INDEX

1.Intoduction
1.1 Solid Modeling
1.2 Importance Of Solid Modeling
1.3 Applications
1.4 Layout, Design And Drafting
1.5 Industrial design
1.6 Analysis
1.7 Manufacturing Engineering

2 Sketcher workbench
2.1 Entering Sketcher Workbench
2.2 Creating a Positioned Sketch
2.3 Using Tools For Sketching
2.4 Using Colors
2.5 Using Smart Pick
2.6 Creating Constraints
2.7 Sketching Simple Profiles
2.8 Performing Operations on Profile
2.9 Cutting the Part by the Sketch Plane
2.10 Customizing for Sketcher.

3. Part Design
3.1 Opening a New CATPart Document.
3.2 Reference Elements
3.3 Sketch-Based Features.
3.4 Dressing Up Of Solids
3.5 Transformation Features
3.6 Measuring

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3.7 Surface-Based Features
3.8 Advanced Tasks
3.9 Customizing a Part Design Work Bench

4. Wireframe and Surface workbench

4.1 Creating Multiple Points
4.2 Creating Planes Between Other Planes
4.3 Creating Polylines
4.4 Creating Circles
4.5 Creating Splines
4.6 Creating a Helix
4.7 Creating Corners
4.8 Creating Connect Curves
4.9 Creating Spirals
4.10 Creating Projections
4.11 Creating Conic Curves
4.12 Creating Intersections
4.13 Creating Surfaces
4.14 Performing Operations on Shape Geometry
4.15 Updating Your Design
4.16 Defining an Axis System
4.17 Managing Open Bodies in the Specification Tree
4.18 Hiding/Showing Open Bodies and Their Contents

5. Generative Shape Design

5.1 Creating Extremum Elements
5.2 Creating Polar Extremum Elements
5.3 Creating a Spine
5.4 Creating Combined Curves
5.5 Creating Parallel Curves
5.6 Creating Reflect Lines

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5.7 Creating Adaptive Swept Surfaces
5.8 Customizing For Generative Shape Design

6. Assembly Design
6.1 Creating an Assembly Document
6.2 Inserting a Components
6.3 Defining a Multi-Instantiation
6.4 Fast Multi-Instantiation
6.5 Using Assembly Constraints
6.6 Updating an Assembly
6.7 Using a Part Design Pattern
6.8 Moving Components
6.9 Sectioning
6.10 Assembly Features
6.11 Creating Scenes
6.12 Exploding a Constrained Assembly
6.13 Detecting Interferences
6.14 Customizing Assembly Design

7. Generative Drafting workbench

7.1 Creating a New Drawing
7.2 Managing A Sheet
7.3 Adding a new sheet
7.4 Front View Creation
7.5 2D/3D Associativity
7.6 Creating a Projection View
7.7 Creating an Auxiliary View
7.8 Creating an Offset Section View / Cut
7.9 Creating an Aligned Section View / Cut
7.10 Creating a Detail View / Detail View Profile
7.11 Creating a Clipping View and/or a Clipping View Profile

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7.12 Creating an Isometric View
7.13 Creating a Broken View
7.14 Creating a Breakout View
7.15 Creating Views via the Wizard
7.16 Isolating Generated Views
7.17 Not Aligning a View
7.18 Scaling a View
7.19 Adding a Generative Bill of Material
7.20 Generating Balloons on a View
7.21 Modifying a Callout Geometry
7.22 Modifying a Pattern
7.23 Dimension Generation
7.24 Creating a Datum Feature
7.25 Creating a Geometrical Tolerance
7.26 Annotations
7.27 Editing Properties
7.28 Customizing for Generative Drafting
7.29 Loading/Saving a CATDrawing

8. Interactive Drafting
8.1 Tools Toolbar
8.2 Creating Views
8.3 Defining the View Plane
8.4 Creating Views Using Folding Lines
8.5 Creating a Multiple View Projection
8.6 Reframing a View
8.7 Constraints
8.8 Creating Geometrical Constraints
8.9 Creating Constraints Between 2D and Generated Elements
8.10 Creating Dimensions
8.11 Re-routing Dimensions
8.12 Dress-Up Elements
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1. INTRODUCTION

Integration of function within the factory requires a product definition that is unique and
consistent throughout the design and manufacturing process; it is computer graphics that makes
possible a practical implementation of this dictum. We know that the geometry or the shape of any
product can be fully described with the help of three spatial dimensions so computer models must
also be three-dimensional.

1.1 Solid Model:

A solid Model is an electronic description of a physical object or a group of physical

objects. 2D and 3D CAD drawings are also electronic descriptions but they do not contain
information about the nature of space enclosed by the geometry used to describe the object. A 2D
drawing presents the visual aspect of an object from a particular viewpoint in space. Whereas a 3D
drawing contains a description of the object’s appearance, and is valid from any viewpoint.
However, Solid modeling (SM) requires the application of concepts that are academic in 2D
drafting. The most obvious difference with SM, however, is that traditional engineering drawings
are two-dimensional and solid models are inherently three-dimensional. While 2D drawings can be
created manually or electronically, solid models must be created in an electronic ”drawing
universe”. Solid models themselves are not physically accessible. CAD workstations are used to
create, edit and display 2D representations of the electronic solid model.

Solid models are located in an electronic space that is defined in terms of 3D Cartesian
coordinates. This is known as the 3D workspace or the model space. Three-dimensional co-
ordinates are used to specify the location of points in space, the distances between pairs of points
and displacements between consecutive positions of a point. A co-ordinate system consists of an
origin and a system of reference planes or axes.

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 Three-dimensional CAD models can take three forms:

1. Wireframe: It includes only points in space and the lines connecting them. Objects are
represented by their edges.
2. Surface: Mathematically defined areas span the edges of the Wireframe.
3. Solid: The space enclosed by the surfaces is defined and forms a closed volume.
Solid models are the least abstract and most realistic of the three forms; they necessitate far
more computing power for their creation and management than the other two forms. Solid
Modeling (SM) attracts designers because the construction of complex models, especially those
that lack symmetry, is very easy. Wireframe representations of complex objects are very difficult
to “understand” visually, because computer displays and paper plots seldom give an indication of
depth. Seeing all the edge at once leads to perceptual confusion because of ambiguities.
A complex object can be decomposed into surfaces, which can be broken down into points and
lines. Solid and Surface models also allow the generation of images with hidden surfaces removed,
which are more realistic.
Some shapes can be represented by surfaces instead of solids. Thus even designers who believe
in the essential superiority of solid representations are forced to resort to surfaces for certain
complex objects. Many SM systems closely integrate surface and solid capability.
The most important aspect of solids is that their integrity can be computationally determined.
In other words, SM systems with the aid of the computer can tell if a given object is a legitimate
solid or not.

1.2 Importance of Solid Modeling:

Solid modeling is important because it is the key to obtaining productivity promises that
computers offer designers.
Designing is a very complex process. It is not simply a matter of filling in the blanks in a
formula and obtaining an optimal answer; it is an iterative process that involves much trial and
error, along with analysis. A lot of analysis tools are available today, which need solid models to
work upon.
The next portion of the design process that is most susceptible to improvement through
computers is design verification. In this phase, a proto type of a design is built and tested.
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 Generally, the prototype is modified and tested many times before the design process moves to
production.
Computers make it possible to build software prototypes. These are models that exist only within
the memory of the computer. These models can be subjected to computer-based simulations of the
prototype tests, and the results can be used to build a real prototype.
The major benefits of verifying the design within the computer are speed, cost, and
flexibility. It is usually much faster to build a model within a computer than in machine shop, and
costs are generally lower. Moreover, computer-based simulations can often be better
representations of real-world conditions than those to which physical prototypes are subjected.
More realistic representations are required by some manufacturing tasks, such as metal
cutting with numerically controlled (NC) machine tools. CAM systems for designing NC toolpaths
typically employ the second-level “surface” geometry in addition to wireframe, because the entire
area of a part must be represented in order to tell the cutting tool where to go.
But the highest form of realism requires that the interior of the part be represented as well. For that
we need level three: SM systems. Solid models can be used to faithfully represent the entire
geometry of a part, not just that of exterior. SM can therefore be used to determine if parts in an
assembly will interfere with one another in operation-something that wireframe and surface
representations cannot do.
Hence solid modeling is one of the best tools used in the design process. Solid models are less
abstract (more real) than drawings or 3D wireframes, their behavior under a variety of simulated
conditions can tell us enough about how the real thing will behave to make the modeling process
worthwhile.
Solid models are easier to fix and easier to change than actual prototypes, and are less expensive.
Infact a digital model can be more faithful to the proposed product than a prototype, because the
limitations of prototype fabricating techniques often yields compromises that are very different
from what will be made in the factory. A digital model does not suffer from the same constraints.

1.3 APPLICATIONS:

Mechanical design and manufacturing have been the areas in which SM has found greatest
application to date. Architecture and construction can make productive use of solids, but have
largely been prohibited from doing so until recently because of the cost of sufficiently large
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systems to handle architectural problems. SM systems are now being used to design power plants.
The cost of design errors showing up in construction was so great that expensive systems to avoid
such problems were readily justified.

1.4 LAYOUTS, DESIGN, AND DRAFTING:

Since the computer system is able to determine if a constructed object is a legitimate solid, it is
natural desire to create any needed drawings from the solid model. In this way, the design integrity
is maintained and the drawings will be consistent among themselves. The value of reducing
consistency errors in complex designs is very great.

1.5 Industrial design

Industrial design is often considered to be almost a marketing function, rather than a part
of engineering. By its nature, SM permits the relatively easy calculation of hidden-line and shaded
images; the “model” knows whether a point is inside, outside, or on the surface of the object in
question, which makes the generation of realistic images possible.
Aesthetics are important to the industrial designer, to be sure. But how much better for the
manufacturer when the industrial designer is able to produce models that are not only aesthetically
and ergonomically valid, but to provide a usable geometric base on which the detailed design can
be constructed.

1.6 Analysis

The interior of a solid model is implicitly defined, so mass properties (volume, weight,
surface area, centre of gravity, moments of inertia) are easy for the computer to calculate. And the
fact that the SM software preserves the solid integrity of edited parts, or at least reports when that
integrity is breached means that the mass property calculations can be reliably performed without
fear of underlying geometric paradoxes invalidating them.
Models for finite elements and other forms of structural analysis can be automatically
generated from solids much more easily than from other geometric forms.

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1.7 Manufacturing ENGINEERING

One of the greatest beneficiaries of SM data in the manufacturing process is the numerical
control programmer. Common problems of CAD-generated data for the part programmer are flaws
such as missing geometry or unconnected surfaces. The computer-verifiable nature of solids
obviates these problems. In particular animated tool paths simulation is very helpful to the part
programmer.
Animation of motion paths in a SM environment is also helpful to the programmer of
robotic systems. Without solids, automation of process planning is also impossible. With solid, it
remains a challenge, but one that can be surmounted.

2.Sketcher workbench

The Sketcher workbench provides a simple method for creating and editing 2D geometry as well
as creating relations between geometrical elements. Once created, you can set constraints between
geometrical elements, if you need for more complex sketches

2.1 Entering Sketcher Workbench

Creating a sketch: To create a sketch, you have several possibilities:

Select Start -> Mechanical Design -> Sketcher from the menu bar.

Select the Sketcher icon and click the desired reference plane either in the geometry area or in
the specification tree, or select a planar surface. This creates a "non-positioned" sketch (i.e. a
sketch for which you do not specify the origin and orientation of the absolute axis, which are not
associative with the 3D geometry).

Select the Sketch with Absolute Axis Definition icon and specify the reference plane, and the
origin and orientation of the axis system. This enables you to create a positioned sketch.

Editing an existing sketch: Double-click the sketch or an element of the sketch geometry, either in
the geometry area or in the specification tree. To do this from the 3D, right-click the sketch in the
specification tree, point to [sketch name] object in the contextual menu, and then select Edit.

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2.2 Creating a Positioned Sketch

Here you will learn how to create a positioned sketch, in which you specify the reference plane,
and the origin and orientation of the absolute axis. Creating a positioned sketch enables you to
define (and later change) explicitly the position of the sketch absolute axis. This offers the
following advantages: You can use the absolute axis directions like external references for the
sketched profile geometry. When the geometry of the part evolves and the associated position of
the sketch changes, the shape of the sketched profile (2D geometry of the sketch) remains
unchanged (even if the sketched profile is under-constrained). Creating a positioned sketch also

ensures associativity with the 3D geometry. Click the down arrow next to the Sketcher icon ,

and select the Sketch with Absolute Axis Definition icon . The Sketch Positioning dialog box
appears. In the Type field in the Sketch Support area, two options are available: Positioned (pre-
selected): creates a positioned sketch for which you specify the origin and orientation of the
absolute axis. Sliding: creates a "non-positioned" sketch, i.e. a sketch for which you do not specify
the origin and orientation of the absolute axis.

2.3 Using Tools For Sketching

This task shows how tools in sketcher workbench can assist you when sketching elements.

Snap to Point If activated, this option makes your sketch begin or end on the points of the grid.
As you are sketching the points are snapped to the intersection points of the grid.

Construction/Standard Elements: You can create two types of elements: standard elements
and construction elements. Note that creating standard or construction elements is based upon the
same methodology. If standard elements represent the most commonly created elements, on some
occasions, you will have to create geometry just to facilitate your design. Construction elements
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aim at helping you in sketching the required profile. Click the Construction/Standard Element
option command from the Sketch tools toolbar so that the elements you are now going to create be
either standard or construction element. As construction elements are not taken into account when
creating features, note that they do not appear outside the Sketcher.

Geometrical Constraints: When selected, the Geometrical Constraint option command allows
forcing a limitation between one or more geometry elements & creates Geometrical Constraint
when sketching elements.

Dimensional Constraints: When selected, the Dimensional Constraint option command allows
forcing a dimensional limitation on one or more profile type elements provided you use the value
fields in the Sketch tools toolbar for creating this profile.

2.4 Using Colors

Two types of colors may be applied to sketched elements. These two types of colors correspond to
colors illustrating:
Graphical properties
Colors that can be modified. These colors can therefore be modified using the contextual menu
(Properties option and Graphic tab).
OR
Constraint diagnostics
Colors that represent constraint diagnostics are colors that are imposed to elements whatever the
graphical properties previously assigned to these elements and in accordance with given
diagnostics. As a result, as soon as the diagnostic is solved, the element is assigned the color as
defined in the Properties dialog box (Graphic tab).
COLORS and GRAPHICAL PROPERTIES
Grey: Construction Element Elements that are internal to, and only visualized by, the sketch.
These elements are used as positioning references. These elements cannot be visualized in the 3D
and therefore cannot be used to generate solid primitives.
Yellow: Non-Modifiable Element For example, uses edges. These elements cannot be modified,
graphically speaking.

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Red Orange: Selected Element A subgroup of elements actually selected (the Select icon is
similarly active).

COLORS DIAGNOSTICS

White Under-Constrained Element

Brown Element not changed
Green Fixed Element & Iso-Constrained Element
Purple Over constrained Element
Red Inconsistent Element

2.5 Using Smart Pick

SmartPick is a smart and easy way to use positioning tool, which will assist you when using most
of the commands for creating Sketcher geometrical elements. SmartPick will give you higher
productivity by decreasing the number of the interactions necessary for positioning these
geometrical elements. According to the various active options, you can create the geometrical
constraints that are equivalent to the snapping you performed. SmartPick will return information
via symbols.
Using SmartPick, you will easily specify a location: somewhere on the grid, using coordinates, on
a point, at the extremity point of a curve, at the midpoint of a line, at the center of a circle or an
ellipse, all over a curve, at the intersection point of two curves, aligned at a vertical/horizontal
position, on the fictitious perpendicular line through a line end point, any of the above cases
possibly combined together, whenever possible. You will progressively specify this location by
providing information using the contextual menu. Note that if you position the cursor outside the
zone that is allowed for creating a given element, the symbol appears.

2.6 Creating Constraints

2.6.1 Creating Dimensional/Geometrical Constraints

Here we will see how to set dimensional or geometrical constraints between one, two or three
elements. The constraints are in priority dimensional. Use the contextual menu to get other types of

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constraints and to position this constraint as desired. Select the Constraint icon from the
Constraint toolbar. Select a first element. Select a second element. Accordingly dimensional
constrain will appear between two selected elements. For editing, double-click the constraint you
wish to edit.

2.6.2 Creating a Contact Constraint

This task shows you how to apply a constraint with a relative positioning that can be compared to
contact. You can either select the geometry or the command first. This constraint can be created
between either two elements. These constraints are in priority: concentricity, coincidence and

tangency. Select the Constraint Contact icon from the Constraint toolbar (Constraint Creation
subtoolbar) for giving Contact Constraint.

