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CATIA V5 Tutorial

CATIA V5 provides the ability to create "dittos" or reusable symbols. The tutorial demonstrates how to: 1. Create a ditto/symbol (such as a dowel hole symbol) on a new detail sheet 2. Rename the ditto/symbol for easy identification 3. Insert instances of the ditto/symbol into different views within the CATDrawing, allowing it to be replicated as needed.

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kindjo
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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4K views30 pages

CATIA V5 Tutorial

CATIA V5 provides the ability to create "dittos" or reusable symbols. The tutorial demonstrates how to: 1. Create a ditto/symbol (such as a dowel hole symbol) on a new detail sheet 2. Rename the ditto/symbol for easy identification 3. Insert instances of the ditto/symbol into different views within the CATDrawing, allowing it to be replicated as needed.

Uploaded by

kindjo
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CATIA V5 Tutorial: How to Export CATDrawing to DXF with

Layers Intact

By default, when you save a CATDrawing containing Layers as DXF (Drawing Interchange Format), CATIA
puts all the layer items in a single layer. It does not import names of Layers too. In this article, we will show
you how to change the settings to make CATIA export Drawing details keeping the Layers intact.

1.Go to Tools –> Options.

2. In the left pane, select ‘Compatibility’ and then click on ‘DXF’ tab. This tab gives you all the options for

importing and exporting DXF.

3. In the Export section, change the Export mode to “Semantic”. Under ‘Semantic options‘ , select

“Export layer name”.

5. Click OK.

You are done. Now CATIA will export all drawings to DXF with Layers.
CATIA V5 Tutorial: How to Disable Hybrid Part Design
Many times we come across projects in which modeling of the CATPart is to be done only in Non-Hybrid

mode. By default CATIA V5 enables ’Hybrid Design mode’. Accidentally if modeling is started in Hybrid

mode, it is very hard to convert the CATPart into Non-Hybrid model. In complex model, it’s impossible to do

so. It’s better to disable Hybrid Part Design mode for such projects.

1. Go to Tools—>Options

2. Select ‘Part Infrastructure’ from the list

3. Click on ‘Part Document’ tab

4. Uncheck “Enable hybrid design inside part bodies and bodies”. Check ‘Create a geometrical

set’ in the list (refer image below).

5. Click OK

You are done. Now CATIA will start with Non-Hybrid mode during New Part Creation.
CATIA V5 Tutorial: What is Blend Corner and How to use it

Many times we come across corners during modeling components. Fillets in such zones are always

challenging and in some complex cases, filleting becomes a major time taking process. Blend Corner option

in Fillet command of Part Design and GSD Workbench of CATIA V5 gives more control of the shape you

desire.

We shall now illustrate how to use Blend Corner in Part Design workbench.

Consider a simple block (CATPart) as shown in image below. The part is modeled in Part Design

workbench.
Click on Edge Fillet toolbar icon and then select one after the other, 3 edges of the corner for which you

want to apply blended option.


Click on More button in the Edge Fillet Definition dialog box. You will now have more control in the

resulting fillet. Click on “Blend corner(s)” button. Preview the fillet. Give a Setback distance value as you

desire.

The Setback Distance determines the area of blending for the corner. The Default value is 10mm. You can

directly double click the set back distance value on the 3D model and change it. The set back distance along

each edge can have it’s own value. Change the values as you like depending upon the shape you need.
After finishing, click OK.

The effect of applying blended corner to a part can be see in the image below.
The same part, after an edge fillet, but without a blended corner is shown in the image below. You can see

the difference in the normal edge fillet part and the part with the blended corner by comparing the two

images.
CATIA V5 Tutorial: How To Get GSD Toolbar In Part Design
Workbench
This CATIA V5 tutorial is especially useful for solid modeling projects which needs some sort of work in

GSD (Generative Shape Design). In such cases swapping between Part Design and GSD workbench may

be irritating.

So it’s better to have a Toolbar with commands which I use many times in GSD and bring it to Part Design

workbench. This increases productivity and also reduces hassles of swapping workbenches.

