product structure preface user's tasks workbench - index of

Product Structure

Preface

User's Tasks Workbench

Description

Customizing

Glossary

Index

© Dassault Systèmes 1994-2000. All rights reserved.

Preface

CATIA - Product Structure Version 5 workbench allows the representation of acomponent structure (Product, Part, Assembly,...) with an intuitive and flexible userinterface. The components used are clearly identified, making the management of theassembly much easier. You can copy / paste components or constraints, add or insert a new component to the assembly structure, (un-)load missing models, replacecomponents, modify components properties, associate / remove geographicalrepresentations to / from the parts.

As a scalable workbench, CATIA - Product Structure Version 5 can be cooperativelyused with other current companion products such as CATIA - Part Design Version 5, CATIA - Assembly Design Version 5 and CATIA - Generative Drafting Version 5.Contextual menus are available in the tree area and in the 3D area.

The information contained in this guide is specific to Version 5 Release 5 of the CATIA- Product Structure workbench, which operates in a WINDOWS or UNIX workstationenvironment under the AIX, IRIX, SUN OS and HP-UX operating system.

Using This GuideMore Information

Using This Guide

This book is intended for the user who needs to become quickly familiar with theCATIA - Product Structure Version 5 workbench. The user should be familiar withbasic CATIA Version 5 concepts such as document windows, standard and viewtoolbars.

This tutorial will show you how to create an assembly. For performing User's Tasks,you will use the samples provided within the documents.

Where to Find More Information

Prior to reading this book, we recommend that you read CATIA- Infrastructure User'sGuide Version 5.

CATIA- Part Design User's Guide Version 5, CATIA-Assembly Design User's GuideVersion5 and CATIA- Generative Drafting User's Guide Version 5 may prove usefultoo.

See also the Conventions used in this guide.

ConventionsCertain conventions are used in CATIA, ENOVIA & DELMIA documentation to helpyou recognize and understand important concepts and specifications. The followingtext conventions may be used: The titles of CATIA documents appear in this manner throughout the text. File -> New identifies the commands to be used.

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...)Double-clickShift-clickCtrl-clickCheck (check boxes)DragDrag and drop (icons onto objects, objects onto objects)

DragMove

Right-click (to select contextual menu)

Graphic conventions are denoted as follows:

indicates the estimated time to accomplish a task.

indicates a target of a task.

indicates the prerequisites.

indicates the scenario of a task.

indicates tips

indicates a warning.

indicates information.

indicates the end of a task.

indicates functionalities that are new or enhanced with this Release.Enhancements can also be identified by a blue-colored background inthe left-hand margin.

User's TasksManaging Product Structure

Managing Product StructureHere are some basic rules you should know before handling the different types offiles available in Product Structure.

No distinction is made between assemblies, subassemblies, and componentsin the description of the product structure. However, you can associate ageometric representation to one component only.If two instances of the same component are used in an assembly, there is onlyone reference component for both instances, i.e. any modifications to thereference affect every instance, except name, representation activation anddesign mode visualization.An assembly is contained in a unique CATProduct file. The references ofcomponents and subassemblies can be contained in the same file as theassembly or in different CATProduct files.

If the reference is contained in the same file, the component can beused only in this assembly or in larger assemblies containing thisassembly.If the reference is contained in a different file, the component can beused in any assembly, but this file is then dedicated to this componentonly.

When you use a file as a representation i.e. a .model, .cgr or .ncgm document,assembly data i.e. the part number, the definition, etc. is saved in a differentCATProduct file.A CATPart file contains the assembly data related to the part and thereference of this component.

Insert a New Component: Select the product and click this icon.

Insert a New Part: Select the product, click this icon and if need be locate thepart.

Insert a New Product: Select the product and click this icon.

Insert Existing Components: Select the product and click this icon. Open thecomponent you need from the dialog box that is displayed.

Unload Components: Select the component and click this icon.

Load Components: Select the component and click this icon.

Replace a Component: Select the component to be replaced, click this iconthen select the new component in the dialog box that is displayed.

