Functional Molded Part - CATIA:designcatiadesign.org/_doc/v5r14/catpdffm1ug_C2/fm1ug.pdf · CATIA...

Functional Molded Part

Overview

Conventions

What's New?

Getting Started

Entering the Functional Molded Part Workbench Defining the Main Shell Editing the Shell Properties Removing Volumes from the Part While Creating Walls Piercing the Main Shape Adding Strength to the Shelled Body Applying a Styling Surface Onto the Shelled Body Finalizing the Part Shape

User Tasks

Creating the Initial Part Shape Creating a Functional Body Setting Shell Properties Setting Draft Properties

Creating Shape FeaturesShellable Feature Cavity Feature Added Feature Protected Feature Internal Feature Core Feature

Creating Functional Features Cutout Pocket Boss Rib Rest Grill Reinforcement Push Pull Fitting Hole Threaded Hole

Using Feature Modifiers Cut

Remove Intersect Rectangular Pattern Circular Pattern Edge Fillet (as a Feature Modifier)

Creating Multi-Body Features Divide Lip

Changing Functional Behaviors Using PowerCopies

Creating PowerCopies Instantiating PowerCopies Saving PowerCopies into a Catalog

Reordering Features Handling Functional Bodies in a Multi-Document Environment

Copying Bodies including Functional Solids and Detailed Features Copying Functional Bodies

Recommendations Wireframe Geometry and Functional Features Manual Updates

Workbench Description

Functional Molded Part Menu Bar Shape Features Toolbar Functional Features Toolbar Mold Design Properties Toolbar Feature Modifiers Toolbar Multi-Body Features Toolbar

Reference Information

Prism Sweep Revolve Thick Surface External Shape

Glossary

Index

Overview

This book is intended for the user who needs to become quickly familiar withFunctional Molded Part product.

This overview provides the following information:

● Functional Molded Part in a Nutshell

● Before Reading this Guide

● Getting the Most out of This Guide

● Accessing Sample Documents

● Conventions Used in this Guide

Functional Molded Part in a Nutshell

CATIA Functional Molded Part offers a new approach to developing 3D digital models, called "functional modeling." The objective of functional modeling is to enable product designers to focus on the functional goals and design constraints of their product. Capturing this information in the product model provides the information from which geometric form can be derived through the combination of behavioral features and a minimum of geometric construction. The end result is a significant reduction in the effort required to generate the 3D model by allowing more time for designers to focus on engineering issues, exploring alternative design approaches, and optimizing their design.

CATIA Functional Molded Part provides tools to create volumes and features that contain inherent behaviors and which interact. The behaviors capture different design functions, such as adding material, subtracting material, or protecting space. Because they contain inherent behaviors and they interact, they are called "functional volumes" and "functional features."

As a scalable product,Functional Molded Part can be used in cooperation with other current or future companion products such as Assembly Design and Generative Drafting.

Before Reading this Guide

Before reading this guide, you should be familiar with basic Version 5 concepts such as document windows, standard and view toolbars. Therefore, we recommend that you read the Infrastructure User's Guide that describes generic capabilities common to all Version 5 products. It also describes the general layout of V5 and the interoperability between workbenches.

You may also like to read the following complementary product guides:● Part Design User's Guide: explains how to create parts.

● Sketcher User's Guide: explains how to sketch 2D elements.

● Wireframe and Surface User's Guide: explains how to create wireframe geometry and surfaces.

Getting the Most out of this Guide

The Functional Molded Part User's Guide has been designed for users new to the application.

To get the most out of this guide, we suggest you start reading and performing the step-by-step tutorial Getting Started that provides an overview of what can be done with key functions.

Once you have finished, you should move on to the next sections describing and illustrating each functionarts. You can also take a look at the sections describing the Functional Molded Part Workbench at the end of the guide.

Accessing Sample Documents

To perform the scenarios, you will be using sample documents contained in the online/fm1ug/samples folder.

When samples belong to capabilities common to different products, those samples will be found in the online/cfyug/samples folder.

For more information on accessing sample documents, refer to Accessing Sample Documents in the Infrastructure User's Guide.

Conventions Used in this Guide

To learn more about the conventions used in this guide, refer to the Conventions section.

ConventionsCertain conventions are used in CATIA, ENOVIA & DELMIA documentation to help you recognize and understand important concepts and specifications.

Graphic Conventions

The three categories of graphic conventions used are as follows:

● Graphic conventions structuring the tasks

● Graphic conventions indicating the configuration required

● Graphic conventions used in the table of contents

Graphic Conventions Structuring the Tasks

Graphic conventions structuring the tasks are denoted as follows:

This icon... Identifies...

estimated time to accomplish a task

a target of a task

the prerequisites

the start of the scenario

a tip

a warning

information

basic concepts

methodology

reference information

information regarding settings, customization, etc.

the end of a task

functionalities that are new or enhanced with this release

allows you to switch back to the full-window viewing mode

Graphic Conventions Indicating the Configuration Required

Graphic conventions indicating the configuration required are denoted as follows:

This icon... Indicates functions that are...

specific to the P1 configuration



Graphic Conventions Used in the Table of Contents

Graphic conventions used in the table of contents are denoted as follows:

This icon... Gives access to...

Site Map

Split View mode

What's New?

Overview

Getting Started

Basic Tasks

User Tasks or the Advanced Tasks

Workbench Description

Customizing

Reference

Methodology

Glossary

Index

Text Conventions

The following text conventions are used:

● The titles of CATIA, ENOVIA and DELMIA documents appear in this manner throughout the text.

● File -> New identifies the commands to be used.

● Enhancements are identified by a blue-colored background on the text.

How to Use the Mouse

The use of the mouse differs according to the type of action you need to perform.

Use thismouse button... Whenever you read...

● Select (menus, commands, geometry in graphics area, ...)

● Click (icons, dialog box buttons, tabs, selection of a location in the document window, ...)

● Double-click

● Shift-click

● Ctrl-click

● Check (check boxes)

● Drag

● Drag and drop (icons onto objects, objects onto objects)

● Drag

● Move

● Right-click (to select contextual menu)

What's New?

New Functionalities

Draft PropertiesThe Draft Properties capability lets you assign the draft properties for all the features of a given functional body.

Edge FilletThe Edge Fillet capability lets you create rounds and fillets.

HoleThe Hole capability lets you create holes of different shapes.

DivideThe Divide capability divides separate functional bodies into two halves.

LipThe Lip capability creates lips on bodies that were divided.

PatternThe Pattern capability lets you create rectangular or circular patterns.

Enhanced Functionalities

Functional Bodies

❍ Show/No Show can be applied to functional bodies

❍ It is now possible to set a functional body as current using the Set as current contextual command.

❍ You can now use the Copy/Paste capability with the As Result With Link option to copy a functional body from one CATPart document to another.

Functional Features You can now select surfaces and 3D planar curves as input profiles but you can also use four contextual commands to create the profiles you need. These commands are: Go to profile definition, Create Sketch, Create Join and Create Extract.

DraftTwo new options in Draft tabs help you draft faces:

❍ Plane/Surface enables you to use the plane or surface of your choice to define neutral elements

❍ Parting=Neutral enables you to use the plane or surface selected as neutral elements as parting elements too.

GrillPictures available in each tab of the Grill dialog box now help you define the required parameters.

RibThe Up To Plane/Surface capability lets you trim ribs by the planes or surfaces you need. The Post capability lets you create conical ribs from non-construction points.

RestThe With bottom option controls the creation of capping faces at the bottom limit.

Protected areasAll protected areas (cutout, pocket, protected, rest, push, pull, fitting) are now displayed in red.

Change Functional Behavior

The Change Functional Behavior contextual command changes the functional behavior of a shape feature. The command also applies to body-modifying features.

Shellable Features You can now define a core body (offset) for any shellable feature.

Shell PropertiesYou can now ignore faces causing trouble during the shell computation

Contextual Commands for Defining DirectionsNew contextual commands let you define directions by entering coordinates.

Getting Started

Before getting into the detailed instructions for using Functional Molded Part, the following tutorial aims at giving you a feel as to what you can do with the product. It provides a step-by-step exercise based on a realistic design scenario showing you how to use key functionalities for creating a plastic part.

The main tasks covered in this section are:

Entering the Functional Molded Part WorkbenchDefining the Main Shell

Editing the Shell PropertiesRemoving Volumes from the Part While Creating Walls

Piercing the Main ShapeAdding Strength to the Shelled Body

Applying a Styling Surface Onto the Shelled BodyFinalizing the Part Shape

All together, the tasks should take about ten minutes to complete. The final part will be a phone cap that will look like this:

Outside Inside

Entering the Functional Molded Part Workbench

This first task shows you how to enter the Functional Molded Part>workbench.

The only pre-requisite for this task is to have a current CATIA V5 session running.

1. Select the Start -> Mechanical Design -> Functional Molded Part commands or click the Functional Molded Part icon

from the Welcome to CATIA V5 dialog box.

The Functional Molded Part workbench is displayed, ready to use. The commands for creating features are available to the

right of the window.

2. To perform this tutorial, open the Phone.CATPart document. For information on where sample documents are installed by

default, see Accessing Documents in the Infrastructure User's Guide.

Defining the Main Shell

In the first task, you will create a shellable prism from a profile sketched in the Sketcher workbench.

Creating a shellable prism means ensuring that the geometry you are going to create can be shelled after you added material generated by other features.

1. Click the Shellable Feature icon .

The Shellable Feature dialog box that appears displays the Prism icon as the default

shape to be created.

2. Keep the default option and select Lateral Profile as the profile to be extruded.

The application previews the prism.

3. Enter 15mm in the First length field to define the feature length. The preview of the prism

changes dynamically as you change values.

4. Click the Direction tab to check that the default option fits your needs: as the Normal to

profile option is checked, the prism will be created normal to the sketch plane. Keep this option.

5. Click the Draft tab that enables you to optionally draft the prism.

6. To define the draft angle, set the Draft behavior option to Intrinsic to feature. Options are

now displayed.

7. Set the Angle option to 5deg if not already done,

8. Click OK to confirm. The shellable prism is created and the application displays this feature in the

specification tree.

In a NutshellThe Shellable capability creates geometry that will belong to the main shape of the part.

Shellable features can take on the shape of a prism, sweep, revolve, thick surface or even of an

external shape.

To know more about this capability, refer to Cutout.

Editing the Shell Properties

In this task you will edit the thickness of the shellable prism you have just created and you will also remove one of its faces.

1. In the previous task, while adding the shellable prism in the specification tree, the application also created the Shell Properties.1 entity.

Double-click Shell Properties.1 and look at what it contains.

The Shell Properties dialog box displays a thickness value that applies to the prism.

2. Enter 1.5mm in the Thickness field to edit the default thickness.

3. Select the bottom face as the opening face.

Clicking the icon displays the Faces to remove dialog box that allows you to:

❍ View the list of all of the selected faces

Remove any face clicking the Remove button 4. Replace any face using the Replace button and selecting a new one in the geometry or the specification tree.

5. Click OK to confirm. The part now looks like this:

In a NutshellThe Shell Properties dialog box lets you define the thickness of the part as well as its opening faces. The thickness value you enter will apply

to all of the functional features in the same body that create walls, as well as to additional shellable volumes.

Removing Volumes from the Part While Creating Walls

The Cutout capability removes volumes from the part while creating walls. The area of the cutout is protected, which means that nothing can penetrate this area that is in the same body. Entities in other bodies can penetrate protected areas.

In this task, you will create two cutouts.

1. Click the Cutout icon .

The Cutout dialog box that appears displays the Prism icon as the default shape to be

created. Keep this option.

First Cutout

2. In the specification tree, select Cap Cutout as the closed profile to be used. The application

previews the cutout as well as two textual indicators for both limits:

3. In the Floor frame, enter 8mm in the Length field to define the location for the floor.

4. In the Opening frame, Enter -20mm in the Length field to define the location for the opening.

5. Check the With floor option, if not already done.

6. Click the Draft tab.


now displayed.

8. Set the Angle option to -3deg if not already done.

9. Click the Fillet tab to add a fillet to the cutout edges.

10. Enter 1mm for the #floor's edge radius value.

11. Click OK to confirm. The first cutout is created and as a protected area, it is displayed in

red:

Second Cutout

12. In the specification tree, select Screen Cutout as the profile to be used.

13. Enter 0mm in the Length field to define the floor location.

14. Enter -20mm in the Length field to define the opening location.

15. Uncheck the With floor option.

16. Click the Draft tab and enter -3 in the Angle field to define the draft angle value.

17. Click the Fillet tab and to define the lateral radius value, enter 5mm in the corresponding field.

18. Click OK to confirm. The second cutout is created:

The specification tree indicates these operations under the names of Cutout.1 and Cutout.2.

In a NutshellThe Cutout capability protects the volume from material volumes in the same body penetrating

into it and generates walls around this volume.

To know more about this capability, refer to Cutout.

Piercing the Main Shape

This task shows you how to create holes in the main shape by using the Protected Feature capability. You will create three protected prisms, that is areas within which no additional material created by other features within the same body can be added.

1. Click the Protected Feature icon .

The Protected Feature dialog box that appears displays the Prism icon as the default

shape to be created. Keep this option.

First Protected Prism

2. Select Key holes as the profile to be used.

3. Enter 20mm in the First length field.

4. Click the Direction tab to ensure that the direction of the features will be normal to the profile

plane.

5. As you do not need to draft the feature nor fillet its edges, simply click OK to create the

protected prism.

Second Protected Prism

6. To create the second protected prism, click the Protected Feature icon again.

7. Select HP Holes as the profile to be used.


9. Click the Direction tab to ensure that the direction of the features will be normal to the the

profile plane.

10. As you do not need to draft the feature nor fillets its edges, simply click OK to create the

protected prism.

Third Protected Prism

Now you will create a third protected prism that corresponds to the area reserved for the phone electronic mechanism.

11. Select Reserved Space as the profile to be used.


13. Enter 2mm in the Second length field.



now displayed.

16. Set the Angle option to 3deg.

17. Set the first limit as the neutral element

18. Click OK to confirm.

The specification tree indicates these operations under the names of Protected Prism.1,

Protected Prism.2 and Protected Prism.3.

In a NutshellCreating a protected volume:

❍ generates no walls.

❍ material created by other features within the same body will not penetrate the protected volume.

To know more about this capability, refer to Protected Feature

Adding Strength to the Shelled Body

This task shows you how to add strength to the shelled body by using the Rib capability.

1. Click the Rib icon .

The Rib dialog box that appears displays the Prism icon as the default shape to be created.

Keep this option.

