Tips and Techniques
V5 Batch Conversion Job
By James Strawn
Copy your CATIA V5Rx shortcut, and paste a new one on the desktop. Edit the properties, and add -batch -e CATV4ToV5Migration to the end of the command. Mine reads like this:
"C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B06\intel_a\code\bin\CNEXT.exe" -env CATIA_P3.V5R6.B06 -batch -e CATV4ToV5Migration
Yours may be different if you have a different environment or version.
This brings up a panel vaguely similar to the CATUTIL panel. Select a target directory (for the end result), select the V4 models, check their validity (via the stop and go lights on the bottom), and run it if everything is OK. You should then get several CATParts and CATProducts (and CATDrafts if you selected the drafting option) corresponding to your model.
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Controlling the Horizontal and Vertical Orientations
Question: How do you control the horizontal and vertical orientations when you enter the sketcher in V5?
- Pre-select any line
- Select the sketcher icon
- Select the plane you wish to sketch on
The view will rotate so that the horizontal axis automatically lines up with the pre-selected line.
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Surface Mathematics in V4
Have you ever wondered why a surfaced model with minimal geometry is overly large in model size? The problem may be due to lack of awareness of the mathematics behind CATIA's V4 curves and surfaces.
You don't need to be a mathematician to understand how to make your surfaced models as "economical" as possible. By economical, we mean, making complex shapes using a series of simple surfaced elements. In this way, we can create very complex surfaced components using very little data (< 2M).
Every curve we create is composed of elementary elements called ARCs. Each of these arcs consist of one polynomial equation.
Every surface we create is composed of elementary elements called PATCHes. The number of patches in a surface is roughly proportional to the number of arcs in the curves used to generate it.
More curve arcs equate to more surface patches, more polynomial equations, and larger models. Using simpler elements means less mathematics and smaller models.
The surfacing curriculums at EADS Matra Datavision instruct the student in proper methods to create complex shapes using "economical" methods.
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