button in the window
? Double click on line 1
? Click OK
? The assembly needs to be updated
? Double-click on Loudspeaker at the top
of the tree
? This will update the locations of the
woofer, tweeter and the screws
? Hit F3 to hide the tree

? Play a MP3 on your PC

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Select View + Full Screen
? Click MB3, then select Full Screen again
to exit the Full Screen view

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 32

 Step 6: Facultative point

Facultative point:
? If you had not enough time or if you had
failed the steps before, you can load the
following file:
?Close all the windows present in
CATIA V5
?Select file open
? Find Loudspeaker product
?Click Open or double click on
Loudspeaker.CATProduct in
../Assembly Design/Data/Step 7.
? You are now able to continue the
script.
End of the facultative point

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 33
 Step 7: Assembly Feature

Insert a support
? Import the support:
?Re-size the view
?Double-click on Loudspeaker at
the top of the tree
? It will be highlighted in orange
?Use the contextual menu on the
Loudspeaker to insert a component.
? MB 3 on Loudspeaker, and then
Component/Existing Component
?Select the Support.CATProduct
In …\Assembly Design\Data\
? You can focus your research on
CATProducts, using “Files of type” :
Products(*.CATProduct)
?Click OK

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? The support is on the speaker.

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 34

 Step 7: Assembly Feature

? Delete the fix constraint on the box

?Click on the constraint in the tree
? It will be highlighted in orange
?Press the key < Delete > on your
keyboard.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 35
 Step 7: Assembly Feature

Positioning
? Move the imported product:
?Re-size the view
?Drag and drop the compass on the
support in the 3D view
? Place the compass on the 3D
geometry.
?Click on support in the tree to
highlight it
? The support can be now moved
entirely.
?Select the z axis on the compass
to move down the support
? Drag and drop the compass until
it’s in the right place.
?With a drag and drop, replace the

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

compass on the bottom right axis.

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 36

 Step 7: Assembly Feature

? Create automatically the coincidence

constraints: 1
?Re-size the view
?Click on the Quick Constraint icon
? This is a smart tool, which will
recognise automatically the type of
constraint regarding the type of
geometry chosen.
?Click the constraints:
2
? You must zoom on the holes, as in
the picture. When you approach the
cylinder, CATIA will automatically
detect the axis
?Click on the two holes, as in
picture 1
?Click again on the Quick
Constraint Icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click on the two holes, as in
picture 2

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 37

 Step 7: Assembly Feature

? Create automatically the contact

constraints:
?Click on the Quick Constraints
?Click on the first face, as in the
picture.
? You must move the geometry to
have a good view.
?Stay at the “3D view” and approach
the cursor on the second face, use
the up arrow on the keyboard once,
and then approach the cursor on the
centre of the arrows. A circle will
appear, click on it to accept the
selection.
? You can turn the assembly around
and select the face directly.
1

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

2

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 38

 Step 7: Assembly Feature

Split
? Select the cutting element:
?Open the tree, as in the picture
?Click on the Split icon and select
the join in the open body of Rotator
Axis
? This join will be the cutting
element

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 39
 Step 7: Assembly Feature

? Impact the Box :

?Select the Two_Way_Box in the
top panel.
?Use the arrow to confirm your
choice
? The single arrow not the double
?Change the direction by clicking on
an orange arrow
? As in the pictures
?OK in the split Definition
? If the panel Split Definition is not available
move the Panel Assembly Feature Definition
using a drag and drop on the top blue bar.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 40
 Step 7: Assembly Feature

See the result

? Hide / Show the support to see the
result:
?Click on Support in the tree and
then click on the Hide / Show icon
? We see the impact of the split on
the Two Way Box
?Do the same
? We have the entire Assembly now.
?In the tree, select the
Two_way_box, then with the
contextual menu on it ( MB 3 ), select
Components/Isolate Part.
? You can isolate the parts from the
links we created before at any time.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 41
 Step 8: Manipulation with respect to the contraints

Manipulation
? Flexible Sub-Assembly:
?Change the sub-product Support
as a Flexible Sub-product, MB3 on
Loudspeaker support in the tree, and
click on Flexible/Rigid
? We are now able to use the
constraints inside the sub-product
starting from the global product.
? Also note that the icon in the tree
has changed for another one in
purple.
?Select the manipulation Icon
?Switch the button :
With respect to constraints
?Select the icon axis rotation.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?And then select the axis as the
picture by clicking on it.
?Zoom back

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 42

Step 8: Manipulation with respect to the contraints

?Catch the two_way_box and turn it

? You will perform a drag and drop,
but without the drop.
? When you find a position, just drop
the cursor.
?The manipulation is finished

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 43
 Step 9: Exploded View

?We will create a scene where an

exploded view will be realised. So
click on this Icon
?Select the name of your scene
? Exploded view
?Click OK twice.
? You are now in the scene area,
which has a green background
?Select the exploded icon
?Click on Loudspeaker in the tree
? De-select the entire product
?Select all the following designs by
clicking on them in the tree:
? You will obtain the following panel

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 44
 Step 9: Exploded View

?Select the fixed product table

? It will be highlighted in blue
?Select the Two_Way_box in the
tree
?Change the Depth Definition for
First level
? The sub assembly will move as a
whole - not as parts.
?Click on Apply
?Click on the left arrow to return to
the previous step.
?Click on the right arrow to chose
the final exploded view and then click
OK

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 45
 Step 9: Exploded View

?Leave the scene by clicking on the

exit Icon:
? We are now in Assembly Design
?We can now return at anytime to
the exploded view by double clicking
on the small view at the bottom left of
the CATIA window.
? The exit will be like before

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 46
 Step 10: Hyperlinks

? Re-size the view

? Select the Flag Note Icon
? This item creates hyperlinks between
CATIA and other Files
? Select the top of the box
? Change the Name of the Hyperlink
? Change to “Hyperlink”
? Click on the Browse… Button and open
the following files :
250mmPlan.pdf
Characteristic.pdf
In …\Assembly Design\Data\
? You can now switch the Go to button to
activate the link and open the file.
? Click on a line in the panel to activate
the Go to button, and then click to active
the link.