2.6.3 Creating Constraints via a Dialog Box

Multi-select the elements to be constrained. Click the Constraints Defined in Dialog Box icon
from the Constraint toolbar. The Constraint Definition dialog box appears indicating the types of
constraints you can set between the selected elements (selectable options). These constraints may
be constraints to be applied either one per element (Length, Fix, Horizontal, Vertical) or
constraints between two selected elements (Distance, Angle, Coincidence, Parallelism or
Perpendicular). Multi-selection for Constraints is available. If constraints already exist, they are
checked in the dialog box, by default.

2.6.4 Auto-Constraining a Group of Elements

The Auto Constraint command detects possible constraints between the selected elements and
imposes these constraints once detected. Select the profile to be constrained. Click the Auto

Constraint icon from the Constraint toolbar. The Auto Constraint dialog box is displayed. The
Elements to be constrained field indicates all the elements detected by the application. The
Reference Elements option allows you to select references to be used to detect possible constraints
between these references and the elements selected. Once the profile is fully constrained, the
application displays it in green. Click OK to constrain the sketch.

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2.7 Sketching Simple Profiles

a) Creating a Profile

This task shows how to create a closed profile. A profile may also be open (if you click the profile
end point in the free space). Profiles may be composed of lines and arcs, which you create either

by clicking or using the Sketch tools toolbar. Click the Profile icon from the Profiles toolbar.

The Sketch tools toolbar appears with option commands and values. Line (active by

default) Tangent Arc Three Point Arc. Press and hold the left mouse button down /
Dragging the cursor allows you to activate the Tangent Arc mode automatically. If you cannot
manage creating the tangent arc using the left mouse button, what you can do is select the Tangent

Arc option command in the Sketch tools toolbar. Select the Three Points Arc option command

from the Sketch tools toolbar to create three-point arc.

b) Creating a Rectangle

Click the Rectangle icon from the Profiles toolbar. The Sketch tools toolbar now displays
values for defining the rectangle. Position the cursor in the desired field (Sketch tools toolbar) and
key in the desired values to create points & then lines for rectangle.

c) Creating an Oriented Rectangle

It creates a rectangle in the direction of your choice by defining three extemity points of the

rectangle. Click the Oriented Rectangle icon from the Profiles toolbar (Predefined Profile
subtoolbar). Position the cursor in the desired field (Sketch tools toolbar) and key in the desired
values. Click to create the oriented rectangle.

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d) Creating a Parallelogram

Click the Parallelogram icon from the Profiles toolbar (Predefined Profile subtoolbar). Position
the cursor in the desired field (Sketch tools toolbar) and key in the desired values for three points.
Click to create the parallelogram.

e) Creating an Elongated Hole

Click the Elongated Hole icon from the Profiles toolbar (Predefined Profile subtoolbar). The
Sketch tools toolbar now displays values for defining the elongated hole center-to-center axis (first
and second center point) and then either the elongated hole radius or a point on this elongated hole.
Position the cursor in the desired field (Sketch tools toolbar) and key in the desired values for two
centers& oblong distance.

f) Creating a Cylindrical Elongated Hole

Click the Cylindrical Elongated Hole icon from the Profiles toolbar (Predefined Profile
subtoolbar). The Sketch tools toolbar now displays values for defining the cylindrical elongated
hole. You are going to define the (i) circle center, (ii) arc extremities and the (iii) radius of the
cylindrical elongated hole. Position the cursor in the desired field (Sketch tools toolbar) and key in
the desired values.

g) Creating a Keyhole Profile

Click the Keyhole Profile icon from the Profiles icon (Predefined Profile sub toolbar). The
Sketch tools toolbar now displays values for defining the keyhole profile, two centers & two radii.
Position the cursor in the desired field (Sketch tools toolbar) and key in the desired values.

h) Creating an Hexagon

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Click the Hexagon icon from the Profiles icon (Predefined Profile subtoolbar). The Sketch
tools toolbar now displays values for defining the hexagon center and then either a point on this
hexagon or the hexagon dimension and angle.

i) Creating a Circle

It shows how to create a circle. We will use the Sketch tools toolbar but of course you can create

this circle manually. By default, circle centers appear on the sketch. Click the Circle icon from
the Profiles toolbar (Circle sub-toolbar). The Sketch tools toolbar now displays values for defining
the circle. Position the cursor in the desired field (Sketch tools toolbar) and key in the desired
values. When you create a circle using the Sketch tools toolbar, constraints are similarly assigned
to this circle.

j) Creating a Three Point Circle

It shows how to create a circle that goes through three points. Click the Three Point Circle icon

from the Profiles toolbar (Circle sub toolbar). The Sketch tools toolbar will display one after
the other values for defining the three points of the circle: values for defining the horizontal (H)
and vertical (V) values of a point on the circle or else the radius of this circle.

k) Creating a Circle Using Coordinates

It shows how to create a circle using center point coordinate with use of Cartesian coordinates
&also use of polar coordinates.

l) Creating a Tri-Tangent Circle

It shows how to create a tri-tangent circle by creating three tangents. Click the Tri-Tangent Circle

icon from the Profiles toolbar (Circle subtoolbar). Click three elements. The tri-tangent circle
appears as well as the corresponding constraints provided you activated the Internal Constraints

icon .

m) Creating an Arc

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It shows how to create an arc. There are three possibilities.
a) The arc center point, start point and end point.
b) Through three points - start, middle, end.
c) Through three points –start, end, middle.

n) Creating a Spline

Click the Spline icon from the Profiles toolbar. Click to indicate the points through which the
spline goes. Double-click to end the spline. Clicking another command ends the spline too.
Double-click the control point you wish to edit.

o) Connecting Elements

It shows you how to connect two curve type elements using either with an arc or a spline. Two
connect option commands appear in the Sketch tools toolbar, Connect With Arc & Connect With
Spline.

p) Creating an Ellipse

It shows how to create an ellipse (made of two infinite axes). The Sketch tools toolbar displays
values for defining the ellipse center point, major and then minor semi-axis endpoint. Position the
cursor in the desired fields and key in the desired values.

q) Creating a Parabola by Focus

Click the Parabola by Focus icon from the Profiles toolbar (Conic subtoolbar). To create a
Parabola click the focus, click apex and then the two-extremity points of parabola.

r) Creating a Hyperbola by Focus

Click the Hyperbola by Focus icon from the Profiles toolbar (Conic subtoolbar). To create a
hyperbola click the focus, center and apex, and then the hyperbola two extremity points.

s) Creating a Conic

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This task shows how to create a conic type element by clicking desired points and, if needed, using
tangents or entering the excentricity into the Sketch tools toolbar. As a result, you will create one
of the following: an ellipse, a circle, a parabola or a hyperbola.

t) Creating a Line

Click the Line icon from the Profiles toolbar. The Sketch tools toolbar now displays values for
defining in the rectangle. Click the line first point (first point). Position the cursor in the desired
field (Sketch tools toolbar) and key in the desired values for second point. To edit, double-click the
constraint corresponding to the value to be modified.

u) Creating an Infinite Line

Click the Infinite Line icon from the Profile toolbar (Line sub toolbar). To create an infinite
line either horizontal or vertical, or still according to two points you will specify select option in
tool bar.

v) Creating a Bi-Tangent Line

Click the Bi-Tangent Line icon from the Profiles toolbar (Line subtoolbar). Click two
elements to witch line should be tangent. Tangents are created as close as possible to where you
clicked on the circle.

w) Creating a Bisecting Line

This task shows how to create an infinite bisecting line by clicking two points on two existing

lines. Click the Bisecting Line icon from the Profiles toolbar (Line subtoolbar). Click two
points on the two existing lines, one after the other. The infinite bisecting line automatically
appears, in accordance with both points previously clicked.

x) Creating an Axis

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This task shows how to create an axis. You will need axes whenever creating shafts and grooves.

Click the Axis icon from the Profiles toolbar. Position the cursor in the desired field (Sketch
tools toolbar) and key in the desired values.

y) Creating a Point

This task shows you how to create a point. In this task, we will use the Sketch tools toolbar but, of

course you can create this point manually. Click the Point icon from the Profiles toolbar. The
Sketch tools toolbar displays values for defining the point coordinates: H (horizontal) and V
(vertical). Position the cursor in the desired field and key in the desired values.
Creating a Point Using Coordinates: Create a point by indicating coordinates.
Creating Equidistant Points: Create a set of equidistant points on a curve.
Creating a Point Using Intersection: Create one or more points by intersecting curve type elements.
Creating a Point Using Projection: Create one or more points by projecting points onto curve type
elements.

z) 1) Creating Centered Rectangles.

This task shows you how to create a centered rectangle. Click the Centered Rectangle icon:
Click a point in the geometry area or select an existing one. Drag the cursor to create the centered
rectangle.

2) Creating Centered Parallelograms

This task shows you how to create a centered parallelogram. Click the Centered Parallelogram
icon: . Select a first line (or an axis). Select a second line (or an axis).

2.8 Performing Operations on Profiles

1) Creating Corners

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This task shows how to create a rounded corner (arc tangent to two curves) between two lines
using trimming operation. You can create rounded corners between curves. Click the Corner icon

from the Operations toolbar. The possible corner options are displayed in the Sketch tools

toolbar: the Trim All Elements option command is activated by default. Select the two lines.
The second line is also highlighted, and the two lines are joined by the rounded corner which
moves as you move the cursor. This lets you vary the dimensions of the corner. Enter the corner
radius value in the Sketch tools toolbar. You can also click when you are satisfied with the corner
dimensions.

2) Creating Chamfers

This task shows how to create a chamfer between two lines trimming either all, the first or none of
the elements, and more precisely using one of the following chamfer definitions:

Angle/Hypotenuse, Length1/Length2, Length1/Angle. Click the Chamfer icon from the

Operation toolbar. The possible chamfer options are displayed in the Sketch tools toolbar. Trim All
/ First / No element. Select the two lines. Click when you are satisfied with the dimensions of the
chamfer.

3) Trimming Elements

Trimming two elements: This task shows how to trim two lines (either one element or all the

elements). Create two intersecting lines. Click the Trim icon from the Operations toolbar. The
Trim toolbar options display in the Sketch tools. The Trim All option is the command activated by
default. Select the first line. Position the cursor on the element to be trimmed. The location of the
relimitation depends on the location of the cursor.

Trimming one element: This task shows how to trim just one element. Click the Trim icon

from the Operations toolbar. Click the Trim One Element option . Select the two curves. First
curve will only be trimmed by second curve.

4) Breaking and Trimming

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This task shows how to quickly delete elements intersected by other Sketcher elements using

breaking and trimming operations. Click the Quick Trim icon from the Operation toolbar
(Relimitations subtoolbar). The possible trim option commands are displayed in the Sketch tools
toolbar. These options are Rubber In, Rubber out, and Break.

5) Closing Elements

This task shows how to close circles, ellipses or splines using relimiting operation. Click the Close

icon from the Operation toolbar (Relimitations subtoolbar). Select one or more elements to be
relimited. For example, a three point arc. The arc will now be closed.

6) Complement an Arc (Circle or Ellipse)

This task shows how to complement an arc (circle or an ellipse). Create a three points arc. Click on

the arc to be complemented to select it. Click the Complement icon from the Operation toolbar
(Relimitations subtoolbar). The complementary arc appears for selected arc.

7) Breaking Elements

The Break command lets you break any types of curves. The elements used for breaking curves

can be any Sketcher element. Click the Break icon from the Operations toolbar. Select the line
to be broken. Select the breaking element The selected element is broken at the selection. The line
is now composed of two movable segments.

8) Creating Symmetrical Elements

This task shows you how to repeat existing Sketcher elements using a line, a construction line or

an axis. Select the profile to be duplicated by symmetry. Click the Symmetry icon from the
Operations toolbar. The selected profile is duplicated and a symmetry constraint is created on the

condition you previously activated the Dimensional Constraint option from the Sketch tools
toolbar.
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9) Translating Elements

This task will show you how to perform a translation on 2D elements by defining the duplicate
mode and then selecting the element to be duplicated. Multi-selection is not available. Click the

Translation icon from the Operation toolbar (Transformation subtoolbar). The Translation
Definition dialog box displays and will remain displayed all along your translation creation. Enter
the number of copies you need. The duplicate mode is activated by default. Select the element(s) to
be translated. Click the translation vector start point or select an existing one. In the Translation
Definition dialog box, enter a precise value for the translation length. Click OK in the Translation
Definition dialog box to end the translation.

10) Rotating Elements

This task will show you how to rotate elements by defining the duplicate mode and then selecting

the element to be duplicated. Click the Rotation icon from the Operations toolbar
(Transformation subtoolbar). The Rotation Definition dialog box appears and will remain
displayed all along the rotation. De-activate the Duplicate mode, if needed. Select the geometry to
be rotated. Here, multi-select the entire profile. Select or click the rotation center point. Select or
click a point to define the reference line that will be used for computing the angle. Select or click a
point to define an angle. Click OK in the Rotation Definition dialog box to end the rotation.

11) Scaling Elements

This task will show you how to scale an entire profile. In other words, you are going to resize a

profile to the dimension you specify. Click the Scale icon from the Operation toolbar
(Transformation subtoolbar). The Scale Definition dialog box appears. Select the element(s) to be
scaled. Enter the center point value in the Sketch tools toolbar or click the center point on the
geometry. Enter Scale Value in the displayed Scale Definition dialog box. Selected elements will
be scaled according to scale factor.

12) Offsetting Elements

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This task shows how to duplicate an element of the following type: line, arc or circle. Click the

Offset icon from the Operations toolbar (Transformation subtoolbar). There are two
possibilities, depending on whether the line you want to duplicate by offset is already selected or
not: If the line is already selected, the line to be created appears immediately. If the line is not
already selected, select it. The line to be created appears. Select a point or click where you want
the new element to be located. The selected line is duplicated. Both lines are parallel.

You can also apply one or more offset instances to profiles made of several elements. You can
offset elements by using tangency propagation or point propagation, by creating an offset element
that is tangent to the first one, by creating several offset instances.

13) Projecting 3D Elements onto the Sketch Plane

This task shows how to project edges (elements you select in the Part Design workbench) onto the

sketch plane. Click the Project 3D Elements icon from the Operations toolbar (3D Geometry
subtoolbar). Multi-select the edges you wish to project onto the sketch plane. The edges are
projected onto the sketch plane. These projections are yellow.

14) Intersecting 3D Elements with the Sketch Plane

This task shows how to intersect a face and the sketch plane. Select the face of interest. Click the

Intersect 3D Elements icon from the Operations toolbar (3D Geometry subtoolbar). The
software computes and displays the intersection between the face and the sketch plane. The
intersection is yellow.

15) Creating Silhouette Edges

This task shows how to create silhouette edges to be used in sketches as geometry or reference

elements. Click the 3D Silhouette Edges icon from the Operation toolbar (3D Geometry
subtoolbar). Select the surface. The silhouette edges are created onto the sketch plane. These

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silhouette edges are yellow if they are associative with the 3D. You cannot move or modify them
but you can delete one of them which means deleting one trace independently from the other.

2.9 Cutting the Part by the Sketch Plane

This task shows how to make some edges visible. In other words, you are going to simplify the
sketch plane view by hiding the portion of material you do not need for sketching. Select the plane
on which you need to sketch a new profile and enter the Sketcher workbench. Click the Cut Part by

Sketch Plane icon on the Tools toolbar to hide the portion of part you do not want to see in the
Sketcher. You can now sketch the required profile.

2.10 Sketch solving status

This task explains how to display a quick diagnosis of a sketch geometry. You will be provided an
overall status of the sketch geometry as a whole, so that can correct any constraint-related problem

accordingly. Click the Sketch Solving Status icon in the Tools toolbar. It indicates the overall
status of the sketch geometry.

2.11 Customizing for Sketcher

Select the Tools -> Options command to display the Options dialog box. The Options dialog box
appears. Expand the Mechanical Design option, and then click Sketcher. The Sketcher tab appears,
containing the following sets of options:
Grid: options available Display, Primary spacing, Graduations, Snap to point and Allow
Distortions
Sketch Plane: options available Shade sketch plane, Position sketch plane parallel to screen.
Geometry: options available Create circle and ellipse centers.
Constraints: options available Create detected constraints
Colors: options available Visualization of diagnostic.

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3.Part Design

The Part Design application makes it possible to design precise 3D mechanical parts with an
intuitive and flexible user interface, from sketching in an assembly context to iterative detailed
design. Part Design application will enable you to accommodate design requirements for parts of
various complexities, from simple to advance.
This application, which combines the power of feature-based design with the flexibility of a
Boolean approach, offers a highly productive.

3.1 Opening a New CATPart Document.

This task shows you how to open a new CATPart document. Select the File -> New commands (or

click the New icon). The New dialog box is displayed, allowing you to choose the type of
document you need. Select Part in the List of Types field and click OK. The Part Design
workbench is loaded and a CATPart document opens.
The Part Design workbench document is divided into: a) the specification tree, b) the geometry
area, c) specific toolbars, a number of contextual commands available in the specification tree and
in the geometry. Remember that these commands can also be accessed from the menu bar.