2. Select Internal Ribs as the profile to be used.

3. Enter 20mm in the Length field to define the first limit.

4. In the Wall frame, set the Enter thickness option. The Thickness field is now ungreyed. Keep

the default value, that is 1mm, to define the wall thickness. Wall thickness values can only by

positive (nonzero) values.

5. Click the Direction tab to ensure that the direction of the features will be normal to the profile

plane.



now displayed.

8. Set the Angle option to -1deg.

9. Set the Profile plane as the neutral element to be used for drafting the rib feature.

10. Click OK to create the rib.

The specification tree indicates this operation under the name of Rib.1.

In a NutshellRibs are typically applied inside of a shelled body.

To know more about this capability, refer to Rib.

Applying a Styling Surface Onto the Shelled Body

In this task, you will alter the part shape by cutting material away from it. To do so, you will use the Cut capability with a styling surface.

1. Click the Cut icon .

The Cut dialog box displays.

2. Select Top Surface as the cutting element.

3. Click any arrow to reverse the direction indicating which portion of material is to be kept. The

arrows must point toward the phone bottom face as shown here:

4. Click OK to cut the part and hide the cutting surface to enhance the result:

The specification tree indicates this operation under the name of Cut.1.

In a NutshellThe Cut capability can be used to modify the shape of a functional feature with a styling surface.

To know more about this capability, refer to Cut.

Finalizing the Part Shape

To finalize the part shape, you will use one of the different commands available for filleting edges.

1. Click the Edge Fillet icon .

The Edge Fillet Definition dialog box appears.

2. Select the edge to be rounded, that is the top edge.

3. Enter 3mm in the Radius field to define the fillet radius value. The preview of the radius value

changes dynamically as you change values.

4. Click Preview to get an idea of what the fillet will look like.

5. Click OK to confirm. The final part looks like this:

In a NutshellTraditional Part Design dress-up features are available in the Functional Molded Part workbench

command to let you finalizing the shapes of the parts.

User Tasks

Functional Molded Part is not history-based the way some traditional CAD systems are. Instead, it is behavior-driven, which means that the system is driven by the behavior of a model's parts, not the order of their introduction or regeneration. A behavior-driven modeling system means design elements can be introduced and re-executed freely at different stages in the design process.

For example, you can introduce a feature in a reserved space in your design even before the body exists to which the feature will eventually be applied. When the body is created, the feature will automatically be generated, and other affected entities will change accordingly. There is no need to backtrack through the design's history to update the rest of the affected entities.

History independence also reduces and, in most cases, eliminates feature failures and the typical work-arounds needed to reorder or reintroduce features at a specific position in the history tree of the design. Because Functional Molded Part does not impose history-based rules, the system is more flexible, and you can apply modeling operations wherever and whenever they are needed.

This section will explain and illustrate how to create various kinds of features. The table below lists the information you will find.

Creating the Initial Part Shape

Shape Features

Setting Shell Properties

Setting Draft Properties

Functional Features

Feature Modifiers

PowerCopy

Reordering Features

Recommendations

Creating the Initial Part ShapePrior to creating the initial shape of the part, you should be familiar with the following concepts:

● Shape Features and Functional Features

● Functional Bodies

● Functional Solids

● Shell Properties

● Draft Properties

Shape Features and Functional Features

To begin creating your part, you begin by adding shape features to the active body to create the initial shape of the part.Shape features represent any type of material as well as empty spaces. The different shape features interact in unique ways with each other and with the functional features. The key to modeling with functional volumes is to understand how the different types interact within a body.

Functional Bodies

Functional Bodies group shape features and functional features that combine to graphically represent the part of your document.

To help you structure your part, the application lets you create as many functional bodies as needed. To know how to do that, refer to Creating a Functional Body.

The shape of a functional body is copied into a functional solid.

Functional Solids

A functional solid contains the geometrical result of a given functional body. Any Part Design command can be applied onto functional solids as shown in Finalizing the Part Shape of the Getting Started scenario where you fillet an edge.

Shell Properties

Each body contains a shell property that specifies the thickness of the walls in any shellable feature (one of the six shape feature types) in that body. The thickness can also be zero, thus the shellable volume would not be shelled. The shell property is easily changed at any time during the design process. For more, refer to Setting Shell Properties.

Draft Properties

For more, refer to Setting Draft Properties.

Creating a Functional Body

When your CATPart document contains no functional bodies, the application creates a functional body as soon as you have created your first functional or shape feature. Later on, if you need to add other functional bodies to the specification tree, you need to explicitly specify this. In this task, you will learn how to create a new functional body.

Open any CATPart document provided in this guide. The following scenario is performed using the Cutout.CATPart document.

1. Select Insert -> Body.

A body is created. It is displayed in the specification tree and is set as the current body.

Functional Body.1 is no longer the current body.

A current body is a body determining the location of the features you are going to create.

Note that because Functional Body.1 is no longer the current entity, the associated icon

which was blue, changes to grey to indicate this.

2. Create any functional or shape feature. For example, create a cutout feature. The cutout feature

is displayed in the specification tree in a new functional body, Functional Body.2 and its result

is placed into the new body.

You can create as many functional bodies as required to produce a part.

Setting a Functional Body as Current

3. If you wish to set Functional Body.1 as current, select it.

4. Right-click to use the Functional Body.1 object -> Set as Current contextual command.

Functional Body.1 is the current functional body again. Its associated icon is blue again whereas

Functional Body.2 's icon is grey.

Showing or Hiding Functional Bodies

To hide or conversely, show the geometry of a functional body, proceed as follows:

Right-click Functional Body.1 and run the Hide/show resulting geometry command

that lets you manage the resulting geometry view.

or

Right-click its corresponding functional solid and run the Hide/show command.

or

Right-click its corresponding body and run the Hide/show command.

Note that the Hide/Show command applied to a functional specification hides or shows its protected volumes. Applied to a functional body, the command hides or shows all the protected volumes of the functional body.

Setting Shell Properties One of the key shape feature types is the "shellable" feature. This is a material volume that you can apply a wall thickness to, thus defining an internal boundary and creating an internal spatial volume.

The Shell Properties command assigns a wall thickness to an active body, making it hollow, thus making the Shellable volumes hollow that are in the body. The command not only specifies the wall thickness, but you can also use it to remove one or more faces from the shelled volume, as shown in the following image:

All removed faces can be restored and the wall thickness can easily be changed at any time by using the Shell

Properties command . In addition, you can specify different wall thicknesses for each face.

If you select several faces, note that clicking the icon displays the Faces to remove dialog box that allows

you to:

● View the list of all of the selected faces

● Remove any face clicking the Remove button

● Replace any face using the Replace button and selecting a new one in the geometry or the specification tree.

After a shellable volume is shelled, only features that have behaviors that function within internal volumes, such as ribs, can penetrate the shell (or internal) boundary. Thus, features such as boss and reinforcement cannot penetrate the shell because their behaviors are to add material volume to the outside of another material volume.

Ignoring Faces

In some specific cases, the application cannot shell the selected face. An error message then appears informing you that the resulting geometry cannot be assembled. If you click on the Edit button, then a more detailed message displays, indicating that some faces cannot be offset and therefore informs you that you can ignore those faces. If you accept that solution, the shell is performed and the face causing trouble is removed.

The fillet causes trouble The face is ignored, the shell is performed.

Later on if you edit the shell properties, the ignored face is previewed and the Reset ignored faces option is then available in the Shell Properties dialog box.

By checking this option, the ignored face is reinitialized and the indication Ignored face in the geometry is deleted. If the check box is unchecked, the previous ignored face is still taken into account for the next feature definition.

Setting Draft Properties

You can assign draft properties to a feature in two ways:● By defining properties specific to the feature you are creating. These properties are available from a

Draft tab included in the feature definition dialog box and are referred to as properties Intrinsic to feature. To see an example, refer to the task describing how to create a Boss.

● The Draft Properties command assigns draft properties to an active body, that is to a set of functional features. The command specifies the three following parameters:

❍ 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.

Because some sub-elements of the part can be molded in different directions, there is no

limitation on the number of Draft Properties features you can define in a functional body.

Open the Cutout.CATPart document.

1. Click the Draft Properties icon .

Note that it is not possible to set draft properties feature during the definition of a functional

feature.

The Draft Properties dialog box appears.

2. Select a line or a plane to define the pulling direction.

To define this type of parameter, we recommend no to use any edge supporting a functional

specification.

A red arrow indicates the pulling direction in the geometry area. By clicking on this arrow, you

reverse the direction.

3. Enter 2deg in the Draft angle field to edit the default angle value.

4. Parting elements are optional. For the purpose of our scenario, select Extrude.1.

Contextual commands available from the Parting element field let you create planes. These

commands are:

❍ Create Plane: for more information, see Creating Planes.

❍ XY Plane: the XY plane of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the parting element.

❍ YZ Plane: the YZ plane of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the parting element.

❍ ZX Plane: the ZX plane of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the parting element.

❍ Create Join: joins surfaces or curves. See Joining Surfaces or Curves.

❍ Create Extrapol: extrapolates surface boundaries or curves. See Extrapolating Surfaces and Extrapolating Curves.

5. Click OK to confirm the draft properties you defined.

Draft Properties.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

The blue graphics representation is located on the geometrical element used for defining the

pulling direction, or the parting element or at the part's origin.

This representation is associative with the geometry so when the parting element or direction is modified, the representation is updated.

Draft Properties Versus Intrinsic to FeatureThe draft properties apply to all the features of the shellable body provided that these are not

assigned the Intrinsic to feature option to define their draft behaviors. If that occurs, what you

need to do then is just edit the features, more precisely, click the Draft tab and change

Intrinsic to feature to Draft Properties.x.

For more information about defining draft properties specific to a feature, refer to the Reference

Information.

Creating Shape Features

What is a Shape Feature?

Shape features are the first entities you add to the active body to create the initial shape of the part. Shape features are made up of six types, which interact in unique ways with each other and with the functional features. Shape features represent any type of material as well as empty spaces.

When you create shape features with any of the Functional Molded Part capabilities, inherent in the resulting features is the concept of inside and outside. This is the way that most people view objects, which affects how they would use an object. In the same way, design elements need to be either inside or outside of the product model. Thus, Functional Molded Part provides features with an inherent behavior of existing inside or outside of a material feature within the same body. For example, the behavior of a Rib is to exist inside of a shelled material feature, and the behavior of a Reinforcement is to exist outside of a material feature. Because of this inherent behavior, features can be made before or after creating the shape feature to which they will be applied. Thus, there are no history dependencies.

Shape features are defined by how they are manifested and how they interact with the inside or outside of another shape feature. Depending on the type, a shape feature will do one or more of the following:

● Add material

● Subtract material

● Increase spatial volume

● Decrease spatial volume

● Protect a spatial volume

Therefore, when creating a shape feature that will intersect with another feature in the same body, you would select the volume type according to the results that you need.

Shape Feature Types

The following are the different shape feature types:

Shellable Feature

Cavity Feature

Added Feature

Protected Feature

Internal Feature

Core Feature

Shape TypesYou need to define a shape type when creating shape features (or certain functional features). To know how to create the five possible different shapes, refer to the following tasks:

Prism

Sweep

Revolve

Thick Surface

External Shape

Shellable Feature

The Shellable command is very often used to create the main shape of the part. It creates a hollow feature you can open via the Shell Properties command. Shellable features can have different basic shapes: Prism, Sweep, Revolve, Thick Surface or an External Shape.

The Shellable command also adds material volume to the outside of another material volume that it intersects within the same body, thus extending the boundaries of the volume, as well as increasing the internal spatial volume of a shelled volume. The added volume inherits the shell properties (wall thickness) of the body.

This task shows you how to create a shellable prism.

To perform this scenario, sketch a rectangle in the Sketcher workbench then return to the Functional Molded Part workbench.

1. Click the Shellable Feature icon .

Shellable features can have different shapes. The Shellable Feature dialog box that appears

displays the Prism icon as the default shape to be created.

2. If you prefer a different shape, click any of the other four shapes available. To know how to

create any of them, refer to the Sweep, Revolve or Thick Surface or External Shape tasks. For

the purposes of our scenario, keep the default option

3. Select the profile you wish to extrude. If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher icon

enables you to sketch the profile you need.

4. Create a basic prism as explained in the Prism task.

5. Click OK to confirm and create the shellable feature. Shellable Prism.X is added to the

specification tree in the Functional Body.X node. By customizing the view (use the Hidden

edges points option), you can notice that the prism is hollow. By default, the shellable feature

has no opening.

6. To open it, just double-click the Shell Properties node in the Specification tree or click the Shell

Properties command .

7. For example, select the top face as the face to be removed and enter the value of your choice to

define the wall thickness.

8. Click OK to confirm the operation. One face has been removed.

9. For more information, refer to Setting Shell Properties.

Core

10. Click the Core tab.

The Core capability enables you to define a core body (offset) for a shellable feature.

This sometimes becomes necessary if the geometrical complexity of the shellable

feature is such that standard offsets fail.

If your part contains two or more shellable features, you need to choose between three

methods:

❍ Isolated core

Automatically generates the core at feature level through an offset of only this

shellable features geometry (i.e. the feature is independently shelled). Note that

faces of features that have an isolated core cannot be later selected in Shell

Properties command as Face to remove or Face with special thickness.

❍ Interconnected core

Automatically generates the core at functional body level through an offset of the

union of all shellable features contained within the same functional body.

❍ Select core

You can select any body to represent the core for the shellable feature.

Cavity Feature

The Cavity command adds material to the outside of another material volume that it intersects with in the same body.

This task shows you how to create a cavity.

Open the Cavity_Core.CATPart document.

1. Click the Cavity icon .

Cavity features can have different shapes. The Cavity Feature dialog box that appears displays

the Prism icon as the default shape to be created.

If you prefer a different shape, click any of the four shapes available. To know how to create any

of them, refer to the Prism, Sweep, Revolve, Thick Surface or External Shape tasks. For the

purposes of our scenario, keep the default option.

2. Select Sketch.2 as the profile you wish to extrude. If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher

icon enables you to sketch the profile you need.

3. In the Limits tab, enter these values:

First length=102mm

Second length=-6mm

4. Optionally, set the parameters and options you wish to make the shape more complex as

explained in Prism (or Sweep) page.

5. Click OK to confirm and create the cavity feature. Cavity Prism.X is added to the specification

tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Added Feature

The Added Feature adds material to both the outside and inside of material volumes it intersects within the same body.

Open the Feature.CATPart.

1. Click the Added Feature icon .

Added features can have different shapes. The Added Feature dialog box that appears displays

the Prism icon as the default shape to be created.


create any of them, refer to the Prism, Sweep, Revolve, Thick Surface or External Shape tasks.

