ModelCenter Plug-Ins for CAD Fusion Features

Interacting with CAD Tools

The CATIA Plug-In GUI shown over the CATIA application.

When using the ModelCenter Plug-Ins for CAD Fusion, you can interact with CAD tools by clicking Show/Hide GUI button on the Plug-In dialog or variable import dialog. If selected, the CAD session will be made visible automatically each time you execute the Plug-In.

The Show/Hide CATIA button on the CATIA Plug-In can be used to show or hide the CAD tools.
Note: Note: not every tool supports changing visibility while the tool is running or connected. This button will not appear if switching visibility is not supported.

Selecting Design Variables from the CAD Model

  • Tree View (top) Tree View icon. -- display the variables according to the hierarchical structure of the CAD model.

    The variables displayed according to the hierarchy of the CAD model.

  • List View (bottom) List View icon. -- display a single list of all variables available in the CAD model.

    The variables displayed as a single list.

Filtering Variables

A view of the variables filtered on the word Moment

You can narrow down the variables by filtering on the variables' name. By default, the filter is case insensitive. To make the filter case-sensitive, press the Match case button next to the filter text box.

Showing and Hiding Variables

The variable list after Show only select variables is clicked.

You can click the Show only selected variables button to show or hide unselected variables.

Calculating the mass properties of the CAD Model

The ModelCenter Plug-Ins for CAD Fusion can calculate mass properties for the CAD Model:

  • Mass
  • Volume
  • Surface Area
  • Center of Gravity

Managing CAD Tools

The Options button in the Plug-In toolbar opens the Options dialog to customize the behavior of the Plug-In.

The options dialog allows you to customize the behavior of your Plug-In.

Note: Note: not every plugin supports every option. Options not supported by a plugin will not appear or will be disabled.

Files Options

The Files tab in the CAD options.

The Plug-Ins can export different file formats for the CAD model. When file types are selected as output variables, files are written out after each run. By default these files are written to a system temporary directory. These file variables can be loaded into ModelCenter, and then deleted. If you would like to save thesefiles, set up the save options:

  • Files:
    • Do not save files: By default, the file variables are outputted to temporary folder by CAD Fusion Plug-Ins, loaded into ModelCenter, and then deleted.
    • Overwrite files: If selected, the file variables are overwritten after each run. Some CAD part files will be renamed, while others will overwrite the original file.
    • Accumulate files: If selected, the file variables are accumulated after each run. A number indicating the run will be added to the filenames.
  • Where should files be saved: This option is only available when "Overwrite files" or "Accumulate files" is selected.
    • Save files to the CAD file folder: If selected, the file variables will be saved to the CAD model folder.
    • Save files to a user specified folder: If selected, the file variables will be saved to the user-specified directory.
  • Exporting files - ModelCenter Plug-Ins for CAD Fusion can export the CAD model in different file formats.
    • ModelCenter Plug-In for CATIA:
      • CATIA CATPart
      • CATIA CATProduct
      • STL
      • IGES
      • Model
      • STEP
      • CGR
      • HCG
      • WRL
      • BMP
      • CGM
      • EMF
      • JPG
      • TIFF
    • ModelCenter Plug-In for NX:
      • NX Part
      • IGES
      • STEP203
      • STEP214
    • ModelCenter Plug-In for Creo:
      • Creo Part
      • STEP
      • IGES
      • NEUTRAL
      • BMP
      • TIFF
      • JPEG

Session Management Options

The Session tab in the CAD options.

  • License Usage:

    • Keep CAD tool open after it has been started: If selected, the CAD session will be always on until you delete the CAD component or close the ModelCenter model.
    • Close CAD when it is not in use immediately: If selected, the CAD session will be closed when you finish running the Plug-In. This option is useful when your CAD model only periodically uses CAD tool. Use this when you want to automatically close it so that others can acquire the license.
    • Close CAD when it is not in use after N minutes: If selected, the CAD session will be closed after a specified idle time in minutes. Therefore, the CAD tool will be automatically closed, and others can acquire the license.
    Note: In all cases, the CAD tool with be automatically restarted whenever the component is run.

  • Restart:

    • Use a single CAD tool session: If checked, the CAD tool will use the single CAD tool session during the whole process.
    • Restart after every run: If checked, the CAD tool will be restarted after every run. If you experience problems with the CAD tool running out of memory or crashing, choose this option to restart it periodically.
    • Restart after N runs: If checked, the CAD tool will be restarted every N runs. If you experience problems with the CAD tool running out of memory or crashing, choose this option to restart it periodically.
    Note: NX only: If filePART, fileIGES, fileSTEP203, and fileSTEP214 outputs are selected, NX may still need to restart more frequently than the setting selected here indicates.

Macros Options

The Macros tab in the CAD options.

You can customize behavior of the plug-in by running macros from CATIA and Creo. This is useful to perform rule checking, custom calculations, or data export from the CAD tool.

(This option is not available for the NX Plug-In.)

Start Up Options

The Start Up tab in the CAD options.
  • Startup Command: lets you override the startup command (.psf) file if you do not want to use the default. For example, most older versions of Creo default to the "Creo1" file, and Creo 1.0 Parametric defaults to "parametric1". If you want this particular component to use a different command, put the name of the file (without extension) here.
  • Show [plugin] when it is started: By selecting this option, the GUI of the CAD tool can be visible each time when it is started by the Plug-In. (This option is not available for NX Plug-In.)