You will notice that CATIA provides three planes to let you start your design. Actually, designing
a part from scratch will first require designing a sketch. Sketching profiles is performed in the
Sketcher workbench, which is fully integrated into Part Design. To open it, just click the Sketcher

icon and select the work plane of your choice. The Sketcher workbench then provides a large
number of tools allowing you to sketch the profiles you need.

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3.2 Reference Elements

You can display the Reference Elements toolbar using the View -> Tool bars -> Reference
Elements (extended/compact) command.

3.2.1 Creating Points

This task shows the various methods for creating points. Click the Point icon . The Point
Definition dialog box appears. Use the combo to choose the desired point type.

Coordinates: Creating point with X, Y, Z coordinates in the current axis-system

On curve: Creating point on curve.
On plane: Creating point on plane
On surface: Creating point on a surface.
Circle center: Creating point of a circle, ellipse.
Tangent on curve: Creating point tangent to curve.
Between: Creating point between two other points.

3.2.2 Creating Lines

Click the Line icon . The Line Definition dialog box appears. 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: Create line between the two points.
Point – Direction: Create line from a point along a direction.
Angle or normal to curve: Create line at an angle to curve.
Tangent to curve: Create line tangent to curve.
Normal to surface: Create line normal to surface.
Bisecting: Create line for bisector of two lines.

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Regardless of the line type, Start and End values are specified by entering distance values or by
using the graphic manipulators. Check the Mirrored extent option to create a line symmetrically in
relation to the selected Start point.

3.2.3 Creating Planes

This task shows the various methods for creating planes. Click the Plane icon . The Plane
Definition dialog box appears. 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.
Offset from plane: Create a plane at a distance from reference plane.
Parallel through point: Create a plane passing through a point & parallel to reference plane.
Angle or normal to plane: Create a plane at an angle to reference plane.
Through three points
Through two lines
Through point and line
Through planar curve
Tangent to surface
Normal to curve
Mean through points
Equation

3.3 Sketch-Based Features

Features are entities you combine to make up your part. The features presented here are obtained
by applying commands on initial profiles created in the Sketcher workbench or in the Generative
Shape Design workbench. Some operations consist in adding material, others in removing
material. In this section, you will learn how to create the following features: Pad, Pocket, Shaft,
Groove, Rib, Slot, Loft, and Remove Loft.

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3.3.1 PAD

Creating a pad means extruding a profile or a surface in one or two directions. The application lets
you choose the limits of creation as well as the direction of extrusion. Select Sketch as the profile
to be extruded. By default, if you extrude a profile, the application extrudes normal to the plane
used to create the profile. You will notice that by default, the application specifies the length of
your pad. But you can use the following options too: Up to Next ,Up to Last, Up to Plane, Up to
Surface. You can increase or decrease length values by dragging LIM1 or LIM2 manipulators.
Reverse direction option lets you choose which side of the profile is to be extruded. Click the
Mirrored extent option to extrude the profile in the opposite direction using the same length value.
If you wish to define another length for this direction, you do not have to click the Mirrored extent
button. Just click the More button and define the second limit.

3.3.2 Multi-Pad

With this task you can extrude multiple profiles belonging to a same sketch using different length
values. The multi-pad capability lets you do this at one time. Select Sketch that contains the
profiles to be extruded. Note that all profiles must be closed and must not intersect. The Multi-Pad
Definition dialog box appears and the profiles are highlighted in green. For each of them, you can
drag associated manipulators to define the extrusion value.

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3.3.3 Pocket

Creating a pocket consists in extruding a profile or a surface and removing the material resulting
from the extrusion. The application lets you choose the limits of creation as well as the direction of
extrusion. The limits you can use are the same as those available for creating pads. Select the

profile to be extruded. Click the Pocket icon . You can define a specific depth for your pocket
or set one of these options: up to next, up to last, up to plane, up to surface.
To define a specific depth, set the Type parameter to Dimension. Alternatively, select LIM1
manipulator and drag it downwards. By default, if you extrude a profile, the application extrudes
normal to the plane used to create the profile. To specify another direction, click the more button to
display the whole Pocket Definition dialog box, uncheck the Normal to sketch option and select a
new creation direction. Optionally click Preview to see the result. Click OK to create the pocket.
The specification tree indicates this creation. Double-click Pocket to edit it.

3.3.4 Multi-Pocket

This task shows you how to create a pocket feature from distinct profiles belonging to a same
sketch and this, using different length values. The multi-pocket capability lets you do this at one

time. Click the Multi-Pocket icon . Select Sketch that contains the profiles to be extruded. Note

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that all profiles must be closed and must not intersect. The Multi-Pocket Definition dialog box
appears and the profiles are highlighted in green. For each of them, you can drag associated
manipulators to define the extrusion value.

3.3.5 Thin Solids

When creating pads, pockets and stiffeners, you can now add thickness to both sides of their
profiles. The resulting features are then called "thin solids". This task shows you how to add
thickness to a pad. The method described here is also valid for pockets. Enter Thickness1 's value,
and click Preview to see the result. A thickness has been added to the profile as it is extruded. The
profile is previewed in dotted line. Enter Thickness2 's value, and click Preview to see the result.
Material has been added to the other side of the profile. To add material equally to both sides of
the profile, check "Neutral fiber" and click Preview to see the result. Checking the "Merge Ends"
option trims extrusions to existing material.

3.3.6 Shaft

This task illustrates how to create a shaft that is a revolved feature. You need an open or closed
profile, and an axis about which the feature will revolve. Note that you can use wireframe

geometry as your profile and axes. Select the open profile. Click the Shaft icon . The Shaft
Definition dialog box is displayed. The application displays the name of the selected sketch in the
Selection field from the Profile frame. For the purposes of our scenario, the profile and the axis
belong to the same sketch. Consequently, you do not have to select the axis.
You can create shafts from sketches including several closed profiles. These profiles must not
intersect and they must be on the same side of the axis. If needed, you can change the sketch by
clicking the field and by selecting another sketch in the geometry or in the specification tree. But

you can also edit your sketch by clicking the icon that opens the Sketcher. Once you have done
your modifications, the Shaft Definition dialog box reappears to let you finish your design. The
application previews limits LIM1 that corresponds to the first angle value, and LIM2 that
corresponds to the second angle value. The first angle value is by default 360 degrees. Enter the
values of your choice in the fields First angle and Second angle. Alternatively, select LIM1 or

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LIM2 manipulator and drag them onto the value of your choice. Click Preview to see the result.
Click OK to confirm. The shaft is created. The specification tree mentions it has been created.

3.3.7 Groove

Grooves are revolved features that remove material from existing features. This task shows you
how to create a groove, that is how to revolve a profile about an axis (or construction line). You

can use wireframe geometry as your profile and axes. Click the Groove icon . Select the
profile. The Groove Definition dialog box is displayed. The application displays the name of the
selected sketch in the Selection field from the Profile frame. The Selection field in the Axis frame
is reserved for the axes you explicitly select. For the purposes of our scenario, the profile and the
axis belong to the same sketch. Consequently, you do not have to select the axis. The system
previews a groove entirely revolving about the axis.
You can create grooves from sketches including several closed profiles. These profiles must not
intersect and they must be on the same side of the axis. If needed, you can change the sketch by
clicking the Selection field and by selecting another sketch in the geometry or in the specification
tree.
The application previews the limits LIM1 and LIM2 of the groove to be created. You can select
these limits and drag them onto the desired value or enter angle values in the appropriate fields.
Click the Reverse Direction button to inverse the revolution direction. Click OK to confirm the

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operation. CATIA removes material around the cylinder. The specification tree indicates the
groove has been created. This is your groove: Click OK to confirm.

3.3.8 Hole

Creating a hole consists in removing material from a body. Various shapes of standard holes can
be created. These holes are:

Simple Tapered Counter Bored Countersunk CounterDrilled

If you wish to use the Up to Plane or Up to Surface option, you can then define an offset between
the limit plane (or surface) and the bottom of the hole. By default, the application creates the hole
normal to the sketch face. But you can also define a creation direction not normal to the face by
unchecking the Normal to surface option and selecting an edge or a line.

3.3.9 Threaded Holes

The Thread capability removes material surrounding the hole. To define a thread, you can enter the
values of your choice, but you can use standard values. You can define three different thread types:
No Standard: uses values entered by the user,
Metric Thin Pitch: uses AFNOR standard values,
Metric Thick Pitch: uses AFNOR standard values.
Define the parameters as per your requirement to create threaded hole.

3.3.10 Rib

This task shows you how to create a rib that is how to sweep a profile along a center curve to
create material. To define a rib, you need a center curve, a planar profile and possibly a reference

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element or a pulling direction. It should be kept in mind that 3D curve if selected as center curves
must be continuous in tangency & if the center curve is planar, it can be discontinuous in

tangency. To create Rib, Click the Rib icon . The Rib Definition dialog box is displayed. Select
the profile you wish to sweep. Your profile has been designed in a plane normal to the plane used
to define the center curve. It should be a closed profile. The application now previews the rib to be
created. You can control its position by choosing one of the following options:
Keep Angle: keeps the angle value between the sketch plane used for the profile and the tangent of
the center curve.
Pulling Direction: sweeps the profile with respect to a specified direction. To define this
direction, you can select a plane or an edge.
Reference Surface: the angle value between axis and the reference surface is constant.

The Merge ends option is to be used in specific cases. It creates materials between the ends of the
rib and existing material provided that existing material trims both ends. Check the Thick Profile
option to add thickness to both sides of Sketch.2. New options are then available. Click OK. The
rib is created. The specification tree mentions this creation.

3.3.11 Slot

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This task shows you how to create a slot that is how to sweep a profile along a center curve to
remove material. To define a slot, you need a center curve, a planar profile, a reference element
and optionally a pulling direction.

Click the Slot icon . The Slot Definition dialog box is displayed. Select the profile. The profile
has been designed in a plane normal to the plane used to define the center curve. It is closed. Slots
can also be created from sketches including several profiles. These profiles must be closed and
must not intersect.
You can control the profile position by choosing one of the following options: Keep angle, Pulling
direction, Reference surface. The Merge ends option is to be used in specific cases. It lets the
application create material between the ends of the slot and existing material. Check the Thick
Profile option to add thickness to both sides.

3.3.12 Loft

You can generate a loft feature by sweeping one or more planar section curves along a computed
or user-defined spine. The feature can be made to respect one or more guide curves. The resulting
feature is a closed volume.

Click the Loft icon .The Loft Definition dialog box appears. Select the three section curves.
They are highlighted in the geometry area. The Loft capability assumes that the section curves to
be used do not intersect. Click Apply to preview the loft to be created. You can note that by
default, tangency discontinuity points are coupled. Several coupling types are available in the
Coupling tab: Ratio, Tangency, Tangency then curvature, Vertices.

By default, the application computes a spine, but if you wish to impose a curve as the spine to be
used, you just need to click the Spine tab then the Spine field and select the spine of your choice in
the geometry. Click OK to create the volume. The feature (identified as Loft.xxx) is added to the
specification tree.

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3.3.13 Remove Lofted Material

This task shows how to remove lofted material. The Remove Loft capability generates lofted
material surface by sweeping one or several planar section curves along a computed or user-
defined spine then removes this material.

Click the Remove Loft icon . The Remove Loft Definition dialog box appears. Select required
sections & guide curves if needed. By default, the application computes a spine, but if you wish to
impose a curve as the spine to be used, you just need to click the Spine tab then the Spine field and
select the spine of your choice in the geometry. Click OK to create the lofted surface. The feature
(identified as Loft.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

3.3.14 Stiffener

This task shows you how to create a stiffener by specifying creation directions. Select the profile to
be extruded. This profile has to be created in a plane normal to the face on which the stiffener will
lie. You can use wireframe geometry as your profile. If you need to use an open profile, make sure

that existing material can fully limit the extrusion of this profile. Click the Stiffener icon . The
Stiffener Definition dialog box is displayed.

Two creation modes are available:

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From side: the extrusion is performed in the profile's plane and the thickness is added normal to
the plane. Check the Neutral Fiber option. This option adds material equally to both sides of the
profile. Optionally click Preview to see the result. Click OK. The stiffener is created. The
specification tree indicates it has been created.
From Top: the extrusion is performed normal to the profile's plane and the thickness is added in
the profile's plane. The "Neutral Fiber" option adds the same thickness to both sides of the profile.
You just need to specify the value of your choice in "Thickness 1" field and this thickness is
evenly added to each side of the profile. Conversely, if you wish to add different thickness on both
sides of the profile, just uncheck the "Neutral Fiber" option and then specify the value of your
choice in "Thickness 2" field.

3.4 DRESSING UP OF SOLIDS

3.4.1 Edge Fillet

Edge fillets are smooth transitional surfaces between two adjacent faces. With the use of a constant

radius: the same radius value is applied to the entire edges. Click the Edge Fillet icon . The
Edge Fillet Definition dialog box appears. Select the edges. The edge selected then appears in the
Objects to fillet field. CATIA displays the radius value. Clicking Preview previews the fillet to be
created. Two propagation modes are available: Minimal, Tangency. If you set the Tangency mode,
the option "Trim ribbons" becomes available; you can then trim the fillets to be created. Use
Limiting Elements to limit the fillet. When filleting an edge, the fillet may sometimes affect other
edges of the part, depending on the radius value you specified. With the Edges to keep option the
application detects these edges and stops the fillet to these edges.

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3.4.2 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. Select the faces to be filleted. Click
Preview to see the fillet to be created. Click OK. The faces are filleted. This creation is indicated in
the specification tree. Instead of entering a radius value, you can use a "hold curve" to compute the
fillet. Depending on the curve's shape, the fillet's radius value is then more or less variable.

3.4.3 Tritangent Fillet

The creation of tritangent fillets involves the removal of one of the three faces selected. You need
three faces two of which are supporting faces. Select the faces to be filleted. Select the face to be
removed. The fillet will be tangent to this face. Click Preview to see the fillet to be created. The
creation of this fillet is indicated in the specification tree indicates the opposite portion of material.
Click OK.

3.4.4 Chamfer

Chamfering consists in removing or adding a flat section from a selected edge to create a beveled
surface between the two original faces common to that edge. The default parameters to be defined
are Length1 and Angle. You can change this creation mode and set Length1 and Length2.
Chamfers can be created by selecting a face; the application chamfers its edges. Click Preview to
see the chamfers to be created. Click OK. The specification tree indicates this creation.

3.4.5 Basic Draft

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Drafts are defined on molded parts to make them easier to remove from molds. The characteristic
elements are:
Pulling direction: this direction corresponds to the reference from which the draft faces are
defined.
Draft angle: this is the angle that the draft faces make with the pulling direction.
Parting element: this plane, face or surface cuts the part in two and each portion is drafted
according to its previously defined direction.
Neutral element: this element defines a neutral curve on which the drafted face will lie. This
element will remain the same during the draft.

The Propagation option can be set to: None: there is no propagation, Smooth: the application
integrates the faces propagated in tangency onto the neutral face to define the neutral element.

Parting = Neutral to reuse the plane you selected as the neutral element. If Keep Parting =Neutral,
you then can also check the option Draft both sides. Click OK. Material has been removed & the
face is drafted.

3.4.6 Variable Angle Draft

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Click the Variable Angle Draft icon . The Draft Definition dialog box that appears, displays the
variable angle draft option as activated. Select the face to be drafted. Select face as the neutral
element. The application detects two vertices and displays two identical radius values. Increase the
angle value: only one value is modified accordingly in the geometry. To edit the other angle value,
select the value in the geometry and increase it in the dialog box. To add a point on the edge, click
the Points field. You can add as many points as you wish. Click OK to confirm.

3.4.7 Draft from Reflect Lines

This will draft a face by using reflect lines as neutral lines from which the resulting faces will be

generated. Click the Draft from Reflect Lines icon . The Draft from Reflect Lines Definition
dialog box is displayed and an arrow appears, indicating the default pulling direction. Select the
face. The application detects reflect line and displays it in pink. This line is used to support the
drafted faces. Enter an angle value in the Angle field. The reflect line is moved accordingly. Click
Preview to get an idea of what the draft will look like.

3.4.8 Shell

Shelling a feature means emptying it, while keeping a given thickness on its sides. Shelling may

also consist in adding thickness to the outside. Click the Shell icon . The Shell Definition
dialog box appears. The selected face becomes purple. Select the face to be removed. Enter the
Default inside thickness field. Click OK. The feature is shelled.

3.4.9 Thickness

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You can add or remove thickness to parts. Click the Thickness icon . The Thickness Definition
dialog box is displayed. Select the faces to thicken. Enter a positive value. Click OK. The part is
thickened accordingly. This creation appears in the specification tree.

