Catia+Part+Design+Book

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Appendix C . . . 327 Material Library . . . 327 Construction . . . 327 Fabrics . . . 328 Metal . . . 329 Other . . . 330 Stone . . . 331 Wood . . . 332 Applying a material . . . 333 Properties of a material . . . 334 Rendering . . . 334 Inheritance . . . 335 Feature Properties . . . 335 Analysis . . . 336 Drafting . . . 336

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Introduction

CATIA Version 5 Part Design and Sketcher

Upon completion of this course the student should have a full understanding of the following topics: - Creating sketches - Constraining sketches - Modifying sketches - Creating parts - Modifying parts

- Performing boolean operations on parts - Basic use of surfaces in part design - Applying materials to parts

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Manual Format

It is important to understand the format of the manual in order to use it most effectively. This manual is designed to be used along with an instructor; however, you will need to do a lot of reading as well, in order to fully understand CATIA Version 5. The exercises in this book will list steps for you to complete, along with explanations that try to inform you what you have just done and what you are getting ready to do. The actual steps are in bold type and the information that follows the steps is for your benefit. Anything that appears in

italics refers to a message CATIA provides—this includes information in pull-down menus,

pop-up windows and other messages. Bold type is also used to call your attention to key terms you may not yet be familiar with.

An example of a step and its explanation is shown below (note: normally the lines will not be there):

Select a location to the right of the origin. This specifies the other end point of the line.

You will continue specifying locations in order to complete your profile. It should appear similar to the diagram shown below.

As you can see, the desired action blends in with the text except that it appears in bold. The information following the step explains what that step accomplished and where you are going next. It is important for you to read this information to help in your understanding of CATIA Version 5.

Also, you will find that the exercises build upon themselves. Later exercises often assume you know how to do certain steps which have been covered in earlier exercises. If you did not quite pick up what you needed to know from an exercise, you will probably wish to review it several times before moving on to the more advanced sections. As you progress through the manual, it expects that you are learning and therefore you are able to do a lot more with fewer steps. Eventually, you are expected to be able to create parts without any steps.

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Part Design & Sketcher

CATIA Version 5 uses the Sketcher as its principal method to create profiles. These profiles can be constrained using many different types of constraints. The first objective of the course is to learn to use the Sketcher and constrain your profiles to the desired

specifications. If you have used the Dynamic Sketcher from CATIA Version 4, this will look very similar. Otherwise it is a new environment and it can be frustrating at first,

especially if you already know CATIA Version 4. However, in time you will find that it is a very powerful method for creating profiles, and is easy to use.

The second objective of the course is to use these sketches in part design. The sketches are used to define the two-dimensional cross-sections to be used to design three-dimensional shapes. There are a few different shapes that can be made as well as various operations that can be performed on them. By combining these shapes and operations, you can design a variety of parts.

The third objective of the course is to familiarize you with the advanced methods of creating sketches and parts. This includes using construction geometry and projecting

three-dimensional geometry to the sketch plane. This will include the use of formulas to set up typical values at multiple locations as well as more complex formulas to provide a more dynamic sketch. In terms of part design, you will learn how to use multiple parts and perform boolean operations on them.

The fourth objective is to become efficient at modifying your designs. You can modify your design either by changing the parameters of a part operation or by modifying the sketch that was used. In CATIA Version 5 this is fairly simple, and the modification of your design is the real strength of part design.

The fifth objective is to introduce the use of wireframe and surfaces in the part design process as well as applying various materials to your design. This is meant only to be an introduction and not a complete course on these subjects.

In conclusion: You should be able to design many parts using the Sketcher and the Part Design workbenches of CATIA in an efficient manner. As mentioned before, you may find it frustrating at first but very natural by the end of the course.

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Log on/off procedures for Windows NT

To log on:

The monitor screen should have a gray box displayed with Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to log

on.

Hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys and press Delete.

Select the User name box. This will allow you to type in your user name in the space

provided.

Type in your user name (do not press Enter). This is the user name that was provided to

you at the beginning of class.

Select the Password box. This will allow you to type in your password in the space

provided.