Edit Components: the following capabilities are available: cut, copy, paste,delete, drag and drop.

Modify Component Properties: Right-click on the component in thespecification tree and select Properties from the contextual menu. Enter theinformation you need in the Product tab.

Set Design Mode: Select the component then the command Representations-> Design Mode.

Set Visualization Mode: Select the component then the commandRepresentations -> Visualization Mode.

Manage Representations: Select the product and click this icon. Select arepresentation in the dialog box that appears and click on Associate, orRemove or Replace or Rename button depending on the operation you wishto perform.

Define a Multi-instantiation: Select the component to be instantiated, clickthis icon and define the parameters.

Create a Fast Multi-instantiation: Select the component to be instantiatedand click this icon.

Insert Documents from a Catalog: Open a catalog, find the chaptercontaining the entity you want to copy into the assembly, copy this entity,select the appropriate target and paste the entity.

Reorder the Tree: Select the components to be reordered and click this icon.Use the three buttons of the dialog box to move the components to thedesired location in the tree.

Generate Numbers: Select the product, click this icon and numbercomponents either by checking the Integer or Letters option.

Inserting a New ComponentThis task will show you how to insert a component into an existing assembly.

This command lets you:create an instance from the reference componentuse a context-specific representation inside it (see ManagingRepresentations).

Open the ManagingComponents01.CATProduct document.

1. In the specification tree, select ManagingComponents01 and click the New

Component icon .

The structure of your assembly now includes Product1(Product1.1).

If you want you can define the default part number of the component to beimported. To see how this is done refer to "Customizing Product StructureSettings".

Inserting a New PartThis task will show you how to insert a part in an existing assembly.



Part icon .

If geometry exists in the assembly, the New Part: Origin Point dialog box isdisplayed, proposing two options to locate the part:

Click Yes to locate the part origin point on a selected point, onanother component for example.Click No to define the origin point of a component based on theorigin point of the parent component

2. For the purposes of this task, click No to locate the part origin based onthe Product1 origin point.

The Part8 (Part8.1) is created in the specification tree.

To edit Part8 or any other subelements of the CATPart document,double-click on the required component in the specification tree and youwill access the Part Design workbench. See CATIA - Part Design User'sGuide V5 for more information.

Do not mistake the Product document for the Part Design document:The Product document is identified by the Product document icon

.The Part Design document is identified by the Part Design

document icon .

If you want you can define the default part number of the part to beimported. To see how this is done refer to "Customizing Product StructureSettings".

Inserting a New ProductThis task will show you how to insert a product in an existing assembly.



Product icon.

The Product2 (Product2.1) is created in the specification tree.

If you want you can define the default part number of the product to beimported. To see how this is done refer to "Customizing Product StructureSettings".

Inserting Existing ComponentsThis task will show you how to import one or more components into an existingassembly.


1. In the specification tree, select ManagingComponents02 and click the

Insert Existing Component icon.

The Insert an Existing Component dialog box is displayed.

2. Select CRIC_TOP.CATPart from the C:\Program Files\DassaultSystemes\B04doc\online\pstug\samples directory and click Open.

The CRIC_TOP (CRIC_TOP.1) is created in the specification tree and thepart is displayed in the geometry area.

Unloading ComponentsThis task will show you how to unload a component from an assembly.

Unloading a component means removing its geometry from the systemmemory.

You can only unload CATPart and CATProduct documents in an assembly.For a model document, you must use the deactivate representationfunctionalities, see Activating a Representation.


1. Select CRIC_BRANCH_3 (CRIC_BRANCH_3.1) in the specification tree

or in the geometry and click the Unload icon .

CRIC_BRANCH_3 (CRIC_BRANCH_3.1) is unloaded. The red symbol isremoved from the document icon and a link symbol appears in thebottom left corner on the document icon in the specification tree to

indicate an unloaded document . The geometry of the componentdisappears.

If the component to be unloaded has been modified, the Unloaddocument dialog box is displayed with three options:

Click Yes if you want to save the document to be unloadedClick No if you do not want to save the document to be unloadedClick Cancel if you want to quit the Unload command.