For the purposes of our scenario, keep the default option.

3. Select Sketch.21 as the profile you wish to extrude. If no profile is defined, clicking the

Sketcher icon enables you to sketch the profile you need.

4. In the Limits tab, enter these values:

First length: 15mm.

Second length: 30mm.



6. Click OK to confirm and create the added feature. Added Prism.X is added to the specification


Protected Feature

The Protected Feature command creates areas into which no additional material can penetrate that is in the same body.

Open the Protected.CATPart document.

1. Note that the functional body contains a cutout. Cutouts are now displayed in red to

improve the visualization of protected areas.

Click the Protected Feature icon .

Protected features can have different shapes. The Protected Feature dialog box that appears


If you prefer a different shape, click any of the other four shapes available. To know how to



2. Select Holes as the profile you wish to extrude. If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher


3. In the Limits tab, enter 20mm to define First length.



5. Check the Thick option that is available for the Prism, Sweep and Revolve shapes. This option

enables you to add material to both sides of the profile.

6. Enter 5mm in the Thickness1field and click Preview. Thickness is added to the inside of the

profile. As a protected area, the protected feature is displayed in red.

7. Enter 2mm in the Thickness2 field and click Preview. Thickness is added to the outside of the

profile.

8. To add material equally to both sides of the profile, check Neutral fiber and click Preview to

see the result. The thickness you defined for Thickness1 is evenly distributed: a thickness of

5mm has been added to each side of the profile.

9. Click OK to confirm and create the protected feature. Protected Prism.X is added to the

specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Internal Feature

The Internal Feature command adds material only to the inside of another material volume that it intersects within the same body.

Open the Feature.CATPart document.

1. Click the Internal icon .

Internal features can have different shapes. The Internal Feature dialog box that appears





3. Select Sketch.21 as the profile you wish to extrude. If no profile is defined, clicking the

Sketcher icon enables you to sketch the profile you need.

4. In the Limits tab, enter 15mm to define First length and 20mm for Second length.



6. Check the Thick option that is available for the Prism, Sweep and Revolve shapes. This option

enables you to add material to both sides of the profile.

Three additional options display:

7. Enter 7mm in the Thickness1 field. Thickness is added to the inside of the profile.

8. Enter 3mm in the Thickness2 field and click Preview. Thickness is added to the outside of the

profile.

9. To add material equally to both sides of the profile, check Neutral fiber and clickPreview to see

the result.

10. Click OK to confirm and create the internal feature. Internal Prism.X is added to the


Outside Inside

Core Feature

The Core Feature command extends the internal shape of a cavity.

Open the Cavity_Core.CATPart document and create a cavity feature as explained in Cavity Feature.

1. Click the Core Feature icon .

Core features can have different shapes. The Core Feature dialog box that appears displays the

Prism icon as the default shape to be created.




3. Select Sketch.3 as the profile you wish to extrude.If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher


4. In the Limits tab, enter 102mm to define First length and 6mm for Second length.



6. Click OK to confirm and create the core feature. Core Prism.X is added to the specification tree

in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Creating Functional Features

Functional Features are features with specific design intents that are applied to other features to modify them. Characterized by inherent behaviors, they add design details by modifying shape features. Thus, each functional feature performs a function, such as creating walls, adding material to the inside or outside of a shape feature, or creating and protecting an empty space. After a feature is applied, it retains a behavior according to the feature's function and interacts with other features within the same body.

Many of the capabilities have been defined based on assembly and manufacturing processes for injection molded parts and mechanical products.

This section provides information about the following functional features:

Cutout

Pocket

Boss

Rib

Rest

Grill

Reinforcement

Push (body modifier)

Pull (body modifier)

Fitting (body modifier)

Hole and Threaded Hole

Cutout

The Cutout command removes material from the active body, based on a selected profile. By removing material, you are actually creating a protected volume. The cutout is shelled as you apply it to a shellable feature.

This type of feature requires a closed profile defining the area that a section will be removed from the active body.

This task shows you how to create a cutout.

Open the Cutout.CATPart document.

1. Click the Cutout icon .

The Cutout dialog box displays.

2. Select Sketch.1 as the closed profile on which you are going to base the cutout. If no profile is

defined, clicking the Sketcher icon enables you to sketch the profile you need.

If you are not satisfied with the profile you selected, note that you can:

❍ click the Profile/Surface field again and select another sketch.

❍ use any of these creation contextual commands available from the Profile/Surface field:

■ Go to profile definition. See Using the Sub-elements of a sketch.

■ Create Sketch: launches the Sketcher after selecting any plane, and lets you sketch the profile you need as explained in the Sketcher User's Guide.

■ Create Join: joins surfaces or curves. See Joining Surfaces or Curves.

■ Create Extract: generates separate elements from non-connex sub-elements. See Extracting Geometry.

The prism is the default shape. Just click the sweep icon if you want to change. For the


3. Set the parameters and options as follows to define the shape as explained in Prism (or Sweep)

page.

❍ In the Distance tab, enter 17mm to define Floor: Length.

Instead of using the Length option, you can set the Through All option, which sets the value of

the cutout length as zero. This extends the cutout infinitely from the profile plane in the specified

direction(s). Because the cutout is a protected volume, the infinite volume is also protected.

When this option is checked, the Length value field is not available.

Preview of the Through All option defined for the Floor

Opening: Length=0mm

Here again, instead of using the Length option, you can set the Through option, which sets the

value of the cutout depth as zero.

❍ In the Direction tab

Normal to profile option checked

❍ In the Draft tab

Angle=1deg

❍ In the Fillet tab

All fillet options unchecked.

4. Click Preview to get an idea of what the cutout looks like. As a protected area, it is

displayed in red:

5. Uncheck the With floor option to see the difference. As indicated by the cursor, the cutout has

no floor.

6. Check the With floor option to create a floor.

Complement

Checking the Complement option cuts away what is outside the profile rather than what is inside

the profile, thus creating a complementary (or inverse) cutout, as shown in the following image:

Cutout Complement

Wall

To define the wall, you can set one of the two options available from the Type drop down list:

❍ Use body thickness: the cutout wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.

❍ Enter thickness: simply enter the value you want. After this option is selected, the value

field becomes available. Wall thickness values can only by positive values.

7. For the purposes of our scenario, set the Enter thickness option and enter 2mm in the

Thickness value field.

8. Click OK to confirm and create the cutout. Cutout.X is added to the specification tree in the

FunctionalBody.X node.

Pocket

Pockets are based on simple profiles and usually have side walls and a bottom.

They also have an inner protected volume, which means that no other volumes in the same body can penetrate this area. If you add a pocket to a shelled body, it creates supporting walls, if necessary.

The direction of a pocket always goes from the inside to the outside of the body.

This task shows you how to create a pocket.

Open the Pocket.CATPart document.

1. Click the Pocket icon .

The Pocket dialog box displays.

2. A pocket requires a closed planar profile.Select Sketch.1 as the profile defining the shape of the

pocket. If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher icon enables you to sketch the profile

you need.








Shape Definition

3. The prism is the default shape. Just click the sweep icon if you want to change. For the


4. Set the parameters and options you want to define the shape as explained in Prism or Sweep

page.

❍ In the Distance tab

Floor: Length=0mm

Opening: Length=50mm

Checking the Clearance volume option in the Distance tab creates an infinite protected volume

outside of the pocket and in the opposite direction in which the pocket depth is applied, which

prevents any material from the same body from penetrating the area above the pocket. Here is a

preview of the feature. As a protected area, the clearance volume is displayed in red:

Checking the Protected volume option reserves space inside of the pocket. A protected volume

is a space that nothing from the same body can penetrate inside of. As a protected area,

the protected volume is displayed in red:

5. To define the wall, you can set one of the two options available from the Type drop down list:

❍ Use body thickness: the pocket wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.



For the purposes of our scenario, set the Enter thickness option and enter 7mm in the


6. Click OK to confirm and create the pocket. Pocket.X is added to the specification tree in the


Checking the Only outside option creates the pocket only outside of the shelled body. Thus, the

profile of the pocket must extend outside of the walls in order for the pocket to be visible. This

option is not available when Protected Volume is selected.

Wall

Boss

A boss adds material only to the outside of a material volume that it intersects with in the same body. To create a boss, there must be a closed profile, consisting of either wireframe or sketching curves, that defines the area to which the boss is applied. A boss can be either solid or shelled.

This task shows you how to create a boss on the outside face of a shellable feature.

Open the Feature.CATPart document.

1. Click the Boss icon .

The Boss dialog box displays.

2. Select Sketch.21 as the closed profile. If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher icon









Distance

3. Ceiling: enter 25mm in the Length field to define the distance from the sketch plane up to the

ceiling.

4. Opening: enter 0mm in the Length field to define the distance from the sketch plane up to the

opening.

Setting the To shell option extends the boss to a shellable volume in the active body, in the

opposite direction of the height. The extension of the boss profile must fit inside the boundaries

of the shellable volume. Otherwise, no extension will occur.

Checking the Mirrored extent option extrudes the profile in the opposite direction using the

same length value as the one defined for the first length.

Clicking the Reverse Direction button reverses the extrusion direction. Another way of

reversing the direction is by clicking the arrow in the geometry area.

Direction

By default, the Normal to profile option is checked, meaning that the profile is extruded

normal to the sketch plane. If you wish to specify another direction, just uncheck the option, and

then select a geometrical element to be used as the new reference. For the purposes of our

scenario, keep the default option.

Clicking the Reverse Direction button reverses the extrusion direction.

Draft

5. If you wish to define a draft angle, click the Draft tab.

6. Set Intrinsic to feature to define the draft behavior.

7. Check the Angle field and enter 6deg as the draft angle.

The default neutral element (defines a neutral curve on which the drafted face will lie) is the

profile plane. The other possible neutral elements can be:

❍ Ceiling

❍ Opening

❍ Plane/Surface

For the purposes of our scenario, keep the default neutral element.

8. Click Preview. The feature looks like this:

Fillet

Checking the Lateral radius option enables you to fillet lateral edges. Then, you merely need to

set the radius value of your choice.

9. Check the Ceiling radius option to fillet the cylinder's top.

10. Enter 3.5mm to define the ceiling radius value.

If the boss is to be shelled, you can check the Constant wall thickness option which

propagates the fillets into the shell, thus maintaining a constant wall thickness.

Wall


❍ Use body thickness: the boss wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.



9. For the purpose of our scenario, set the Enter thickness option and enter 8mm in the


10. Click OK to confirm and create the boss. Boss.X is added to the specification tree in the


Outside Inside

Rib

The Rib capability adds strength to a shelled body and is typically applied inside of a shelled body, although it may extend outside the body as well.

This task shows you how to create a rib.

Open the Rib.CATPart document.

1. Click the Rib icon .

The Rib dialog box displays.










Shape Definition

The prism is the default shape. Just click the Sweep icon if you want to change. For the


3. Set the parameters and options as follows to define the shape as explained in Prism (or Sweep)

page.

❍ In the Distance tab

First Limit: Length=0mm

Second Limit: Length=50mm

To define limits, instead of using the Length option, you can set the:

❍ To shell option. This capability extends the rib to a shellable volume in the active body, in

the opposite direction of the height. The extension of the rib profile must fit inside the

boundaries of the shellable volume. Otherwise, no extension will occur.

❍ To Plane/Surface option. The plane or surface you then select trims the rib as illustrated in the example below:

Extension Type

4. To define the extension type you want, you can set one of the three options available from the

Extension type drop down list:

❍ No extension: confines the rib to be created only within the walls of the shelled volume,

even if the profile is outside of the walls of the volume.

❍ Add all: creates the rib based on the specified length and width values, even if the values

cause the rib to protrude outside of the volume to which it is applied.

❍ Subtract all: subtracts the volume of the rib from the volume to which it is applied.

5. For the purpose of our scenario, use the Add all option.

Wall


❍ Use body thickness: the rib wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.





7. Click OK to confirm and create the rib. Rib.X is added to the specification tree in the


Posts

The Posts tab provides options for creating conical ribs from non-construction point entities

contained in the selected profiles sketch. These types of ribs are called "posts".

8. For the purpose of our scenario, Click the Rib icon again and select Sketch.22. That sketch

contains three non-construction points. In the Distance tab, set:

First Limit: Length=48mm

Second Limit: Length=0mm

9. Click the Posts tab.

10. Check the Create Posts at points option.

11. In the Diameter field, enter a value to define the rib post diameter which must be greater than

zero. Each non-construction point within the selected profile's sketch is used as the center point

for the diameter. For example, enter 11mm.

12. The Taper Angle applies to each rib post. A non-zero angle results in the post taking the

geometric form of a truncated cone. For example, enter 3deg.

The Reference field lets you choose between three types of elements used for neutral elements

for applying the taper angle. The three elements available are:

❍ Profile plane

❍ First limit.If the first limit is a surface, refer to the picture below for details:

❍ Second limit

Note that posts are not affected by the data you enter in features draft tabs.

13. Click OK to confirm and create the three posts.

More About Posts

In addition to points, sketches can contain curves, which enables you to obtain results as

illustrated below:

Rest

The Rest command removes material from the active body to create a platform-like area.

The area of the rest is an inner protected volume, which means that no other volumes within the same body can penetrate this area. You can add a rest to a shelled or unshelled body. The results will vary, depending on the volume type that you select. If you add a rest to a shelled body, it creates supporting walls, if necessary.

This task shows you how to create a rest.

Open the Rest.CATPart document.

1. Click the Rest icon .

The Rest dialog box displays.



A rest requires a closed profile on the body indicating where the rest is to be created.








Distance

3. Enter 8mm in the First length field to define the distance from the sketch plane up to the

bottom.

4. To define the landing, enter 10mm in the Second length field to define the distance from the

sketch plane up to the landing. Previewing the feature lets you get an idea of what the rest looks

like. As a protected area, it is displayed in red:





Direction



then select a geometrical element to be used as the new reference. For the purposes of our

scenario, keep the default option. Clicking the Reverse Direction button reverses the extrusion

direction.

Draft

If you wish to define a draft angle, just click the Draft tab, then check the Angle field and enter

the desired value in the Angle field.

The default neutral element (defines a neutral curve on which the drafted face will lie) is the

profile plane. The other possible neutral elements can be:

❍ Bottom

❍ Landing

Fillet



Checking the Bottom radius option enables you to fillet bottom edges.

5. Check the Landing radius option to fillet landing edges and enter 6 as the radius value.

If the rest is to be shelled, you can check the Constant wall thickness option which propagates

the fillets into the shell, thus maintaining a constant wall thickness.

Wall


❍ Use body thickness: the rest wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.



