CATIA cadcamguru

CHAPTER 5

ASSEMBLY DESIGN

► Objectives:

¾ Introduction of an Assembly Design

¾ Introduction of Move Tool Bar
¾ Introduction of Constraints Tool Bar
¾ Inserting Components
¾ Moving Components Using Manipulation Tool And Compass
¾ Assembling Existing Components in Assembly Design
¾ Modifying A Components in Assembly Design
¾ Creating A Bill of Materials
¾ Saving Files

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► Assembly Workbench Description:

¾ Assembly Design Menu Bar

¾ Move Toolbar
¾ Constraints Toolbar
¾ UpdateToolbar
¾ Constraint Creation Toolbar
¾ Assembly Features

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► Assembly Design Menu Bar:

This section presents the main menu bar available when you run the application and
before creating or opening a document:
File Edit View Insert Tools Analyze Windows Help

File:
For See
New Creating new assembly
document
Assembly

Edit:
For See
Component Using Assembly
Constraints Constraints

Properties Modifying the

Properties of a
Constraint

Update Updating Assembly

Constraints

Move Moving
Components

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Insert:
For See

Coincidence... Creating a Coincidence Constraint

Contact... Creating a Contact Constraint

Offset... Creating an Offset Constraint

Angle... Creating an Angle Constraint

Fix Together... Fixing Components Together

Fix Fixing a Component

Quick Constraint Quick Constraint

Reuse Pattern Using a Part Design Pattern

Fast Multi- Fast Multi-Instantiation

Instantiation

Define Multi- Defining a Multi-Instantiation

Instantiation

Weld planner Weld planner

Annotations Annotations

Assembly Features Assembly Features

Tools:
For See
Options... Customizing

Product
Management... Managing Products in an Assembly

Publication Managing a Product Publication

Management...

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Analyze:
For See
Update... Analyzing Updates

Constraints... Analyzing Constraints

Degrees of Analyzing Degrees of Freedom

freedom

Dependence... Analyzing Dependence

Mechanical Flexible Sub-Assembly

Structures

Compute Clash... Computing Clash between

Components

► Move Toolbar:

A) Translating Or Rotating A Component:

This task will show you two ways to

translate a component:
¾ By entering translation values
¾ By selecting geometrical elements to
define a translation direction
Click the Translate or Rotation icon
The Move dialog box is displayed.
Select the component to be translated
By entering values
Enter the offset value and the component
will be translated along x axis.
Click ok.
Click the Invert button to reverse the
previous operation and translate the component in the opposite direction.
Click OK to close the dialog box.
Repeat steps 1 and 2.
By selecting geometric elements
Click the Selection button to define a new translation with respect to a geometric
element. Select the red and blue faces as shown.
Click Apply to translate the blue component
Click OK to exit.

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B) Manipulating a Component:

The Manipulate command lets you move a component freehand with the mouse
Click the Manipulate icon
The Manipulation Parameters dialog box appears:
Click the Drag icon.
Select the component to be translates or rotate.
Drag the component along selected direction.
Click OK to exit.

C) Snapping Components:

The Snap command projects the geometric element of a component onto another
geometric element belonging to the same or to a different component. Using this
command is a convenient way to translate or rotate components.
Click the Snap icon
Select the red face as shown.
The element selected first is always the element that will move.
Select the face of element to move or rotate.
The first face of element is projected onto the plane defined by the another face. A green
arrow is displayed on the first face you selected.
Click this arrow to reverse the orientation of the face.

D) Smart Move:

The Smart Move command combines the Manipulate and Snap capabilities. Optionally, it
creates
constraints
Click the
Smart Move
icon and
expand the
Smart Move
dialog box that
appears
The Quick
Constraint
frame contains
the list of the

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constraints that can be set. This list displays these constraints in a hierarchical order and
can be edited by using both arrows to right of the dialog box.
Check the Automatic constraint creation option.
The application creates the first possible constraint as specified in the list of constraints
having priority.

E) Exploding a Constrained Assembly:

This task shows you how to explode an assembly while taking the assembly constraints
into account This Explode type is applicable only to specific cases, that is when the
assembly is assigned the following coincidence constraints:
¾ Axis/axis
¾ Plane/plane
Click the Explode icon and The Explode dialog box is displayed.
Keep All levels set by
default.
Set the explode type. 3D is
the default type. Keep it.
Click Apply to perform the
operation.
Click OK to close the
Information box.
The Scroll Explode field
gradually displays the
progression of the
operation. The application assigns directions and distance. Once complete, the resulting
exploded view looks like this:
You are not satisfied with this result as the nuts are not correctly positioned. The
constraints are not respected. Replay the scenario selecting the Constrained type in the
Explode dialog box.
Define a fixed part: in our example select the Rim1 either in the specification tree or in
the geometry area.
Click Apply to perform the operation.