Step1: From Part Design workbench, Go to Tools–> Customize

Step2: Click on “Toolbars” tab


Step3: Now Click

“New” Button.

Step4: A “New Toolbar” window pops up. In the workbenches section, scroll down to “Shape Design

Workbench” and select “Surfaces” from the “Toolbars” list. Give a name to the toolbar. e.g. “My GSD” and

click “OK”.
Step5: “My GSD”

toolbar will appear in the “Toolbars” list. Now you need to add/remove desired surface based commands in

it. Note that Adding/removing any commands to this toolbar will not affect any standard toolbars in CATIA.

To add commands “Click Add commands” button as shown in image above. You can then see list of all

surface based features. You can add as many as you like. In my example, 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 Part-Design itself!

Enjoy!
CATIA V5 Tutorial: Creating Stiffeners using PAD Thickness
Option

There are several methods of adding Stiffeners for a Sheet metal part. This includes using Stiffener

command, using Rib command, etc. In this example we will explain you how to create stiffeners for a simple

part using PAD command in Part Design Workbench. This is one of the fastest ways to add stiffeners.

Consider a simple Part as shown in the image below. The part is kind of a tray. Stiffeners are to be added all

over the surface to make it stiffened.

Create a Sketch of profiles where you need ribs. In our scenario, we are adding few straight ones. The

profile ends need not get trimmed to the end of the Part. PAD feature can be used right away to merge the

ends to the Part.

Sketch is shown in the image below. You can see clearly that the lines are not merged to the ends. The

sketches also need not be closed.


Now click on PAD command and select the sketch. CATIA warns that the Sketch contains several open

profiles and asks whether to use the selected sketch anyway. Click “Yes”.

Now with in the PAD definition, click on “More” button and expand the definition. Check “Thick” box and

give “Thin Pad” Thickness value. E.g. We gave 3mm. Also check the “Neutral Fiber” to create the pad

keeping the sketch profile as the center curve.

Now check the “Merge Ends” box if you want the stiffeners to be automatically trimmed as per the part

shape. This will only work if the ribs can be closed with the existing face.
After giving all the options, Click “OK”.

CATIA V5 Tutorial: What is Federation and How to use it


Federation is grouping elements like surfaces and curves in a Join for easy picking of surfaces/curve later.

Federation can be found in “Join” and “Extract” command in CATIA V5 GSD(Generative Shape Design)

Workbench. This is useful grouping feature. We shall explain you what is it and how to use it.

Consider a set of simple surfaces as shown in the image below. The Geometrical set consists of 4 surfaces.
Surface 1, Surface 2, Surface 3 and Surface 4 is included in ‘Join.1’. In the Federation tab of join

command we have added Surface 4 and Surface 3 as shown in the image below.
Join.1 with ‘F’ is reflected in the Join command icon in the model tree.

For comparison, we have created a simple ‘Join.2’ without Federation. ‘Join.2’ is join of Surface 1, Surface

2, Surface 3 and Surface 4.

‘Extract’ command on ‘Join.2’ gives 4 elements selection (refer image below).


Where as ‘Extract’ on ‘Join.1’ gives only 3 elements. That’s because Join.1 involves Federation of two

surfaces. Those two surfaces are grouped together.


This way in a complex geometry you can group several surfaces and involve it in a Federation. Later

selecting of those surfaces is very simple and will happen in a single click.
CATIA V5 Tip: Set Memory Trigger warning before CATIA
Crashes!
Everyone working with CATIA V5 must be aware of the famous CATIA Termination error. Upon heavy usage

of system’s memory, CATIA most often crashes without warning. If you are in middle of something and didn’t

save your work, you might lose all your precious work.

A precautionary measure option in CATIA V5 when set gives you a warning of exceeded memory usage. At

this time you can immediately save your work

How to set ‘Memory Warning’ Trigger Limit in CATIA V5?

1. Go to ‘Tools’—> Options.

2. In the ‘General Options’, select the ‘General’ tab.

3. In the ‘Memory Warning’ section, check “Trigger Memory Warning at __% of memory use”.

You can set the percentage value depending on your RAM size and how early you wish to get the memory

exceeded warning.