6. Click OK to confirm and create the rest. Rest.X is added to the specification tree in the


With bottom

The With bottom option creates a bottom. By default, the option is on.

With Bottom Without Bottom

Grill

A grill is used to extract a mesh pattern from a shelled body. To create a grill, you need a profile that defines the external boundary as well as the internal components, such as the internal island, the ribs and the spikes.

This task shows you how to create a grill.

Open the Grill.CATPart document.

1. Click the Grill icon .

The Grill dialog box displays. Pictures in each tab of the dialog box help you define your parameters.

2. Keep the default method for creating the grid: the Normal to face option creates the grill based on a

specific offset value that is applied normal to the face.

The other method Sweep face creates the grill based on a specific height value that is swept from the face.

Boundary

3. Select Sketch.4 as the boundary profile.

If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher icon enables you to sketch the profile you need.








4. In the Height field, enter 22mm to define the depth of the grill inside of the shellable feature. The offset is

applied normal to the face.

5. In the Width field, enter 10mm to define the width of the boundary.

6. Click the Reverse Direction button to reverse the arrow. The arrow indicates which direction the grill

profile will be applied to the shellable feature.

Another way of reversing the direction is by clicking the arrow.

7. Select Sketch.3 as the ribs profile.

If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher icon enables you to sketch the profile you need.

8. In the Height field, enter 22mm

9. In the Width field, enter 7mm to define the width of boundary and ribs.

10. In the Offset field, enter 22mm to define the depth of the grill inside of the shellable feature. The offset is

applied normal to the face.

Spike

Ribs

11. Click the Spike tab.

12. Select Sketch.5 as the profile defining the spikes.

13. To define an offset from the top face of the ribs, enter 7 in the Top Offset field. The application dynamically

previews this offset. You can see that the offset is computed from the sketch plane used for Sketch.5.

14. To define an offset from the bottom face of the ribs, enter 7 in the Bottom Offset field. The application

dynamically previews this offset. You can see that the offset is computed from the sketch plane used for

Sketch.5.

15. Enter 14 in the Width field to define the width of the spikes.

Island

16. Click the Island tab.

17. Select Sketch.2 as the island profile.

18. To define the grill wall thickness, you can set one of the two options available from the Type drop down list:

❍ Use body thickness: the grill wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.

❍ Enter thickness: simply enter the value you want. After this option is selected, the value field becomes

available. Wall thickness values can only by positive values.

❍ No walls: the grill has no walls.

19. For the purposes of our scenario, set the Enter thickness option and enter 3mm in the Thickness value

field.

Draft

20. If you wish to define a draft angle, just click the Draft tab, then set the Draft behavior option to Intrinsic

to feature.

21. Just enter the desired value in the Angle field now displayed.

Click OK to confirm and create the grill. Grill.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X

node.

Outside Inside

Reinforcement

The Reinforcement capability adds external strength by adding material to the outside of material volumes that the reinforcement intersects with in the same body.

This task shows you how to add reinforcements.

Open the Reinforcement.CATPart document.

1. Click the Reinforcement icon .

The Reinforcement dialog box displays.

2. SelectSketch.2 as the planar profile to be used.

The profile can be open or closed.

If no profile is defined, clicking the Sketcher icon enables you to sketch the profile you

need.








Distance

3. Enter 8mm in the Length field to define the distance from the sketch plane up to the ceiling.

To define the opening, enter the value of your choice in the Length field to define the distance

from the sketch plane up to the opening.

Instead of using the Length option, you can set To shell . This capability extends the

reinforcement to a shellable volume in the active body, in the opposite direction of the height.

The extension of the reinforcement profile must fit inside the boundaries of the shellable volume.

Otherwise, no extension will occur.

4. In the Width field, enter 4mm to define the width of the reinforcement. The width is distributed

equally to both sides of the profile.





Direction



then select a geometrical element to be used as the new reference.


DraftIf you wish to define a draft angle, just click the Draft tab, then check the Angle field and enter

the desired value in the Angle field.

❍ Ceiling

❍ Opening

Fillet



5. Check the Ceiling radius option to fillet the cylinder's top and enter 0.8mm to define the ceiling

radius value.

If the rest is to be shelled, you can check the Constant wall thickness option which propagates

the fillets into the shell, thus maintaining a constant wall thickness.

Wall


❍ Use body thickness: the reinforcement wall thickness is that of the active shelled body

thickness.





7. Click OK to confirm and create the reinforcement. Reinforcement.X is added to the specification


Push

The Push capability enables you to use bodies as tools to deform the shell by pushing into it. If needed, the capability also lets you add clearances to some faces. You can use this capability to take into account in the designed part the space that will be occupied by another part in the same mechanism.

This task shows you how to push a body in form of a star into another body to obtain the shape of the star.

Open the Functional_Features1.CATPart document.

1. Click the Push icon .

The Push dialog box displays.

2. Select Body.2 as the pushing body.

Clearance

3. The clearance is the protected volume around Body.2 that separates it from Functional Body.1.

To define it, enter a value in the Distance field.

4. Click Preview to see the result:

Advanced

5. If you wish to define other clearances between specific faces and Functional Body.1 , click the

Advanced tab.

6. Select the face of interest, then enter a large distance value.


8. If you wish to apply the same clearance to other faces, just select the faces, and check Apply

distance to all selected faces.


In case you wish to remove:

❍ a face from the selection, just select the face from the geometry.

❍ all selected faces, use the Clear Selections contextual command available from the Faces field.

Wall

The walls produced by the Push feature are defined by one of the two options available from the

Type drop down list:

❍ Use body thickness: the push wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.



10. For the purposes of our scenario, set the Enter thickness option and enter 6mm for instance in

the Thickness value field.

11. Click OK to confirm and create the push. Push.X is added to the specification tree in the


Pull

The Pull capability enables you to use bodies as tools to deform the shell by pulling into it. If needed, the capability also lets you add clearances to some faces. You can use this capability to take into account in the designed part the space that will be occupied by another part in the same mechanism. The space created by the Pull is a protected volume.

This task shows you how to use this command.


1. Click the Pull icon .

The Pull dialog box displays.

2. Select Body.2 as the pulling body.

Clearance

3. The clearance is the protected volume around Body.2 that separates it from Functional Body.1. To

define it, enter a value in the Distance field. For instance, enter 1.


Advanced

5. If you wish to define other clearances between specific faces and Functional Body.1, click the

Advanced tab.

6. Select the face of interest, then enter, for instance, 6 as the distance value.


8. If you wish to apply the same clearance to other faces, just select the faces, and check Apply distance

to all selected faces.





Wall

The walls produced by the Pull feature are defined by one of the two options available from the Type

drop down list:

❍ Use body thickness: the pull wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.

❍ Enter thickness: simply enter the value you want. After this option is selected, the value field

becomes available. Wall thickness values can only by positive values.

10. For the purposes of our scenario, set the Enter thickness option and enter 3mm for instance in the


11. Click OK to confirm and create the push. Pull.X is added to the specification tree in the


Outside Inside

Fitting

The Fitting capability enables you to use a new or existing part to fit into another part in a different body. It lets you define a protected area by using a body and adds a clearance. You can use this capability to take into account in the designed part the space that will be occupied by another part in the same mechanism.

This task shows you how to use this capability.


1. Click the Fitting icon .

The Fitting dialog box displays.

2. Select Body.2 as the body that will perform the operation into Functional Body.1.

Clearance

3. The clearance defines a space around the Tool body, based on a specified value, that extends the

protected volume of the fitting by that value. To define it, enter a value in the Distance field. For

instance, enter 4.2.


Advanced

5. If you wish to define specific clearances between one or more faces and Functional Body.1,

click the Advanced tab.

6. Select the face of interest, then, for instance, enter 6 as the distance value.


If you wish to apply the same clearance to other faces, just select the faces, and check Apply

distance to all selected faces.




8. Click OK to confirm and create the fitting. Fitting.X is added to the specification tree in the

FunctionalBody.Xnode.

The volume that is removed during the fitting operation is made a protected volume. No other

entity in the same body can penetrate into the protected volume. However, entities from other

bodies can penetrate it.

A fitting does not create walls in the shelled volume of the target body. If you want the fitting

feature to inherit the shell thickness of the target body, thus creating walls of the same

thickness, use the Push or Pull command.

Hole

The Hole capability enables you to remove material from a body. Various shapes of standard holes can be created. These holes are:

Simple Tapered Counterbored

Countersunk Counterdrilled

This task shows you how to create a counterbored hole and describes the main parameters you need for creating a hole:

● Extension

● Direction

● Bottom

● Type

● Thread Definition

To perform this scenario, sketch a rectangle in the Sketcher workbench then return to the Functional Molded Part workbench to create a shellable prism.

1. Click the Hole icon .

2. Select any prism's face.

A hole is previewed and a grid is displayed to help you position the hole. If you wish to hide it,

click the Sketcher icon from the Positioning Sketch frame, then deactivate the Grid

icon. For more about the grid (spacing and graduations, etc.), refer to Sketcher (Part Design

User's Guide), which deals with settings.

The Hole Definition dialog box is displayed too.

Extension

3. By default, the application previews a blind hole whose diameter is 10mm and depth 10mm. Keep

the Blind option.

The three possible limit types are:

Blind Up to Plane Up to Surface

Up to Plane: extends the hole to the plane you explicitly select.

Up to Surface: extends the hole to the surface you explicitly select.

Note that these options are available as contextual commands on the BOTTOM text.

❍ The Limit field is available if you set the Up to plane or Up to surface: option.

❍ 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.

4. Enter 15mm as the diameter value.

5. Enter 12mm as the depth value.

The hole reflects the changes:

6. Assuming that the hole positioning does not satisfy you, select the upper edge and drag the hole

to the desired location.

7. Release the cursor when satisfied with the new location.

Direction

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 deselecting the Normal to surface option and

selecting an edge or a line.

Contextual commands creating the directions you need are available from the Direction field:

❍ Create Line: for more information, see Creating Lines

❍ Create Plane : see Creating Planes

❍ X Axis: the X axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.

❍ Y Axis: the Y axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.

❍ Z Axis: the Z axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.

For the purpose of our scenario, keep the Normal to surface option activated.

Bottom

Whatever hole you choose, you need to specify the bottom limit you want. You can choose

between two options:

❍ Flat: the hole is flat.

❍ V-Bottom: the hole is pointed.

Example of a Counterbored Hole With a V-bottom Trimmed by a Surface (Section View)

❍ Trimmed: this option can be used if the limit chosen for the hole is of the Up to Plane or Up to Surface type. The plane or surface used as the limit, trims the hole's bottom.

Example of a Counterbored Hole Trimmed by a Surface (Section View)

8. For the purpose of our scenario, set V-Bottom.

The Angle field is now available.

9. Enter 100deg to specify the angle value.

The preview reflects the change:

Type

10. Click the Type tab to access the parameters required for defining the type of hole you wish to

create among five types:

❍ Simple: no specific parameters

❍ Tapered: you need to define an angle value.

❍ Counterbored: the counterbore diameter must be greater than the hole diameter and the hole depth must be greater than the counterbore depth.

❍ Countersunk: the countersink diameter must be greater than the hole diameter and the countersink angle must be greater than 0 and less than 180 degrees. To create such a hole you need to choose two parameters among the following options:

■ Depth & Angle

■ Depth & Diameter

■ Angle & Diameter

❍ Counterdrilled: the counterdrill diameter must be greater than the hole diameter, the hole depth must be greater than the counter drill depth and the counterdrill angle must be greater than 0 and less than 180 degrees.

Observe that depending on the chosen type, the icon changes accordingly.

11. For the purpose of our scenario, set the counterbored option.

12. Enter 25 cm in the Diameter field.

13. Enter 6 cm in the Depth field.

The preview reflects the change:

Keep the Extreme option to define the anchor point location. Note that if you select the

alternative option, Middle, the icon in the dialog box identifies via a red point the middle

position.

Thread Definition

You can also define a threaded hole by checking the Thread Definition tab and click the

Threaded button to access the required parameters. For more, refer to Threaded Hole

8. Click OK to confirm and create the hole.Hole.X is added to the specification tree in the

FunctionalBody.X node. By default, as a protected feature, holes are in no show mode. To see

the red protected area you have just created, set the Show mode. The prism has been made

transparent to make visualization easier.

Threaded Hole

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 or personal values available in files too.

This task shows you how to create a threaded hole using values previously defined in a file.

To perform this scenario, sketch a rectangle in the Sketcher workbench then return to the Functional Molded Part workbench to create a shellable prism.

1. Click the Hole icon .

2. Select the face on which you wish to create the hole.

In the Hole Definition dialog box that displays, define the hole shape and enter the parameters

of your choice. For more information, refer to Hole.

3. Click the Thread tab.

4. Select Threaded to access the thread definition options.

In the Type field, you can choose among three different thread types :

❍ No Standard: uses values entered by the user

❍ Metric Thin Pitch : uses ISO standard values

❍ Metric Thick Pitch : uses ISO standard values

In addition to these three types, you can add your personal standards as described in Reusing

Values Already Defined in a File

❍ Metric Thin Pitch: ISO standard

Refer to (ISO 965-2 ). The application uses the minimum standard values.

Nominaldiam Pitch Minordiam

8.0 1.0 6.917

10.0 1.0 8.917

10.0 1.25 8.647

12.0 1.25 10.647

12.0 1.5 10.376

14.0 1.5 12.376

16.0 1.5 14.376

18.0 1.5 16.376

18.0 2.0 15.835

20.0 1.5 18.376

22.0 1.5 20.376

22.0 2.0 19.835

24.0 2.0 21.835

27.0 2.0 24.835

30.0 2.0 27.835

33.0 2.0 30.835

36.0 3.0 32.752

39.0 3.0 35.752

42.0 3.0 38.752

45.0 3.0 41.752

48.0 3.0 44.752

52.0 4.0 47.67

56.0 4.0 51.67

60.0 4.0 55.67

64.0 4.0 59.67

❍ Metric Thick Pitch: ISO standard

Refer to (ISO 965-2 ). The application uses the minimum standard values.

Nominaldiam Pitch Minordiam

1 0.25 0.729

1.2 0.25 0.9291.4 0.3 1.0751.6 0.35 1.221

1.8 0.35 1.421

2.0 0.4 1.567

2.5 0.45 2.013

3.0 0.5 2.459

3.5 0.6 2.850

4.0 0.7 3.242

5.0 0.8 4.134

6.0 1.0 4.917

7.0 1.0 5.917

8.0 1.25 6.647

10.0 1.5 8.376

12.0 1.75 10.106

14.0 2.0 11.835

16.0 2.0 13.835

18.0 2.5 15.294

20.0 2.5 17.294

22.0 2.5 19.294

24.0 3.0 20.752

27.0 3.0 23.752

30.0 3.5 26.211

33.0 3.5 29.211

36.0 4.0 31.670

39.0 4.0 34.670

42.0 4.5 37.129

45.0 4.5 40.129

48.0 5.0 42.587

52.0 5.0 46.587

56.0 5.5 50.046

60.0 5.5 54.046

64.0 6.0 57.505

❍ No Standard

If you keep the No Standard option, the field available below is Thread Diameter. You just

need to enter the values you need in this field as well as in the fields below.

