Hi all. I am trying to make a symmetrical part that is linked to the original. How I do it:

-copy the "body" in the part,
-create a new part file
-"paste special"- result with link.
-then I select the symmetry command.

at this point, CATIA suggests "Instead of directly transforming an import, we recommend you to apply the Add Position contextual modifier command to the solid. Then the required GSD transformation must be applied on the axis system of the positioning set."

Can someone tell me what this means? I could find nothing (as usual) using CATIA's help function.

Nick

Light structural commercial aircraft parts
PCDMIS 4.3 CAD++, CATIA V5 R20, NX6
APM Consortium Inc.
Cambridge Ontario, Canada

Your method is best - I do the same thing, as long as both parts are exactly the same (just reversed)

Transformations, including Symmetry, are not preferred techniques in CATIA V5 because they can effect file size by duplicating the geometry. That's why you get that message. If you follow the steps in the message and you use a left-handed Axis System, you will get the symmetrical part but it will only slightly increase the file size. It's a lot of work, and hard for someone to understand when editing the part. It's better to use the Symmetry tranformation and ignore the message.

I have seen the Help description of Add Position in the past, and we had to use it before Axis-Axis Transformation was added.