Loading ComponentsThis task will show you how to load a component into an assembly.

Loading a component means putting its geometry in memory. cccc

You can only load CATPart and CATProduct documents in an assembly. For amodel document, you must use the activate representation functionalities, seeActivating a Representation.


This task can only be completed successfully if you have just unloaded thecomponents (see "Unloading Components").

1. Select CRIC_BRANCH_3 (CRIC_BRANCH_3.1) in the specification tree

or in the geometry and click the Load Components icon .

CRIC_BRANCH_3 (CRIC_BRANCH_3.1) is loaded. The link symboldisappears from the document icon in the specification tree. Thegeometry of the component is displayed.

Replacing a ComponentThis task consists in replacing a component.Using the Replacement Component command means replacing onecomponent with another.


1. Select CRIC_SCREW (CRIC_SCREW.1) and click the Replace

Component icon .

The Replace a Component dialog box is displayed.

2. Select CRIC_SCREW_2.CATPart in the SAMPLES directory.

The component is replaced in the specification tree and in the geometryarea.

Editing Components

This task lists the ways of editing components in an existing assembly.

The Cut command removes the selected component instance and putsit in the clipboard.

The Copy command puts a copy of the selected component instanceinto the clipboard.

The Paste command creates a new component instance from theclipboard.

The Delete command removes the selected component instance.

The drag and drop capability allows you to copy or move onecomponent to another.

For each edition operation you must select the components in the specificationtree.

Remember that the components you wish to move or paste may have one ormore constraints.Once the component is moved or pasted, the constraints may be broken.See also Setting the Paste Component Behavior.

Modifying Component PropertiesThis task shows you how to access and edit component properties. You canredefine and even create new ones at any time.


1. Right-click on CRIC_AXIS (CRIC_AXIS.1) in the specification tree and selectProperties from the contextual menu.

You can select the component in the specification tree or in the geometry.This command is also available from the Edit menu.

The Properties dialog box is displayed. Three tabs are available:GraphicProductMechanical

2. Click the Mechanical tab to display the mechanical properties of the selectedcomponent:

Characteristics: Volume, Mass and Surface. The fields are noteditable. Note that the mass is 0kg because no material has beenapplied. For more about materials, please refer to CATIA-Real TimeRendering User's Guide.Inertia center. The corresponding fields are not editable.Inertia Matrix. The corresponding fields are not editable.

3. Click the Product tab in the Properties dialog box.

This tab displays the Component properties, Link to reference, Productproperties and the Define other properties... button.

The Component frame displays:Instance name, the name of the selected componentDescription, the description of the selected component.

The Product frame displays:Part Number, the name of the productRevisionDefinitionNomenclatureSourceThe combo box displays the following options:

unknown, for an unknown productmade, for a product made by the userbought, for a product bought by the user.

Description, the description of the product.

4. Click the Define other properties... button.

The dialog box that appears lets you add the properties of your choice.

Here is the list of the new parameters you can add:

RealIntegerStringBooleanLengthAngleTimeMassVolumeDensityAreaInertia MomentEnergyForce

InertiaMassic FlowMomentPressureAngular StiffnessTemperatureLinear MassLinear StiffnessVolumetric FlowFrequency Electric PowerVoltageElectric resistanceElectric intensity

5. Select the parameter you need next to New Parameter of type. For example,select String, then click New Parameter of type.

This parameter displays in the property name frame.

6.

7.

Rename the parameter as Manufacturer in the Edit and value field.

Enter French Company in the value field.

The dialog box now looks like this:

Clicking Delete property deletes the selected parameter.

Clicking External properties... accesses additional properties defined in a .txtor .xls file. The application can reuse these files provided they have atabulated format.

To do this, select the desired file in the Open File dialog box that appears.

8. Click OK in the Define other properties dialog box to validate the creation ofthe property.

A new section Product: Added Properties appears in the Properties dialogbox. This section displays all the properties you have created, even thosedescribed in the .txt or .xls files.