The Edit formula... contextual command is available from the Thread Diameter field, meaning

that you can define formulas for managing diameters values.

❍ Reusing Values Already Defined in a File

There are two ways of accessing values listed in a file: either by navigating to the file of interest

or by making this data available prior to launching the Hole command. For more, see the file is

already available.

By navigating to the file you need

5. Simply click Add to access this file.

6. A dialog box displays, in which you can navigate to reach the file containing your own values.

This file may be of one of the following types:

❍ Microsoft Excel files (general format)

❍ Lotus files

❍ tabulated files (in Unix environment)

The file types supported are the same as those used for design tables.

The values defined in your file will apply specifically to the part of your CATPart document, not to

other documents.

7. Navigate to StandardGaz.txt file and click Open to get the values it contains.

The Hole Definition dialog box reappears. Your file looks like this:

The file was created as follows:

Nominal diameter Pitch Minor Diameter Key

❍ the first row contains no numerical values

❍ the other rows below are reserved for numerical values, except for the last column which contains descriptions very often represented by letters.

❍ the mandatory items are keys that define the names associated with the values.

Moreover, the name of the standard is the same as the name of the file without the extension.

Please, remember these recommendations for creating your own personal files.

8. Set the Type option to StandardGaz.

9. In the Thread Description field, set G7/8.

The Edit formula... contextual command is now available from the Thread Description field,

meaning that you can define formulas for managing diameters values.

You can note that the values associated with the G7/8 key (see the contents of the StandardGaz

file appear in the Hole Diameter field as well as the Pitch field (distance between each crest) are

provided in the corresponding fields. You cannot edit these fields.

By selecting the file from the Type list: the file is already available

This behavior is made possible only if the administrator has performed these operations:

The administrator first needs to locate in a directory the source files used for the standards. For

example, he can select E:/user/standard as the directory containing the StandardGaz.txt file.

Then, he has to concatenate this path with the official path in the CATReffilesPath environment

variable as follows:

Set CATReffilesPath=Officialpath ; E:/user/standard

The result is the following: whenever the Hole command is launched, the application identifies all

standards provided by the administrator. The user does no need to navigate to the file any

longer.

10. If necessary, edit the thread depth then the hole depth if you need to modify the value you had

previously set in the Extension tab. This value must not exceed the thread diameter value.

11. Check the Left-Threaded option.

12. Click OK to confirm your operation and close the Hole Definition dialog box.

The application displays the hole in the geometry area but not the thread. Note also that an icon

specific to this feature is displayed in the specification tree.

A Few Words About Removing Files

The Remove button removes files containing user-defined values. You cannot remove files

containing standard values. Clicking the Remove button displays the list of user-defined files.

You then just need to select or multi-select (using ctrl key) the files and Click OK to confirm the

operation.

Note also that you cannot remove a standard file if it is used for a hole created in the CATPart

document.

Using Feature ModifiersFeature Modifiers alter selected features, more precisely their shapes, by adding or subtracting material from them. They affect the feature you last transformed.

The following are the different feature modifiers:

Cut

Remove

Intersect

Rectangular Pattern and Circular Pattern

Edge Fillet

Cut

The Cut capability trims the shapes of one or more features of the active body by using styling surfaces or planes. The resulting body is shaped by these cutting elements.

This scenario shows you two different cuts and their impacts on the part.

● First cut: performed on a shellable prism

● Second cut: performed on a pocket

Open the Cut.CATPart document.

First Cut

1. Click the Cut icon .

The Cut dialog box displays.

2. Select Shellable Prism.1 as the feature you want to cut.

If you select several features, the field displays the number of selected elements. To act on this

selection, just click the icon to display the Element list dialog box that allows you to:

❍ view the selected elements

❍ remove any element clicking theRemove button

❍ replace any element using theReplace button and selecting a new one in the geometry or the specification tree.

3. Select Extrude.1, Extrude.2 and Plane.1 as the cutting elements.

Here again, if you select several elements, the field displays the number

of selected elements. To act on this list, just click the icon to display

the Element list dialog box.

4. Click both arrows on the surfaces to reverse the direction indicating which portion of material is

to be kept. The arrows must point toward Shellable Prism.1 as shown here:

5. The Fillet option sets the radius of fillets on the edges produced by the cutting surface. For this

first cut, check the Fillet Radius option and enter 5mm in the dedicated field.


The first cut feature is created and the part now looks like this:

Just hide both cutting surfaces if you wish to see the filleted edges.

Second Cut

7. To create the second cut, click the Cut icon again.

8. Select Pocket.1 as the feature you want to cut.

Note that the Wall options are now available from the dialog box.

9. From the specification tree, select Extrude.3 as the cutting element.

10. Now that Extrude.3 is displayed in the Cutting element field, use the Hide/Show contextual

command to show the surface in the geometry area:

11. The Wall option lets you set if, or how, the Cut command creates walls along the cutting surface.

To define a wall for this second cut, you can set one of the two options available from the Type

drop down list:

❍ Use body thickness: the cut wall thickness is that of the active shelled body thickness.



For the purposes of our scenario, set the Enter thickness option and enter 5mm in the


12. Click OK to confirm the operation and hide all of the four cutting elements used in this scenario

to enhance the result.

The second cut operation has split the pocket while adding some thickness (shown by the arrow

on the picture) from the edge produced by the cutting surface . The resulting part looks like this:

Cut.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Remove

The Remove command lets you modify one or more features by removing a shape from it. The shape can be a prism, a sweep, a revolve, a thick surface or the shape of an external body or surface.

This task shows you how to remove a sweep from a shellable prism.

Open the Remove.CATPart document .

1. Click the Remove icon .

The Remove Feature dialog box displays.

2. Select Shellable Prism.1 as the feature to modify.




❍ remove any element clicking the Remove button

❍ replace any element using the Replace button and selecting a new one in the geometry or the specification tree.

Shape Definition

3. Remove features can have different shapes. The prism is the default shape. If you prefer a different

shape, click any of the other three shapes available. To know how to create any of them, refer to the

Prism, Sweep, Revolve, Thick Surface or External Shape tasks. For the purposes of our scenario, set

the Sweep option .

4. Select Sketch.2 as the profile defining the sweep.

5. Select Sketch.3 as the center curve.

Fillet

6. Click the Fillet tab.

7. Check the Lateral radius option and enter 1mm as the lateral radius value.

8. Click OK to confirm the operation.

The defined sweep has been removed from the shellable prism. Remove Sweep.X is added to the


Remove Sweep.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Remove Command and Protected Volumes

After you have generated a Remove feature from protected volumes, for example from a Cutout, material is generated as illustrated below:

Cutout pointed by the cursor and sketch to be used for the remove operation

Remove operation accomplished on the cutout

Intersect

The Intersect command lets you compute the intersection of the shape you define with the features you wish to modify. In other words, the resulting shape is the intersection between the shape of the Intersect and the shapes of the selected features.

This task shows you how to create an intersect feature from a prism.

Open the Intersect.CATPart document.

1. Click the Intersect icon .

The Intersect Feature dialog box displays.

2. Select Remove Sweep.2 as the feature to modify.






Shape Definition

3. Intersect features can have different shapes. The prism is the default shape. If you prefer a

different shape, click any of the other three shapes available. To know how to create any of

them, refer to the Prism, Sweep, Revolve, Thick Surface or External Shape tasks. For the


4. Select Sketch.4 as the profile defining the prism.

Direction

5. Check Normal to profile to extrude the profile normal to Sketch.4.


The intersection between the defined prism you defined and Remove Sweep.2 looks like this:

Intersect Prism.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Rectangular Pattern

The Pattern command duplicates the whole geometry of one or more features and positions this geometry on a part.

The command allows you to define two types of patterns:

● rectangular patterns

● circular patterns

As a feature modifier, the pattern acts on the feature you last transformed.

To create a rectangular pattern, you need to choose one or two creation directions as well as the types of parameters you wish to specify so that the application will be able to compute the location of the items you copied. This task shows you how to create a rectangular pattern from three functional features.

Open the PowerCopyInitial.CATPart document. Make the prism transparent to make visualization easier.

1. Click the Pattern icon .

The Pattern dialog box displays. Default options let you define a rectangular pattern.

2. Select Cutout.1, Cavity Prism.4 and Protected Prism.4 as the features to pattern.

As you have selected several features, the field displays the number of selected elements. To act

on this selection, just click the icon to display the Element list dialog box that allows you to:




1st Direction

3. To define a direction, you can select a line or a planar face. Select the edge as shown below to

specify the first direction of creation.

An arrow indicating the direction is displayed on the functional body.

4. Check the Reverse button or click the arrow to reverse the direction.

The new direction is as follows:

Contextual commands creating the reference elements you need are available from the

Reference element field:

❍ Create Line: For more information, see Creating Lines.

❍ X Axis: < the X axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.

❍ Y Axis: the Y axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.

❍ Z Axis: the Z axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.

❍ Create Plane: see Creating Planes.

If you create any of these elements, the application then displays the corresponding icon next to

the Reference element field. Clicking this icon enables you to edit the element.

5. Define the parameters you wish to specify. The parameters you can choose are:

❍ Instances & length

❍ Instances & spacing

❍ Spacing & length

Keep the Instances & spacing options.

6. Enter 4 as the number of instances you wish to obtain in the first direction.

7. Define the spacing along the selected direction: enter 23 mm.

The pattern looks like this:

2nd Direction

5. Click the 2nd Direction tab to define other parameters. Defining a second direction is not

compulsory. Creating a rectangular pattern defining only one direction is possible.

6. To define the second direction, select the edge as shown below:

7. Reverse the direction indicated by the selected edge.

8. Keep the Instances & spacing option: enter 3 and 35 mm in the appropriate fields.

The preview shows 12 instances:


The rectangular pattern composed of 12 instances is created:

Rectangular Pattern.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Reference

Clicking the Reference tab displays three options allowing you to modify< the location of the

instances with respect to reference features.

You can change locations in both directions. For example, if you enter 3 in Row in direction 1 ,

the instances are moved along direction one in three times:

You can also rotate the pattern by specifying a rotation angle value. For example, entering 15

deg, the pattern is rotated counter-clockwise and looks like this:

Removing InstancesClicking an instance once removes the instance from the specifications.

Circular Pattern

The Pattern command duplicates the whole geometry of one or more features and positions this geometry on a part.

The command allows you to define two types of patterns:

● rectangular patterns

● circular patterns

To create a circular pattern, you need to choose the types of parameters you wish to specify so that the application will be able to compute the location of the items you copied. This task shows you how to do so.

Open the Pattern.CATPart document.

1. Click the Pattern icon .

The Pattern dialog box is displayed.

2. Click the Circular Pattern icon to access the parameters specific to this type of patterns.

3. Select Protected Prism.2 as the feature to pattern.

When selecting several features, the field displays the number of selected elements. To act on

this selection, just click the icon to display the Element list dialog box that allows you to:



❍ replace any element using the Replace button and selecting a new one in the geometry or in the specification tree.

Axial Reference

To define a direction, you can select an edge, a line, a planar face or a plane. After selecting an

edge, a line or a planar face, if necessary, you can also select a point to define the rotation

center. If you select a plane, selecting a point is mandatory.

4. Click the Reference element field and select the upper face to determine the rotation axis. This

axis is normal to the face. An arrow indicating the direction is displayed on the functional body.

Checking the Reverse button or clicking the arrow reverses the direction.

5. The Parameters field lets you choose the types 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: the application computes the angular spacing after you specified the number of instances you wish to obtain and a total angle value.

❍ Instances & angular spacing:the application computes the total angle after you specified the number of instances you wish to obtain and an angular spacing.

❍ Angular spacing & total angle: the application computes the instances you can obtain by specifying an angular spacing and a total angle.

❍ Complete crown: the application computes the angular spacing between the instances you decide to obtain.

Keep the Instances & angular spacing options.

6. Enter 7 as the number of instances you wish to obtain in the first direction.

7. Enter 50 degrees as the angular spacing.

The circular pattern looks like this:

Crown Definition

8. Click the Crown Definition tab to access options allowing you to create an additional set of

instances around the instances you have just defined in the previous steps.

Parameters

X Feature to pattern

__Distance between the feature and the rotation axis

__ Circle spacing

__ Crown thickness

9. The Parameters field lets you choose the types of parameters you wish to specify so that the

application will be able to compute the location of the items copied.

These parameters are:

❍ Circle & Circle spacing

❍ Circle & crown thickness

❍ Circle spacing and crown thickness

Set the Circle & Circle spacing options to define the parameters you wish to specify.

10. Enter 2 in the Circle(s) field.

11. Enter -24 mm in the Circle spacing field.

Reference

12. Click the Reference tab to access options enabling you to modify the position of the initial

protected prism. Such a modification will affect all instances too.

13. Enter 2 in the Row in angular direction field.

The initial protected prism as well as the instance nest to it are slightly moved in the angular

direction.

Entering 2 in the Radial direction field makes the instances of the crown move in the radial

direction as illustrated below:

The Radial alignment of instances option allows you to define the instance orientations. By

default, the option is selected, meaning that all instances have the same orientation as the

original feature.

Otherwise, if the option is off, all instances are normal to the lines tangent to the circle as

illustrated below:


The circular pattern composed of 14 instances is created:

Circular Pattern.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Removing InstancesClicking an instance once removes the instance from the specifications.

Edge Fillet (as a Feature Modifier)

Filleting in Functional Molded Part

Two fillet capabilities are available in Functional Molded Part. Depending on your needs you will use them for achieving these results:

● Functional Edge Fillet lets you add fillets on features intrinsically. You will use it most of the time in that way and we recommend you to use it because of its robustness.

● Functional Edge Fillet lets you add fillets as feature modifiers. This is illustrated in the scenario below.

● Part Design Edge Fillet lets you fillet functional solids. You will use it once the part is almost complete.

Edge Fillet as a Feature Modifier

The Edge Fillet feature alters the sharpness and shape of an edge, rounding part edges and providing smooth transitions between the faces and features. In other words, Edge Fillet creates curved face of a constant radius that is tangent to, and that joins, two surfaces.