4. Checking the ‘Trigger Memory Stopper’ box will activate a memory stopper mechanism for applications

unable to proceed when memory consumption is too high. You may leave this unchecked.
CATIA V5 Tutorial: How to Create and Insert a Ditto in a
Drawing
While creating a Drawing, you will come across instances in which you need to add repetitive details like
Datum Symbols, Machining Symbols, etc. In such cases it’s better to create one symbol in a detail sheet and
call the symbol instance in the drawing so that you can replicate it as many times as you wish. In this article
we will show you how to create a ditto and replicate it within a Drawing. Ditto is a general term given for a
Symbol.

How to Create a Ditto (2D Component) or Symbol and instantiate it in


CATDrawing?

1. Open a CATDrawing.

2. Go to Insert—> Drawing—> Sheets—> New Detail Sheet

3. You will now see a New Detail Sheet in the Specification Tree.

4. Activate the Detail Sheet.


5. Create a Ditto that you want to instantiate in the Drawing. For example we have created a standard

Dowel Hole Symbol using a Circle and then hatching it with Black Color.

6. Right-click—> Properties—> and rename the 2D Component. In our example we renamed it as “Dowel

Symbol”.

Now Ditto is ready. It can be called in any drawing sheet of the CATDrawing. In our example, we have two

views in which we will place the Dowel Hole created in the Detail Sheet.
7. Activate the View in which you want to place the Ditto.

8. Click on “Instantiate 2D Component” and then click on the ditto in the specification tree.

9. Place the ditto in desired location and resize it by dragging.

10. You can replicate the same Ditto any number of times in the Drawing.
CATIA V5 Tutorial: How to Create 3D Text and Logos in a
Part
Module: Part Design

At times you need to create text like Manufacturer logo, description text, etc in a Part. It’s a painful task to

create sketch based of letters and then pad them to get the 3D text. In this article we will show you quick

and easy way of creating text in Part Design without using any macros.

1. Create a Drawing (*.CATDrawing)

2. Use the Text command in Annotations toolbar to create a text of desired font and size.

3. Save the Drawing file in DXF format by using Save As.


4. Now open the Part (*.CATPart) in which you want to put the text.

5. Create a Sketch on a Plane where you want the text positioned.

6. Open the saved DXF (from Step 3) in same session of CATIA V5 and copy the text from it.

7. Go to the Part and Paste the copied text in the Sketch.


8. You are done. Pad it to desired length using PAD command. Check out our sample of created 3D text in

below image.

Enjoy!
Test PC Performance Using HeavyLoad
Do you want to know how reliably your PC will work under heavy loads? You can do this by using a good

load testing software. HeavyLoad is a free tool for Windows which lets you perform stress tests on your PC

to check the reliability of your computer’s CPU, RAM, Hard Disk etc. Apart from testing your PC’s hardware,

HeavyLoad also tests the network, Operating System, database servers etc.

HeavyLoad generates an artificial load on selected devices like CPU, memory, hard disk etc by running

some intensive programs in an infinite loop. It’s performance monitor gives you an overview of your PC’s

usage as a graph. HeavyLoad logs all test results to a file in your computer’s temp folder in case of abrupt

termination.

After using HeavyLoad, memory is fragmented heavily and the swap file of your OS could be very

large due to working under sever performance. So you should restart your PC after a stress test. In order to

do a good stress test, you will need to run HeavyLoad for several hours. Use this software with caution as it

may hang up your system during the tests.

Download HeavyLoad

Common questions

Powered by AI

To create a personalized toolbar from the GSD workbench in CATIA V5 Part Design workbench, follow these steps: 1) Navigate to Tools -> Customize in the Part Design workbench, 2) Select the 'Toolbars' tab and click 'New' to create a new toolbar, 3) Scroll down to 'Shape Design Workbench' in the list and choose 'Surfaces', 4) Name the new toolbar (e.g., 'My GSD'), 5) Add or remove surface-based commands such as Positioned Sketch, Join, and Split as needed. This customization is beneficial because it enhances productivity by reducing the need to swap between workbenches, allowing users to focus on designing without frequent transitions .