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► Constraints Toolbar:

A) Creating a Coincidence Constraint:

Coincidence-type constraints are used to align elements

Click the Coincidence Constraint icon
Select the face to be constrained.
Select the second face to be constrained.
Green arrows appear on the selected faces, indicating orientations.
Click OK to create the coincidence constraint.

B) Creating a Coincidence Constraint:

Contact-type constraints can be created between two planes or faces.

The common area between the two planes can be a plane (plane contact), a line (line
contact) or a point (point contact).
Click the Contact Constraint icon
Select the face to be constrained
Select the second face to be constrained
As the contact constraint is created, the component is moved so as to adopt its new
position. Green graphic symbols are displayed in the geometry area to indicate that this
constraint has been defined.

C) Creating an Offset Constraint:

When defining an offset constraint between two components, you need to specify how
faces should be oriented.
Click the Offset Constraint icon
Select the face to be constrained.Select the second face to be constrained

The Constraint Properties dialog box that appears displays the properties of the
constraint. The components involved and their status are indicated. You can define the
orientation of the faces to be constrained by choosing the Opposite or Same option.
Enter 38 mm in the Offset field.

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Click OK to create
the offset constraint.

D) Creating an Angle Constraint:

Angle-type constraints fall into three categories:

¾ Angle
¾ Parallelism
¾ Perpendicularity
When setting an angle constraint, you will have to define an angle value. Note that this
angle value must not exceed 90º.
Click the Angle Constraint icon
Select the face to be constrained
Select the second face to be constrained
Keep the Angle option
Enter values in the Angle field
Click OK to create the angle constraint.

E) Fixing a Component:

Fixing a component means preventing this component from moving from its parents
during the update operation.
There are two ways of fixing a component:
¾ By fixing its position according to the geometrical origin of the assembly, which
means setting an absolute position. This operation is referred to as "Fix in space".
¾ By fixing its position according to other components, which means setting a relative
position. This operation is referred to as "Fix".

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Click the Fix icon

By default, the Fix command fixes components in space.
Select the component to be fixed
Double-click the fix constraint you have just created to edit it.
In the dialog box that appears, click More to expand the dialog box
Uncheck the Fix in space option to the left of the dialog box. The lock symbol is no
longer displayed in the specification tree, meaning that the component is positioned
according to the other components only.
Click OK to confirm the operation.

F) Fixing Components Together:

The Fix Together command attaches selected elements together. You can select as many
components as you wish, but they must belong to the active component.
Click the Fix Together icon
Select components, which you want to attach together.
The Fix Together dialog box appears, displaying the list of selected components.
In the Name field, enter a new name for the group of components you want to create.
Click OK.

G) Using the Quick Constraint Command:

The Quick Constraint command creates the first possible constraint as specified in the
priority list. This task consists in using this command to create two constraints.Make sure
the list specifying the order of constraint creation is composed as follows:
¾ Surface contact
¾ Coincidence
¾ Offset
¾ Angle
¾ Parallelism
Double-click the Quick Constraint icon
Select the axis
As the application cannot set a surface contact due to the type of selected elements, it
creates the second optional constraint mentioned in the list, that is a coincidence
constraint. Now select the faces
The first constraint in the list can now be set. A surface contact constraint is created.

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H) Changing Constraints:

Changing a constraint means replacing the type of this constraint by another type. This
operation is possible depending on the supporting elements. You can select any
constraints, not necessarily in the active component. Select the constraint to be changed
Click the Change Constraint icon
The Change Type dialog box that appears, displays all possible constraints. Select the
new type of constraint. Click Apply to preview the constraint in the specification tree and
the geometry. Click OK to validate the operation.

I) Deactivating or Activating Constraints:

Deactivating or activating constraints means specifying if these constraints must be taken

into account during updates or not. This task consists in deactivating then activating a
constraint.
Select any activated constraint.
Right-click and select the Deactivate contextual command.
Repeat step 1 and right-click to select the Activate contextual command to activate the
selected constraint.

J) Using a Part Design Pattern:

This task shows you how to repeat a

component using a pattern created in Part
Design
Select any pattern in the tree or in the
geometry, for example select the rectangular
pattern:
Control-click to select the component to be
repeated
Click the Reuse Pattern icon
The Instantiation on a pattern dialog box is
displayed, indicating the name of the pattern,
the number of instances to be created (for
information only) and the name of the
component to be repeated
Define the first instance
Now in the Reuse Constraints section you
can define whether you wish to reproduce the
original constraints or not by checking one of

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the following options:

¾ All
¾ None
¾ Selected
To control the location of the components in the tree, two options are available: either
you check the option Put new instances in a component to gather all instances in the same
component, or not. Check the option. Click OK to repeat the screw.