This task shows you how to create a fillet with a radius constant along the edge. This section discusses the following:

● Propagation

● Additional Options

❍ Edges to keep

❍ Limiting Elements

❍ Blend Corners

● What You Cannot Select

Open the EdgeFillet.CATPart document.

1. Click the Edge Fillet icon .

The Edge Fillet Definition dialog box displays.

2. Select the edge as shown as the edge for which you want to create a fillet.

When selecting edges or faces, ensure that they are valid. For more information, refer to What

You Cannot Select.

The selected edge is now displayed in red. The name of the support element is displayed in the

dialog box.

You can select faces as well: all the edges bordering the selected face are then filleted.

If you select several edges, the objects to fillet field displays the number of selected edges. To

act on this selection, just click the icon to display the Element list dialog box that allows you

to:




Propagation

Two propagation modes are available:

❍ Minimal: edges tangent to selected edges can be taken into account to some extent. The application continues filleting beyond the selected edge whenever it cannot do otherwise. In our example below, the fillet is computed on the selected edge and on a portion of tangent edges:

❍ Tangency: tangencies are taken into account so as to fillet the entire edge and possible tangent edges.

3. For the purpose of our scenario, set Tangency. The preview clearly shows that the whole edge

will be filleted.

4. Enter 7mm as the new radius value. The radius value is updated in the geometry area.

5. Click OK to confirm and create the fillet.

EdgeFillet1.X is added to the specification tree in the FunctionalBody.X node.

Additional OptionsClicking More displays three additional options:

❍ Edges to keep

❍ Limiting Elements

❍ Blend Corners

Edges to keep

When filleting an edge, the fillet may sometimes affect other edges of the part, depending on the

radius value you specified. In this case, the application detects these edges and stops the fillet to

these edges.

Edge to be filleted The upper edge is not filleted

The application issues an error message asking you if you wish to select the edge you do not

want to fillet. If you click Yes, then you just need to click the Edit button from the Update

Diagnosis dialog box that appears, click the Edges to keep field from the Edge Fillet dialog

box and select the edge in the geometry. The application then displays the selected edge in pink

meaning that the edge will not be affected by the fillet operation. The fillet is eventually

computed and does not affect the kept edge.

If you do not wish to explicitly select the edge you do not want to fillet, just click No in the

Feature Definition Error. The application then tries to find a solution.

Limiting Elements

The Limiting element option lets you intersect the fillet with one or more planes. What you

need to do is either:

❍ Select that plane or

❍ Click one point located on the edge to be filleted. After clicking, a blue disk displays indicating the limiting element. The intersection with the fillet will then stopped at that point.

An arrow appears on the plane to indicate the portion of material that will be kept. Clicking this

arrow reverses the direction and therefore indicates that the portion of material that will be kept

will be the opposite one.

Blend Corners

Sometimes, while filleting you can see that corners resulting from the operation are not

satisfactory. Here is an example:

The Blend Corners capability lets you quickly reshape these corners. Clicking the Blend

corners button detects the corner to reshape and displays it both in the field and in the

geometry area.

What you need to do is, for each edge enter a value in the setback distance field. The setback

distance determines for each edge a free area measured from the vertex along the edge. In this

area, the system adds material so as to improve the corner shape. The result looks like this:

What You Cannot Select

❍ Fillet is a feature modifier and in that sense, you are not allowed to select edges belonging to different shapes (different bodies). In the example below, you cannot select the third edge pointed to by the arrow because it belongs to a distinct shellable feature.

By-pass: what you can do is either create a second functional fillet or apply the Part Design Edge

Fillet capability.

❍ You cannot fillet shellable's internal edges or faces.

By-pass: what you can do is use the Part Design Edge Fillet capability.

❍ You cannot select edges intersecting two distinct feature modifiers.

By-pass: what you can do is use the Part Design Edge Fillet capability.

❍ You can select external pocket's edges, but ensure that the radius value you enter does not affect the pocket shape.

By-pass: what you can do is reduce the fillet angle value or use the Part Design Edge Fillet capability.

Multi-Body Features

See Divide

See Lip

Divide

This task shows you how to use the Divide command to separate bodies by dividing them into two halves using a surface or a plane as the cutting tool. Each half constitutes a new functional body.

Open the Divide.CATPart document.

1. Click the Divide icon .

The Divide dialog box displays. The in-work body is detected: PartBody is to be divided.

Dividing Element

2. Select Extrude.1 as the dividing element.

Dividing elements can be:

❍ surfaces

❍ planes

Note that the following contextual commands are available from the field in case you need to

create or more easily access the required dividing element:

❍ Create Plane: you can create a plane by using one of the method described in Create Planes.

❍ XY Plane

❍ YZ Plane

❍ YZ Plane


❍ Create Extract: generates separate elements from non-connex sub-elements.See Extracting Geometry.

Keep both sides

By default, the Keep both sides option is on, meaning that both resulting divided bodies are

kept. Conversely, when the option is off, only the body lying on the side of the dividing element

pointed to by the preview arrow is kept.

The interpretation of the arrow pointing direction is dependent upon the the Keep both sides

option:

● Keep both sides on: The arrow points in the direction (side of the dividing element) of the first body created by the divide operation.

● Keep both sides off: The arrow points in the direction (side of the dividing element) of the body to be kept. Clicking Preview gives you an idea of the result:

● Note that clicking the Reverse Direction button or the arrow reverses the dividing direction.

3. For the purpose of our scenario, keep Keep both sides on.


The new functional bodies Functional Body.2 and Functional Body.1 are added to the

specification tree. Each functional body contains the following:

❍ Shell Properties: Links to the original functional body's shell thickness parameter and face

lists. It also contains its own face lists, which means that you can add open faces to a divided

body.

❍ Divide feature: Contains the result from the divide.

The In work object is changed to Divide Body [Part Body].1.

Editing a Divide Feature❍ Editing a divide feature consists in changing the dividing element or reversing the direction.

Note that the Keep both sides option is not available.

❍ Both created divide features are siblings, meaning that whenever you edit one of them, the

other one reflects the change too.

Pattern FeatureDivide features cannot be patterned.

Lip

This task shows you how to use the Lip command to create lips on bodies that were divided. There are three methods:

● Creating a Lip Using the Simple Method

● Creating a Lip with Different Upper and Lower Profiles

● Creating a Lip with a Single Profile

Open the Lip.CATPart document.

1. Click the Lip icon .

The Lip dialog box displays.

Three lip definition methods are available:

❍ Simple: creates the lip from a parametric definition (height, thickness, angle, clearance) of the profile.

❍ Upper/Lower profile: creates the lip by defining curves to be used for the upper and the lower profiles

❍ Center profile: creates the lip by defining a single curve as the profile.

Creating a Lip Using the Simple Method2. Set the Height option: defines the height of the upper lip. The value must be greater than zero.

3. Set the Thickness option: defines the thickness of the lip. The value must be greater than zero.

4. Set the Angle option: applies to the vertical edge (defined by the height) of the lip. A negative

value implies a snap fit.

5. Set the Clearance option: defines a protected volume, or gap, between the split bodies on the

upper lip.

6. Select an edge or a curve to define the path.

Creating a Lip with Different Upper and Lower Profiles

7. Set the Upper/Lower profile method.

You are going to define one lip for Split.2 and another lip for Split.3 (highlighted feature).

Look more closely at the profiles already sketched:

Note that profiles cannot be self-intersecting.

Shape

8. Select Sketch.4 as the upper profile.

9. Select Sketch.5 as the lower profile.

10. Selecting the Protected volume option protects the volume of the lip area by preventing any

additional material created by other features to be added to the lip. For the purpose of our

scenario, select the option.

Path

11. The lip path consists of edges or curve, planar or non-planar. All edges must be connected, and

the profile plane must intersect a portion of the path. By default, all split edges constitute the

path. For the purpose of our scenario, deselect the option and select the edge as shown to

restrict the creation of the lips.


Both lip features Upper Lip.1 and Lower Lip.2 are added to the specification tree. Each of them

is located in a distinct functional body.

13. Hide Split Body (PartBody).5 to make visualization easier. Upper Lip is created only on the

selected edge and the protected area appears in red:

Looking more closely, the shape looks like this:

14. Show Split Body (PartBody).4 and hide Split Body (PartBody).5 to see the second lip.

15. To perform this scenario, delete Functional Body.4 so as to obtain only one split feature, then

click the Lip icon .

16. Select the Center profile method.

Shape

17. Select Sketch.5 as the center profile.

18. Enter a value in the Upper clearance field. This sets the amount of clearance, or gap, between

the selected profile and the upper volume.

19. Enter a value in the Lower clearance field. This sets the amount of clearance, or gap, between

the selected profile and the lower volume.

By default, the Protected volume option is active. This protects the volume of the lip area by

preventing any additional material created by other features to be added to the lip.

Path

20. The lip path consists of edges or curve, planar or non-planar. By default, all split edges constitute

the path. Keep the All split edges option active.

Creating a Lip with a Single Profile


Looking more closely, the shape looks like this:

Changing Functional Behaviors

The Change Functional Behavior contextual command changes the functional behavior of a shape feature. The command also applies to Push, Pull, Fitting features.

Open the Feature.CATPart document and create an internal feature.

1. Right-click Internal Prism.1 and select the Change Functional Behavior contextual

command.

The Change Functional Behavior dialog box that appears displays the types of features

available.

2. For example, select Protected from the list.


The internal feature no longer exists and has been replaced with a protected feature. The

specification tree reflects the change too.

The command also applies to body modifiers: if you wish to change a Push, for example, you can

change it with a Pull or a Fitting.

PowercopyA PowerCopy is a set of features that are grouped in order to be used in a different context, and presenting the ability to be re-specified according to the context when pasted.This PowerCopy captures the design intent and know-how of the designer thus enabling greater reusability and efficiency.

This chapter includes the following tasks:

Creating Powercopies

Instantiating Powercopies

Saving Powercopies into a Catalog

Creating PowerCopies

This task shows you how to create PowerCopy elements from functional features.A PowerCopy is a set of features (geometric elements, formulas, constraints and so forth) that are grouped in order to be used in a different context, and presenting the ability to be completely redefined when pasted.This PowerCopy captures the design intent and know-how of the designer thus enabling greater reusability and efficiency.

Open the PowerCopyInitial.CATPart document.

1. Prior to defining the power copy element, use the Tools -> Options -> Infrastructure

command to check if parameters and formulas are defined for the part: check the Parameters

and Relations options if they are not checked. For more information, refer to Customizing the

Tree and Geometry Views.

Taking a look at the specification tree, the PowerCopyInitial.CATPart document contains three

parameters and eight formulas.

2. To create the power copy, selectInsert ->Knowledge Templates -> Power Copy... .

The Powercopy Definition dialog box is displayed.

3. Define the PowerCopy as you wish to create it:

The Definition tab lets you assign a name to the powercopy and presents its components in the

3D viewer. If desired, you can enter the name of your choice in the Name field.

4. Select the elements making up the PowerCopy from the specification tree. For the purposes of

our scenario, selectthe following elements:

❍ Cutout.1

❍ Cavity Prism.2

❍ Internal Prism.3

❍ Protected Prism.4

❍ All parameters (3)

❍ All formulas (8)

The dialog box is automatically filled with information about the selected elements.

The Inputs tab lets you define the reference elements making up the PowerCopy. You can

rename these elements for a clearer definition by selecting them in the viewer and entering a

new name in the Name field. In parentheses you still can read the elements' default name based

on its type.

5. Click the Parameters tab to define which of the parameter values used in the PowerCopy you

will be able to modify at instantiation time.

6. Double-click the three parameters to make them public. The Published Name option is then

checked for each of them, indicating that the parameters can be modified at instanciation time.

The Icon tab lets you modify the icon identifying the PowerCopy in the specifications tree. A

subset of icons is available from the Icon choice button. If you click ... the Icon Browser opens,

showing all icons loaded on your application session.

The Grab screen button lets you capture an image of the PowerCopy to be stored with its

definition. Click the Grab screen button. You can zoom in or out the image to adjust it.

7. Click OK to create the PowerCopy.

The PowerCopy.1 node is displayed in the specification tree, just below the Relations node.

8. Save your document as PowerCopy.CATPart.

Instantiating PowerCopies

This task shows how to instantiate Power Copies once they have been created as described in Creating PowerCopies.There are two ways of doing this:

● Using the PowerCopy Instantiate From Document command

● Using a catalog (see Part Design User's Guide for more information)

Open the TargetForInstanciation.CATPart document.

Using the PowerCopy Instantiate From Document command

1. Select the Insert -> Instantiate From Document... command.

The Select PowerCopy dialog box is displayed allowing you to navigate to the document or

catalog where the powercopy is stored. Navigate to online/fm1ug/samples directory.

2. Select the document containing the Powercopy, i.e. PowerCopy.CATPart.

The Insert Object dialog box is displayed.

Use the Reference list to choose the correct PowerCopy when several have been defined in the

document.

3. Complete the Inputs within the dialog box by selecting the adequate element in the geometric

area: Click Point.1 in the dialog box, and select Point.6 as the element replacing Point.1.

4. Click on the Use identical name button to automatically select all the elements with the same

name. This command searches for features, publications, sub-elements or parameters having

the name of the input. Here, the command searches for xy plane.

Point.6 and xy plane are selected.

5. Click on the Parameters button to display the Parameters dialog box.

1. Enter 10mm as the new hole diameter value, 5mm as the new fixture height value and 7

degrees as the new draft angle value.

2. Click Close to confirm the operation and close the dialog box.

3. Check the Repeat option to be able to repeat the instantiation.

4. Click Point.1, then select Point.6 .

5. Click OK to validate.

The Insert Object dialog box remains open.

11. Repeat the operation to instanciate Point.1 on each remaining point.

12. When done, click OK to create the PowerCopy instance.

The PowerCopy is instantiated in context, meaning its limits are automatically re-defined taking

into account the elements on which it is instantiated.

13. To exit the command, uncheck the Repeat button, then click OK, or click Cancel.

The features (Cutouts, Cavity Prisms, Internal Prisms, Protected Prisms, Parameters, Formulas)

are created and their names are displayed in the specification tree. Once instantiated, the

powercopy is no more linked to the original PowerCopy used to define them.

14. If you wish to perform the next task, save your document as PowerCopy for example. For more

information about this capability, refer to Power Copy.

Saving Power Copies into a Catalog

This task shows you how to store Power Copy elements into a catalog, for later use as described in Instantiating PowerCopies.

Open the document containing the power copy you performed in the previous task "Instantiating PowerCopies".

1. Select the PowerCopy from the specification tree for example.

2. Choose Insert -> Knowledge Templates -> Save In Catalog....

The Catalog Save dialog box is displayed:

When creating a catalog for the first time, click the ... button to display the File Selction dialog

box, and navigate to the location where you wish to create a catalog.

