CATIA V5 Associative Geometry Interface (*.CATPart, *.CATProduct)

The interface works in Pseudo-Reader mode.

The interface can be configured during Ansys installation if the prerequisites are installed, or by using the Product & CAD Configuration Manager.

See Product & CAD Configuration Manager for usage information.

For detailed installation information about the Product & CAD Configuration Manager, see:

Prerequisites

The CATIA V5 associative geometry interface requires that the following software be installed and running:

  • Compatible version of CATIA V5 CAD program (V5–6R2021, V5–6R2022, V5-6R2023).

  • DSLS configured with a CATIA V5 (MD2, HD2, or ME2) license.

  • CADNexus CAPRI CAE Gateway V4.00.0

Support

At the time of release, detailed version support information for the Windows platform is accessible via Geometry Interface Support.

For information about post-release CAD system compatibility with Ansys Workbench, see the Platform Support section of the Ansys Website.

Document import supported by interface: Part (*.CATPart) and Assembly (*.CATProduct)

Versions: V5R2 — V5–6R2023

Table 8: Import Preference Support for CATIA V5 Geometry Interface

Import Solid BodiesYes
Import Surface BodiesYes
Import Line BodiesYes
Parameter Processing and prefix/suffix keyYes
Attribute Processing and prefixYes - Color, Layer, and Publication
Named Selection Processing and prefixYes - Color, Layer, and Publication
Material ProcessingYes
Analysis Type
3D - Yes
2D - Yes- surface and line bodies in the xy plane may be imported
AssociativityYes
Coordinate SystemsYes
Work PointsYes
Reader Save FileYes
Instancing No
Smart UpdateNo
Enclosure and Symmetry ProcessingNo
Mixed Import ResolutionYes
Decompose Disjoint GeometryNo

Notations

This is a Pseudo-Reader in Ansys Workbench. There will be no Ansys pull-down menu in the CATIA V5 program. It is not possible to update from the Active CAD file in CATIA V5.

Selective Update  —  This interface fully supports the Selective Update feature.

Length Unit  —  The application automatically locks the length unit in the model to millimeters. No adjustment of length unit is necessary or possible. You can change the unit system for display of the Ansys Mechanical application data.

Hidden parts  —  Parts that are hidden or suppressed in CATIA V5 are skipped automatically by this interface.

Import CAD Color as an Attribute or Named Selection  —  

  • Attribute: specify the "Attributes" option and set the "Attributes Key" to "Color" or a list of specific Colors delimited by a semicolon (for example: "Color:255.0.0; Color:255.255.0").

  • Named Selection: specify the "Named Selections" option and set the "Named Selections Key" to "Color" or a list of specific Colors delimited by a semicolon (for example: "Color:255.0.0; Color:255.255.0").

Import CAD Layer as an Attribute or Named Selection  —  

  • Attribute: specify the "Attributes" option and set the "Attributes Key" to "Layer" or a list of specific Layers delimited by a semicolon (for example: "Layer:0;Layer:1;Layer:3").

  • Named Selection: specify the "Named Selections" option and set the "Named Selections Key" to "Layer" or a list of specific Layers delimited by a semicolon (for example: "Layer:0;Layer:1;Layer:3")

Import CAD Publication as an Attribute or Named Selection  —  

  • Attribute: specify the "Attributes" option and set the "Attributes Key" to "Publication" or any number of prefixes with each prefix delimited by a semicolon (for example: "NS_ForceFaces;NS_FixedSupports;NS_BoltLoaded").

  • Named Selection: specify the "Named Selections" option and set the "Named Selections Key" to "Publication" or any number of prefixes with each prefix delimited by a semicolon (for example: "NS_ForceFaces;NS_FixedSupports;NS_BoltLoaded").

Using Parameters with CATIA V5 (CADNexus CAPRI CAE Gateway )  —  

  • Parameter names contain the entire CATIA Assembly Name and Part Name.

  • Parameters are shown at the assembly level, under the Details of Geometry branch in the Ansys Mechanical application.

  • Embedded spaces should not be used in the Assembly Name or the Part Name to ensure compatibility with the DesignModeler Parameter Manager.

Caveats and Known Issues

The CATIA V5 associative geometry interface has the following limitations:

Attach to Active CAD Geometry Option  —  The Attach to Active CAD Geometry is unavailable from CATIA.

Material Properties  —   Must be assigned to the PartBody or GeometricSet to be imported. If you right mouse and move the Material Property under the PartBody or GeometricSet then they will be imported.

Publications  —  Publications created by feature selection in the CATIA tree are not supported. Publications created on graphically selected geometry are supported.

WorkPoints  —  Only standard coordinate-defined points are supported (on Surface, on Line, etc. are not supported).

Small Scale  —  Small Scale models require the CATIA V5 Geometry Scale to be set to Small Scale. To change the scale setting to allow the import of Small Scale models:

  1. Open a native CATIA V5 session

  2. Select Tools: Options

  3. Select General: Parameters and Measure

  4. Select Scale tab

  5. Change Geometry Scale from "Standard Scale" to "Small Scale"

  6. Exit native CATIA V5 session

  7. Set environment variable: CATUserSettingPath=C:\Users\MyAccount\AppData\Roaming\DassaultSystemes\CATSettings

  8. Now start Ansys Workbench and the CATIA V5 model will import correctly. Note: replace "C:\Users\MyAccount\AppData\Roaming" with your %appdata% value

Parameter Units.  —  Parameter Units (Millimeter, Inch...) are controlled by the CATIA V5 CATSettings.

How to change the CATIA V5 Parameter Units settings:

  1. Open a native CATIA V5 session

  2. Select Tools: Options

  3. Select General: Parameters and Measure

  4. Select Units tab

  5. Select and change the Units for each of the parameters you want changed (example: Length)

  6. Exit native CATIA V5 session

  7. Now start Ansys Workbench and the CATIA V5 model will import parameter values using the specified CATIA V5 Units.

Note:  The CATIA V5 Units are saved in the CATSettings which are located at CSIDL_APPDATA\DassaultSystemes\CATSettings and referenced by CAPRI using the variable CATUserSettingPath which is setup in the CAPRI environment file (example: CAPRI_CATIA_P3.V5R22.B22.txt). To use a “non-default” CATSettings directory, change the CATUserSettingPath setting in the CAPRI environment file.

Troubleshooting

See the CATIA Errors Related to CAD Integration section in CAD Integration Troubleshooting for detailed information.