► Constraint Creation Mode Toolbar:

A) Setting a Constraint Creation Mode:
This task shows you how to set one of the three modes available to create constraints.
These modes are:
¾ Default mode
¾ Chain mode
¾ Stack mode
Default mode:

Click the Default mode icon if not already activated

This mode lets you create as many constraints as you wish by explicitly selecting two
geometrical elements. In our example, you can set an offset constraint between the
highlighted face and the face of another geometrical element. For the purposes of this
scenario, double- click the offset constraint icon to make it permanently active

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The offset constraint icon still active, you can then set another offset constraint
between two other faces.

For the purposes of our scenario, delete these constraints

Chain mode:

Click the Chain icon.

This mode lets you create as many constraints as you wish by always reusing the last face
you selected.

The offset constraint icon still active, you can then set another offset constraint
between the second face you selected and any other face.

The offset constraint icon still active, you can then set another offset constraint
between the third face you selected and any other face.

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And so on...
For the purposes of our scenario, delete these constraints.

Stack mode:

Click the Stack icon.

This mode lets you create as many constraints as you wish by reusing the very first face
you selected to create the first constraint.

The offset constraint icon still active, you can then set another offset constraint
between the first face you selected and any other face.

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The offset constraint icon still active, you can then set another offset constraint
between the first face you selected and any other face.

► Assembly Features Toolbar:

Split:

Click this icon

Select the splitting face or surface
Define the parts you need to split.
Define the portion of material to keep.

Hole:

Click this icon.

Select a face to define the hole location.
Define the parts on which you need to make the hole and define your hole.

Pocket:

Click this icon.

Select the profile to be extruded.
Define the parts from which you need to remove material and define the pocket.

Remove:

Click this icon.

Select the body to removed
Defines the parts from which you need to remove material.

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Add:

Click this icon. Select the body to be added. Define the parts to which you need to add
material.

► Steps To Creating an Assembly Using the Assembly Design Work Bench:

Now you get opportunity to assemble some of the parts together. This is simple assembly,
but it will show you the basic process of bringing together parts and constraining them.
Not all of the assembly tool will be used in this lesson. After completing the instruction
in this lesson, you are encouraged to try some of the other tools.
The instruction in this lesson will give you good foundation to build on; it’s up to you to
expand on your basic understanding.

► Entering the Assembly Design Work Bench:

You can only select the work benches that show up on the “Welcome To CATIA”
window. By default, the assembly design work bench will not show up in this window, so
you will need to use the other method, the start menu.
To create an assembly, the first thing to do is enter the assembly design work bench. To
do this, select the start pull down menu from the top of the screen as shown in figure
I

II
III

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From the start pull down menu, select the mechanical design option.
From the mechanical design menu, select the assembly design option. This will bring you
into the assembly design work bench.

► Inserting Components into the Assembly Design Work Bench:

Before the detail parts can be assembled, you will need to insert them into the assembly
workbench. The following steps explain how this is done.
The top of the specification tree must be selected before components can be inserted into
the assembly design workbench. In this case, the top of the specification tree is labeled
“product1”.
If your specification tree has a different number following the “product”, it is ok; the
process is the same. That number will change depending on the number of times you
have entered the assembly design workbench.

With “product” highlighted, select the existing component tool the insert an
existing component window will appear on the screen as shown in fig.

In the insert an existing component window, find the file that was saved earlier in the
lesson. Select the open button. The part should be appear on the screen. If it does not,
verify you selected the correct file and then repeat steps I and II your screen show the
part.

This way you can insert other associated parts also in the assembly design workbench.

► Moving components in the assembly design workbench using manipulation

tool:

When you insert an object into the assembly design workbench, the object does not
always appear in the position and/or orientation that you expect. Usually if you create the
detail parts relative to the same axis, the part will insert in
the same orientation. There will be parts that you insert that
have no relative orientation. This is not a problem. CATIA
has supplied tools that allow easy and accurate manipulation
of part orientation the following steps show you
how to manipulate the orientation and location of a
part tat has been inserted into the assembly workbench.
Select the manipulation tool from the right side of the
screen.
The manipulation parameter window will appear on the
screen as shown in fig. This window allows you to move or
rotate the component along any of the three axis.
The location and orientation of the assembly components can be also manipulated using
the compass tool.

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► Modifying A Component in the Assembly Design workbench:

The individual components were created in the part design workbench. Each individual
component can still be modified from the assembly design workbench. The component is
actually modified in the part design workbench, but is accessed from the assembly design
workbench. To enter the part design workbench from the assembly design workbench,
double click on the component you want to modify.

► Additional Assembly Tools:

CATIA offer a multitude of assembly tools to help you create, control and document your
assembly. This step will introduce you to bill of material and other.

Select the analyze tool bar located in the top pull down
menu. The analyze tool menu is available only if you are
in assembly design workbench. This will bring up the
menu shown in fig.
Figure shows what assembly analyze tools are available.
For this step, select bill of material.

This will bring up the bill of material: product1 window.

as the bill of material window has been keeping a record
of everything you have inserted and or created in the
assembly design workbench.

CATIA allow you to export this information as a .txt

file.

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