Then simply key in the catalog name and click Open.

If you wish to add a PowerCopy to an existing catalog, simply activate the Update an existing

catalogoption in the Catalog Save dialog box.

By default, the Catalog Savedialog box recalls the catalog accessed last.

3. Click OK.

The PowerCopy has been stored in the catalog.

Reordering Features

The Reorder capability allows you to rectify design mistakes by reordering Part Design features or Generative Shape Design features. Reordering features means moving and repositioning them in the specification tree.

This page includes two tasks showing you how to:

● reorder one feature

● reorder several features at a time

Reordering One Feature

Open the Reorder.CATPart document.

1. Your initial data consists of a pad that was mirrored and a second pad created afterwards. As the order of creation is wrong,

you are going to reorder the second pad so as to mirror the whole part. Position your cursor on Pad.2. and select Edit ->

Pad.2 object -> Reorder...

The Feature Reorder dialog box appears.

2. Select Pad.1 to specify the new location of the feature.

This name appears in the After field.

3. Click OK.

The part rebuilds itself. The mirror feature appears after the creation of the second pad, which explains why this second pad

is now mirrored.

What You Can Do

You can reorder features located in a solid body (body that do not integrate wireframe nor generative shape design geometry), part body, body or ordered geometrical set. The general rule is that a feature must remain in the same branch under the part where the notion of order is defined, but there are exceptions to that:

● A Part Design feature can be moved from one body to another provided that these bodies do not belong to the same branch.

● A Generative Shape Design feature can be moved from one Ordered Geometrical Set (or body) to another (body) in another branch provided that it is independent: it has no parents (except for XY, YZ or ZX planes or axis systems located just below the part in the tree) and no children.

Specifying the new location

● In ordered structures, such as ordered geometrical sets or bodies, the Reorder command will guaranty that the order is preserved.

● If you wish to reorder a Part Design feature in a distinct body located directly under the part, when selecting that body node, the

feature is located at the bottom of the body list.

● If you wish to reorder a feature within the same body or ordered geometrical set located directly under the part, when selecting

that body or geometrical set node, the feature is moved just below the selected node.

● Non-available locations are indicated in yellow in the tree. A yellow feature indicates that the feature to be reordered cannot be located below it. If you select one of these forbidden locations, an error message is issued.

In the example below, the user is trying to reorder Pad.1. As indicated by the yellow color set on all of the nodes, this feature cannot be reordered.

Allowed Locations and Updates

However note that under some circumstances, if you can locate a feature at an allowed location, the application may detect an update problem. For example, let's consider this part :

EdgeFilet.1 highlighted above is based upon Trim.1 which itself is a modification feature based upon Extrude.1 as the main input (the narrow rectangle) and Extrude.2 (the wider rectangle).

Taking a look at the yellow node analysis, we consider that a feature can move in its modification feature chain (here we have EdgeFillet.1 - Trim.1 - Extrude.1 as a modification feature chain). So moving before Extrude.2 is not forbidden as shown below.

What happens is that EdgeFillet.1 is constructed upon geometry that only exists after Extrude.2. This means that moving EdgeFillet.1 after Extrude.1 cannot be done. Indeed, to ensure ordering rules to be respected, the application is going to try to replug EdgeFillet.1 on Extrude.1 which reveals geometrically impossible. Consequently, the application issues an error message indicating that the Reorder operation is canceled: "Reorder is canceled to ensure ordering rules".

This example illustrates that the yellow nodes do not always take geometrical relationships into consideration .

To know more about reordering features in geometrical sets and ordered geometrical sets, refer to the Managing Geometrical Sets and Managing Ordered Geometrical Sets tasks described in the Generative Shape Design User's Guide.

In Work Objects

After reordering a feature in the specification tree, local objects are defined as follows: the application sets the first feature that is not affected by the reorder operation as the new defined in work object:

● When reordering upwards, the in work object is the feature positioned just before the new position of the reordered feature.

● When reordering downwards, the in work object is the feature positioned just before the original position of the reordered feature.

Reordering Several Features At a Time

You can reorder two or more features at a time as explained in the following second scenario.

Use the Reorder.CATPart document and add an edge fillet onto Pad.2.

1. Multi-select Pad.2. and EdgeFillet.1 then select Edit -> Selected objects -> Reorder....

Our selection includes two features consecutively positioned under the same tree node.

Non-Consecutive Features

If the features are not strictly consecutively positioned under the same tree node, you can reorder them provided they are

independent: with no parents (except for XY, YZ or ZX planes or axis systems located just below the part in the tree) and

with nor children.

Otherwise, the operation is not possible and an error message is issued.

In our scenario, the application detects non-available locations and display them in yellow.

2. The Feature Reorder dialog box appears. Select Pad.1 to indicate the new location for Pad.2 and EdgeFillet.1.

The dialog box shows that two elements are to be reordered after Pad.1.


The part rebuilds itself. Both Pad.2 and EdgeFillet.1 are now mirrored.

Handling Functional Bodies in a Multi-Document Context

This section discusses the operations you can perform to benefit from functional bodies behaviors and this, in specific contexts: You can use functional bodies in

● Distinct CATPart documents. You can copy and paste a body with a functional solid as well as Part Design features at once using the As Result With Link option. To see an example, refer to Copying Bodies including Functional Solids and Detailed Features.

● Distinct CATPart documents. You can copy and paste a functional body including functional features using the As Result With Link option. To see an example, refer to Copying Functional Bodies.

● Assembly contexts. For more information, refer to the Assembly Design User's Guide.

● VPM Navigator which allows you to access both product definition and data stored in the ENOVIA hub. For more information, refer to the VPM Navigator User's Guide.

Copying Bodies Including Functional Solids and Detailed Features

In this task, you are going to copy a functional solid from one CATPart document to another, then edit the initial geometry so as to see if those changes are reflected in the target document. This scenario shows you how the application harmonizes this type of ulterior modifications.


1. Right-click PartBody and select the Copy contextual command.

The PartBody contains the geometry of Functional Body.1.

2. Open a new CATPart document and position the cursor anywhere in the specification tree.

3. Select Edit -> Paste Special....

The Paste Special dialog box that appears proposes three paste options:

❍ As specified in Part document: the object is copied as well as its design specifications.

❍ As Result With Link: the object is copied without its design specifications and the link is maintained between the reference and the copy.

❍ As Result: the object is copied without its design specifications and there is no link between the reference and the copy.

4. For our scenario, select the As Result With Link option if not already selected.


Functional Body.1 is copied into the new document. You will notice that the specification tree

displays it under the name of Solid.1. A cube represents this solid.

6. Return into the first document to edit the original geometry. For example, enlarge Sketch.1

which supports the shellable feature.

7. Then, use the Part Design Edge Fillet command to fillet the lateral edge as shown:

8. Take a look at the new document: the cube graphic symbol used for Solid.1 in the tree now

contains a red cross. This means that the initial PartBody underwent transformations.

9. To integrate the changes, you need to use the Synchronize contextual command. To do so, right-

click Solid.1 object and apply the command.

You can observe that the copy reflects the change: the shellable feature is enlarged. However the

edge is not filleted. This is due to the fact that once created, Part Design features are no located

in functional bodies. When you created the fillet, that fillet was located in the Part Body node, not

in Functional Body.1.

Copying Functional Bodies

In this task, you are going to copy a functional body including two functional features, from one CATPart document to another, then add a functional feature to the initial geometry so as to see if those changes are reflected in the target document. This scenario shows you how the application harmonizes these types of modifications. After performing this task, take a look at Using Functional Bodies Created with Application Versions Anterior to V5R14.

Open the Part6.CATPart document.

1. Right-click Functional Body.1 and select the Copy contextual command.

Functional Body.1 contains one shellable feature as well as a cutout feature.

2. Open a new CATPart document and position the cursor anywhere in the specification tree.

3. Select Edit -> Paste Special....

The Paste Special dialog box that appears proposes three paste options:

❍ As specified in Part document: the object is copied as well as its design specifications.

❍ As Result With Link: the object is copied without its design specifications and the link is maintained between the reference and the copy.

❍ As Result: the object is copied without its design specifications and there is no link between the reference and the copy.

4. For our scenario, select the As Result With Link option if not already selected.


Functional Body.1 is copied into the new document. A cube represents this solid.

6. Return into the first document to add a functional feature. For example, create a functional hole.

7. Take a look at the new document: the cube graphic symbol used for Import.1 in the tree now

contains a red cross. This means that the initial functional body underwent transformations.

8. To integrate the changes, you need to use the Synchronize contextual command. To do so, right-

click Import.1 object and apply the command.

You can observe that the copy reflects the change: it now includes the hole.

Using Functional Bodies Created with Application Versions Anterior to V5R114To perform this type of scenario with functional bodies created using application versions anterior

to Version 5 Release 14, first you need to upgrade the old CATPart document by editing any of

the features it contains, then save it in Version 5 Release 14. Once you have done that, you can

copy and paste its functional bodies as illustrated here.

Recommendations

This section provides useful information for making the most of the application. These recommendations are

divided into two categories:

● Wireframe Geometry and Functional Features

When you select a wireframe element or geometry including wireframe elements in order to define a

functional feature, ensure that the support of this element is not linked to any functional body.

● Manual UpdatesGenerally speaking, we recommend the use of the Manual update type.

Wireframe Geometry and Functional Features

When you select a wireframe element or geometry including wireframe elements in order to define a functional feature, ensure that the support of this element is not linked to any functional body.

Both following examples show basic scenarios you may complete to create a functional feature. We then provide you with the methodology we recommend.

Example 1

In this example, the user creates a wireframe element, that is a plane from the face of a shellable prism. On this plane, he sketches a circle to then use it as the input element for creating a second shellable prism. But after selecting the sketch and validating the definition of the shellable feature, the application warns him that it is not possible to recompute the part (due to an update cycle).

What the user needs to do is sketch the circle on a plane fully independent from the shellable prism. In other words, he can either isolate the wireframe plane (using the Isolate command) if he really wishes to use that plane or create a plane with no link to the first shellable feature.

Example 2

In this second example, the user creates a line using two vertices of the shellable prism. He then creates a shellable prism and decides to use that line to define the direction of the new prism. Once he validates his operation, the application warns him that it is not possible to recompute the part due to an update cycle.

The method to be used is to create a line completely independent from the shellable prism to be able to use it as the direction for the prism.

In a Nutshell

The application does not enable you to use wireframe elements as input elements if these are created from functional geometry. Consequently, as much as possible create wireframe elements that are not linked to any functional bodies.

Note also that this rule applies to use edges (for more information, refer to the Sketcher User's Guide), unless these are isolated (for more information, refer to Isolating Elements in the Part Design User's Guide).

Manual Updates

Like Part Design, Functional Molded Part provides two ways of updating the geometry via two settings. These let you choose the method that best meets your needs.

Choosing the Update Mode

You can access update settings as follows:

1. Select the Tools -> Options command.

The Options dialog box displays.

2. From the Infrastructure category, select the Part Infrastructure sub-category in the left-hand box.

The General, Display and Part Document tabs appear.

3. In the General tab, go to the Update section.

4. Select either Automatic (default option) or Manual.

To know how to use the other three options, refer to Customizing (Part Design User's Guide).

Automatic Updates

Choosing Automatic updates parts automatically, whenever you edit the geometry.

Manual Updates

Choosing Manual lets you control your update operations.

Contrary to Part Design application, Functional Molded Part does not run update processes once you

have clicked on OK from any dialog box to confirm your current operation. In Manual Update mode,

you always need to click on the Update icon to integrate the modifications to the geometry. If,

for example, you have just edited a feature and clicked OK to confirm the operation, the geometry

turns red to indicate that an update is required, nevertheless, updating immediately is not mandatory:

you still can go on designing your part.

This specific behavior helps you control the application performances. Indeed, whenever you update

your geometry, this is costly in terms of performances, this is why the manual update has been

designed so as to let you modify the geometry as much as you want.

When designing, we therefore recommend the use of the Manual option.

Previewing Geometry

Note that when you click Preview buttons from definition dialog boxes, to get an idea of the results,

even if the Manual mode is on, the application launches an update operation. Because that is a costly

process, you should use that capability only when necessary.

Workbench DescriptionThe Functional Molded Part window looks like this:

Click the sensitive areas to see the related documentation.

Refer to the Part Design Workbench Description and to the Infrastructure Workbench Description to access information about the other toolbars.

Functional Molded Part Menu BarShape Features Toolbar

Functional Features ToolbarMold Design Properties Toolbar

Feature Modifiers ToolbarMulti-Body Features Toolbar

Functional Molded Part Menu BarThis section presents the main menu bar tools and commands dedicated to Functional Molded Part.

Start File Edit View Insert Tools Windows Help

EditFor... See...

Undo XXX Infrastructure User's Guide

Repeat Infrastructure User's Guide

Update Manual Updates

Updating Parts

(Part Design User's Guide)

Cut

Copy

Paste

Handling Functional Bodies in a Multi-Document Context

Cutting, Copying, Pasting


Paste Special... Handling Parts in a Multi-Document Environment


Delete Deleting Features


Search... Infrastructure User's Guide

Selection Sets... Infrastructure User's Guide

Selection Sets Edition... Infrastructure User's Guide

Find Owning Selection Set... Infrastructure User's Guide Links... Infrastructure User's Guide

Properties Displaying and Editing Properties

Part Design User's Guide

Insert

For... See...

Body Creating a Functional Body

Inserting a New Body

(Part Design User's Guide)Geometrical Set (Generative Shape Design User's

Guide)

Ordered Geometrical Set (Generative Shape Design User's Guide)

Annotations Creating Annotations

(Part Design User's Guide)Sketcher Sketcher User's Guide

Constraints Setting Constraints

(Part Design User's Guide)Shape Features Shape Features

Functional Features Functional Features

Feature Modifiers Feature Modifiers

Mold Design Properties Setting Shell Properties

Multi-Body Features Multi-Body Features

Dress-Up Features Dress-Up Features

(Part Design User's Guide)Boolean Operations Associating Bodies

(Part Design User's Guide) Knowledge Templates Creating PowerCopies

Instantiate From Document... Instantiating PowerCopies

ToolsFor... See...