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 47
 Step 10: Hyperlinks

?Click OK in the panel

?MB3 on the Flag in the 3D view
?Select the properties

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 48
Manual Settings

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 49
 Settings

Tools/Options
? We will configure the environment of
CATIA
?Select Tools + Options menu

? We will erase any previous

configurations.
?Click on General
?Click on the Reset Bottom
?Select for all the tabpages

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Click YES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 50

 Settings

Tools/Options
? Under General select Parameters on
the tree
?Select to check With value and
With formula

? Under Infrastructure select Product

Structure on the tree
?Select to check :
Automatic Expand
Parameters
Relations
Products

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 51
 Settings

Tools/Options
? Under Mechanical Design select Part
Design on the tree

?Select the General folder

?Select Keep link with selected
object
?Select Confirm when creating a
link …

?Select the Display folder

?Select Constraints, Parameters,
Relations
? That’s all for the configuration
?Select OK at the bottom right

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 52
CONGRATULATIONS

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes
Page 53
 Speaker Drafting

Page 1

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

 Tutorial Objectives

Description
? This Tutorial is an introduction to Assembly Drafting.
Message
? To show how CATIA V5 allows the user to automatically generate
associative drafting from 3D mechanical assemblies produced with CATIA V5.
? To show a higher productive environment for drawings dress-up and
annotation
Duration
? 45 minutes
Product Coverage
? Assembly Design, Generative Drafting

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 2
 Tutorial Major Steps
Here are the major steps of the tutorial:
Step 1
? Preparing the assembly
Step 2
? Generating projection views
Step 3
? Generating a section view
Step 4
? Adding dimensions
Step 5
? Creating an isometric view
Step 6
? Generating an exploded view
Step 7
? Generating balloons

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Step 8
? Inserting a bill of material

IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions / Dassault Systemes Page 3

 Settings 1/2
Depending on your needs, you may have to modify the CATIA V5 settings (units, default
directory, visualisation parameters, etc…)

In order to use the appropriate settings for this tutorial, you have two possibilities:

1. Do the following operations (simplest one):

?BEFORE STARTING YOUR CATIA V5 SESSION:
? Copy or replace the directory ..\Assembly Drafting\Data\CATSettings in:
For NT users C:\Winnt\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
For Windows 2000 C:\Documents and settings\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
or XP users
For Windows C:\Windows\Profiles\XXXXX\Application Data\DassaultSystemes
98 users
XXXX is the name used to log on to your computer

? Do not forget to put this folder (CATSettings) in read mode:

? Select the folder (CATSettings)
? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and
uncheck the Read-only Attribute
? Select all the files in the folder

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Click mouse button 3 then click on Properties and uncheck the Read-only
Attribute

2. Set them manually:

? Launch your CATIA V5 session and do the operations from page 32 onwards
Page 4
 Settings 2/2

For this tutorial you also need to install a material catalogue:

? Do not do this step if you have already done it in getting started or in a previous tutorial

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\French directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\German directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials\Japanese directory

? Copy the ..\Getting Started\Catalog.CATMaterial file under ..\Program

Files\Dassault Systemes\M07\intel_a\startup\materials directory

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Answer Yes in order to replace the old catalogue

You are now ready to launch your CATIA V5 session Page 5

 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

? Opening the assembly

?In the menu bar select File/Open
?Select 250mm
Speaker.CATProduct file and click
on Open button

? Choosing the Visualisation mode

?In the menu bar select
View/Render Style/Customize View
? Check Edges points, Shading
and Materials boxes
? Click on OK button

? Changing of workbench

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?In the menu bar select
Start/Mechanical Design/Assembly
Design

Page 6
 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

? Generating numbers

?Click on Generate Numbering

icon
? Select in the specification tree the
root of the assembly structure
(250mm Speaker)
? In the Generate Numbering
dialogue box panel check the Letters
option
? Click on OK button
?Numbering assembly components
will allow us later on to generate the bill
of material in the drawing

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 7
 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

? Customising the display of the Bill of Material

? In the menu bar, select Analyse/Bill of
Material
? Click the Define formats button to
customise the display of the Bill of Material.
?In this panel you can choose the
properties you want to display for the Bill of
Material and Recapitulation sections.
?The Bill of Material (BOM) lists all parts
and sub-products one after the other. The
Recapitulation displays the total number of
parts used in the product

? In the properties for the Bill of Material

section click on the Hide all properties icon
? In the Properties for the Recapitulation
section, select Number and click on Show
properties icon
? Click on OK button

? Click on OK button to close the Bill Of

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Material panel

Page 8
 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

? Creating an exploded 3D view

?Click on Create Scene icon

? Key in Explode in the Edit Scene
panel
?Click on Explode icon
? Click on OK button
? Click on OK button in the
information box
?Exploded views can be used for
technical documentations to show how
the assembly components are mounted
together

?Click Mouse button 3 (MB3) on the

3D compass red dot
? Select Snap Automatically to

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Selected Object option

Page 9
 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

?Expand the specification tree

?Select in the specification tree the

Voicecoil part
?The 3D compass turns to green and
is snapped automatically onto the part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to move

the voicecoil part inside the basket as
shown in the picture

?Select in the specification tree the

Former part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to move

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

the Former part on the left of the
basket part as shown in the picture

Page 10
 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

?Select in the specification tree the

Spider part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to

move the Spider part on the left of the
Former part as shown in the picture

?Select in the specification tree the

Diaphragm part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to move

the Diaphragm part on the left of the
Spider part as shown in the picture

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 11
 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

?Select in the specification tree the

Surround part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to move

the Surround part on the left of the
Diaphragm part as shown in the
picture

?Select in the specification tree the

Dustcap part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to move

the Dustcap part on the left of the
Surround part as shown in the picture

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 12
 Step 1: Preparing the assembly

?Select in the specification tree the

Magnet part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to move

the Magnet part on the right of the
Basket part as shown in the picture

?Select in the specifications tree the

Pole Piece part

?Drag the compass u/x axis to move

the Pole Piece part on the right of the
Magnet part as shown in the picture
?Click on Exit from scene icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?The scene is now stored in the
assembly tree under the
Applications/Scene branch