3.4.10 Thread/Tap

The Thread/Tap capability creates threads or taps, depending on the cylindrical entity of interest.

Click the Thread/Tap icon . The Thread/Tap Definition dialog box is displayed. Select the
cylindrical surface you wish to thread. Select the upper face as the limit face. Limit faces must be
planar. The application previews the thread.
The Numerical Definition frame provides three different thread types:
No Standard: uses values entered by the user,
Metric Thin Pitch: uses AFNOR standard values,
Metric Thick Pitch:: uses AFNOR standard values.

Enter the thread depth, pitch value. Check the Left-Threaded option. Click Preview. Red lines
provide a simplified representation of the thread. Click OK to confirm. There is no geometrical
representation is the geometry area, but the thread (identified as Thread.xxx) is added to the
specification tree.

3.5 Transformation Features

Following are different transformation features available

3.5.1 Translation

The Translate command applies to current bodies. This task shows you how to translate a body.

Click the Translate icon . The Translate Definition dialog box appears. 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 area. Specify the translation distance by entering a value. Click OK to
create the translated element. The element (identified as Translate.xxx) is added to the
specification tree.
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3.5.2 Rotation

This task shows you how to rotate geometry about an axis. The command applies to current

bodies. Click the Rotate icon . The Rotate Definition dialog box appears. Select an edge as the
rotation axis. Enter a value for the rotation angle. The element is rotated. You can drag it by using
the graphic manipulator to adjust the rotation. Click OK to create the rotated element. The element
(identified as Rotate.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

3.5.3 Symmetry

This task shows how to transform geometry by means of a symmetry operation. The Symmetry

command applies to current bodies. Click the Symmetry icon .The Symmetry Definition
dialog box appears. Select a point, line or plane as reference element. Click OK to create the
symmetrical element. The original element is no longer visible but remains in the specification
tree. The new element (identified as Symmetry.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

3.5.4 Mirror

Mirroring a body or a list of features consists in duplicating these elements using symmetry. You
can select a face or a plane to define the mirror reference. Multi-select both pads as the features to

be mirrored. Click the Mirror icon . The Mirror Definition dialog box appears. Select the
lateral face to define the mirror reference. The application previews the material to be created.
Click OK to confirm the operation. The pads are mirrored. The specification tree mentions this
creation.

3.5.5 Rectangular Pattern

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You may need to duplicate the whole geometry of one or more features and to position this
geometry on a part. Patterns let you do so. CATIA allows you to define three types of patterns:
rectangular, circular and user patterns. These features accelerate the creation process.

Rectangular Pattern task shows you how to duplicate the geometry of one pocket right away at
the location of your choice using a rectangular pattern. Select the feature you wish to copy. Click

the Rectangular Pattern icon . The Rectangular Pattern Definition dialog box that appears
displays the name of the geometry to pattern. Click the Reference element field and select the edge
to specify the first direction of creation. An arrow is displayed on the pad. If needed, check the
Reverse button or click the arrow to modify the direction.
The parameters you can choose are: Instances & Length, Instances & Spacing, Spacing & Length.
Choosing Instances & Spacing dims. Enter 3 as the number of instances you wish to obtain in the
first direction. Defining the spacing along the grid. Checking the Keep specifications option
creates instances with the limit Up to Next (Up to Last, Up to Plane or Up to Surface) defined for
the original feature.
Now, click the Second Direction tab to define other parameters. Note that defining a second
direction is not compulsory. Creating a rectangular defining only one direction is possible. Click
the Reference element field and select the edge to the left to define the second direction. Let the
Instances & Spacing option. Click Preview to make sure the pattern meets your needs. Additional
pockets will be aligned along this second direction. Click OK.This is the resulting pattern. The
feature "RectPattern.1" is displayed in the specification tree

3.5.6 Circular Pattern

This task will show you how to duplicate geometry of one or more features right away at the
location of your choice using a circular pattern. Make sure the item you wish to duplicate is
correctly located in relation to the circular rotation axis. Select the pad which geometry you wish

to copy. Click the Circular Pattern icon . The Circular Pattern Definition dialog box is
displayed and the feature's name appears in the Object field. The Parameters field lets you choose
the type of parameters you wish to specify so that the application will be able to compute the
location of the items copied. These parameters are: Instances & total angle, Instances & angular
spacing, Angular spacing & total angle, complete crown.
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Set the Instances & Angular spacing options to define the parameters you wish to specify. Enter 7
as the number of pads you wish to obtain. Enter 50 degrees as the angular spacing.
Click the Reference element field and select the upper face to determine the rotation axis. This axis
will be normal to the face. Two arrows are then displayed on the pad. To define a direction, you
can select an edge or a planar face. Click Preview. The pad will be repeated seven times.
Now, you are going to add a crown to your part. To do so, click the Crown Definition tab. Enter 2
in the Circle(s) field. Enter -18 mm in the Circle spacing field. Click OK. One more ring of pads
will be added.

3.5.7 User Pattern

The User Pattern command lets you duplicate a feature as many times as you wish at the locations
of your choice. Locating instances consists in specifying anchor points. These points are created in

the Sketch. Select the feature you wish to duplicate. Click the User Pattern icon . The User
Pattern dialog box is displayed. The feature appears in the Object field. Select 'Sketch ' in the
specification tree and click Preview. Click OK. The specification tree indicates this creation.

3.5.8 Scaling

Scaling a body means resizing it to the dimension you specify. Select the body to be scaled. Click

the Scaling icon . The Scaling Definition dialog box appears. Select the reference point located
on the body. Enter a value in the Ratio field or select the manipulator and drag it. The ratio
increases as you drag the manipulator in the direction pointed by the right end arrow. Click OK.
The body is scaled. The specification tree indicates you performed this operation.

3.6 Measuring

3.6.1 Measuring Distances & Angles between Geometrical

Entities & Points

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This task explains how to measure minimum distances and angles between geometrical entities

(surfaces, edges, vertices and entire products) or between points. Click the Measure Between
icon. The Measure Between dialog box appears. The Measure Item command is accessible from

the Measure Between dialog box. Simply click the Measure Item icon in the Definition box.
Select the desired measure type.

Any geometry (default mode): measures distances and angles between defined geometrical entities
(points, edges, surfaces, etc.). Exact else approximate (default mode): measures access exact data
and wherever possible true values are given. If exact values cannot be measured, approximate
values are given (identified by a ~ sign). Approximate: measures are made on tessellated objects
and approximate values are given (identified by a ~ sign). Click to select a surface, edge or vertex,
or an entire product (selection 1). Click to select another surface, edge or vertex, or an entire
product (selection 2).
A line representing the minimum distance vector is drawn between the selected items in the
geometry area. Appropriate distance values are displayed in the dialog box.

3.6.2 Measuring Properties

This task explains how to measure the properties associated to a selected item (points, edges,
surfaces and entire products). This command lets you choose the selection mode, the calculation
mode and axis system when measuring properties. Switch to Design Mode. Set View -> Render

Style to Shading with Edges. Click the Measure Item icon. The Measure Item dialog box
appears. By default, properties of active products are measured with respect to the product axis
system. Properties of active parts are measured with respect to the part axis system. The Keep
Measure option lets you keep current and subsequent measures as features. This is useful if you
want to keep measures as annotations for example.

3.6.3 Measuring Inertia

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This task explains how to measure the inertia properties of an object. You can measure the inertia
properties of both surfaces and volumes. The area, density, mass and volume (volumes only) of the
object are also calculated. Measures are persistent: a Keep Measure option in the Measure Inertia
dialog box lets you keep the current measure as a feature in the specification tree.

Click the Measure Inertia icon. Click to select the desired item in the specification tree. The
Dialog Box expands to display the results for the selected item. The measure is made on the
selection, geometry or assembly. To measure the inertia of individual sub-products making up an
assembly and see the results in the document window, you must select the desired sub-product. In
addition to the center of gravity G, the principal moments of inertia M and the matrix of inertia
calculated with respect to the center of gravity, the dialog box also gives the area, volume
(volumes only), density and mass of the selected item.

3.7 Surface-Based Features

3.7.1 Split

You can split a body with a plane, face or surface. Select the blue pad as the body to be split. Click

the Split icon . Select the splitting surface. The Split Definition dialog box is displayed,
indicating the splitting element. An arrow appears indicating the portion of body that will be kept.
If the arrow points in the wrong direction, you can click it to reverse the direction. Click OK. The
body is split. Material has been removed. The specification tree indicates you performed the
operation.

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 INITIAL FINAL

3.7.2 Thick Surface

You can add material to a surface in two opposite directions by using the Thick Surface capability.

Select the object you wish to thicken, that is the extrude element. Click the Thick Surface icon
. The Thick Surface Definition dialog box is displayed. In the geometry area, the arrow that
appears on the extrude element indicates the first offset direction. If you need to reverse the arrow,
just click it. Enter 10mm as the first offset value and 6mm as the second offset value. Click OK.
The surface is thickened. The specification tree indicates you performed the operation.

INITIAL FINAL

3.7.3 Close Surface

This task shows you to close surfaces. Select the surface to be closed. Click the Close Surface icon

. The Close Surface Definition dialog box is displayed. Click OK. The surface is closed . The
specification tree indicates you performed the operation.

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 INITIAL FINAL

3.7.4 Sew Surface

Sewing means joining together a surface and a body. This capability consists in computing the
intersection between a given surface and a body while removing useless material. You can sew all
types of surfaces onto bodies. Select the surface you wish to sew onto the body. Click the Sew

Surface icon . The Sew Surface Definition dialog box is displayed, indicating the object to be
sewn. An arrow appears indicating the portion of material that will be kept. Click the arrow to
reverse the direction. Click OK. The surface is sewn onto the body. Some material has been
removed. The specification tree indicates you performed the operation.

INITIAL FINAL

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3.8 Advanced Tasks

This section will explain and illustrate how to perform operations on bodies and will provide
recommendations about how to optimize the use of the application.

3.8.1 Inserting a New Body

This task shows you how to insert a new body into the part. When your part includes several
bodies, you can then associate these bodies in different ways to obtain the final shape of the part.

Click the Insert Body icon. The result is immediate. CATIA displays this new body referred to
as "Body.x" in the specification tree. It is underlined, indicating that it is the active body. You can
now construct this new body using the diverse commands available in this workbench or in other
workbenches. You will notice that Part Body and Body.x are autonomous. The operations you
would accomplish on any of them would not affect the integrity of the other one. Now, if you wish
to combine them, refer to the following tasks showing the different ways of attaching bodies:
Adding Bodies, Assembling Bodies, Intersecting Bodies, Removing Bodies, Trimming Bodies.

3.8.2 Assembling Bodies

Assembling is an operation integrating your part specifications. It allows you to create complex
geometry. Example: you are going to assemble a pocket on Part Body. You will note that as this
pocket is the first feature of the body, material has been added. To assemble them, select Body 2

and click the Assemble icon . The Assemble dialog box displays to let you determine the
operation you wish to perform. By default, CATIA proposes to assemble the selected body to Part
Body. Click OK to confirm. During the operation, CATIA removes the material defined by the
pocket from Part Body. This is your new Part Body.

INITIAL

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FINAL

3.8.3 Adding Bodies

This task illustrates how to add a body to another body. Adding a body to another one means

uniting them. Click the Add icon . The Add dialog box that appears displays the name of the
selected body and the Part Body. By default, the application proposes to add the selected body to

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Part Body. Click OK. You will note that: the material common to Part Body and Body.1 has been
removed.
INITIAL

FINAL

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3.8.4 Removing Bodies

This task illustrates how to remove a body from another body. Click the Remove icon .
The result is immediate. However, if the specification tree is composed of several bodies, a dialog
box displays to let you determine the second body you wish to use. By default, the application
proposes to remove the selected body from Part Body.

3.8.5 Intersecting Bodies

The material resulting from an intersection operation between two bodies is the material shared by
these bodies. When working in a CATProduct document, it is no longer necessary to copy and
paste the bodies belonging to distinct parts before associating them. You can directly associate

these bodies using the same steps as described in this task. Click the Intersect... icon. The
Intersect dialog box displays to let you determine the second body you wish to use. By default, the

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application proposes to intersect the selected body to Part Body. Click OK to confirm. Click OK to
confirm. CATIA computes the intersection between the two bodies.

3.8.6 Trimming Bodies

Applying the Union Trim command on a body entails defining the elements to be kept or removed
while performing the union operation. You need to select the required bodies and specify the faces

you wish to keep or remove. Click the Union Trim icon . Select the body you wish to trim, i.e.
Body.2. The Trim Definition dialog box is displayed. The faces you cannot select are displayed in
red. Click the Faces to remove field and select Body.2 's inner face. The selected face appears in
pink, meaning that the application is going to remove it. Click the Faces to keep field and select
Part Body. 's inner face. This face becomes blue, meaning that the application is going to keep it.
Clicking the Preview button lets you check if your specifications meet your needs or not. To

restore the view, you simply need to click the Undo command. Click OK to confirm. The
application computes the material to be removed. The operation (identified as Trim.xxx) is added
to the specification tree.
aa

Body.2 Part Body

3.8.7 Remove Lump

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The Remove Lump command lets you reshape a body by removing material. To remove material,
either you specify the faces you wish to remove or conversely, the faces you wish to keep. In some
cases, you need to specify both the faces to remove and the faces to keep. Select the body you wish

to reshape, that is Part Body. Click the Remove Lump icon . The Remove Lump dialog box
appears. The application prompts you to specify the faces you wish to remove as well as the faces
you need to keep. Click the Faces to remove field and select the colored face. The selected face
appears in pink, meaning that it will be removed during the operation. Click OK.

3.9 Customizing a Part Design Work Bench

3.9.1 Customizing a CATPart document

This task shows you how to set general settings. Select the Tools -> Options... command. Click the
Infrastructure category, the Part Infrastructure subcategory, then the Part Document tab. The tab
appears, containing one option:
New Part Check Create an Axis System when creating a new part if you wish to create a three-
axis system which origin point is defined by the intersection of the three default planes that is
plane xy, plane yz, and plane zx. When the CATPart is open, the axis system is displayed both in
the geometry and in the specification tree

3.9.2 Customizing General Settings

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This task shows you how to set general settings. Select the Tools -> Options... command Click the
Infrastructure category, then the Part Infrastructure subcategory. The General tab appears,
containing three categories of options: External References, Update, and Delete Operation.
External References- Checking the Keep link with selected object option lets you maintain the
links between external references, copied elements for example, and their origins when you are
editing these elements. This option is used as you are editing parts included in assemblies. If later
you need to cut the link between external references and their origin, you just need to use the
Isolate command.- Check Create external references in Show mode to define the visualization
mode for the elements while they are being created.- Check Confirm when creating a link with
selected object- Check Only use published elements for external selection if you want to make
only published elements valid for selection.
Update- Check Manual: you wish to control your update operations. Check Automatic: parts are
updated automatically. Check Synchronize all external references for update to make sure that
CATIA updates elements copied from other parts.
Delete Operation - Check Display the Delete dialog box if you wish to access filters for deletion
Check Delete referenced sketches if you wish to delete sketches associated to features while you
are deleting those features. Sketches will be deleted only if they are exclusive, which means that if
they are shared by other features, they will not be deleted.

3.9.3 Customizing the Tree and Geometry Views

This task shows you how to control the display of the elements you create in the specification tree.
It also shows you how to control the display of features in the geometry area. Select the Tools ->
Options command. The Options dialog box is displayed. Click the Infrastructure category, then the
Part Infrastructure subcategory, then Display tab. The tab appears, containing two categories of
options: Specification tree, Geometry, from where we can customize the Tree and Geometry
Views.

4.Wireframe and Surface workbench

The basic tasks you will perform in the Wireframe and Surface workbench are mainly the creation
of wireframe and surface geometry you will use to build your part design. When creating a
geometric element, you often need to select other elements as inputs. When selecting a sketch as

54
the input element, some restrictions apply, depending on the feature you are creating. You should
avoid selecting self-intersecting sketches as well as sketches containing heterogeneous elements
such as a curve and a point for example.

4.1 Creating Multiple Points

This task shows how to create several points at a time. Click the Point & Planes Repetition

icon . Select a curve or a Point on curve. The Multiple Points Creation dialog box appears.
Define the number or points to be created (instances field). If you check the with end points option,
the last and first instances are the curve end points. Click OK to create the point instances evenly
spaced over the curve on the direction indicated by the arrow.

4.2 Creating Planes Between Other Planes

This task shows how to create any number of planes between two existing planes, in only one

operation. Click the Planes Repetition icon . The Planes Between dialog box appears. Select
the two planes between which the new planes must be created. Specify the number of planes to be
created between the two selected planes. Click OK to create the planes.

4.3 Creating Polylines

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This task shows how to create a Polyline that is a broken line made of several connected segments.