Formula... Infrastructure User's Guide

Image Infrastructure User's Guide

Macro Infrastructure User's Guide

Utility... Infrastructure User's Guide

Show

Hide

Infrastructure User's Guide

In Work Object Scanning the Part and Define Local Objects

(Part Design User's Guide) Parameterization Analysis... Infrastructure User's Guide

Customize... Infrastructure User's Guide

Visualization Filters... Infrastructure User's Guide

Options... Customizing

(Part Design User's Guide) Standards... Infrastructure User's Guide

Conferencing Infrastructure User's Guide

Shape Features Toolbar

See Shellable Feature

See Cavity Feature

See Core Feature

See Internal Feature

See Added Feature

See Protected Feature

Functional Features Toolbar

See Cutout

See Pocket

See Boss

See Rib

See Rest

See Grill

See Reinforcement

See Push (body modifier)

See Pull (body modifier)

See Fitting (body modifier)

See Hole

Mold Design Properties Toolbar

See Editing the Shell Properties and Setting Shell Properties

See Setting Draft Properties

Feature Modifiers Toolbar

See Cut

See Remove

See Intersect

See Rectangular Pattern and Circular Pattern

See Edge Fillet

Multi-Body Features Toolbar

See Divide

See Lip

Reference Information

Shape TypesYou need to define a shape type when creating shape features (or certain functional features). To know how to create the five possible different shapes, refer to the following tasks:

Prism

Sweep

Revolve

Thick Surface

External Shape

When editing a shape feature based on a prism or a sweep, note that you can change the prism with a sweep and vice versa. Other types of changes are not allowed.

Prism

This task shows you how to define a prism based on a closed profile.

To perform this scenario, sketch a rectangle in the Sketcher workbench then return to the Functional Molded Part workbench.

1. Click any icon requiring a shape definition. For example, launch the Shellable capability .

The Prism is the default shape proposed by the application.

2. Select the profile you wish to extrude. The application previews a prism.

If you launch the command with no profile previously defined, just access the Sketcher by clicking the

icon available in the dialog box and sketch the profile you need.

Limits

By default, the application specifies the length of your prism.

There are three ways of defining lengths:

● By entering a value.

● By setting the Thru All option: the feature extends the protected volume itself along the prism

extrusion direction outside the boundaries of the Functional Body.

● By setting the To Plane/Surface option: the plane or surface you select trims the prism. If

existing planes or surfaces do not meet your needs, you can use any of these creation

contextual commands available from the empty field:

❍ Create Plane: you can create a plane by using one of the method described in Create

Planes.

❍ XY Plane: the XY plane of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the trimming element.

❍ YZ Plane: the YZ plane of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the trimming element.

❍ ZX Plane: the ZX plane of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the trimming element.


❍ Create Extract: generates separate elements from non-connex sub-elements. See Extracting Geometry.

3. Enter the value of your choice the First length field to define the feature length from the sketch

plane. If you prefer, you can drag the LIM1 manipulator in the geometry area.

For the purpose of our scenario, enter 18mm.

Optionally, you can also enter a value in the Second length field to define the feature length in the

opposite direction.

Checking the Mirrored extent option extrudes the profile in the opposite direction using the same

length value as the one defined for the first length.

Clicking the Reverse Direction button reverses the extrusion direction. Another way of reversing the

direction is by clicking the arrow in the geometry area.

Direction

4. Click the Direction tab.

By default, the Normal to profile option is checked, meaning that the profile is extruded normal to

the sketch plane. If you wish to specify another direction, just uncheck the option, and then select a

geometrical element to be used as the new reference.

You can also use any of the following creation contextual commands:

❍ Create Point: For more information, see Create Points

❍ Create Line: see Creating Lines.

❍ Create Plane: see Create Planes

❍ Edit Components: edits the coordinates of the direction's components.

❍ X Axis

❍ Y Axis

❍ Z Axis

❍ Compass direction


For the purpose of our scenario, use Normal to profile .

Draft


The Draft behavior field provides two options:

❍ None: there is no draft

❍ Intrinsic to feature: you can perform a draft operation by defining: ■ an angle value

■ a neutral elementThe default neutral element ( defines a neutral curve on which the drafted face will lie) is the profile plane.

The other possible elements can be:

❍ First limit

❍ Second limit

Plane/Surface. If this is chosen, the Selection field is active: you just need to select the plane or surface of interest. Two options are also available:

❍ Parting=Neutral. If this is chosen, the plane or surface you selected as the neutral element is also used as the parting element.

❍ Draft both sides. If this is chosen, the draft operation applies to both opposite directions from the parting element.

If the Profile Plane or Plane/Surface options are chosen to define the neutral element, then the Parting=Neutral option is active by default. Moreover, if Parting=Neutral is active, the Draft both sides option becomes active too. If Draft both sides is on, the draft will be symmetrical on the parting element.

For the purpose of our scenario, set the Intrinsic to feature option, the profile plane as the neutral element and then enter the value of your choice to define the draft angle.

Fillet


7. Check the Lateral radius option to fillet lateral edges. You merely need to set the radius value of

your choice. For example, enter 6mm.

Checking the First radius option lets you fillet top edges. You merely need to set the radius value of

your choice.

Checking the Second radius option lets you fillet bottom edges. You merely need to set the radius

value of your choice.

Thick

8. Check the Thick option. This option enables you to add material to both sides of the profile.


9. Enter 10mm in the Thickness1 field and click Preview. Thickness is added to the inside of

the profile.

10. Enter 15mm in the Thickness2 field and click Preview. Thickness is added to the outside of

the profile.


see the result. The thickness you defined for Thickness1 is evenly distributed: a thickness of

10mm has been added to each side of the profile.

Core (Specific to Shellable Features)


Sweep

A sweep is obtained by sweeping a profile along a center curve.

This task shows you how to define a sweep.

Open the Sweep.CATPart document.

1. Click any icon requiring a shape definition. For example, launch the Shellable capability ,

then click the Sweep icon.

2. Select Sketch.2 as the profile you wish to sweep.

If you launch the command with no profile previously defined, just access the Sketcher by

clicking the icon available in the dialog box and sketch the profile you need.

Path

3. Click the Center curve field and select Sketch.1 or click the Sketcher icon to sketch the

center curve you need.

Checking the Between points option defines the sweep between two points along the path

(other than the endpoints). You merely need to select the points of your choice to define Point 1

and Point 2.

Control

4. You can control the sweep position by choosing one of the following options:

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.

You can also use any of the following creation contextual commands:

❍ Create Line: for more information, see Creating Lines.

❍ Create Plane: see Create Planes

❍ Edit Components: edits the coordinates of the direction's components.

❍ X Axis

❍ Y Axis

❍ Z Axis

❍ Compass direction

Reference surface : the angle value between axis h and the reference surface is constant.

For the purposes of our scenario, use the Keep angle option.

Checking the Cut end option cuts the sweep's end profile so that it is normal to the end of the

selected center curve.

Draft


The Draft behavior field provides two options:

❍ None: there is no draft

❍ Intrinsic to feature: you can perform a draft operation by defining: ■ an angle value

■ a neutral elementThe default neutral element (defines a neutral curve on which the drafted face will lie) is the profile plane. The other possible neutral elements can be:

■ > Plane/Surface . If this is chosen, the Selection field is active: you just need to select the plane or surface of interest.

❍ Two options are also available: ■ Parting=Neutral If this is chosen, the plane or surface you selected as the neutral

element is also used as the parting element.

■ Draft both sides. If this is chosen, the draft operation applies to both opposite directions from the parting element.

If the Profile Plane or Plane/Surface options are chosen to define the neutral element, then the Parting=Neutral option is active by default. Moreover, if Parting=Neutral is active, the Draft both sides option becomes active too. If Draft both sides is on, the draft will be symmetrical on the parting element.

For the purpose of our scenario, set the Intrinsic to feature option, the profile plane as the

neutral element and then enter the value of your choice to define the draft angle.

Fillet


7. Check the Lateral radiusoption if you wish to fillet lateral edges. Then, you merely need to set

the radius value of your choice.

8. Check the First radius option if you wish to fillet top edges. Then, you merely need to set the

radius value of your choice.<

9. Check the Second radius option if you wish to fillet the opposite bottom edges. Then, you

merely need to set the radius value of your choice.

Thick



11. To add thickness to the inside of the profile, for example, enter 9mm in the Thickness1 field.

12. To add thickness to the outside of the profile, for example enter 3mm in the Thickness2 field .

The application previews the new thickness.


see the result. The thickness you defined for Thickness1 is evenly distributed.



Revolve

A revolve is obtained by a rotational sweep of an open or closed profile. The rotation is based on a desired sweep angle around an axis.

This task shows you how to define a revolve.

Open the Revolve.CATPart document.


then click the Revolve icon.

2. Select the profile you wish to extrude. The application previews a revolve feature.

If you launch the command with no profile previously defined, just access the Sketcher by

clicking the icon available in the dialog box and sketch the profile you need.

Limits

By default, the application specifies the length of your revolve feature and previews limits. LIM1

corresponds to the first angle value, and LIM2 corresponds to the second angle value.

3. The first angle value is by default 360 degrees. Enter the value of your choice in the First angle

field if you wish to define a different angle value. For example, enter 100 degrees.

4. Enter the value of your choice the Second angle field to define the second angle value.

The Selection field in the Axis frame is reserved for the axes you explicitly select.



Fillet


6. Check the Lateral radius option if you wish to fillet lateral edges. Then, you merely need to set


7. Check the First radius option if you wish to fillet top edges. Then, you merely need to set the

radius value of your choice.

8. Check the Second radius option if you wish to fillet bottom edges. Then, you merely need to set


Thick



10. Enter, for example, 6mm in the Thickness1 field and click Preview. Thickness is added to the

inside of the profile.

11. Enter 3mm in the Thickness2 field . The application previews how the thickness is added to the

outside of the profile.

12. To add material equally to both sides of the profile, check Neutral fiber. The application

previews the result. The thickness you defined for Thickness1 is evenly distributed.

Thick Surface

This task shows you how to create a thick surface.

Open the ThickSurface.CATPart document.


then click the Thick Surface icon.

2. Select the surface you wish to thicken.

The application displays an arrow indicating the direction in which the surface will be thickened.

If you select several surfaces, the field displays the number of selected elements. To act on this

selection, just click the icon to display the Surfaces dialog box that allows you to:

❍ view the selected surfaces

❍ remove any surface clicking the Remove button

❍ replace any surface using the Replace button and selecting a new one in the geometry or the specification tree.

3. In the Thickness field, enter a different value if the default value is not satisfactory.

External Shape

While creating shape features, instead of defining one the four different shapes already available since the last application release, you can reuse an external shape.

Using an external shape means using a body or a surface.

After you clicked the External Shape icon from any shape feature dialog box, the following dialog box is displayed:

You then just need to select the body or surface of interest.



Glossary

Aabsolute coordinates

Coordinates that specify a location in relation to the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0).

active body The body to which functional volumes and features are "assigned" as they are created.

annotation An entity that provides information for the drawing. Texts are annotation entities.

Bbody A group of volumes and features combined to represent a solid part or product. Any

number of bodies can be in a single model or file, but only one can be active at a time. Volumes and features are automatically added to the active body.

Cconstraint A geometric or dimension relation between two elements. These relations are restrictions

for these elements.

D

deactivate To suppress the behavior of an entity, visually and geometrically.

E

extrude An operation that gives 2D objects depth (3D).

Ffunctional modeling

Refers to designing a 3D digital model by using tools with inherent behaviors, such as features and volumes, that interact in specific ways.

Ppart A 3D entity obtained by combining different features.

pocket A feature corresponding to an opening through a feature. The shape of the opening corresponds to the extrusion of a profile.

profile An open or closed shape including arcs and lines created by the profile command in the Sketcher workbench.

protected volumeA 3D area of protected space within a body that other entities within the same body cannot penetrate.

S

shell A hollowed out feature

sketch A set of geometric elements created in the Sketcher workbench. For instance, a sketch may include a profile, construction lines and points.

Vvolume The solid material in a CATPart document. It can also be the empty space inside of a

shelled solid volume.

Index

Aadded features

adding material

Bbody

boss features

Ccatalog

CATPart documents

cavity features

circular pattern features command

Added Feature

Boss Feature

Cavity Feature

Core Feature

Cut Feature

Cutout Feature

Divide Feature

Draft Properties

Edge Fillet Feature

Fitting Feature

Grill Feature

Hole Feature

Internal Feature

Intersect Feature

Lip Feature

Pattern

Pattern Feature

Pocket Feature

PowerCopy Creation

PowerCopy Instantiate From Document

PowerCopy Save in Catalog

Protected Feature

Pull Feature

Push Feature

Reinforcement Feature

Remove Feature

Rest Feature

Rib Feature

Set as Current

Shell Properties

Shellable Feature contextual menu item

Paste Special

Reorder

core features corner

reshaping counterbored

Hole counterdrilled

Hole countersunk

Hole creating

added features

boss features

cavity features

circular pattern features

core features

cut features

cutout features

divide features

edge fillet features

fitting features

functional bodies

grill features

hole features

internal features

intersect features

lip features

pattern features

pocket features

protected features

pull features

push features

reinforcement features

remove features

rest features

rib features

shellable features

crown

cube

cut features

cutout features

Ddesign intent

divide features

draft properties

Eedge fillet features entering

Functional Molded Part workbench

external shapes

extrusion

Ffeature

positioning Feature Modifiers

toolbars

feature modifiers

fitting features flat end

Hole

functional bodies Functional Features

toolbars

functional features Functional Molded Part workbench

entering

functional solids

Ggrill features

HHole

counterbored

counterdrilled

countersunk

flat end

pointed end

simple

tapered

threading

up to plane

up to surface

hole features

hollow

Iinternal features

intersect features

Llimiting element

lip features

MMold Design Properties

toolbars Multi-Body Features

toolbars

multi-document environment

Ooption

Reset ignored faces

PPaste Special

contextual menu item

pattern features

pocket features pointed end

Hole positioning

feature PowerCopy Creation

command PowerCopy Instantiate From Document

command PowerCopy Save in Catalog

command

prism

protected features

pull features

push features

Rred

reinforcement features

remove features

removing material Reorder

contextual menu item Reset ignored faces

option reshaping

corner

rest features

revolve

rib features

Ssetting

draft properties

shell properties Shape Features

toolbars

shape features

shapes

shell properties

shellable features simple

Hole

solid

standards

surface

sweep

Ttapered

Hole

Thick Surface threading

Hole toolbars

Feature Modifiers

Functional Features

Mold Design Properties

Multi-Body Features

Shape Features

Volumes

Uup to plane

Hole up to surface

Hole

VVolumes

toolbars

Functional Molded Part - CATIA:designcatiadesign.org/_doc/v5r14/catpdffm1ug_C2/fm1ug.pdf · CATIA...

Documents

Transcript of Functional Molded Part - CATIA:designcatiadesign.org/_doc/v5r14/catpdffm1ug_C2/fm1ug.pdf · CATIA...