Page 13
 Step 2: Creating projections views

? Generating a front view

?In the menu bar select File/New

? In the New panel, select Drawing
? Click on OK button
? In the New drawing panel check
that the standard is ISO, the format
A0 ISO and the orientation
Landscape and click on OK button
?De-activate the Sketcher Grid icon
from the bottom tool bar
?Click on Front View icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 14
 Step 2: Generating projections views

? Select Window in the menu bar

? Select 250mm Speaker.Product
? In the 3D geometry select the
planar face of the Basket part
? Click on the sheet to generate the
view

?Drag the red frame of the Front

view (with MB1) to the lower left
corner of the sheet

? Generating a left view

?Click on Projection View icon

? Move the mouse cursor on the

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

right of the front view and click on the
sheet to generate the view

Page 15
 Step 2: Generating projections views

? Generating a back view

?Double click on the blue frame of

the left view
?The frame turns to red, meaning that
it is the active view
?Click on Projection View icon
? Move the mouse cursor on the
right of the left view and click on the
sheet to generate the view

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 16
 Step 3: Generating a section view

? Generating a section view

? Double click on the front view blue frame

to make it the active view
? In the menu bar select Windows/Tile
Horizontally
? Click on the Offset Section View icon
? Zoom in on the front view
? Select the two circles
? Notice that the section plane appears at
the second point you select and moves
dynamically on the 3D part as you create the
cutting profile on the drawing. This section
plane will automatically disappear as you will
double-click to end the cutting profile
? Double-click to end the cutting profile
creation
? Maximize the drawing window by clicking
on maximize button

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Zoom out to see the whole page
? Move the mouse cursor above the front
view and click to generate the view

Page 17
 Step 3: Generating a section view

? Modifying the section view

?Even after creation you are still able to

modify the cut elements of section views
? Double-click the section view frame to
activate it
? MB3 click on the section view frame (or
in the tree)
? In the contextual menu select Section
view AA object & Overload Properties
? Select the spider geometry on the section
view (zoom in if necessary)
? Click on Edit button
? In the Editor panel uncheck the option Cut
in section views
? Click on OK button
? Click on OK button to close the
Characteristics panel

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?The spider element is no more cut in the
section view

Page 18
 Step 4: Adding dimensions

? Adding overall dimensions

?Click on the Dimensions icon

? Select the basket vertical edge
?You get a 300mm diameter
dimension
? Moving the mouse cursor, drag the
dimension to a location above the
speaker geometry and click on the
sheet
?Click on the Dimensions icon
? Select the magnet vertical edge
?You get a 160mm diameter
dimension
? Moving the mouse cursor, drag the
dimension to a location below the

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

speaker geometry and click on the
sheet

Page 19
 Step 4: Adding dimensions

? Double-Click on Dimensions icon

?When you double-click an icon, you keep
the functionality active
? Select the horizontal edge of the basket
? Select the horizontal edge of the pole
piece
?You get a 132.8mm distance dimension
? Moving the mouse cursor, drag the
dimension to a location on the right of the
speaker geometry and click on the sheet

? Select the horizontal edge of the basket

? Select the horizontal edge of the basket
? Moving the mouse cursor, drag the
dimension to a location on the right of the
speaker geometry and click on the sheet
?You get a 10.8mm distance dimension

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 20
 Step 4: Adding dimensions

Finally, you should have the

following 4 dimensions on the section
view

?Click on the yellow arrow at the top

right of your toolbars

?Zoom out to see the whole page

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 21
 Step 4: Adding dimensions

?Double-click on the blue frame of

the front view to activate it
?Click on Dimensions icon
(dimensioning toolbar)
?Zoom in and select the upper right
external circle as shown
?Click on the sheet to create the
dimension
?In the top toolbar, click on the
second Dimension Line (dimension
properties toolbar) icon to change the
dimension line type
?MB3 click on the dimension
? Select Properties
? Select the Dimension Texts tab

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? In the first field of the Associated
Text area key in « 6 X »
? Click on OK button

Page 22
 Step 4: Adding dimensions

? You get the diameter dimension as

shown on the figure
? Click on Centre Line with Reference
icon (Dress Up toolbar)
?Please refer to the Getting Started
scenario to extract the non visible toolbars
due to the display settings of your screen.
You have to drag and drop the bottom right
toolbars until you find the needed one.
? Select the same circle as the one used
before for the dimension creation
? Select any concentric circle of the view as
a reference
? Click on Centre Line with Reference
icon
? Select the next circle
? Select any concentric circle of the view as
a reference
? Click on Angle Dimensions icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Select the two centre lines
? Move the mouse cursor above the
geometry
? Click on the sheet to create the dimension

Page 23
 Step 4: Adding dimensions

?MB3 on the angle dimension

? Select Properties in the contextual
menu
? Select the Dimension Texts tab
? In the first field of the Associated
Text area key in 6 X
? Click on OK button

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 24
 Step 5: Creating an isometric view

? Generating an isometric view

?Click on New Sheet icon

?In the menu bar select
Windows/Tile Horizontally
?In the 3D window, rotate the
assembly to get a view as shown on
the right
?Click in the drawing window
?Click on Isometric View icon
(views toolbar)
? Move the mouse cursor over the
3D geometry till an axis is displayed.
When you get this axis click with
mouse button 1
? In the drawing window, click

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

anywhere on the sheet to generate
the view
?Move the isometric view to to the
upper right corner of the sheet

Page 25
 Step 6: Generating an exploded view

? Generating an exploded view

?In the lower left corner of the 3D
window, double click on the Explode
window to open it
?If no geometry is visible in the
window, click on Fit All In icon
?Click anywhere in the drawing
window
?Click on Isometric View icon
? In the specification tree click on
Explode
? Click any planar face, the magnet
face for example
? In the drawing window click
anywhere on the sheet to generate
the exploded view
? With mouse button 1 move the

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

blue frame of the exploded view to the
left as shown in the picture
? Maximise the drawing window by
clicking on maximize button

Page 26
 Step 7: Generating balloons

? Generating balloons on the exploded view

?Balloons are references defined on the

different parts of an assembly. They will be
useful later on when creating the bill of
material

? Activate the exploded view with a double

click on the blue frame of the view
? Click on Generate Balloons icon
(Generation Toolbar)
? Using MB1 move all balloons except B
above geometry
? Multi-select (Ctrl Key)all balloons except
B
? In the menu bar, select
Tools/Positioning/Element Positioning
? Click on Align to Top icon

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? Click on OK button

Page 27
 Step 7: Generating balloons

?You should finally get the following

balloons disposition

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 28
 Step 8: Inserting a bill of material

? Inserting a bill of material

?The bill of material corresponds to

information on the product element from
which the views were generated.This Bill of
Material, or parts list, consists of an
itemised list of the several parts of a
structure shown on a CATDrawing or on an
assembly.

? In the menu bar select

Insert/Generation/Bill of Material
? Click a point on the bottom right corner of
the sheet to insert the bill of material
?You can still move the table after the
generation by dragging it with MB1

? Changing the views properties

? In the tree multi-select (Ctrl Key)the 6

views (holding Mouse Button 1 and Shift
key)

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

? With MB3 select Properties
? Uncheck Display view frame box
? Click on OK button

Page 29
 Step 9: Adding a title block

? Adding a title block

?In the menu bar select File/Page Setup

? In the Page Setup panel select All sheets
in the list
? Click on Insert Background View…
button
? Click on Browse button
? Select A0 Title Block.CATDrawing file
? Click on Open button
? Click on Insert button
? Click on OK button in the Page Setup
panel
?A previously defined A0 title block is inserted
in the background view of the two drawing
sheets
?In the menu bar select Edit/Background

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

?Double click on XXX characters in the
DESIGNED BY area
? In the Text editor panel, key in your name
? Click on OK button

Page 30
 Manual Settings

Page 31

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

 Setting the CATIA options

? Setting the CATIA options

?Start CATIA V5

?In the menu bar select

Tools/Options

?Select Mechanical
Design/Drafting chapter and Layout
tab
? Check/uncheck the boxes as
shown in the picture

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 32
 Setting the CATIA options

?Select Mechanical
Design/Drafting chapter and
Generation tab
? Check/uncheck the boxes as
shown in the picture

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Page 33
 Congratulations

Page 34

© 1997 – 2001 DASSAULT SYSTEMES

 Sheet Metal Design

Preface
What's New?
Getting Started
Basic Tasks
Workbench
Description
Customizing
Glossary
Index

© Dassault Systèmes 1994-99. All rights reserved.

 Preface
The V5 CATIA - Sheet Metal Design is a new generation product offering an
intuitive and flexible user interface. It provides an associative feature-based
modeling making it possible to design sheet metal parts in concurrent engineering
between the unfolded or folded part representation.
As a scalable product, CATIA Version 5 Sheet Metal Design can be used in
cooperation with other current or future companion products in the next CATIA
generation such as CATIA Version 5 Assembly Design and CATIA Version 5
Generative Drafting. The widest application portfolio in the industry is also
accessible through interoperability with CATIA Solutions Version 4 to enable
support of the full product development process from initial concept to product in
operation.
 Highlights
V5R3 CATIA - Sheet Metal Design offers the following main functions:
Associative and dedicated Sheet Metal feature based modeling
Concurrent engineering between the unfolded or folded part representation
Access to company defined standards tables
Dedicated drawing capability including unfolded view and specific settings.

All sheetmetal specifications can be re-used by the CATIA - Knowledge Advisor to

capture corporate knowledge and increase the quality of designs.
Natively integrated, CATIA - Sheet Metal Design offers the same ease of use and user
interface consistency as all CATIA V5 applications.
 Using This Product
This guide is intended for the user who needs to become quickly familiar with the
CATIA - Sheet Metal Design Version 5 product. The user should be familiar with
basic CATIA Version 5 concepts such as document windows, standard and view
toolbars.
To get the most out of this guide, we suggest you start reading and performing the
step-by-step tutorial "Getting Started".
The next sections deal with the handling of more detailed capabilities of the product.
 Where to Find More Information
Prior to reading this book, we recommend that you read the CATIA - Infrastructure
User's Guide.
The CATIA - Part Design User's Guide Version 5, the CATIA - Assembly Design User's
Guide Version 5 and the CATIA - Generative Drafting User's Guide Version 5 may
prove useful.
 What's New?
Enhanced Defining the Sheet Metal Parameters
New Creating Swept Walls
New Creating Various Stamps
Enhanced Recognize/Extrude
New Bend Allowance from External Files
 Getting Started
Before getting into the detailed instructions for using Version 5 CATIA - Sheet Metal
Design, the following tutorial provides a step-by-step scenario demonstrating how to
use key functionalities.
The main tasks proposed in this section are:

Tasks

All together, these tasks should take about 15 minutes to complete.

Accessing the Sheet Metal Workbench
The Sheet Metal Design functions are available when you are in the Part environment.
Several functions are integrated from Part Design workbench.
This task shows how to enter the workbench.

Choose the Sheet Metal Design item from the Start menu.
The Sheet Metal toolbar is displayed and ready to use.

You may add the Sheet Metal Design workbench to your Favorites, using the Tools -> Customize
item. For more information, refer to CATIA V5 - Infrastructure User's Guide.
Defining the Sheet Metal Parameters
This task shows you how to configure the sheet metal parameters.

1. Click the Parameters icon .

The Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box is displayed.

2. Enter 1mm in the Thickness field.

3. Enter 5mm in the Bend Radius field.
4. Select the Bend Extremities tab.

5. Select Tangent in the Bend Extremities combo list.

An alternative is to select the bend type in the graphical combo list.

6. Click OK to validate the parameters and close the dialog box.

The Sheet Metal Parameters feature is added in the specification tree.
 Creating the First Wall
This task shows how to create the first wall of the Sheet Metal Part.

1. Click the Sketcher icon then select the xy plane.

2. Select the Profile icon .

3. Sketch the contour as shown below:

4. Click the Exit Sketcher icon to return to the 3D world.

5. Click the Wall icon .

The Wall Definition dialog box opens.

By default, the Material Side is set to the top.

6. Click OK.
The Wall.1 feature is added in the specification tree.
The first wall of the Sheet Metal Part is known as the Reference wall.
 Creating the Side Walls
This task shows you how to add other walls to the Sheet Metal part.

1. Select the Wall on Edge

icon .
2. Select the left edge.
The Wall Definition
dialog box opens.

3. Enter 50mm in the Length field.

The application previews the wall.

By default, the Material Side is set to the outside and the Sketch Profile to the
top.
4. Reverse the Sketch Profile.
5. Click OK.
The wall is created.
CATIA displays this creation in the specification tree:

6. Select the Wall on Edge icon again.

7. Select the right
edge.
The Wall Definition
dialog box opens with
the parameters
previously selected.

8. Press OK to validate.
9. Select the Wall on Edge icon again.
10. Select the front edge.
The Wall Definition
dialog box opens with
the parameters
previously selected.
11. Enter 30 mm in the Length field.
12. Press OK to validate.
13. Relimit the last wall:
Select
Sketch.4
Place the
cursor and
right-click on
the top
edge: the
contextual
menu is
displayed.
Select
Mark.1
object ->
Isolate
Click the top
edge left
extremity
and drag it
10 mm to
the right
Click the top
edge right
extremity
and drag it
10 mm to
the left

14. Click the Exit Sketcher icon to return to the 3D world.

Eventually, the final part looks like this:
 Creating a Cutout
In this task, you will learn how to:
open a sketch on an existing face
define a contour in order to create a cutout.

1. Select the wall

on the right
(Wall.3) to define
the working plane.

2. Click the
Sketcher icon

3. Click the Oblong Profile icon to create the contour.

To access to the
oblong profile,
click the black
triangle on the
Rectangle icon.
It displays a
secondary
toolbar.
4. Click to create the first point and drag the cursor.
5. Click to create the second point.
The first semi-axis of the profile is created.
6. Drag the cursor
and click to create
the third point.
The second
semi-axis is
created and
CATIA displays
the oblong profile.

7. Click the Exit Sketcher icon to return to the 3D world.

8. Select the

Cutout icon .

The Pocket
Definition dialog
box is displayed
and CATIA
previews a cutout
with default
parameters.

9. Set the Type to

Up to last option
to define the limit
of your cutout.
This means that
the application will
limit the cutout
onto the last
possible face, that
is the opposite
wall.
10. Click OK.
This is your
cutout:
Creating the Bends Automatically
This task shows how to create the bends automatically.

Click the Automatic Bends icon .

The bends are created.

CATIA displays the bends creation in the

specification tree: Automatic Bends.1

The Sheet Metal part looks like this:

 Unfolding the Sheet Metal Part
This task shows how to unfold the part.

1. Click the Unfold icon .

The part is unfolded according to the reference wall plane, as shown below.

2. Click this icon again to refold the part for the next task.
 Extracting Drawings
from the Sheet Metal Part
This task shows how to create the Sheet Metal Part views in the Drafting workbench.

The Sheet Metal part is displayed.

1. Click or select File -> New...

2. Select the Drawing type and click OK.

The Drafting workbench is launched.

The New Drawing dialog box opens.

3. Keep the default parameters and click OK.

For more information about this workbench, refer to CATIA -

Generative Drafting User's Guide.

4. The drawing sheet appears.

5. Tile the windows horizontally.

6. Select the Unfolded View icon in the Drafting toolbar.

This icon is added to the Drafting toolbar providing the Sheet Metal workbench is present.

7. Choose the xy plane in the Sheet Metal specification tree.

The unfolded view is displayed with the bends axes.

Eventually, the Drafting sheet looks like this:

 Basic Tasks
The Basic Tasks section explains how to create and modify various kinds of
features.
The table below lists the information you will find.

Theme
Managing the Default Parameters
This section explains and illustrates how to use or modify various kinds of
features.
The table below lists the information you will find.
Using Sheet Metal Design assumes that you are in a CATPart document.
 Editing the Sheet and Tool
Parameters
This section explains how to change the different sheet metal parameters.

1. Click the Parameters icon .

The Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box is displayed.

2. Change the Thickness if need be.

3. Change the Bend Radius if need be.
Convention dictates that the inner angle between the two walls is used to
define the bend.
It can vary from 0° to 180° exclusive. This angle is constant and the bend
axis is rectilinear.
4. Press the Sheet Standards Files... button to access to the company
defined standards, if need be. For more information, refer to the Customizing
section.

5. Click OK to validate the Sheet Metal Parameters.

Modifying the Bend Extremities
This section explains how to change the bend extremities.

Click the Parameters icon .

The Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box is displayed.
The second tab concerns the bend extremities.
A combo box displays the six possible axial relimitations for the straight bend:
Minimum with no relief: the
bend corresponds to the
common area of the
supporting walls along the
bend axis.
Square relief: a square relief
is added to the bend
extremity. The L1 and L2
parameters can be modified
if need be.
Round relief: a round relief
is added to the bend
extremity. The L1 and L2
parameters can be modified
if need be.
Linear: the unfolded bend is
split by two planes going
through the corresponding
limit points (obtained by
projection of the bend axis
onto the edges of the
supporting walls).
Tangent: the edges of the
bend are tangent to the
edges of the supporting
walls.
Maximum: the bend is
calculated between the
furthest opposite edges of
the supporting walls.
These options can also be accessed through the pop-up button:
Defining the Bend Allowance
This section explains the calculations related to folding/unfolding operations.

When a bend is unfolded, the sheet metal deformation is represented by the

bend allowance V defined by the formula:
L=A+B+V
where:
L is the total unfolded length
A and B the dimensioning lengths as defined on the figures below:

bend < 90° bend > 90°

Another way to compute the sheet metal deformation is the neutral fiber
definition (K Factor):
W = α * (R + k * T)
where:
W is the flat bend width
R the inner bend radius
T the sheet metal thickness
α the inner bend angle in radians.
If β is the opening bend angle in degrees:
α = π * (180 - β) / 180

Physically, the neutral fiber represents the limit between the material
compressed area inside the bend and the extended area outside the bend.
Ideally, it is represented by an arc located inside the thickness and centered
on the bend axis. Therefore the K Factor always has a value between 0 and
0.5.
When you define the sheet metal parameters, a literal feature defines the
default K Factor, according to the DIN standard:
K = (0.65 + log(R / T) / 2) / 2
This formula can be deactivated or modified using Knowledge Advisor
workbench.
When a bend is created, the bend K Factor and the bend allowance literals
are created.
Two cases may then occur:
If the Sheet Metal K Factor has an activated formula and uses the
default bend radius as input parameter, the same formula is activated
on the bend K Factor with the bend radius as input.

Else the bend K Factor is a formula equal to the Sheet Metal K Factor.
The bend allowance literal is equal to a formula representing the use of the
bend K Factor. This formula is fairly complex and it is strongly recommended
not to delete it.
V = α * (R + k * T) – 2 * (R + T) * tan ( min(π/2,α) / 2)
Though it is possible to deactivate the formula to enter a fixed value.
Finally, the bend flat width is computed from the bend allowance value.
Creating a Sheet Metal Part from an
Existing Solide
This section explains and illustrates how to create and use various kinds of features.
The table below lists the information you will find.
Using Sheet Metal Design assumes that you are in a CATPart document.
 Recognizing Thin Part Shapes
This task illustrates how to create a Sheet Metal part using an existing solide.

Open the Scenario1.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

The document contains a solide
created in the Part Design
workbench and it looks like this:

1. Click the Walls Recognition

icon .
2. Indicate a face to be the
reference wall.
The walls are generated from the
Part Design geometry.
The Walls Recognition.1 feature
is added in the tree view.

At the same time, the Sheet Metal parameters are created, deduced from the Part
geometry.

3. Select the icon to edit the

Parameters:
the Thickness is equal to 1
mm
the Bend radius is twice
the thicknessvalue

the Bend Extremities field

is set to Square relief.

The solide is now a Sheet Metal part. All the features are displayed in the specification tree.
You can modify the parameters and add new features from the Sheet Metal workbench to
complete the design.
 Generating Bends from Walls
This task explains two ways to generate the bends in the Sheet Metal part.
The Scenario1.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.
If not, open the Scenario1_2.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Select the Bend icon .

The Bend Definition dialog box
opens.

Note that the Radius field is in

gray because it is driven by a
formula: at that time, you cannot
modify the value.
2. Select Wall.1 and Wall.2 in the
specification tree.
The Bend Definition dialog box is
updated.
3. Right-click the Radius field: the
contextual menu appears.

4. Deactivate the formula: you can

now change the value.

5. Enter 4mm for the Radius and

click OK.
The Bend is created.

6. Select now the Automatic

Bends icon .

The bends are created and the

part looks like this:

It is also possible to create first all

the bends, using Automatic
Bends, then modify the
parameters for one or more
bends.
1. Select the Automatic Bends

icon .
The bends are created.

2. Select the bend of interest:

Bend.3
The Bend Definition dialog box
opens.

3. Right-click the Radius field: the

contextual menu appears.

4. Deactivate the formula:

you can now change the value.

5. Enter 4mm for the Radius and

click OK.

Bend.3 is modified.
 Adding a Sheet Metal Feature
This task shows you how to complete the design by adding an oblong wall-cut across the bend area on the unfolded
view.
The Scenario1.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.
If not, open the Scenario1_3.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Unfold the part using this icon .

2. Select the Sketcher icon and choose the xy plane.

3. Select the Oblong icon .

4. Sketch the following profile and quit the

Sketcher using the Exit icon .

5. Select the Cutout icon .

The Pocket Definition dialog box opens.
6. Enter 1mm in the Length field and click OK.

7. Fold the part again using this icon

Eventually, the part looks like this:
 Designing in Context
This section explains and illustrates how to create and use various kinds of
features.
The table below lists the information you will find.
 Designing...
This tasks explains how to create a Sheet Metal part in an Assembly context.

Open the Scenario2.CATProduct document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

You are in Assembly Design workbench.

The document contains two parts.

1. Right-click Product1 in the file tree and

select New Part...
A dialog box is displayed:

2. Enter Part3 in the New part Number

field and click OK.
A New Part dialog box proposes two
locations to define the origin point.
For more information, refer to Inserting a
New Part.

3. Click No to locate the part origin

according to the Product1 origin point.

Make sure you are in Design Mode:

Select Product1
Choose Edit -> Design Mode
4. Switch to Sheet Metal Design
workbench.

5. Activate Part3.

6. Select the Parameters icon to

create the Sheet Metal characteristics for
the part:
1mm for the Thickness,
3mm for the Bend radius,
Linear for the Bend extremities,

and click OK.

7. Click the Sketcher icon and select

the zx plane.

8. Select the Profile icon .

9. Sketch the contour and set the contraints as shown below:

5mm between the Sheet Metal

vertical walls and each pad
0mm between the Sheet Metal
horizontal walls and each pad top
0mm between the last point of the
Sheet Metal sketch and the right
pad side.

10. Click the Exit icon to return to the 3D world.

11. Select the Extrusion icon .

12. Select the Sheet Metal profile.
The Extrusion Definition dialog box
appears.

13. Enter 50mm for Length1 then click

OK.
The Material Side should be set to the
outside.

14. Select the Automatic Bends icon .

The bends are created.
The new features are shown in the
specification tree:
Extrusion.1 with five walls
Automatic Bends.1 with four
bends.

Eventually, the Sheet Metal part looks

like this:
 Modifying the Design
In this task, you are going to modify the height and the sketch of Pad.1.

The Scenario2.CATProduct document is open from the previous task.

if not, open the Scenario2_2.CATProduct document from the
\online\samples\sheetmetal directory.
1. Double-click Part1\Pad.1 in the
specification tree.
The dialog box is displayed.

2. Enter 40mm for the Length and click OK.

The pad is updated.

3. Select the Product and Update the Sheet Metal part.

4. Select Part1\Pad.1\Sketch.1.
5. Modify the sketch:

6. Click the Exit icon to return to

the 3D world.
The constraints are respected.

After the Product update, the document looks like this:

 Creating Swept Walls
This section explains and illustrates how to create and use various kinds of
features.
The table below lists the information you will find.
 Creating a Flange
This task explains how to generate a flange from a spine and a profile.

Open the SweptWall01.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Select the Flange icon

The Flange Definition

dialog box opens.

2.Select the edge as

shown in red.
3. Enter 2 mm in the
Radius field,
10 mm in the Length field
and 120° for the Angle.

4. Click OK to create the

flange.

The feature is added to the specification tree.

 Creating a Hem
This task explains how to generate a hem from a spine and a profile.

The SweptWall01.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.

If not, open the SweptWall02.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Select the Hem icon

The Hem Definition

dialog box opens.

2.Select the edges as

shown in red.

3. Enter 2 mm in the
Radius field, and 3 mm
in the Length field.

4. Click OK to create the

hem.
The feature is added to the specification tree.
 Creating a Tear Drop
This task explains how to generate a tear drop from a spine and a profile.

The SweptWall01.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.

If not, open the SweptWall03.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Select the Tear Drop

icon .

The Tear Drop

Definition dialog box
opens.

2.Select the edge as

shown in red.

3. Enter 3 mm in the
Radius field, and 8 mm
in the Length field.

4. Click OK to create the

tear drop.
The feature is added to the specification tree.
 Creating a Swept Flange
This task explains how to generate a swept from a spine and a user-defined profile.

The SweptWall01.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.

If not, open the SweptWall04.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Using the Sketcher , define a profile as shown below:

Then quit the Sketcher, using the Exit icon

2. Select the Swept Flange icon .

The User Defined Flange Definition

dialog box opens.

3. Select the edge and the profile, as

shown in red.

The dialog box looks like this:

4. Click OK to create the swept flange.

The feature is added in the specification tree.
 Stamping
This section explains and illustrates how to create and use various kinds of
stamps.
The table below lists the information you will find.
 Creating a Point Stamp
This task shows you how to create a point stamp by specifying the punch geometrical parameters.

Open the Stamping.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Click the Point Stamp icon

.
2. Select a point on the top
face.
The Point Stamp Definition
dialog box opens, providing
default values.
3. Change the value in the
different fields, if need be:
Height H,
Radius R1,
Radius R2,
Angle A,
Diameter D.

4. Click OK to validate.

The specification tree indicates

the point stamp has been
created.
 Extruded Hole
This task shows you how to create an extruded hole by specifying the punch geometrical parameters.

The Stamping.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.

If not, open the Stamping2.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Click the Extruded Hole icon .

2. Select a point on the top face
where you want to place the hole.
The Extruded Hole Definition dialog
box opens, providing default values.
3. Change the value in the different
fields, if need be:
Height H,
Radius R,
Angle A,
Diameter D.

4. Click OK to validate.

The specification tree indicates that

the extruded hole has been created.
 Curve Stamp
This task shows you how to create a curve stamp by specifying the punch geometrical parameters.
The Stamping.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.
If not, open the Stamping3.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.
1. Click the Curve Stamp icon

.
2. Select Sketch.4, the curve
previously defined.
The Curve Stamp Definition
dialog box opens, providing
default values.

3. Change the value in the

different fields, if need be:
Height H,
Radius R1,
Radius R2,
Angle A,
Length L.

4. Click OK to validate.
The specification tree indicates
that the curve stamp has been
created.
 Surface Stamp
This task shows you how to create a surface stamp by specifying the punch geometrical parameters.
The Stamping.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.
If not, open the Stamping4.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Click the Surface Stamp icon .

2. Select Sketch.5, the profile
previously defined.
The Surface Stamp Definition dialog
box opens, providing default values.

3. Change the value in the different

fields, if need be:
Height H,
Radius R1,
Radius R2,
Angle A.

4. Click OK to validate.

The specification tree indicates that the

surface stamp has been created.
 Bridge
This task shows you how to create a bridge by specifying the punch geometrical parameters.

The Stamping.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.

If not, open the Stamping5.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Click the Bridge icon .

The Bridge Definition dialog
box opens, providing default
values.
2. Change the value in the
different fields, if need be:
Height H,
Radius R1,
Radius R2,
Angle A,
Length L1,
Length L2.

3. Select a point on the top

face where you want to place
the bridge.
4. Select an edge to give the
direction of the bridge.
5. Click OK to validate.
The specification tree
indicates that the bridge has
been created.
 Creating a Louver
This task shows you how to create a louver by specifying the punch geometrical parameters.

The Stamping.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.

If not, open the Stamping6.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Click the Louver icon .

2. Select Sketch.8, the profile
previously defined on Wall.2.
The Louver Definition dialog box
opens, providing default values.
3. Change the value in the different
fields, if need be:
Height H,
Radius R1,
Radius R2,
Angle A1,
Angle A2.

4. Click OK to validate.
The specification tree indicates that
the louver has been created.
 Stiffening Rib
This task shows you how to create a stiffness rib by specifying the punch geometrical parameters.

The Stamping.CATPart document is still open from the previous task.

If not, open the Stamping7.CATPart document from the \online\samples\sheetmetal directory.

1. Click the Stiffness Rib icon .

2. Select Bend.1, where you want to
place a stiffener.
Note that the stiffener will always be
centered on the bend radius,
wherever the point may be along the
curve.
The Stiffening Rib Definition dialog
box opens, providing default values.
3. Change the value in the different
fields, if need be:
Radius R1,
Radius R2,
Angle A,
Length L.

4. Click OK to validate.
The specification tree indicates the
stiffness rib has been created.
 Patterning
In this task, you are going to create cutouts according to a pattern.
CATIA allows you to define two types of patterns: rectangular and circular
patterns.
These features make the creation process easier.
Open the Scenario3.CATPart
document from the Samples/sheet
metal directory.
The Sheet Metal part looks like this:

1. Select the cutout you want to

duplicate, that is the rectangular one.

2. Click the Rectangular Pattern icon

.
The Rectangular Pattern Definition
dialog box is displayed. Each tab is
dedicated to a direction to define the
location of the duplicated feature.

