Methodologies and Advice

 

This section provides information regarding supported features and limitations when using SolidEdge/Parasolid/VDA-FS data in CATIA V5, which users should be familiar with prior to configuring and using SolidEdge Plug-in.
 

Output Formats

When importing Multi-CAD data within CATIA V5, a conversion is performed. Depending on how the imported data will be used, you can choose whether to create CGR, CGR with canonical information or CATPart data.
Each of these formats allows access to part user attributes (via Edit -> Properties menu command):

  • Move the data (cf. limitations to move due to the associative mode)
  • Clash detection
  • Inertia and Volume calculations

Each format has its own limitations and advantages:

  • CGR (Visu mode). CATIA Graphical Representation is the visualization format of CATIA V5. With this very light format, you can do approximate measurement and have access to all the basic DMU functionalities.
  • CGR with canonical information which enable exact measurement and exact snapping (Visu Snap mode)
  • CATPart (CATPart mode). It is a standard V5 CATPart which is locked, therefore you can use it as any other CATPart with the exception that you cannot modify it. You can just reference it.

Supported Features

  • Access to part user attributes (via Edit -> Properties)
  • Move
  • Exact positioning - Snap command - when using CATPart Mode
  • Clash detection
  • Approximate measurements (or exact measurement with CATPart)
  • Inertia and volume calculations

Limitations

  • VDA-FS files which contain POLYGON entity type are not supported.

  • Parasolid files containing more than 200 components cannot be imported into an assembly structure. You have to split those files in smaller files to import them successfully.

Using CATPart Mode vs Visu Mode

The MULTICAx SolidEdge Plug-in supports CATPart mode, allowing for SolidEdge/Parasolid/VDA-FS parts to be imported as CATPart data files. In this mode, SolidEdge/Parasolid/VDA-FS parts data contained in the solid body are transferred into a CATPart.
As CATPart files are large and take more time to convert, the CATPart mode management is an optional feature.

CATPart Feature and Limitations
The features and limitations of Multi-CAD CATParts are the same as the ones of locked V5 CATParts, which can be used as a reference but cannot be modified.
Multi-shells entities, i.e. entities with one external shell and one internal shell, are not transferred as such (as a part body) but as a geometrical set containing several faces
 

When to use the CATPart mode
CATPart mode is used when you need to perform exact positioning and exact measuring.
You should be aware that the conversion to the CATPart format requires more time than only generating the CGR (faceted format). In addition, CATPart files are larger than their corresponding CGR files. Therefore, it is recommended that CATPart mode is only enabled if exact positioning, exact measurement or putting constraints is required.