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CATIA Useful Techniques PDF
CATIA Useful Techniques PDF
Useful Methods
By :
Nayyar Rahman
Model a solid Sphere using shaft command, ------sketch Semicircle D of 50mm diameter
Only by selecting shell command and then clicking on OK the sphere is shelled. But we tend to
select surface for shell where the command doesn't work.
2. Tools -> Options -> General -> Parameters and Measure -> Knowledge -> With
value, With formula (as per requirement)
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Get the Assembly Product Tree in text file
Open the Assembly in CATIA
File > Save As as shown below with .txt extension
3.The Formula Editor opens. Enter the following formula by using the Dictionary-> Point Constructors ->
centerofgravity (Body,): Point
Operator: centerofgravity()
4. Position the cursor between the parenthesis and double-click the object in the geometry or in the specification
tree.
If you select Part Body. The formula is displayed as follows:
Geometrical Set.1\Point.1= centerofgravity(PartBody )-Click OK when done. Click Yes in the Automatic
update window.You will get center of gravity of PartBody as Point.1
You can also create center of gravity using Measure -> Create Geometry.
But this will not work for all geometries (e.g. 3D curves)
Positioning parts in Circular array when array is not used for creation of feature in reference Part
Requirement: Sometimes we need to position bolts in circular array fashion, but suppose we dont have Circular Pattern
available in Reference Plate to make use of Reuse Pattern.
Scenario: Lets have a scenario where I need to position Hexagonal Headed Bolt in Circular Plate where we have Six Holes
on certain PCD. Holes created in Circular Plate are not created using Circular Pattern. Hence we cant use Reuse Pattern
option from Product Structure Tools. To do so, we can use following steps
STEP1: Using Existing Component command, get a Bolt & position it in any Hole of Circular Plate. Refer Figure 1 below
STEP2:
Select Bolt from Specification Tree, Copy it
& Paste it Five Times in Product1 as we
have Total six Holes in this scenario. Refer
Figure 2 below
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Step5: "My GSD" toolbar will appear in the "Toolbars" list. Now you need
to add/remove desired surface based commands in it. Note that
Adding/removing any commands to this toolbar will not affect any standard
toolbars in CATIA. To add commands "Click Add commands" button as
shown in pic above. You can then see list of all surface based features. You
can add as many as you like. In my e.g. I have added "Positioned Sketch,
Join, Split, etc.
Step6: Similarly you can remove any commands which you find not useful.
Step7: When you are done your new toolbar "My GSD" will appear in the
right-click context menu list of toolbars, which you can access in PartDesign itself!
5. Click open in Excel. Change type field to Text. Open the Design Table you saved.
7. Click Next through the Text Import Wizard and click Finish at the end. (Use Default Selections.)
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Holes built using the Hole function
It is recommended that all holes in your solid part to be created using the hole function and not by creating
pockets, split with surface, Boolean removes, etc. Downstream processes will be looking for holes create by
the hole function. It is also earier for users to modify the location and size of the hole if the hole feature was
used.
Exceptions
Large cutouts that can be circular milled or produced by other manufacturing processes.
How to check
Select on the 3D geometry for the hole and you should see a hole feature highlighted in the spec tree.
Publication naming
Default names for publications do not help downstream users.
Look in the Spec Tree to see if there is default names used for the publications.
Provide logical naming of the publication names to help identify the element that you are publishing for other
users. An example would be "Interface point A for top mounting location" instead of the default name of "Point.1"