×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

CATIA Publication - Using a sketch in multiple parts

CATIA Publication - Using a sketch in multiple parts

CATIA Publication - Using a sketch in multiple parts

(OP)
I'm having a problem with publications which I hope you guys can help me with.

I'm designing a structure made up from an extrusion. Each component in the structure uses the same extruded profile, but with different lengths, cut-outs, bolt positions, etc.

To control the design, my first part in the product is a skeleton component, which contains sketches defining the outer limits of the assembly and a sketch which shows the profile of the extrusion. This sketch is controlled by 3 parameters within the skeleton component for wall thickness, corner thickness and main dimension.

The idea is that once I've finished the design, I can fine tune the weight of the assembly by modifying the three parameters, letting the entire assembly update while maintaining lengths, cutouts, etc.

My problem is that when I use the sketch to create a pad in a part, I can't move or position the part within the main product. It's locked to the XY plane and the product origin. If I move it, the part turns red, and when I update, it goes back to its original position.

How can I publish the sketch, but not have it locked to a particular plane? I'm using copy, paste with link.

Cheers!

Michael

RE: CATIA Publication - Using a sketch in multiple parts

(OP)
Jack,

You, Sir, are a genius. Did a search but didn't come across that thread. Thanks for the quick reply. Much appreciated!

Mike

RE: CATIA Publication - Using a sketch in multiple parts

(OP)
Actually, having worked a little with this today, it doesn't do what I need.

My master sketch defines the outer profile of the structure. From this sketch I have created lines which then act as the support for the 'Shape' beams built using the Structure Design workbench (like the Centre Curve when you create a rib).

When I modify the sketch to change a length, the lines update to the new length, but the shaped beams do not. The beams appear to not be linked/updated to the lines, and may as well be dead solids.

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

RE: CATIA Publication - Using a sketch in multiple parts

Are you still using the skeleton component? I seem to remember that this works in Catia, but as one of peculiarities it's not turned on by default (similar to allowing only fully constrained sketches to be used- which IMHO is a good practice)...

The way to enable it is to go to Tools > Options > Part Infrastructure, tab 'General'. There you check "Keep link with selected element" (and I found useful to uncheck "Confirm when creatring link with selected element", to avoid being asked when creating those links).

HTH

RE: CATIA Publication - Using a sketch in multiple parts

BTW, I never used Structural Design Workbench- I put each tube/segment into separate part of normal assembly, used copy/paste special (as result with link) on the tube/section profile (from skeleton part into the actual part), and then used change sketch support to position it on the centerline (which then automaticaly got imported into the working part)... Sounds more complicated than it actually is.

P.S. sorry for double posting

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources