Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Advantages of Automation/Customization
Cost Reduction Improved Efficiencies Improved Quality Through Standardization Customization Provide additional functionality not provided in native products Manipulate existing function to better fit customer processes
Examples of Automation
The application of automation in the design process is virtually unlimited. Some examples of automation at work:
batch script for the conversion of drawing files to PDF export of points from Excel spreadsheet to CAD model export of points from CAD model to Excel spreadsheet grid of points, centered in CAD model (for element layout) automatic spline creation (from selection of points) create normal (perpendicular) lines to a surface
Automation tools
CATIA V5 CATScript, VBScript VBA VB 6.0 CAA Pro/Engineer Mapkey Pro/Program
Pro/Web.Link J-Link Pro/Toolkit Autodesk Inventor Autodesk Inventor API Unigraphics NX Knowledge Fusion (KF) UFUNC
1.Parameters
Intrinsic Parameters -
Created by CATIA as a byproduct of geometry creation Cannot be deleted without deleting associated geometry User Defined Parameters created by the user for a specific purpose
Magnitude (Real, Length, Speed) String Boolean Geometric (Point, Circle, Plane) Import From Spread Sheet
2. Formula
Formula Wizard A tool provided to assist with the syntax and format while applying a formula to a parameter.
Provides a means to create and manage component families. These components can be for example mechanical parts differing in their parameter values. An associative link is created between spread sheet and Part or Product Design Tables can be created in following formats
4.Templates
A document (Part, Product, Drawing, Process) created in a general context for reuse in a specific context. The new context is defined be modifying parameters or replacing specification geometry.
5.PowerCopy
A Power Copy is a set of features (geometric elements, formulas, constraints and so forth) that are grouped to be used in a different context, and presenting the ability to be completely redefined when pasted. A Graphical interface is provide to guide user through selection of inputs and valuation of parameters. Can be instantiated from a Document or from a feature catalog.
CATIA Knowledgeware
The CATIA V5 Knowledgeware turns implicit design methods into explicit knowledge for obtaining the optimum design.
Quick assessment of the best alternative for a design amongst numerous combinations of parameters and constraints. Disadvantages
Complex Models Difficult to Maintain Lacks Debugging Help Requires Additional Licenses
1.Knowledge Advisor
KNOWLEDGE ADVISOR is a CATIA product which allows users to embed knowledge within design and leverage it to assist in engineering decisions, in order to reduce errors or automate design, for maximum productivity Knowledge can be embedded in design in form of 1. 2. 3. 4. Parameters (Already Covered in Native CATIA Automation) Formulae (Already Covered in Native CATIA Automation) Rules Checks The rule and check capabilities require the Knowledge Advisor product.
A RULE is a set of conditional statements, whereby the relationship between parameters is controlled. A Check is a set of instructions used to analyze the value of specific parameters. It causes no events. It simply provides feedback to users in following ways
2.Knowledge Expert
The Knowledge Expert product allows you to create and manipulate relation-type features. These particular features are organized into a hierarchy.
Expert Rule: An expert rule is a set of instructions whereby you can start an action for any object having a type defined in a type list. Expert Check: An expert check is a relation which only verifies that a condition is true for all the objects of one or more given types. It does not modify the document it is applied to.
The Product Engineering Optimizer is tool to optimize product and part designs by minimizing, maximizing or targeting specific parameter values.
Problem Tab
Constraints Tab
VB/VBA
Macros / .CATScripts Free, Rapid Deployment, Easy to Reuse Recorded macros, Limited Flexibility, Difficult to Debug Great tools for rapid deployment of simple automation applications Personal time saving operations They are limited in scope and flexibility. VBA / .CATvba Free, Graphical User interface (Forms), Editor Provides Debugging Capability Offer increased flexibility and complexity through implementation of user interface forms and modules Requires a short learning curve VBA Environment is Not Object Oriented VB6 & VB.NET Runs Outside of CATIA, Increased Implementation of Components and Type Libraries, Individual Module Files Makes Collaboration and Sharing Code Easier.
Dassault Systemes has exposed several CATIA objects so that they can be created, manipulated, and deleted by COM compliant applications How does VB talk to CATIA? dlls Dynamic Linked Libraries These are compiled files that contain all of the functions that make CATIA V5 perform an action. These files are both compiled and encrypted These files are located in the UNLOAD directory for CATIA V5 (normally c: \program files\Dassault Systemes\B20\intel_a\code\bin) tlbs Type Library Files These files are necessary for exposing functions to Windows. They act as maps which point to the mangled functions inside of the dll files that make CATIA V5 work. The tlb files are located in the UNLOAD directory for V5. Any external application needs to have access to (and reference) these type libraries
CAA
CAA (Component Application Architecture)
More Powerful and Faster than VB, Harder to Learn, Provides Access to Interfaces not currently available to Visual Basic. The Primary language for development is C++. Java is also supported but it not as common. Advantages of CAA
Single source code for both WINDOWS and UNIX New wizards like workbenches, interactive commands, dialog boxes etc., can be created Add new data and behaviors on an existing feature without overloading standard behaviors No specific Run time license is required Customized GUI using
Conclusion