These linear segments may be connected by blending radii. Click the Polyline icon . The
Polyline Definition dialog box appears. Select several points in a row to create a polyline. It is
possible to add or remove points on polyline. Click OK in the dialog box to create the polyline.

4.4 Creating Circles

This task shows the various methods for creating circles and circular arcs. Click the Circle icon

. The Circle Definition dialog box appears. Use the combo to choose the desired circle type:
Center and radius, Center and point, Two points and radius, Three points, Bitangent and radius ,
Bitangent and point ,Tritangent. Enter all input as specified. For example for first option: 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. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc. The circle (identified as Circle.xxx)
is added to the specification tree.

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4.5 Creating Splines

This task shows the various methods for creating spline curves. Click the Spline icon . The
Spline Definition dialog box appears. Select two or more points where the spline is to pass. An
updated spline is visualized each time a point is selected. 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. You can select the Geometry on support check box, and select a
support.

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4.6 Creating a Helix

This task shows the various methods for creating helical 3D curves, such as coils and springs

for example. Click the Helix icon . The Helix Curve Definition dialog box appears. Select a
starting point and an axis. Set the helix parameters: Pitch, Height, Orientation, Starting Angle,
Taper Angle, Profile. Click OK to create the helix. The helical curve (identified as Helix.xxx)
is added to the specification tree.

4.7 Creating Corners

This task shows you how to create a corner between two curves or between a point and a curve.

Click the Corner icon . The Corner Definition dialog box appears. Select two curves as
reference element. The corner will be created between these two references. Select the Support
surface. The resulting corner is a curve seen as an arc of circle lying on a support place or
surface. The reference elements must lie on this support, as well as the center of the circle
defining the corner. Enter a Radius value. Several solutions may be possible, so click the Next
Solution button to move to another corner solution, or directly select the corner you want in the
geometry. You can select the Trim elements check box if you want to trim and assemble the
two reference elements to the corner. Click OK to create the corner.

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4.8 Creating Connect Curves

This task shows how to create connecting curves between two existing curves. Click the

Connect Curve icon . The Connect Curve Definition dialog box appears. Select a first Point on
a curve then a second Point on a second curve. Use the combos to specify the desired Continuity
type: Point, Tangency or Curvature. You can select the Trim elements check box if you want to
trim and assemble the two initial curves to the connect curve. Click OK to create the connect
curve.

4.9 Creating Spirals

This task shows how to create curves in the shape of spirals, that is a in 2D plane. Click the Spiral
icon . The Spiral Curve Definition dialog box appears.

Select a supporting plane and the Center point for the spiral. Specify a Reference direction along
which the Start radius value is measured and from which the angle is computed, when the spiral is
defined by an angle. Specify the Start radius value, that is the distance from the Center point, along
the Reference direction, at which the spiral's first revolution starts.Define the spiral's Orientation,
that is the rotation direction: clockwise or counter clockwise

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4.10 Creating Projections

This task shows you how to create geometry by projecting one or more elements onto a support.

The projection may be normal or along a direction. Click the Projection icon . The Projection
Definition dialog box appears. Select the element to be projected. You can select several elements
to be projected. Select the Support element. Use the combo to specify the direction type for the
projection: Normal or Along a direction. Click OK to create the projection element. The projection
is added to the specification tree.

4.11 Creating Conic Curves

This task shows the various methods for creating conics, that is curves defined by five constraints:
start and end points, passing points or tangents. The resulting curves are arcs of either parabolas,

hyperbolas or ellipses. Click the Conic icon . The Conic Definition dialog box opens.

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Fill in the conic curve parameters, depending on the type of curve to be created by selecting
geometric elements (points, lines, etc.)

4.12 Creating Intersections

This task shows you how to create wireframe geometry by intersecting elements. Click the

Intersection icon . The Intersection Definition dialog box appears. Select the two elements to
be intersected. The intersection is displayed. Choose the type of intersection to be displayed: A
Curve, Point, A Contour, A Face. Click OK to create the intersection element. This element
(identified as Intersect.xxx) is added to the specification tree. Avoid using input elements, which
are tangent to each other since this may result in geometric instabilities in the tangency zone.

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4.13 Creating Surfaces

Wireframe and Surface allows you to model both simple and complex surfaces using techniques
such as extruding, lofting and sweeping. Two creation modes are available: either you create
geometry with its history or not. Geometry with no history is called a datum. For creating datum
feature use create datum icon in tool menu icon.

4.13.1 Creating Extruded Surfaces

This task shows how to create a surface by extruding a profile along a given direction. Click the

Extrude icon . The Extruded Surface Definition dialog box appears. Select the profile to be
extruded and specify the desired extrusion direction. Enter numerical values or use the graphic
manipulators to define the start and end limits of the extrusion. You can click the Reverse
Direction button to display the extrusion on the other side of the selected profile. Click OK to
create the surface.

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4.13.2 Creating Revolution Surfaces

This task shows how to create a surface by revolving a planar profile about an axis. Click the

Revolve icon . The Revolution Surface Definition dialog box appears. Select the Profile
and a line indicating the desired Revolution axis. Enter angle values or use the graphic
manipulators to define the angular limits of the revolution surface. Click OK to create the
surface. There must be no intersection between the axis and the profile. If the profile is a sketch
containing an axis, the latter is selected by default as the revolution axis. You can select
another revolution axis simply by selecting a new line.

4.13.3 Creating Spherical Surfaces

This task shows how to create surfaces in the shape of a sphere. The spherical surface is based on a
center point, an axis-system defining the meridian & parallel curves orientation, and angular limits.

Click the Sphere icon from the Extrude-Revolution toolbar. The Sphere Surface Definition

63
dialog box is displayed. Select the center point of the sphere. Click Apply to preview the surface.
Modify the Sphere radius and the Angular Limits as required. Click OK to create the surface.

4.13.4 Creating Offset Surfaces

This task shows how to create a surface by offsetting an existing surface. Click the Offset icon
. The Offset Surface Definition dialog box appears. Select the surface to be offset. Specify the
offset by entering a value or using the graphic manipulator. An arrow indicates the proposed
direction for the offset. The offset surface is displayed normal to the reference surface. Click
Apply to previews the offset surface. Check the Both sides button to generate two offset surfaces,
one on each side of the reference surface. Click OK to create the surfaces.

4.13.5 Creating Swept Surfaces

a) Using an Explicit Profile

This task shows how to create a swept surface that uses an explicit profile. 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

64
one or two guide curves while respecting a spine. The profile is swept out in planes normal to the
spine.

This task shows how to create swept surfaces that use an explicit profile. Click the Sweep icon
. The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears. Click the Explicit profile icon. Select the
planar Profile to be swept out. Select a Guide curve. If needed, select a Spine. If no spine is
selected, the guide curve is implicitly used as the spine. You can define relimiters (points or
planes) in order to longitudinally reduce the domain of the sweep, if the swept surface is longer
than necessary for example. If needed, select a Second Guide. If you want to control the position
of the profile during the sweep, you can select a reference Surface.

In the Smooth sweeping section, you can check: the Angular correction option to smooth the
sweeping motion along the reference surface. Click OK to create the swept surface.

b) Using a Linear Profile

This command is only available with the Generative Shape Design product. This task shows how

to create swept surfaces that use an implicit linear profile. Click the Sweep icon . The Swept
Surface Definition dialog box appears. Click the Line profile icon. The five possible cases are Two
limits, Limit and middle, With reference surface, With reference curve, With tangency surface,
With draft direction. Click the Law button if you want a specific law to be applied rather that the
absolute value. Click OK to create the swept surface. The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is
added to the specification tree.

c) Using a Circular Profile

This command is only available with the Generative Shape Design product. This task shows how

to create swept surfaces that use an implicit circular profile. Click the Sweep icon . The Swept
Surface Definition dialog box appears. Click the Circle icon, then use the combo to choose the
subtype.
The two following cases are possible using guide curves: Select three guide curves, Select two
guide curves and enter a Radius value. You can then choose between four possible solutions by
clicking the Other Solution button.

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The two following cases are possible using a center curve: Select a Center Curve and a Reference
angle curve, Select a Center Curve and enter a Radius value.
The two following cases are possible using a reference surface to which the swept surface is to be
tangent: Select two guide curves, and a reference surface to which the sweep is to be tangent.
Select guide curves, a reference surface to which the sweep is to be tangent, and enter a radius
value.
Click OK to create the swept surface. The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the
specification tree.

d) Using a Conical Profile

This command is only available with the Generative Shape Design product. This task shows how
to create swept surfaces that use an implicit conical profile, such as parabolas, hyperbolas or

ellipses. Click the Sweep icon . The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears. Click the
Conic icon, and then use the combo to choose the subtype. Two guides, Three guides, Four guides,
Five guides. Click OK to create the swept surface. The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added
to the specification tree.

4.13.6 Creating Filling Surfaces

This task shows how to create fill surfaces between a number of boundary segments. Click the Fill

icon . The Fill Surface Definition dialog box appears. Select curves or surface edges to form a
closed boundary. You can edit the boundary by first selecting an element in the dialog box list then
choosing a button to either. Add a new element after or before the selected one, Remove the
selected element, Replace the selected element by another curve. Select a passing point. This point
should lie within the area delimited by the selected curves. If not, the results may be inconsistent.
Click OK to create the fill surface.

4.13.7 Creating Lofted Surfaces

You can generate a lofted surface by sweeping one or two planar section curves along a computed
or user-defined spine. The surface can be made to respect one or more guide curves. Click the Loft

icon . The Lofted Surface Definition dialog box appears. Select one or two section curves. If
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needed, select one or more guide curves. In the Spine tab page, select the Spine check box to use
an automatically computed spine or select a curve to impose that curve as the spine. The
Relimitation tab lets you specify the loft relimitation type. You can choose to limit the loft only on
the Start section, only on the End section, on both, or on none. Use the Planar surface detection
check button to automatically convert planar surfaces into planes. Several coupling types are
available, depending on the section configuration: Ratio, Tangency,
Tangency then curvature, Vertices. Click OK to create the lofted surface.

4.13.8 Creating Blended Surfaces

This task shows how to create a blended surface, that is a surface between two wireframe
elements, taking a number of constraints into account, such as tension, continuity, and so forth.

Click the Blend icon . The Blend Definition dialog box appears. Successively select the first
curve and its support, then the second curve and its support. Set the continuity type using the Basic
tab. Activate the Trim first/second support option to trim them by the curve and assemble them to
the blend surface. You can also specify whether and where the blend boundaries must be tangent to
the supports boundaries: Both extremities, None, Start extremity, End extremity. Set the tension
type using the Tension tab. It defines the tension of the blend at its limits. Click OK. The surface
(identified as Blend.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

4.14 Performing Operations on Shape Geometry

Wireframe and Surface allows you to modify your design using techniques such as trimming,
translating and rotating.

4.14.1 Splitting Geometry

This task shows how to split a surface or wireframe element by means of a cutting element. Click

the Split icon . The Split Definition dialog box appears. Select the element to be split. Select
the cutting element. A preview of the split appears. You can change the portion to be kept by
selecting that portion. You can select several cutting elements. In that case, note that the selection
order is important as the area to be split is defined according to the side to be kept in relation to
current splitting element.

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The Elements to remove and Elements to keep options allow defining the portions to be removed
or kept when performing the split operation. Click OK to split the element. Check the Keep both
sides option to retain the split element after the operation. In that case it appears as a separate
Split.xxx element in the specification tree. Check the Intersections computation button to create an
aggregated intersection when performing the splitting operation.

4.14.2 Trimming Geometry

This task shows how to trim two surfaces or two wireframe elements. Click the Trim icon . The
Trim Definition dialog box appears. 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 are advised to use the Elements to remove and
Elements to keep options to define the portions to be kept or removed. Click OK to trim the
surfaces or wireframe elements. The trimmed element (identified as Trim.xxx) is added to the
specification tree. Check the Result simplification button to allow the system to automatically
reduce the number of faces in the resulting trim whenever possible.

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4.14.3 Boundary Curves

This task shows how to create boundary curves. Click the Boundary icon . The Boundary
Definition dialog box appears. Select a Surface edge. The boundary curve is displayed according
to the selected propagation type. You can relimit the boundary curve by means of two elements, a
point on the curve for example. Click OK to create the boundary curve.

4.14.4 Extracting Geometry

This task shows how to perform an extract from elements (curves, points, solids, and so forth.).
This may be especially useful when a generated element is composed of several non-connex sub-
elements. Using the extract capability you can generate separate elements from these sub-elements,
without deleting the initial element. Select an edge or the face of an element. The selected element

is highlighted. Click the Extract icon . The Extract Definition dialog box is displayed. Choose
the Propagation type: Point continuity, No propagation, or Tangent continuity. Click OK to extract
the element. The extracted element (identified as Extract.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

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4.14.5 Translating Geometry

This task shows you how to translate one, or more, point, line or surface element. Click the

Translate icon . The Translate Definition dialog box appears. Select the element to be
translated. Select the Vector Definition. Click OK to create the translated element. The element
(identified as Translate .xxx) is added to the specification tree.

4.14.6 Rotating Geometry

This task shows you how to rotate geometry about an axis. Click the Rotate icon . The Rotate
Definition dialog box appears. Select the element to be rotated. Select a line as the rotation axis.
Enter a value or use the Drag manipulator to specify the rotation angle. Click OK to create the
rotated element. Use the Repeat object after OK checkbox to create several rotated surfaces. Click
OK.

4.14.7 Performing a Symmetry on Geometry

This task shows you how to transform geometry by means of a symmetry operation. Click the

Symmetry icon . The Symmetry Definition dialog box appears. Select the element to be
transformed by symmetry. Select a point, line or plane as reference element. Click OK to create the
symmetrical element.

4.14.8 Transforming Geometry by Scaling

This task shows you how to transform geometry by means of a scaling operation. Click the Scaling
icon . The Scaling Definition dialog box appears. Select the element to be transformed by
scaling. Select the scaling reference point, plane or planar surface. Specify the scaling ratio by
entering a value or using the Drag manipulator. Click OK to create the scaled element.

4.14.9 Transforming Geometry by Affinity

This task shows you how to transform geometry by means of an affinity operation. Click the

Affinity icon . The Affinity Definition dialog box appears. Select the element to be
transformed by affinity. Specify the characteristics of the axis system to be used for the affinity
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operation. Specify the affinity ratios by entering the desired X, Y, Z values. Click OK to create the
affinity element.

4.14.10 Extrapolating Surfaces

This task shows you how to extrapolate a surface boundary. Click the Extrapolate icon . The
Extrapolate Definition dialog box appears. Select a surface Boundary. Select the surface to be
Extrapolated. Specify the Limit of the extrapolation by either by entering the value of the
extrapolation length or selecting a limit surface or plane. Specify the Continuity type tangent &
curvature. Specify Extremities conditions between the extrapolated surface and the support
surface: tangent & normal. Select the Assemble result check box if you want the extrapolated
surface to be assembled to the support surface. Click OK to create the extrapolated surface.

4.14.11 Joining Surfaces or Curves

This task shows how to join two surfaces or two curves. The surfaces or curves to be joined must

be adjacent. Click the Join icon. The Join Definition dialog box appears. Select the surfaces or
curves to be joined. Check the Check tangency button to find out whether the elements to be joined
are tangent. Check the Check connexity button to find out whether the elements to be joined are
connex. Check the Check manifold button to find out whether the resulting join is manifold. Other
options available are Simplify the result, Ignore erroneous elements, Merging distance, Angle
Tolerance, Sub-Elements To Remove, federation. Click OK to create the joined surface or curve.

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4.14.12 Healing Geometry

This task shows how to heal surfaces, that is how to fill any gap that may be appearing between

two surfaces. Click the Healing icon. The Healing Definition dialog box appears. Select the
surfaces to be healed. From the Parameters tab, define the distance below which elements are to be
healed. You can also set the Distance objective. Click OK to create the healed surfaces. The
surface (identified as Heal.xxx) is added to the specification tree. Provided the Tangent mode is
active, you can retain sharp edges, by clicking the Sharpness tab, and selecting one or more edges.
The Sharpness angle allows to redefine the limit between a sharp angle and a flat angle.

4.14.13 Restoring a Surface

In this task you will learn how to restore the limits of a surface when it has been split using the

Break Surface or Curve icon. Click the Untrim icon in the Join-Healing Modification
toolbar. The Untrim dialog box is displayed. Select the surface which limits should be restored.
Select the surface which limits should be restored. Click OK in the dialog box. A progression bar
is displayed, while the surface is restored.

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4.14.14 Disassembling Elements

In this task you will learn how to disassemble multi-cell bodies into mono-cell bodies. Select the

element to be disassembled. Click the Disassemble icon in the Join-Healing toolbar. The
Disassemble dialog box is displayed. Choose the disassembling mode: All Cells: all cells are
disassembled, Domains Only: elements are partially disassembled. A resulting element can be
made of several cells. Click OK in the dialog box. A progression bar is displayed, while the
surface is being disassembled. The selected element is disassembled, that is to say independent
elements are created, that can be manipulated independently.