Once created, you can access these properties via the Bill of Material too.

9. Click the Graphic tab in the Properties dialog box.

This tab lets you display the Graphic properties of the component. To knowhow to apply graphic properties, refer to CATIA- Infrastructure User's GuideVersion 5.

10. Click OK to validate the operation.

Design ModeThis task shows you how to set the design mode for components in theAssembly Design context.

The Design Mode command changes the cgr format of the component into theoriginal editable component document. In other words, geometric data isavailable. This explains why most of the commands are available if DesignMode is activated.

You may wish to use the other edition mode referred to as the VisualizationMode (see Visualization Mode).

Make sure that the Work with the cache system setting is activated. For moreinformation, see Using the Cache Memory.


1. Select Set1 (Set1.1).

2. Either select the command Edit -> Representation -> Design Mode orselect Representations -> Design Mode from the contextual menu.

The child component geometrical elements in Set1 (Set1.1) may beselected and their branches are expandable. The + sign shows it.

You can select the root of several components to apply the design modeor visualization mode functionalities.

Visualization ModeThis task shows you how to set the visualization mode for components in theAssembly Design context.

The Visualization Mode uses documents in cgr format. Only the externalappearance of the component is visualized. The geometry is not available,which may be useful when you deal with sophisticated assemblies with largeamounts of data but only need a few components to work on.

You may wish to use the other edition mode referred to as the Design Mode(see Design Mode).

Make sure that the Work with the cache system setting is activated. For moreinformation, see Using the Cache Memory.


1. Select Set1 (Set1.1).

2. Either select the command Edit -> Representation -> Visualization Modeor select Representations -> Visualization Mode from the contextualmenu.

The child component geometrical elements in Set1 (Set1.1) cannot beselected and their branches are not expandable.

You can select the root of several components to apply the visualizationmode functionality.

Managing RepresentationsThis task describes the notions and operating modes you will need to use a context-specific representationin your assembly structure.

A context-specific representation is a hierarchical design of an assembly in a specific context. For thisversion you can only use a geometrical representation from a Version 4 model document.

Once you have created a new component or inserted a Version 4 model as an existing component in anassembly, you can associate, remove, replace, rename, activate or deactivate a context-specificrepresentation to this product.


If you possess a Digital Mock-Up (DMU) Navigator license, the model is read as .cgr format, you mayconvert it to .model format with the Design Mode command. See Design Mode.

1. Select a product in the specification tree. For instance, select CRIC_FRAME.

2. Click the Manage Representations icon .

The Manage Representations dialog box appears.

It displays:the Name of the representationthe Source file of the representationthe Type of representationwhether the representation is the Default representation of the productwhether the representation is Activated or not.

3. Select CRIC_FRAME if not already done and click the Associate... button.

The Associate Representation dialog box is displayed.

4. Select the .model document of your choice from the C:\Program Files\DassaultSystemes\B04doc\online\pstug\samples directory and click Open.

The representation is associated with Product and displayed in the specification tree and in thegeometry area.The representation is activated and set as the default representation.

You can associate as many representations as you need, but only one must be set as default. In thiscase other representations are not displayed in the specification tree and in the geometry area.

To change the default representation of a product, select one of its representations and click theSet As Default button.

To deactivate the default representation of a product, select a representation in the ManageRepresentations dialog box and click the Deactivate button. The representation is deactivated fromProduct in the specification tree and in the geometry area and No is displayed in the Activatedcolumn of the Manage Representations dialog box.

To activate the default representation of a product, select a representation in the ManageRepresentations dialog box and click the Activate button. The representation is activated in thespecification tree and in the geometry area and Yes is displayed in the Activated column of theManage Representations dialog box.

To replace a representation, select a representation in the Manage Representations dialog box andclick the Replace... button. The Replace Representation dialog box is displayed. Select the modeldocument from the chosen directory and click Open. The representation is replaced in Product in theSpecification Tree, in the geometry area and in the Manage Representations dialog box.