Set the specification for the First

Direction:
3. Select the Edge.1, as shown, to
specify the first direction of creation.
An arrow is displayed on the wall.

4. Click the Reverse button or select

the arrow to modify the direction.
5. Keep the Instances & Spacing
options to define the parameters.

Choosing these parameters types

dims the Length field because the
application no longer needs this
specification to space the instances.

6. Enter 2 as the number of instances

you wish to obtain in the first direction.

7. Define the spacing along the grid:

enter 30mm.

Defining the spacing along the grid

and the length of your choice, would
make the application compute the
number of possible instances and
space them at equal distances.

8. Now, click the Second Direction tab

to define the other parameters.

Note that defining a second direction

is not compulsory. Creating a
rectangular pattern defining only one
direction is possible.

9. Select the Edge.2, as shown, to

define the second direction.

10. Keep the Instances & Spacing

option: enter 8 and 10 mm in the
appropriate fields.

Additional cutouts have been aligned

along this second direction.
12. Click OK to repeat the cutouts.
After the update, the Sheet Metal part
looks like this:

13. Select this icon to unfold the

part:
The pattern is updated on the
unfolded view.

Using a similar scenario, you can define a circular pattern.

To know more about patterns, refer to CATIA - Part Design User's Guide.
 Interoperability
In a CATPart document, you may have Part Design features and Sheet Metal features
according to the following rules:
Part Design features can be created before Sheet Metal features.
a Part Design feature can also be created after Sheet Metal features as long as
the part is in folded view.
in the unfolded view, the Part Design feature will not be displayed.
it is no longer possible to create Sheet Metal features after this last Part Design
feature in folded view.
1. Create
two walls
with an
Automatic
Bend.
2.Switch to
Part
Design
workbench.
3. Launch
the
Sketcher
and draw
an oblique
line in the
yz plane.
4. Click the

icon to
create a
Stiffener.

5. Switch to the Sheet Metal workbench.

6. Click the Unfold icon .

The stiffener is not displayed on the unfolded view.
To add a new Sheet Metal feature, select the Bend for example and right-click the
Define In Work Object item.
The new Sheet Metal feature will be added after the Bend but before the Stiffener.
 Workbench Description

The CATIA - Sheet Metal Design Version 5 application window looks like this:
Click the hotspots to display the related documentation.

Menu Bar

Toolbars
 Menu Bar
The Menu Bar and items which are available in CATIA - Sheet Metal Design
workbench are the standard ones.
The tools and commands are described in the V5 CATIA - Infrastructure User's
Guide.
Refer to the CATIA Menu Bar section.
 Toolbars
This section describes the various icons available in the Sheet Metal Design
workbench.
The toolbars are located in the application window border.
The last icon is available whenever you are in the Drafting workbench.

See Managing Default Parameters

See Sketching...
See Creating the First Wall
See Creating Side Walls
See Designing in Context

See Creating Swept Walls

See Generating Bends from Walls

See Recognizing Thin Part Shapes

See Creating Automatic Bends
See Unfolding the Part
See Creating a Cutout
See Stamping
See Patterning

See Setting Constraints

 See Setting Constraints

Sheet Metal in Drafting

See Extracting Drawings...

 Customizing
This section describes how to customize settings.
The task described here deals with permanent setting customizing.

Using Sheet Metal Standards Files

This task explains how to access company standards files.

Open a new document.

1. Click the Sheet Metal Parameters icon .

The Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box opens.
2. Select the
Sheet Standards
Files... button.

The Sheet Metal

Part Samples
window is
displayed.
3. Indicate the
path to the
Sheet Metal
tables.

These files are available under .xls or.txt format.

4. Click Open.
In the Sheet
Metal
Parameters
dialog box, the
Design Table

icon
appears
opposite the
Thickness and
Bend radius
fields.
The parameters
are now in gray,
indicating that
you can no
longer modify
the values.

5. Click the Thickness Design Table icon and select line 1.

6. Click OK.
The parameter values are updated in the Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box.
7. Click the
Bend Radius
Design Table

icon .
8. Select line 2
and click OK.
The parameter
values are
updated in the
Sheet Metal
Parameters
dialog box.
9. Create a
bend.
The Bend
Definition dialog
box displays a
design table for
the Bend
Radius.
The default
mode, it's to say
the formula:
Bend Radius =
Part Radius is
deactivated.

Let's see the Bend Radius Table, using this icon

It shows the Bend Radius and the corresponding Bend Table.

10. Click OK.
If the Angle value is contained in the Bend Table, the Bend Allowance uses the
corresponding value.
If not, the Bend Allowance is computed according to the KFactor.
An alternative if you use the V5R2 Sheet Metal Tables: for example BNDTABL2.
the steps 1 to 4 are identical.

5. Click the Design Table icon and select a line.

6. Click OK.
The parameter values are updated in the Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box.
At that time, the parameters Thickness and Bend radius are driven by the design
table.
They are now in gray, indicating that you can no longer modify the values.
Note that if you create a bend, there is no design table: it's the formula which is used.

To disable the access to design tables:

Select the Tools -> Options -> Part -> Display items and check
Relations:

the Design Table icon is displayed in the specification tree.

Right-click this icon: the contextual menu appears.
 Select BNDTABL2.txt object -> Deactivate

The relation is no longer used but still exists.

It can be activated at any time.
 Glossary
B
bend a feature joining two walls
bend extremity axial relimitation for a straight bend

C
cutout a feature corresponding to an opening through a feature
the shape of the opening corresponds to the extrusion of a profile.

E
extrusion a feature created by extruding a profile and adding thickness

F
flange a feature created by sweeping a profile along a spine
the different flanges available are:
simple and swept flange, hem and tear drop

P
pattern a set of similar features repeated in the same feature or part
profile an opened or closed shape including arcs and lines created by the profile command in the
Sketcher workbench

R
reference wall the first created wall; when unfolding the part, it is the fixed wall.

S
stamp a feature created by embossing sheet metal
the different stamps available are:
point, extruded hole, curve, surface, bridge, louver and stiffening rib.

W
wall a feature created by adding thickness to a profile