4.14.15 Smoothing Curves

This task shows how to smooth a curve, i.e. fill the gaps, and smooth tangency and curvature
discontinuities, in order to generate better quality geometry when using this curve to create other

elements. Click the Curve Smooth icon . Select the curve to be smoothed. Texts are displayed
on the curve indicating its discontinuities before smoothing, and type of discontinuity (point,
curvature or tangency) and their values (In area). These values type are expressed in the following
units:
for a point discontinuity: the unit is the document's distance unit (mm by default)
for a tangency discontinuity: the unit is the document's angular unit (degree by default)
for a curvature discontinuity: the value is a ratio between 0 and 1

4.15 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. To update a part, the application provides two update modes: automatic update,

manual update. To update the part, click the Update icon . A progression bar indicates the
evolution of the operation.

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4.16 Defining an Axis System

This task explains how to define a new three-axis system locally. There are two ways of defining
it: either by selecting geometry or by entering coordinates. Select the Insert -> Axis System

command or click the Axis System icon . The Axis System Definition dialog box is displayed.
An axis system is composed of an origin point and three orthogonal axes. The axis system
displayed in the specification tree.

4.17 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 and changing body.
a) Inserting an Open Body:
In the specification tree, select the branch of your choice. This branch will be considered as a child
of the new open body and can be an open body or a feature. Select the Insert -> Open Body menu
command. The result is immediate. CATIA displays this new Open_body.x, incrementing its name
in relation to the pre-existing bodies, in the specification tree. It is underlined, indicating that it is
the active open body.
b) Removing an Open Body:
This is only possible when the father location of the open body is another open body. 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.
c) Moving an open body to a new body:
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. Select the new body where the
open body is to be located. Click OK to move the open body to the new body.

4.18 Hiding/Showing Open Bodies and Their Contents

This task shows how to use the Hide/Show command on different level of open bodies and for
different purposes. In the specification tree, select the open body or contents of open body you
wish to hide/show. Right-click to display the contextual menu and choose the Hide/show

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command. The open body or it’s content is hidden, if it was visible, or becomes visible, if it was
hidden.

5. Generative Shape Design

The Generative Shape Design workbench 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 Part Design, it meets the
requirements of solid-based hybrid modeling. All basic commands in GSD are identical to
commands in WF&SD. Advance commands in GSD are as follows.

5.1 Creating Extremum Elements

This command is only available with the Generative Shape Design product. This task shows how
to create extremum elements (points, edges or faces), that is elements at the minimum or maximum
distance on a curve, a surface, or a pad, according to given directions. Click the Extremum

icon . The Extremum Definition dialog box is displayed. Set the correct options: Max, Min.
Select a curve. Select the direction into which the extremum point must be identified. Click OK.
The point (identified as Extremum.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

5.2 Creating Polar Extremum Elements

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This command is only available with the Generative Shape Design product. This task shows how
to create an element of extremum radius or angle, on a planar contour. Click the Polar Extremum

icon . The Polar Extremum Definition dialog box appears. Select the contour or curve on which
the extremum element is to be created. Select the supporting surface of the contour. Specify the
axis origin and a reference direction, in order to determine the axis system in which the extremum
element is to be created. Click Preview. Depending on the selected computation type, the results
can be: Min radius, Max radius, Min angle, Max angle.
The radius or angle value is displayed in the Polar Extremum Definition dialog box for
information. Click OK to create the extremum point. The element (identified as Polar
Extremum.xxx), a point in this case, is added to the specification tree.

5.3 Creating a Spine

This command is only available with the Generative Shape Design product. This task shows how
to create a spine, that is a curve normal to a list of ordered planes or planar curves. These spines
are useful when creating complex surfaces such as swept, lofted, or filleted surfaces.

Creating a Spine Based on Planes: Click the Spine icon . The Spine Curve Definition dialog
box is displayed. Successively select planes. Click Preview. The spine is displayed. You can also
select a start point. Click OK.
Creating a Spine Based on Guiding Curves: Click the Spine icon. The Spine Curve Definition
dialog box is displayed. Click within the Guide list and successively select two guiding curves.
Click OK to create the spine.
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5.4 Creating Combined Curves

This task shows you how to create combined curves, that is a curve resulting from the intersection

of the extrusion of two curves. Click the Combine icon . The Combine Definition dialog box
appears. Choose the combine type: normal or along directions. Successively select the two curves
to be combined. Click OK to create the element. The combine (identified as Combine.xxx) is
added to the specification tree.

5.5 Creating Parallel Curves

This task shows you how to create a curve that is parallel to a reference curve. Click the Parallel

Curve icon . The Parallel Curve Definition dialog box appears. Select the reference Curve to
be offset. Select the Support plane or surface on which the reference curve lies. Specify the offset
of the parallel curve

5.6 Creating Reflect Lines

This task shows you how to create reflect lines, whether closed or open. Reflect lines are curves
for which the normal to the surface in each point present the same angle with a specified direction.

Click the Reflect Lines icon . select the support surface and a direction. Key in an angle,
representing the value between the selected direction and the normal to the surface

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5.7 Creating Adaptive Swept Surfaces

This task shows how to create swept surfaces that use an implicit profile and its constraints along a
guiding curve. These swept surfaces are created based on sections along the guiding curve and
constraints that can be specified for each of these sections. When designing the profile to be swept,
keep in mind that the constraints imposed on the sketched profile affect the resulting swept
surface.

Click the Adaptive Sweep icon . The Adaptive Sweep dialog box appears. Select the Guiding
curve. The Reference surface is optional. It is the surface on which the guiding curve lies and is
used to define the axis system in which the swept surface is created. Select the Sketch to be swept
along the guiding curve. The list in the Sections tab is automatically updated with the first section
being at the intersection of the selected sketch and guiding curve. Select points on guide to add
other sections.
Click the Parameters tab to display and redefine the constraints on a given section. Click Preview
to preview the swept surface. Click OK to create the swept surface.

5.8 Customizing For Generative Shape Design

This section describes how to customize different settings specific to the Generative Shape Design
workbench. The settings described here deal with permanent setting customization. Select the
Tools -> Options command. The Options dialog box is displayed. Select the Shape -> Generative
Shape Design. The General tab displays. Choose the Smoothing Type: None: deactivates the
smoothing result, G1 : enhances the current continuity to tangent continuity, G2 : enhances the
current continuity to curvature continuity. You can specify a maximum deviation to set the allowed
deviation between the initial element and the smoothed element by entering a value or using the
spinners. Click OK to confirm setting these permanent options.

6. Assembly Design

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The Assembly Design used to create an assembly starting from scratch. Here is illustration of the
several stages of creation you may encounter for an assembly.

6.1 Creating an Assembly Document

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

6.2 Inserting a Components

6.2.1 Inserting a New Component

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

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

6.2.2 Inserting a New Product

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

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

6.2.3 Inserting a New Part

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

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

6.3 Defining a Multi-Instantiation

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

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

6.4 Fast Multi-Instantiation

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

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

6.5 Using Assembly Constraints

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

6.5.1 Creating a Coincidence Constraint

Coincidence-type constraints are used to align elements. Depending on the selected elements, you

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

6.5.2 Creating a Contact Constraint

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

Contact Constraint icon . Select the faces to be constrained. As the contact constraint is
created, one component is moved so as to adopt its new position. Green graphic symbols are

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displayed in the geometry area to indicate that this constraint has been defined. This constraint is
added to the specification tree.

6.5.3 Creating an Offset Constraint

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

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

6.5.4 Creating an Angle Constraint

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

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

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

6.5.5 Fixing a Component

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

Fix in Space: Click the Fix icon . Select the component to be fixed, that is the light blue
component. The constraint is created. A green anchor is displayed in the geometry area to indicate
that this constraint has been defined.
Fix: Double-click the fix constraint you have just created to edit it. In the dialog box that appears,
click More to expand the dialog box. Uncheck the Fix in space option to the left of the dialog box.
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The lock symbol is no longer displayed in the specification tree, meaning that the component is
positioned according to the other components only. Move the fixed component. Click OK to
confirm. Update the assembly: now the component remains at its location.

6.5.6 Fixing Components Together

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

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

6.5.7 Using the Quick Constraint Command

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

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

6.5.8 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.
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6.5.9 Deactivating or Activating Constraints

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

6.6 Updating an Assembly

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

frame. Click OK to confirm and close the dialog box. Click the Update icon to update the
whole assembly. The assembly is updated.

6.7 Using a Part Design Pattern

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

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. There are two work modes: Using associativity with the
geometry: the option "Keep link with the pattern" is on, Using no associativity: the option is off.

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

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

6.8 Moving Components

6.8.1 Manipulating Components

The Manipulate command lets you move a component freehand with the mouse. The Manipulation
Parameters dialog box appears after selecting command. You can translate or rotate components
using one of the following options: The first and second horizontal rows are reserved for
translations. You can move your component along the x, y or z-axis as well as in the xy, yz and xz
planes. The third row is reserved for rotations. You can rotate your component around the x, y or
z-axis. The fourth column lets you specify the direction of your choice by selecting a geometric
element. This element defines the direction of the move or the axis of rotation.

6.8.2 Snapping Components

The Snap command projects the geometric element of a component onto another geometric
element belonging to the same or to a different component. Using this command is a convenient
way to translate or rotate components. Depending on the selected elements, you will obtain
different results.

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First Element Last Element Result

Selected Selected

point point Identical points.

point line The point is projected onto the line.

point plane The point is projected onto the plane.

line line Both lines become collinear.

line plane The line is projected onto the plane.

plane line The plane passes through the line.

6.8.3 Smart Move

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

6.9 Sectioning

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

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

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6.10 Assembly Features

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

6.10.1 Assembly Split

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

6.11 Creating Scenes

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

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

show. Within a scene, click the Reset selected products icon to reposition the components as

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

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

6.12 Exploding a Constrained Assembly

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

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

6.13 Detecting Interferences

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

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6.14 Customizing Assembly Design

6.14.1 Customizing Assembly Design Settings

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

6.14.2 Customizing General Settings

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

6.14.3 Customizing Assembly Constraints

Select Tools -> Options. Click the Mechanical Design category, then the Assembly Design
subcategory. In the Constraints tab the following options are available: Paste Components,
Constraint Creation, Quick Constraint.

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7.Generative Drafting workbench

The Generative Drafting workbench provides a simple method to create and modify views on a
predefined sheet. You may also add, modify and/or delete dressup and 2D elements to these views.
All this is performed on a sheet which may include a frame and a title block and will eventually be
printed.

7.1 Creating a New Drawing

This task will show you how to create more or less automatically a new drawing with pre-defined
views generated from a part. Select the Start -> Mechanical Design commands. Select the Drafting

workbench. .The New Drawing Creation

dialog box appears with information on views that can possibly be created, as well as information
on the drawing standards. Select the views you want to be automatically created on your drawing
from the New Drawing Creation dialog box. Click OK.

7.2 Managing A Sheet

The Generative Drafting workbench provides a simple method for managing a sheet. A sheet
contains: a main view: a view which supports the geometry directly created in the sheet, a
background view: a view dedicated to frames and title blocks, interactive or generated views. Click

the New icon from the Standard toolbar or select File -> New... from the menu bar. Select the

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Drawing workbench, and click OK. From the New Drawing dialog box, select the ISO standard, or
the A0 ISO format. Select the orientation type. Select the 1:1 scale, and then click OK.

7.3 Adding a new sheet

You can add new sheets at any time. These new sheets will be assigned the same standard, format
and orientation as the sheet first created and defined using the New Drawing dialog (default
setting). Even though you then delete sheet1, the sheets newly created will keep the same name.

Click the New Sheet icon from the Drawing toolbar. The new sheet automatically appears.

7.4 Front View Creation

The Generative Drafting workbench provides a simple method to create views on a predefined
sheet.
What is the Active View? The active view is the view from which other views will be generated.
This is also the view in which all the modifications will be performed. The active view is framed in
red. The non-active views are framed in blue. When you create a view, until you click at the
desired view location, the view to be created is framed in green. If you click this view, it becomes
the active view and is framed in red.

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Start creating the front view. Click the Front View icon from the Views toolbar. Select
object. Click on sheet to place front view. Blue arrows appear. Click the right or left arrow to
visualize the right or left side, respectively. Click the bottom arrow to visualize the bottom side.
Click the counterclockwise arrow to rotate the reference plane. Click inside the sheet to generate
the view. Right-click the frame of the view, select the Properties option from the contextual menu,
View tab and check the required options in the Properties dialog box.

7.5 2D/3D Associativity

On Views: A generative view results from specifications in a 3D document. This specification

corresponds either to the whole document or to a feature in the document. Any modification
applied to the specifications, before the generated view(s) is/are updated, is detected. You can

perform an update. You can update all views or a selection of views. The Update icon is active
in the Update toolbar when a sheet (or drawing) contains views that need to be updated (this can be
all views in the sheet or some of them only). You can update all views in the active sheet by

clicking this icon. An update symbol appears in the specification tree for the views that need to
be updated. You can update a selection of views by selecting and right-clicking the view(s) you

want to update and choosing Update Selection from the contextual menu.

On Generated Dimensions: Generated dimensions are associative with the 3D part constraints on
the condition you checked the Generation dimensions when updating the sheet option from the
Options dialog box (Tools -> Options -> Mechanical Design -> Drafting -> Generation tab). Note
that these dimensions will be re-generated in accordance with the other options checked/un-
checked in the Options dialog box.

7.6 Creating a Projection View

This task will show you how to create projection views on the sheet, relatively to the front view

previously generated. Click the Drawing window, and double-click the Projection View icon
from the Views toolbar (Projections subtoolbar). As you move the cursor, a previewed projection
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view in a green frame appears on the sheet. Define the projection view position by positioning the
cursor at the desired view location, for example the right view position. Click inside the green
frame to generate the view.

7.7 Creating an Auxiliary View

This task will show you how to create an auxiliary view. Many objects are of such shape that their
principal faces cannot always be assumed parallel to the regular planes of projection. Creating an
auxiliary view allows showing the true shapes by assuming a direction of sight perpendicular to
planes that are perpendicular of the curves. This auxiliary view, together with the top view,

completely describes the object. Click the Auxiliary View icon from the Views toolbar
(Projections subtoolbar).

Click an edge on the view. The selected edge becomes a line that you can position where desired
using the cursor. This line/callout will be automatically used as the plane. Click to position the
callout. The reference plane is automatically positioned according to the selected edge. Positioning
the auxiliary view callout amounts to defining the auxiliary view direction. Click to position the
auxiliary view.

7.8 Creating an Offset Section View / Cut

This task will show you how to create an offset section view/cut using a cutting profile as cutting
plane. In sectioning through irregular objects, it is often desirable to show several features that do
not lie in a straight line by offsetting or bending the cutting plane. Click the Drawing window, and

click the Offset Section View icon or the Offset Section Cut icon from the Views toolbar
(Sections subtoolbar). Select the holes and points required for sketching the cutting profile. If you

are not satisfied with the profile you create, you can, at any time, use Undo or Redo icons.
The section plane appears on the 3D part and moves dynamically on the part. Double-click to end

the cutting profile creation. OFFSET SECTION CUT: In this particular case, only cut portion
of solid is visible in section view.

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7.9 Creating an Aligned Section View / Cut

This task will show you how to create an aligned section view and/or aligned section cut using a
cutting profile as cutting plane. An aligned section view / cut is a view created from a cutting
profile defined from non-parallel planes. In order to include in a section certain angled elements,
the cutting plane may be bent so as to pass through those features. The plane and feature are then
imagined to be revolved into the original plane. Click the Drawing window, and click the Aligned

Section Cut . Select the points and circles required for sketching the cutting profile. The section
plane also appears on the 3D part and moves dynamically on the part. Double-click to end the
cutting profile creation. Click to generate the view.

7.10 Creating a Detail View / Detail View Profile

A detail view is a partial generated view that shows only what is necessary in the clear description
of the object. It shows you how to create from the 3D a detail view using either a circle as callout
or a sketched profile. In this particular case, we create a detail view using a sketched profile as we
create this detail view from an oblong part. Note that for creating a detail view using a circle, the

dialog is exactly the same. Click the Drawing window, and click the Detail View icon from the
Views toolbar (Details subtoolbar). Click the callout center. Drag to select the callout radius and
click a point to terminate the selection. Or, if you create a detail view using a sketched profile, you

will click the Detail View Profile icon . Create the points required for sketching a polygon used
as profile. Double click to end the cutting profile creation. Click to generate the detail view. The
default scale is 2 (twice the scale of the active view). You can modify this scale.