When you replace a constrained representation, even if its constraints have been deleted, youare in the reconnect representation context.See Reconnecting a Replaced Representation.When you replace a deactivated representation, the replacing representation is automaticallyactivated.If you possess a Digital Mock-Up (DMU) Navigator license, the model is read as .cgr format, youmay convert it in .model format with the Design Mode command. See Edition Mode .

To rename a representation, select a representation in the Manage Representations dialog box andclick the Rename... button. The Rename Representation dialog box is displayed. Define a new nameor select an existing name in the combo box.The representation is renamed in the ManageRepresentations dialog box. However, this has no effect on the feature names in the specificationtree as there is no relation between representation names and feature names.

To remove a representation, select a representation in the Manage Representations dialog box andclick the Remove button. The representation is removed from Product in the specification tree, in thegeometry area and in the Manage Representations dialog box

Inserting CATPart or CATProductDocuments from a Catalog

This task shows you how to copy CATPart or CATProduct documents from a catalog intoan existing assembly.


1. Open a catalog, for example the FASTENERS.catalog that you created in Creating aCatalog. Double-click on the main chapter, FASTENERS. Find the chapter containingthe entity you want to copy into the assembly.

2. Double-click on this chapter, SCREWS for example. The following dialog box appears:

3. Click on the entity you wish to copy and either click the Copy icon or select theEdit->Copy command.

4. Select the appropriate target i.e. the main product item or any CATProduct document inthe specification tree and retrieve the entity from the clipboard by clicking the Paste

icon or selecting the Edit->Paste command.

Reordering the TreeThis task shows you how to reorder components within the specification tree.


1. Select ManagingComponents01.

2.Click the Reorder Tree icon .

A dialog box appears, listing the components constitutingManagingComponents01 and providing three buttons for reordering thesecomponents.

The first arrow moves the selected component to the top of the list.

The second arrow moves the selected component to the bottom of the list.

The third button moves the selected component to the place of anothercomponent you need to select.

3. Select CRIC_FRAME and click the second arrow twice.

CRIC_FRAME then appears after CRIC_TOP on the list.

4. Click Apply to preview the result:

5. Select CRIC_TOP and click the third button.

6. Select CRIC_AXIS to determine the location of CRIC_TOP.

CRIC_TOP is now on top of the list.

7. Click OK to confirm the operation.

The application closes the dialog box and updates the specification tree.The tree is reordered as follows:

Generating NumbersThis task shows you how to number the components of an assembly.

Numbering components is possible provided these components areassociated to representations.


1. In the specification tree, select ManagingComponents01.

2.

Click the Generate Numbering icon .

The Generate Numbering dialog box is displayed.

There are two ways of numbering components:either you check the Integer optionor the Letters option

Moreover, if you need to number an assembly with already existingnumbers, you can keep or replace these numbers by checking thecorresponding options.

3. Click OK to confirm the operation.

Note that you can consult these numbers in the Product tab displayed bythe Properties command, or in the Listing Report tab and in theRecapitulation of the Bill of Material.

Product Structure Menu BarThis section presents the main menu bar available when you run the application andbefore creating or opening a document:

Start File Edit View Insert Tools Analyze Windows Help

Edit For

See

ManageRepresentations...

ManagingRepresentations

Load LoadingComponents

Unload UnloadingComponents

Design Mode Using DesignMode

Visualization Mode Using VisualizationMode

ReplaceComponent...

Replacing aComponent

InsertFor See

New Component Inserting a NewComponent

New Product Inserting a NewProduct

New Part... Inserting a NewPart

ExistingComponent...

Inserting anExistingComponent

Product Structure Tools Toolbar

See Inserting a New Component

See Inserting a New Product

See Inserting a New Part

See Inserting an Existing Component

See Replacing a Component

See Reordering the Tree

See Generating Numbers

See Loading Components

See Unloading Components

See Managing Representations

Workbench DescriptionThe CATIA - Product Structure Version 5 application window looks like this:

Product Structure Menu BarProduct Structure Tools Toolbar

CustomizingThis section describes the different types of setting customization you can performin your Product structure using the Tools -> Options command.All tasks described here deal with permanent setting customization.

