TechniGraphicS

CATIA V5 Common Knowledge Tools

Presented to:
CATIA Operators of Puget Sound Robert M. Garrison
Senior Applications Engineer

21 June 2006 www.tgstech.com

 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ What is Knowledgeware in the context of CATIA V5?

ƒ Specific workbenches that are configuration-dependent
• Knowledge Advisor (concerned with Parameters & Relations)
• Knowledge Expert (concerned with Types and Attributes)
• Product Knowledge Template (concerned with Smart Templates)
• Product Engineering Optimizer
• Business Process Knowledge Template
• Product Function Description
• Product Function Optimizer
ƒ Specific tools independent of workbenches
• Common Knowledge Tools

TechniGraphicS 2
 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ Uncommon Knowledge
ƒ How geometry creation methods influence the application
of knowledge (a tale of three pads)

TechniGraphicS 3
 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ Uncommon Knowledge
ƒ How change cascades through the Parent / Child
relationship

TechniGraphicS 4
 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ Uncommon Knowledge
ƒ The overlooked parametric connection

Parametric Relationship

TechniGraphicS 5
 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ Uncommon Knowledge
ƒ The overlooked parametric connection

Renaming Parameters

TechniGraphicS 6
 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ Uncommon Knowledge
ƒ The overlooked parametric connection

Multiple vs. Single

Value Parameters

TechniGraphicS 7
 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ Uncommon Knowledge
ƒ The overlooked parametric connection

Locking Parameters

TechniGraphicS 8
 Roots of Common Knowledge

‰ The Enlightened Path

ƒ Geometric Behavior
• Take the minimalist approach to geometry
• Reduce resultant geometry to fewest inputs possible for the
behavior you desire
• Consider the types of changes parts will undergo downstream
• Create a part that is predicatively reactive
ƒ Parametric Relationships
• Devise clean schemas – avoid multi-branching cascades
• Understand the purpose of each relationship tool and apply it
towards its strength

TechniGraphicS 9
 Parameters in CATIA

‰ Parameters by default are primarily static

‰ Once engaged in relationships, Parameters become
dynamic
‰ Parameters come in two flavors
ƒ Intrinsic Parameters
• Created by CATIA as a byproduct of geometry creation
• Cannot be deleted without deleting the associated geometry
• Can be engaged in relationships
ƒ Extrinsic Parameters
• Also known as User Parameters
• Created by user independent of geometry creation
• Can be engaged in relationships with Intrinsic or other Extrinsic
Parameters

TechniGraphicS 10
 Intrinsic Parameters

‰ Parameters created by CATIA

TechniGraphicS 11
 Intrinsic Parameters

‰ Parameters created by CATIA

*Filter on the Sketch

Dimensional & Geometric
Constraints are also
Parameters

TechniGraphicS 12
 Intrinsic Parameters

‰ Parameters created by CATIA

*Filter on the Pad

Limit and Offset Values

are also parameters

TechniGraphicS 13
 Intrinsic Parameters

‰ Parameters created by CATIA

*Filter on the Hole

Sketch-Based Features create Parameters

from the Sketch and on the Feature

TechniGraphicS 14
 Intrinsic Parameters

‰ Parameters created by CATIA

*Filter on the Plane

Non-Sketch Features also

have Parameters to Consider

TechniGraphicS 15
 Intrinsic Parameters

‰ Parameters created by CATIA

*Filter on the Part

Product Properties are

also Parameters

TechniGraphicS 16
 Extrinsic Parameters

‰ Parameters created by Users

TechniGraphicS 17
 Renaming Parameters

‰ Intrinsic & Extrinsic Parameters can be renamed

‰ This is not the same as renaming a Feature
‰ Renaming Parameters makes them easier to find
through filtering when building Relationships
‰ Renaming is typically done through the Edit Parameter
dialogue box

TechniGraphicS 18
 Renaming Parameters

‰ Renamed Intrinsic Parameters do not appear in the

Specification Tree.
‰ Only Extrinsic Parameters are in the Specification Tree

TechniGraphicS 19
 Renaming Parameters

‰ All Renamed Parameters can be Filtered through

Knowledge Dictionaries

TechniGraphicS 20
 Relationships in CATIA

‰ Relationships make Parameters dynamic

‰ Fundamental Relationships
ƒ Formulas
ƒ Equivalent Dimensions Tables (Length or Angle)
ƒ Design Tables
‰ Advanced Relationships
ƒ Laws (Generative Shape Design)
ƒ Advisor Rules & Checks
ƒ Sets of Equations
ƒ Actions & Reactions
ƒ Expert Rules & Checks

TechniGraphicS 21
 Formulas

‰ Formulas are Relationships between Parameters

ƒ One or more parameters drive another – the driving
parameters are referred to as the Arguments
ƒ One-to-One relationships are typically not created using
a Formula – use Equivalent Dimensions instead
ƒ All Formulas appear in the Relations branch of the
Specification Tree – they can be hidden

TechniGraphicS 22
 Formulas

‰ User Parameters can be used as an argument in a

Formula that drives an Intrinsic Parameter

TechniGraphicS 23
 Formulas

‰ Formulas can use Dictionary-driven Measures

TechniGraphicS 24
 Formulas

‰ Proper construction of a Formula allows Parameters of

one type to be used as arguments to drive a Parameter
of a different type (e.g. Length = Real)

TechniGraphicS 25
 Formulas

‰ Multiple Value Parameter of Type Real driving a Length

Parameter

TechniGraphicS 26
 Formulas

‰ Using a Formula to drive Geometry Types

TechniGraphicS 27
 Equivalent Dimensions

‰ Equivalent Dimensions hold Parameters of the same

type in a Table
ƒ Can be Length or Angle types only
ƒ Each Parameter in the Table acts as an Argument
ƒ Each Parameter in the Table are also Driven
ƒ Relationships are one-to-one (i.e. a = b)
‰ The Equivalent Dimension Relationship also has its
own Parameter
ƒ This Parameter can be used as an Argument in other
Relationships
ƒ This Parameter can be driven by other Relationships

TechniGraphicS 28
 Equivalent Dimensions

‰ Creating an Equivalent Dimensions Table

TechniGraphicS 29
 Equivalent Dimensions

‰ Creating an Equivalent Dimensions Table

Parameter can be
Multiple Value

TechniGraphicS 30
 Equivalent Dimensions

‰ Creating an Equivalent Dimensions Table

Parameter can be
engaged in Formulas

TechniGraphicS 31
 Design Tables

‰ Design Tables are Relationships between

Parameters...

TechniGraphicS 32
 Design Tables

‰ ...and Tabular Data (Delimited Text Files or

Spreadsheets)

TechniGraphicS 33
 Design Tables

‰ Design Tables can be used to trigger simultaneous

value changes to multiple Parameters...

TechniGraphicS 34
 Design Tables

‰ ...providing quick global change capability

TechniGraphicS 35
 TechniGraphicS

Thank you for your attention...

For advanced training in this and other CATIA, SmarTeam or

ENOVIA subjects, contact:
email: plm_training@tgstech.com
web site: www.tgstech.com/plmtraining
Training is available on-site or at our Bellevue WA facility

www.tgstech.com