7.11 Creating a Clipping View and/or a Clipping View Profile

A clipping view is a partial view that shows only what is necessary in the clear description of the
object. This operation is applied directly onto the active view. Here we will see how to create
both a clipping view using a circle as callout. You can also use a roughly sketched profile. Click

the Drawing window, and click the Clipping View icon from the Views toolbar (Clippings
subtoolbar). If you create a clipping view using a sketched profile, you will select the Clipping
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Profile View icon . Select the center of the circle or select the required points for sketching a
polygon. Double-click to end the cutting profile creation.

7.12 Creating an Isometric View

To produce an isometric projection, it is necessary to place the object so that its principal edges
make equal angles with the plane of projection and are therefore foreshortened equally. Click the

Drawing window, and click the Isometric View icon from the Views toolbar (Projections
subtoolbar). Click the 3D part. A green frame with the preview of the isometric view to be created,
as well as blue manipulators appear. You can re-define the view to be created position using these
manipulators: to the bottom, the left, the right, the top, or rotated using a given snapping or
according to an edited rotation angle.

7.13 Creating a Broken View

A broken view is a view that allows shortening an elongated object. Here we will see how create a
broken view from an active and up to date generative view. We will define two profiles

corresponding to the part to be broken from the view extremities. Click the Broken View icon
from the Views toolbar. Click a first point corresponding to the first extremity of the first profile.
A green dotted profile appears which allows you to position the profile either vertically or
horizontally. Click a second point corresponding to the profile second extremity. If needed,
translate the profile. Red zones appear. Click a point for defining the position of the second green
profile that appears. Click on the sheet.

7.14 Creating a Breakout View

Here we will remove locally material from a generated view in order to visualize the remaining
visible internal part. A breakout view is one not in direct projection from the view containing the
cutting profile. A breakout view is often a partial section. Click the Drawing window, and click the

Breakout View icon from the Views toolbar (Break View sub toolbar). Click the first point of
the breakout profile. Click as many points as desired for creating the profile. Double-click to end

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the profile creation and automatically close this profile. Or Click on the profile first point to close
and end the profile creation.

7.15 Creating Views via the Wizard

This task will show you how to create views using a wizard. These views are views that are
generated automatically once the CATDrawing document is opened. Click the Drawing window,

and click the Wizard icon from the Views toolbar (Wizard subtoolbar). Select the desired view
configuration from the View Wizard. Click next add any other view if required. Click the FINISH
button from the View Wizard. Select the CATPart document. Click on the desired 3D part plane to
be used as reference plane The views now appear on the CATDrawing document: they are
previewed in green frames and can be re-oriented thanks to the blue arrows that appear. Use the
blue arrows to have the views re-oriented as desired. Once you are satisfied, click on the sheet to
make the views be actually created.

7.16 Isolating Generated Views

This task will show you how isolate either a selection of generated views (one or more), or all
views in the drawing. Isolating a view amounts to: suppressing associativity between an existing
CATPart (or CATProduct) and the corresponding generated view, transforming a generated view
into an interactive view. Select the views you want to isolate (for example, the Top view, Bottom
view, Left view and Right view), and right-click them. From the contextual menu, select Selected
objects -> isolate.

7.17 Not Aligning a View

This task will show you how not to align a right projection view to the parent front view. At
creation, views are by default linked to the parent view. You will then reposition the parent view as
well as the still-aligned child views. Right-click the frame of the view not to be aligned. Select the
View Positioning -> Do Not Align View option from the displayed contextual menu. Select &
Drag the left projection view to the required location. Click to position the left view.

7.18 Scaling a View

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This task will show you how to modify the scale of a view. Right-click the frame of the view to be
modified. In this case, right-click the detail view. Select the Properties option from the displayed
contextual menu. Enter the new Scale value in the Properties dialog box. Click OK. The detail
view is updated.

7.19 Adding a Generative Bill of Material

This task will show you how to insert Bill of Material information into the active view. This Bill of
Material corresponds to information on the product element which the views were generated from.
This Bill of Material, or parts list, consists of an itemized list of the several parts of a structure

shown on a cat drawing or on an assembly. Click the Insert Bill of Material icon , if you are in
the background view. Click the Product from the specification tree in the CATProduct document.
Click the point at which the Bill of Material is to be inserted. Before positioning the Bill of
Material, you can pre-define the position. To modify the contents of the Bill of Material and
display given properties, go to Product Structure workbench, select from the menu bar: Analyze-
>Bill of Material ->Listing Report.

7.20 Generating Balloons on a View

This task will show you how to generate in the active view balloons corresponding to references
defined on the different parts of an assembly. Double-click the view in which you want to generate
the balloons. In this particular case, double-click the front view. This view is now active. Select the

Generate Balloons icon on the Dimension Generation toolbar. The balloons that were
previously created on the CAT Product are automatically generated onto the active view. If
needed, multi-select these balloons and modify the font size from the Text Properties toolbar. You
can also select and drag a balloon to change its position. Balloons generated

7.21 Modifying a Callout Geometry

This task will show you how to modify the geometrical characteristics of a callout used when
creating detail views, section views and section cuts. For modifying the detail and section callout,
you will go through some kind of a sub-workbench and modify the existing callout geometry,

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reverse the callout direction or replace the callout. Double-click the callout to be modified. The
Edit/Replace toolbar appears. Drag one of the element components to the desired location. Click

the End Profile Edition icon from the Edit/Replace toolbar. After the callout arrow is properly
positioned, the section view is automatically updated.

7.22 Modifying a Pattern

This task will show you how to modify the pattern of a view and apply a material to this pattern.
You can recover a material applied to a part on the section view pattern. Right-click the pattern to
be modified. Select Properties from the displayed contextual menu. The Properties dialog box
displays the view current pattern. Select Pattern table switch and select a new pattern from the
Pattern table that appears. Then click OK in this Pattern table. Click OK in the Properties table to
confirm your operation. You can also customize different hatching types by entering the desired
values in the box called Hatching.

7.23 Dimension Generation

The Generative Drafting workbench provides a simple method for generating dimensions.
Generated dimensions are associative to the elements created from a part or an assembly. Note that
for views that are generated from surfaces, only sketched constraints are generated. The generated
dimensions are positioned according to the views that are most representative. The generated
dimensions will be positioned according to the following criteria:
1. On the view for which the dimension are generated.
2. On the view on which the dimension is better visualized. For example, a view on which
elements are visualized in non-hidden lines instead of hidden lines.
3. On the view with a bigger scale.
4. On views including more dimensions.

What About the Dimensions that may be Generated from Constrained 3D Elements
Constrained 3D Elements Generated Dimension Types

Sketcher All dimensions: angle, distance, radius, diameter

3D part Angle, distance
Features: The dimensions below:
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 Pad distance
Pocket distance
Shaft/Groove angle
Hole Constraints and associated dimensions
Fillet constraint variable Radius/Radii
Shell Distance
Thickness Distance
Stiffener Distance
Assembly constraints All assembly dimensions

7.23.1 Generating Dimensions in One Shot

This task will show you how to generate dimensions in one shot from the constraints of a 3D part.
Only the following constraints can be generated: distance, length, angle, radius and diameter.
Constraints may be of three kinds: created manually (i) via the sketcher or (ii) via the 3D part, or

else (iii) automatically created via internal parameters. Click the Generating Dimensions icon
from the Generation toolbar (Dimension Generation subtoolbar). In the case of drawings with
several views, by default, dimensions are generated on all the views. The Generated Dimensions
Analysis dialog box showing the dimensions and constraints generated for each part (in this case,
there is only one) is automatically displayed. Click OK to close the dialog box.

7.23.2 Generating Dimensions Semi-Automatically

This task will show you how to generate dimensions step by step from the constraints of a 3D part.

Click the Generating dimensions step by step icon from the Generation toolbar (Dimension
Generation subtoolbar). The Step-by-step generation dialog box displays and will remain displayed
until the end of the dimension generation. Check the Visualization in 3D & Timeout options. Click

the Next Dimension Generation switch button to start the dimension generation. Dimensions
appear one after the other on the views.

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Click the Not Generated option , constraint is automatically excluded and the dimension will

not generated. Note that you can stop at anytime the generation by clicking or, on the contrary,

accelerate the process by clicking .

7.24 Creating a Datum Feature

This task will show you how to create a datum feature. Click the Datum Feature icon from the
Dimensioning toolbar. Select the point at which you want the datum feature to be attached
(attachment point). Select the point at which you want the datum feature to be anchored (anchor
point). The Datum Feature Creation dialog box is displayed with A as default value (incremental
value). Enter the desired character string, if needed. Click OK. The datum feature is created.

7.25 Creating a Geometrical Tolerance

This task shows you how to create a geometrical tolerance (annotation). You can also copy an
existing geometric tolerance. You can set text properties either before or after you create the text.

Click the Geometric Tolerance icon from the Dimensioning toolbar. Select an element
(geometry, dimension, text or point) or click in the free space to position the anchor point of the
geometrical tolerance. If you select an element, the anchor point will be an arrow. If you select a
point in the free space, the anchor point will be a small balloon. If you select a dimension or a text,
no leader will be created. The geometric tolerance will be displayed just below the element you
selected. Move the cursor to position the geometrical tolerance and then click at the chosen
location. The Geometrical Tolerance dialog box appears. Specify the tolerance type by clicking the
Tolerance Symbol button and selecting the appropriate symbol. Click OK when you're done. The
geometrical tolerance is created.

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7.26 Annotations

7.26.1 Setting Text Properties

This task explains how to set the properties of a text, such as font style, size, justification, etc. Text
properties can be applied to text, dimension text, text with leader, balloon and datum target, as well
as to text included in datum features and geometrical tolerances. You can set the properties of a
text either before or after creating it. Choose View -> Toolbars, and select Text Properties.

The Text Properties toolbar is displayed. Set the properties of a text.

7.26.2 Creating a Text With a Leader

This task shows you how to create a text with a leader either in the free space or associated with an
element. You can set text properties either before or after you create the text. Click the Text With

Leader icon from the Annotations toolbar. Click the point on the element you want the leader
to begin (arrow end). A red frame appears. Click in the free space to define a location for the text.
If needed, drag the frame and/or arrow to a new location. The Text Editor dialog box is displayed.
Enter the text in the Text Editor dialog box or directly on the drawing.

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7.26.3 Creating a Balloon

This task will show you how to create a balloon. You can set text properties either before or after

you create the text. Click the Balloon icon from the Annotations toolbar (Text subtoolbar).
Select an element. Click to define the balloon anchor point. The Balloon Creation dialog box
appears; with the value 1 is pre-entered in the field. You can enter another string or value as
needed. Click OK.

7.26.4 Creating Associative Balloons on Generated Product Views

This task will show you how to create associative balloons on views generated from a product.
Open any CATProduct document. On this CATProduct document, Product Structure sub products
have already been assigned numbers (Generate Numbering icon). Go to Generative Drafting
workbench by opening CATDrawing document for same assembly product. Click the Balloon icon

from the Annotations toolbar. Go over one of the part with your cursor. Create a balloon by
selecting an edge. The number of the balloon corresponds to the number of the subproduct created
in the product which the views were generated from. Note that if you modify the numbering in the
product and then regenerate the product, the balloon modification will be applied to the generated
views only after you perform a view update.

7.26.5 Creating a Roughness Symbol

This task will show you how to create a roughness symbol. You can set text properties either

before or after you create the roughness symbol. Click the Roughness Symbol icon from the
Annotations toolbar. Select the attachment point of the roughness symbol. The Roughness Symbol
Editor dialog box is displayed. Enter values in the desired field(s). For example, Ra=1.6. Click
OK. If needed, modify the roughness symbol position by dragging it to the required location. Click
in the free space to validate the roughness symbol creation.

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7.26.6 Creating a Welding Symbol

This task will show you how to create a welding symbol. You can set text properties either before

or after you create the text. Click the Welding Symbol icon from the Annotations toolbar.
Select an element or click in the free space to position the anchor point of the welding symbol, and
then click to validate. The welding leader will appear. Move the cursor to position the welding
symbol and then click at the chosen location. The Welding creation dialog box is displayed. Type
the desired values in the upper and/or lower field(s). Click the symbol buttons to choose the
welding symbol, complementary symbols and/or finish symbols. The welding symbols available
depend on your standard. Click OK. The welding symbol is created.

7.26.7 Creating a Geometry Weld

This task will show you how to create a geometry weld. Click the Weld icon from the
Annotations toolbar. Select the two elements. The geometry default weld symbol automatically
appears on the drawing. The Welding Editor dialog box is displayed. If needed, modify the
geometry-welding symbol. If needed, modify the type of the geometry-welding symbol by
selecting the Change Type option from the Welding Editor dialog box. Click OK.

7.26.8 Creating/Modifying a Table

This task shows you how to create and edit a table. In this table, you can add text, insert columns,
rows, merges cells, invert lines, invert columns, switch lines and columns, and insert views. You

can also split a table, import a table, and insert a view in a table. Click the icon to launch the
command. Click a point in the drawing to choose the table position. The following panel allows
you to set the number of columns and rows you want for the table. The line height corresponds to
the height of a string. The line width corresponds to 5 times a string height. Click ok to validate the
creation.

7.27 Editing Properties

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This section discusses how to quickly access and edit information on 2D geometry, dress-up
elements, annotations and dimensions in a single dialog box, provided you use the Edit-
>Properties contextual command.

a)Editing View Properties

This task explains how to edit view properties. Right-click on the front view and select properties.
Choose the View tab. Choose your options.
Visualization and behavior: Display view frame: show/hide the view frame,
Lock view: if you check this option, no more modification allowed in the view.
Visual clipping: let’s you reframe a view so as to display only part of it.
Scale and Orientation Angle: the angle between the view and the sheet, Scale: the scale of the
view.
Dress up: Hidden lines, Center line, 3D spec, Axis, Thread, 3D Wireframe, 3D Colors, Fillets, 3D
Points.
View Name: Allows you to modify the name of the view. Among other things, you can create a
formula for the view name.

b)Editing 2D Geometry Graphic &Feature Properties

This task shows you how to access and, if needed, edit information on 2D geometry features (name
and stamp). Select a 2D element on the CATDrawing you opened. Select the Edit->Properties
command and click the Feature Properties tab. You can also right click the 2D element and then
select the Properties command from the displayed contextual menu. Click the Graphic Tab, Lines
and Curves option; Pickable option and Layers options are available for changing graphic
properties. Click OK.

c)Editing Annotation Font Properties

This task explains how to access and, if needed, edit annotation font properties. Double-click the
text to switch it to edit mode. Select the whole text (you can also select only part of the text) and

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then select the Edit-> Properties command. In the Properties dialog box that appears, click the Font
tab. The associated panel is displayed. Change Annotation Font Properties as per requirement.

d)Editing Dimension Text Properties

This task explains how to access and, if needed, edit dimension text properties. Select a dimension
(whatever the type) on the CATDrawing you opened. Select the Edit-> Properties command and
click the Dimension Texts tab. Modify the available options.

f)Editing Dimension Value Properties

This task explains how to access and, if needed, edit dimension value properties. Select a
dimension (whatever the type) on the CATDrawing you opened. Select the Edit-> Properties
command and click the Value tab. Modify the available options. Fake Dimension: check this
option to display fake dimensions, you can choose to display numerical or alphanumerical fake
dimensions.

