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Catia V5 Training: Basics
Catia V5 Training: Basics
CATIA V5 TRAINING
BASICS
CATIA V5 START UP
When CATIA is started, it opens the same workbench that was used last time the
software was launched. It will also automatically create a new document of type
related to that workbench.
A welcome window will also open, which contains all the user favorites
workbenches (you can choose if you want or not to see that window at startup).
The main window of CATIA V5 is similar to a normal Windows program, with its
File-Edit-View menus. At the right of the main window are located the icon
commands that are specific to each CATIA workbench. At the bottom of the main
window are located the general icon commands used in nearly all workbenches.
Icon commands are usually located at the bottom and right of the screen but they
can also be added to the left and at the top (below the main commands) as you see
fit.
CATIAs design area can be divided into two main sections:
Specification Tree : The structured information describing the design
process. This is a very important tool to understand the product structure (It
is the core feature of designing with CATIA V5).
Geometric Area : This is where geometrical elements actually takes place.
It is always located behind the specification tree and can occupy all the
screen.
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CATIA V5 COMPASS
The Compass object is a feature located at the top right of the screen. It is a virtual
3D tool used for manipulating objects for better viewing, designing and analyzing.
To select a specific part of the Compass, just move the cursor over it. The selected
portion will then turn orange.
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Formula Tool
The Formula tool is useful to associate formulas to existing parameters. This tool
is one of the basic features of the Knowledgeware process in CATIA V5. By
choosing Tools>Formula or by clicking on the Formula Icon in the bottom
toolbar, you will access the Formula Main Dialog Box :
Incremental check : This check is used when you only want to see the
parameters of a selected feature in the Specification Tree. Thus, selecting a
Sketch feature in the Specification Tree (while the Incremental option is
checked) will only display the parameters associated with this specific
feature.
Import : Click this button if you want to create parameters & formulas with
informations coming from an external data file (Excel file, Lotus file, etc.).
Filter applied to Parameters : This help you to find a specific parameter
among all of them by filtering with the appropriate category.
List box : This contain all the existing parameters of the selected category
(See Filter applied to Parameters) :
- Under the Parameter column are parameter's name and their location
(parents).
- Under the Value column is found the value of the parameter
(numerical value or not, depending on the parameter type).
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Image Tool
The Image tool is used to grab 2D pictures of a part for future use in presentations
or in documentations.
Capture : With this command you can grab a 2D picture of your CATIA
session in pixel or vector mode. You can select the picture limits with a
selecting trap or by using the geometry-only option. You can then put this
picture in the Album or save it to the hard disk. The file format can be any
of the most common pictures format.
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Album : This command allows you to visualize all the pictures previously
grabbed and inserted in the Album. You can then decide which pictures
you want to keed and save or preview then before printing.
Video : The Video command allows you to create AVI movies or Still
Image Captures (succession of snapshot in JPG file-format). You can also
choose the compression level of AVI movies, the total length of the movie,
the rate of snapshot per seconds, etc.
Macro Tool
The Macro tool is a very important and useful tool of CATIA V5. It allows you to
record and run macros in CATScript file-format, which is similar but not exactly
equal to the VBScript language. These recorded macros can than be used to
automate the creation of simple features.
Macros : This command is used to load and run macros either from an
external file or directly from a previously recorded macro of the current
session.
Start Recording / Stop Recording : This command start/stop the recording
of the manipulations realized on the part. N.B.: Not all the manipulations
can be recorded! The macro can thereafter be modified with the use of a
text editor. For more information on macros, please refer to CATIA V5
original documentation.
Customize Tool
This tool allows you to customize the Start Menu dialog box, which invites you to
choose a CATIA workbench to start with. You can add/delete workbench from
this Start Menu depending on the installed software and your license agreement.
You can also add/delete Icons/Commands from Toolbars, add/delete Toolbars
from Workbench/Workbench, add/delete Workbench (i.e. create your own
customized set of toolbars/icons/commands.
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Options Tool
This is a very important tool in CATIA V5 and it contains a lot of information.
This tool will then be discussed in a separate topic later.
Conferencing Tool
This tool is used for meeting on the Internet and/or intranet, for sharing
information between several peoples with the use of Microsoft Windows
NetMeeting application.
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with large assemblies or with digital mockup (DMU) since it reduce the
utilization of system's ressources. By default, this option is checked.
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