Setting a memory warning trigger in CATIA V5 involves navigating to 'Tools' -> Options, selecting the 'General' tab under 'General Options,' and checking 'Trigger Memory Warning at __% of memory use.' The percentage can be adjusted based on the system's RAM to warn at a specific threshold. This feature is crucial for resource-intensive projects as it provides an early alert when the allocated memory is nearing exhaustion, allowing users to save their work and prevent data loss due to unexpected crashes, thus ensuring workflow continuity .

In CATIA V5's GSD workbench, 'Join' combines multiple selectable elements like surfaces into a single entity, simplifying subsequent operations like 'Extract'. 'Federation' is a specialized feature within 'Join' that groups selected surfaces within a set, allowing for more efficient management by enabling single-click selection of grouped entities. Federation is particularly beneficial in managing complex geometries as it reduces the manual effort involved in selecting multiple surfaces, streamlining operations in intricate designs by treating grouped elements as a singular entity in later design processes .

The Blend Corner feature in CATIA V5 enhances complex edge filleting by providing more control over the shape of the corner fillets, allowing smooth transitions between intersecting edges. This is particularly useful for intricate parts where standard fillets might not yield optimal results. The Setback Distance is significant as it determines the area over which the blending occurs at the corners. Adjusting the Setback Distance allows for customization of the blend's extent along each corner edge, thereby influencing the overall appearance and functional aspects of the fillet .

Using a 'Ditto' in CATIA V5 allows users to create a reusable symbol or 2D component in a detail sheet that can be instantiated multiple times across various views within a drawing. This approach conserves time and effort by avoiding repetitive manual creation of identical elements. A typical use case is applying standardized symbols such as Datum or Machining Symbols, which need consistent replication across different sections of a technical drawing, thus improving drawing consistency and efficiency .

Disabling Hybrid Part Design in CATIA V5 ensures that parts are modeled in a structured, non-hybrid environment, simplifying the management of features and geometries. This setting is particularly advantageous in projects where distinct separation between solid and surface elements is necessary, such as in assemblies requiring precise modifications. It can prevent complications that arise when converting hybrid parts into non-hybrid models, especially in complex designs, thereby maintaining a manageable, linear design process .

Using the PAD thickness option to create stiffeners in CATIA V5 provides an efficient method for reinforcing sheet metal parts. This technique quickly generates additional support structures without requiring closed profiles, allowing for flexible design adjustments. By simply selecting open sketch profiles and utilizing options like 'Thick' for dimensional control, designers can merge the stiffeners to the main part or shape according to specific demands, enhancing structural integrity while optimizing the design process for complex sheet metal components .

To convert 2D text into a 3D feature in CATIA V5 Part Design: 1) Create a Drawing using the Text command in the Annotations toolbar, 2) Save it as DXF, 3) Open the part (.CATPart) where the text is needed, 4) Sketch on a plane for text positioning, 5) Open the saved DXF, copy the text, and paste it into the sketch, 6) Use the PAD command to extrude the text. This process efficiently creates embossed or engraved text for applications like adding logos, labels, or other textual details on 3D parts, enhancing the design's functionality and aesthetics .

To export a CATDrawing to DXF with layers intact, access Tools -> Options, select 'Compatibility,' then the 'DXF' tab. Change the Export mode to 'Semantic' and choose 'Export layer name' under Semantic options. This method preserves the layer information during export. Retaining layers is advantageous as it allows the receiving system to organize and manipulate the drawing's content as intended, facilitating collaboration and maintaining the drawing's integrity across different platforms .

The 'Neutral Fiber' option in CATIA V5's PAD command ensures that the profile used for creating ribs or stiffeners remains centralized during padding, meaning the material is evenly distributed on both sides of the sketch plane. This is significant in maintaining a consistent thickness across the component, which is critical for ensuring uniform structural support and material efficiency. Using the Neutral Fiber option can help optimize the material usage and balance stress distribution in the component .

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