7.28 Customizing for Generative Drafting

a)General Settings
This task shows you how to set general settings to be used in the Drafting workbench.
Select the Tools->Options command. The Options dialog box appears.
Ruler: Checking the Show Ruler option displays the ruler in your sheet. It means you visualize the
cursor coordinates as you are drawing.
Grid: To define your grid, enter the values of your choice in the Primary fields. The Primary
spacing option lets you define the spacing between the major lines of the grid. The Graduations
field lets you set the number of graduations between the major lines of the grid, which actually
consists in defining a secondary grid. The Display option allows displaying the grid in your
session. The Snap to point option needs be checked if the geometry needs to begin or end on the
points of the grid.
Rotation: The Rotation Snap Angle option allows snapping with a given angle for rotating
elements. This option is used to rotate text elements (text, frame, or leader). In other words, it
defines the snapping value used when rotating an element using the Select or Rotate commands.
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Colors: You can customize given options for modifying the drawing background color.
Tree: You can display or not parameters and relations in the specification tree.
View axis: When you activate a view, you can choose to visualize the view axis. In addition, you
can define whether these axes can be zoomed.

b)Dimension Creation

You can customize given options when creating or re-positioning dimensions. Select the
Dimension tab in Options.
Dimension Creation: Dimension following the mouse (ctrl toggles): you can decide that the
dimension line is positioned according to the cursor, following it dynamically during the creation
process.
Constant offset between dimension line and geometry: the distance between the created dimension
and the geometry remains the same when you move the geometry.
Default dimension line/geometry distance: if you position the dimension according to the cursor,
you can define the value at which the dimension is created. If you create associativity between the
dimension and the geometry, you can define the value at which the dimension will remain
positioned.
If you click the Associativity on 3D switch button the following dialog box appears: A link can be
applied between a dimension and the 3D part. As a result, when you update the drawing, the
dimension is automatically re-computed.
Create driving dimensions: the dimension you will create will drive the geometry.
Move: The Configure switch button allows you to choose either the dimension to be snapped on
the grid or/and the dimension value to be located at its default position between symbols (it will
work only if the cursor is between the symbols).
Line-Up: You can organize dimensions into a system with a linear offset. The offset will align the
dimensions to each other as well as the smallest dimension to the reference element.
Analysis Display Mode: Colors can be customized with the Activate analysis display mode
option. To activate this mode, select this option and then click the Types and colors button. The
Types and colors of dimensions dialog box lets you assign the desired color(s) to the selected
dimension types.

c) Geometry and Dimension Generation

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You can customize given options for controlling geometry and dimension generation whenever
you need to update sheets. Select the Generation tab.
Geometry generation / Dress up: The following geometry is possibly generated (provided you
check the desired options using the contextual menu, Properties option, View tab): Generate axis,
Generate threads, Generate centerlines, Hidden lines, Generate fillet, 3D colors inheritance, Project
3D wireframe, Project 3D points, Apply 3D specification.
Dimension generation: The generated dimensions are positioned according to the views most
representative. The dimensions are generated on the views on the condition the settings were
previously switched to the dimension generation option.
Generate dimensions when updating the sheet , Filters before generation, Automatic positioning
after generation, Allow automatic transfer between views, Analysis after generation, Generate
dimensions from parts included in assembly views, Delay between generations for step-by-step
mode,
Balloon generation: If you select Creation of a balloon for each instance of a product, a balloon
will be generated for each instance of a component: therefore, if a component is used two times
within a product, then the balloon will be generated twice.

d)Geometry Creation

You can customize given options when creating 2D geometry, either or not using SmartPick, or
still adding constraints to this geometry. Select the Geometry tab.
Geometry: You can decide that you want to create circle and ellipses centers and that you want to
be able to drag elements, end points included.
Constraints creation: You can create or not the geometrical or dimensional constraints detected
by the SmartPick tool. If all of the detection options are unchecked, the Create detected constraints
option is not available.
SmartPick: (switch button) As you create more and more elements, Smart Pick detects multiple
directions and positions, and more and more relationships with existing elements. The SmartPick
category provides these options: Support lines and circles, Alignment, Parallelism,
perpendicularity and tangency, Horizontality and verticality.
Constraints Visualization: Check the Visualize constraints option to visualize the logical
constraints specific to the elements.
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Colors: Two types of colors may be applied to sketched elements. These two types of colors
correspond to colors illustrating: Graphical properties-Colors that can be modified.
Constraint diagnostics- Colors that represent constraint diagnostics are colors that are imposed to
elements whatever the graphical properties previously assigned to these elements and in
accordance with given diagnostics. Over-constrained elements: the dimensioning scheme is over-
constrained: too many dimensions were applied to the geometry. Inconsistent elements: At least
one dimension value needs to be changed. This is also the case when elements are under-
constrained and the system proposes defaults that do not lead to a solution. Not-changed elements:
Some geometrical elements are over-defined or not consistent. As a result, geometry that depend(s)
on the problematic area will not be recalculated. Iso-constrained elements: All the relevant
dimensions are satisfied. The geometry is fixed and cannot be moved from its geometrical support.

If you click the other color of the elements switch button, the following dialog box appears.
Isolated elements: use-edge that no more depends on the 3D.
Protected elements: non-modifiable elements.
Construction elements: A construction element is an element that is internal to, and only
visualized by, the sketch. This element is used as positioning reference. It is not used for creating
solid primitives. SmartPick: colors used for SmartPick assistant elements and symbols.

e)View and Sheet Layout

You can customize given options when creating views or when adding sheets. Select the Layout
tab. It contains the following sets of options:
View creation: When creating a view, you can define that you want or not the view name, scaling
factor or frame to appear, and that you want broken and breakout specifications to be reproduced.
New sheet: You can define that when creating a new sheet, you want the source sheet to be the
first or one sheet from another drawing.
Background view: You can specify the path to the directory-containing frame and title block.
Section/Projection Callout: You can choose the callout elements size not to be dependant on the
view scale. For this before callout creation check this option.

f)Annotations

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You can customize given options when creating annotations. Select the Annotation tab. It contains
the following sets of options:
Annotation Creation: Select the items you want to snap: text and/or leader. Snapping will be
performed when the Activate Snapping box is checked, taking into account the option selected in
the Activate snapping dialog box
Move: Select Activate Snapping to activate snapping. Click the Configure button to specify
whether you want the annotation to be snapped on the grid, according to the orientation, or both.
This will apply to the annotations selected in the Annotation Creation area. To deactivate snapping
when creating or moving annotations, press the shift key.
2D Component Creation: Select Create all 2D component instances with the same size if you
want all 2D component instances to have the same size when you create them, no matter what the
view scale is.

7.29 Loading/Saving a CATDrawing

This task will show you how to load and save a CATDrawing document from an existing CATPart
document. In this particular case, all the links that exist between the CATPart document and the
CATDrawing document will be resolved, as you will choose to load the referenced document. You
can now modify your CATPart choosing not to update the related CATDrawing document. It is
now possible to customize the settings. Activate the settings. For this: Select the Tools ->
Options... command. Click General in the list of objects to the left of the Options dialog box
(General tab). Make sure the Load referenced documents option (default option) is actually
checked. Press OK. Open the CATDrawing document for your CATPART document. Make sure
the specification tree actually appears. Make sure the symbols are not broken which would means
that links between the CATPart and the projection views are unresolved. Select the Edit->Links
command. The Links dialog box appears with the existing links between the CATDrawing and its
related CATPart. Press OK.

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8. Interactive Drafting

The basic tasks you will perform in the Interactive Drafting workbench mainly deal with creating
and modifying 2D elements and their related attributes on a predefined sheet.

8.1 Tools Toolbar

The Tools toolbar displays both command options and given fields/values that appear in
accordance with the command you select. The Tools toolbar provides the following options:

Grid,

Snap to Point,

Analysis Display Mode: This option allows visualizing the colors assigned to the different
types of dimensions. These displayed colors correspond to the colors customized in the Options
dialog box. To modify these colors, go to Tools -> Options -> Mechanical Design -> Drafting
(Dimension tab). Then check Activate analysis display mode and, if needed, click the Types and
colors switch button to assign the desired color(s) to the desired dimension types.

Create Constraints,

Create Detected Constraints,

Filter Generated Elements

Depending on the selected command, the Tools toolbar may also provide the following options:

Projected Dimension, Force Dimension on Element, Force Horizontal Dimension in

View, Force Vertical Dimension in View, True Length Dimension

8.2 Creating Views

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Interactive Drafting elements necessarily need to be positioned in a view. In other words, you
will first create a view on a sheet and then add 2D geometry, dimensions, annotations and/or dress-

up elements in this view. Click the New View icon . Click the Drawing window. A blue axis
displays in a red frame. The front view created & displayed in the specification tree. You can now

create 2D geometry in this view. Click the New View icon again and select a projection
direction to create more views. The views created are projection views as they are linked to the
front view. From an active front view, you can create: a top view, a bottom view, a left view and a
right view.

8.3 Defining the View Plane

This task will show you how to define the plane of a view (a front view, an isometric view or an
auxiliary view). Any created view lies on a 3D plane. In other words, a view lies on some kind of a
3D plane whose definition can be accessed using the Plane Definition dialog box. The view plane
can be defined and if needed, modified in this dialog box. The view plane will be defined in
accordance with two vectors and an origin point.
Define the front view plane: Activate the view in which you want to change the plane definition,
by double-clicking on this view. Click the View Plane Definition icon from the Multi View
toolbar. Select the desired options from the View Plane Definition dialog box. Press OK.

Define the isometric view plane: Click the New View icon in order to create an empty view.
In this case, position the cursor so as to create an isometric view. Make sure the view in which you
want to change the plane definition is active. For this, double-click on this isometric view. Click
the View Plane Definition icon from the Multi View toolbar. The Plane Definition dialog box
appears. Enter the desired options from the dialog box (Isometric). Press OK.

8.4 Creating Views Using Folding Lines

This task will show you how to add geometry in views using folding lines as an assistant. This is
true for any kind of view, as long as the planes they correspond to are not parallel. For example,
you cannot have folding lines between a front view and a rear view. Make sure the view in which
you are going to create geometry using folding lines is active. Right-click the view used as

reference. Select the object ->Show folding Lines option. Click the Profile icon and create
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geometry in the top view using auto detection on folding lines. At any time, you can right-click the
view and suppress these folding line using the option in contextual menu.

8.5 Creating a Multiple View Projection

This task will show you how to generate geometry in a view by projecting geometry from
previously defined views. Selected objects are projected onto a plane or ruled surface defined by
the user, and then transformed into the receiving view. Projected geometry retains the same
attributes it had in the original multi-view. You will first add elements to an existing view, using
the Action-Object mode. You will then create an isometric view from scratch, using the Object-
Action mode.

Add elements to an existing view, using the Action-Object mode. Click the Multiple View

Projection icon from the Multi View toolbar Select the Tools -> Multi View -> Multiple View
Projection command from the menu bar. Select the object defining the target plane or surface to be
used. This element can be any mono-parametered elements (line, circle, ellipse, parabola,
hyperbola, curve). In this case, select an arc of a circle in the front view. Select, in another view,
the object to be projected. In this case, select a circle in the top view. Select more elements to be
projected, if needed, or click in the open space or still another command if you want to terminate
this command.

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Create an isometric view from scratch, using the Object-Action mode. Make the isometric
view active (double-click). Multi-select the elements to be projected into the isometric empty

view. In this case, select the whole front view. Click the Multiple View projection icon
from the Multi View toolbar. Select the object defining the view to be created. All the elements
are automatically projected onto the active view. Repeat the steps above (Object-Action) with
the various elements to be projected that will allow generating the isometric view.

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8.6 Reframing a View

In this task, you will learn how to reframe a view so as to display only part of it. Select the view
and right-click the view frame. In the contextual menu, choose Properties. Click the View tab. In
the Visualization and Behavior area, select the Visual Clipping check box. Click OK. The new
frame appears as a rectangle in the view. You can now define the position and size of your frame
on the view. Click on the frame to select it. Drag the manipulators to resize the frame, as you want.
The frame can only be rectangular. You can reframe any type of view: front views, isometric
views, details views, clipping views, etc.

8.7 Constraints

A constraint is a geometric or dimension relation between two elements. A constraint is defined

by: a type: for example, a distance constraint, a mode: measured or constraining mode, a
configuration. If you want constraints to be created, before inserting constraints make sure the
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constraint creation option command is active in the Tools toolbar. A constraint is a kind of
relationship that allows specifying the geometry. In other words, if you modify the geometry
afterwards via the geometry itself, these relations will be taken into account. Two kinds of
constraint can be applied geometrical constraints & dimensional constraints.

8.8 Creating Geometrical Constraints

This task shows you how to set a relationship that forces a limitation between one or more

geometrical elements. Make sure the Show Constraints command option is active (Tools
toolbar). Select the geometrical elements to be constrained to each others. Click the Constraint

with Dialog Box icon from the Geometry Modification toolbar. The Constraint Definition
dialog box appears. Modify the Constraint Definition dialog box. It is impossible to create
constraints between 2D and generated elements via the Constraint Definition dialog box. In the
Constraint Definition dialog box, you can only create constraints between similar elements. In
other words, you can create constraints either between 2D elements, or between generated
elements, but not between a mix of these.

8.9 Creating Constraints Between 2D and Generated Elements

This task shows you how to create associative constraints between 2D elements and generated
elements. Click the geometrical constraints command icon and select the line. The most logical
constraint is automatically offered. Select an edge from the drawing you have opened. The
software proposes you parallelism by default. If you choose this constraint, click in the drawing,
otherwise right-click and select Perpendicularity in the contextual menu. A constraint is created
between a generated element and a sketched element. You can delete this constraint: right-click on
the created constraint and select delete in the contextual menu.

8.10 Creating Dimensions

In this task, you will learn how to create dimensions. When creating dimensions on elements, you
can preview the dimensions to be created. On the Dimensioning toolbar, click the Dimensions

icon. Click a first element in the view. If needed, click a second element in the view. The

dimension type is automatically defined according to the selected elements ( or in the Tools
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toolbar). If you right-click the dimension before creation, a contextual menu lets you modify the
dimension type and value orientation as well as add funnels. Using this contextual menu once the
dimension is created, you can also access the Properties options.

8.11 Re-routing Dimensions

This task will show you how to re-route dimensions, i.e. to recalculate dimensions taking into
account new geometry elements which are compatible with the re-routed dimension type. Select

the Re-route Dimension icon from the Dimensioning toolbar (Extension Line Interruptions
sub-toolbar). Select the dimension. You can notice that the cursor indicates the type of dimension
you are selecting. Select the first element you want to take into account for the dimension re-
routing, and then the second element. A preview of the re-routed angle dimension is displayed.
Click to validate the dimension creation.

8.12 Dress-Up Elements

The Interactive Drafting workbench provides a simple method to create the following view dress
up elements on existing 2D elements.
a) Creating Center Lines (No Reference)
This task will show you how to apply a pair of centerlines to a circle or an ellipse. Click the Center

Line icon from the Dress up toolbar. Select a circle. Centerlines are automatically applied to
the circle Click in the drawing to confirm the creation and select the centerlines.
b) Creating Center Lines (Reference)
This task will show you how to apply a pair of centerlines to a circle or an ellipse with respect to a

reference (linear or circular). Click the Center Line with Reference icon from the Dress up
toolbar. You can multi-select circles before you enter the command to create centerlines for all
selected circles. Select the circle to be applied a pair of centerlines. Select the reference line. The
centerline created is associative with the reference line. To modify a pair of centerlines at one or
more end(s) of this/these centerlines, click the centerline. Red end points appear. Select any end
point and drag to move all the centerline extremities to a new position.

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c) Creating Threads (No Reference)
This task will show you how to create a thread without a reference. In this particular case, you will

apply a thread to a hole. Click the Drawing window, and click the Thread icon from the Dress

up toolbar. You can also multi-select holes before clicking the Thread icon . Activating this

command displays two options in the Tools toolbar. The Tap type option (Tools toolbar) is

activated by default. Select the Thread type option (Tools toolbar). Select the hole (or circle) to
which you want to apply a thread. The thread is created. Select an axis line manipulator and drag it
along a direction. Thread axis lines are modified symmetrically.
d) Creating Threads (Reference)
This task shows you how to create a thread with a reference, either circular (circle or point) or

linear (line). Click the Drawing window, and click the Thread with Reference icon from the

Dress up toolbar. Select the Reference Thread type option (Tools toolbar). Select a reference
line. The thread is created according to this reference.
e) Creating Axis Lines
This task will show you how to create an axis line. Click the Drawing window, and click the Axis

Line icon from the Dress up toolbar. Select two lines. The axis line is created.
f) Creating Axis Lines and Center Lines
This task will show you how to create simultaneously axis and centerlines on several circles. Click

the Drawing window, and click the Axis Line and Center Line icon from the Dress up toolbar.
Select two circles. The axes and centerlines are created.
g) Creating an Area Fill
An area fill is a closed area on which you then apply graphical dress-up element called patterns
(these can be hatching, dotting or coloring). You can create area fills on the following
elements: sketched elements, generated elements, part-sketched, part-generated elements. Define
boundaries for your area fill by creating lines. The boundaries for your area fill may consist of both
sketched and generated elements. In the Graphic Properties toolbar, click the down arrow besides

the Pattern icon. In the Pattern dialog box, select a pattern for your area fill and click OK.

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Click the Area Fill icon from the Dress Up toolbar. The Area Detection dialog box
appears. Click the Automatic option and then click inside the area for which you just defined
boundaries, under the line, which represents the fillet edge. The software automatically detects the
area to fill based on where you clicked and fills this area with the selected pattern. The Areas to
Fill dialog box disappears.
f) Creating Arrows
This task will show you how to create an arrow. For the purpose of this exercise, you will use an
arrow to illustrate the kind of hole you want to apply to a circle. Click the Drawing window, and
select Insert->Dress up->Arrow from the menu bar. Click a point or select an object to define the
arrow starting point (the tail). Click another point or select another object to define the arrow
extremity (the head). The arrow is created. The arrow and the selected object are associative. To
modify the position of the arrow, click the arrow and use the yellow manipulators to drag it to its
new location. To add a breakpoint to the arrow, select it and right-click on a yellow manipulator. A
contextual menu appears. Select Add a Breakpoint. A breakpoint is added to the arrow; you can
drag it to change the arrow path.

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