Customizing Product Structure

Defining the Default Part NumberEnsuring Default ShapesCustomizing the Specification Tree

Nodes Customization

Customizing Product Structure Settings

This task explains how to customize Product Structure settings.

1. Select the Tools->Options... command.

2. Select the Infrastructure category, then the Product Structure sub-category, thenthe Product Structure tab:

Defining the Default Part Number of the Component to be Imported

Check Manual input if you wish to assign the name you wish to the component youinsert into the assembly.

Ensuring Default Shapes are not Activated When Opened

Check Do not activate default shapes on open if you want the product to appearwhen opened without any active representation.

Customizing the Specification Tree

Check the display options you need:Automatic Expand to display the tree totally expandedConstraints to display the constraints and dimensions defined in thedocumentParameters to display the parameters defined using the Formula commandRelations to display the relations defined using the Formula command.

Note that the Constraints option is checked by default.

Node CustomizationThis task shows you how to give a particular name, reference or description to aproduct or a component.

1. Select the Tools->Options... command and click the Nodes Customization tab.The following dialog box appears :

2. Check Customized Display. Then, you can select different options : Partnumber (#PN#), Revision (#RE#), Definition, Nomenclature, Source, InstanceName, Description. You can directly replace the diagram (PN, RE,...) betweenthe two # by the term of your choice and it will appear in the Product Structure.

Glossary

Aactive component A selected component currently being edited. This component

is underlined in the specification tree.

active object An object currently being edited.

assembly An entity composed of various components which have beenpositioned relative to each other.

Bbill of material A list of data about the properties of the components contained

in the active component.

Cchild component One or more components originating from a single component.

Compare parent component.

component A reference integrated in an assembly. A component possessescharacteristics related to how it is integrated in an assembly (forexample, its relative location in an assembly).

context-specificrepresentation

A hierarchical design of an assembly in a specific context (forexample: engineering or manufacturing).

G

geometric element The geometric elements which can be constrained in theAssembly workbench are:

pointlineplane (or plane surface from a model)sphereconecylinder

Lleaf component The last component at the end of each branch of the

specification tree.

Mmanipulation A freehand translation or rotation of a component with the

mouse.

model A CATIA Version 4 model.

Pparent component A component that is hierarchically just above one or more

components. Compare child component

part Within the Assembly workbench, it is either a part of the PartDesign workbench, or a 3D entity whose geometry is containedin a model.

primary childcomponent

One or more components originating from the first level underthe active component.

product A 3D entity which contains several components.

Rreference A product or part with its own characteristics. Compare

component.

representation See context specific representation.

Ssearch order A hierarchical set of paths used when searching for the files

included in the assembly. The search begins with the first path,and stops when the file is found.

subassembly An assembly contained within another assembly.

Uupdate In the Assembly workbench, updates the position of the

constrained components so as to satisfy the constraintrequirements.

IndexSymbols

.cgrassociating representation importing component replacing representation

.model (V4 model)associating representation importing component replacing representation

.session (V4 session)importing component

AAdd Product command

Ccache memory commands

Activate Representation Add Product Copy Cut Deactivate Representation Delete Generate Numbers Import Component Load Manage Representations Options

Paste Properties Remove Representation

Reorder Tree command Replacement Component

Unload components

about activating representation copying creating cutting deactivating representation deleting dragging dropping editing existing importing inserting loading modifying new pasting properties removing representation replacing unloading

Copy command Cut command

D design mode

Fformat

.CATPart (Part Design)

.CATProduct (Assembly Design)

.cgr , ,

.model (V4 model)

.session (V4 session)

IInsert Component command

LLoad command

MManage Representations command

NNew Part command

number

OOptions command

PPaste command Properties command

RReorder Tree command Replacement Component command Representation

removing

Ttoolbars

Product Structure

UUnload command

VV4 model document

associating representation importing component replacing representation

visualization mode