Type in your user password (do not press Enter). This is the password that was provided

to you at the beginning of class.

Select the Domain box. This allows you to choose which domain you wish to log into. Select CADLAB. The domain CADLAB is the proper domain for your user.

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Select OK. When you select OK with your mouse, you are telling the computer that the

information that is in the Logon Information box is correct and you are ready to log in. If for some reason it can not log you in, you need to verify that you typed in the correct information.

Once you are logged into the system then you should see a CATIA icon on your screen.

Double-click on the CATIA icon. This will run CATIA.

To logoff:

Select the pull-down menu File.

Select Exit. This will exit you from CATIA; you will still need to log off the system. Hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys and press Delete. The Windows NT Security box should

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CATIA Version 5 Screen

This is how CATIA Version 5 looks when you first run it. There are various areas of the screen which need to be pointed out.

A This is your specification tree. Currently it has an entity referred to as a product. You will be working with parts in this class so this will change to be a part and as you perform different actions the tree will reflect those actions.

B The pull-down menus are used for a variety of different tasks. These will be discussed in detail later in the book.

C The Welcome to CATIA V5 window allows you to change to different workbenches that are available. In this class, you will primarily be using the Part Design

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Part Design Screen

This is how the Part Design screen normally looks when you first start a new part. Notice that the pull-down menus remain the same. However the workbench on the side changes to the Part Design workbench and the bottom row of icons has some additional icons.

A The xy plane, yz plane and zx plane are represented in the specification tree for every part that you create. These are the standard planes that CATIA uses.

B Notice the definition for your first partbody is also located in the specification tree when you begin a new part.

C These are the actual planes that are represented in the specification tree. You will normally use these to help design your part.

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Pull-down Menus

File

New Creates a new analysis, drawing, part or product

New from Creates a new document based on an existing one

Open Opens an existing document

Close Closes the current document

Save Saves the current document with the same name

Save As Saves the current document with a name you specify

Save All Saves all documents that are currently opened

Save All As Saves all documents that are currently opened with a name you specify

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Edit

Undo Undoes the last option. You can undo multiple options in a row.

Repeat Redoes the last undo option. You can redo multiple options in a row.

Update Updates your document with changes

Cut Cuts the selected objects from the document

Copy Copies the selected objects

Paste Pastes the previously cut or copied objects in the document

Paste Special Gives additional options to the paste

Delete Deletes selected objects

Search Searches your document for certain objects

Selection Sets Adds or deletes objects from a selection set or creates one

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View

Toolbars Allows you to view or hide toolbars.

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Compass Toggles between seeing and not seeing the compass

Reset Compass Resets the compass to its original location if moved

Tree Expansion Allows you to expand or collapse the

levels in your specification tree.

Specifications Overview Gives an overview window of the specification tree allowing you to zoom in on areas of the tree

Geometry Overview Gives an overview window of the geometry in your document, allowing you to zoom in on an area of the geometry

Fit All In Zooms the display so as to make all the geometry fit on the screen

Zoom Area Zooms in on an area that you specify

Zoom In Out Zooms in or out on your part by using the left mouse button to drag up or down

Pan Drags the display of your part around with the left mouse button

Rotate Rotates the display of your part around with the left mouse button

Modify This allows you to look at your geometry in a variety of ways. You can Zoom In or Zoom Out. You can specify a plane and look normal to the plane with the

Normal View. You can simulate what it looks like as

you turn your head right or left using Turn Head. It will also let you Fly Through or Walk Through your design. The Accelerate and Decelerate options control how fast you fly or walk. The Previous view and Next

view options allow you to page through the different

views that you have defined with the other options. The Look At option allows you to specify the direction you want to look at your part.

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Render Style The different render styles control how the parts will be displayed. You can customize your own type of render style using the

Customize View option. You can also view

your part either in Perspective or in Parallel. In parallel mode, the part is shown with every dimension exactly to scale; in perspective mode, the area of your part that is closer to the screen appears larger than the area that is farther away. This only affects your part visually, not geometrically.

Navigation Mode Switches between Examine, Walk and Fly modes.

Lighting Varies ambient lighting effects

Depth Effect Clips geometry between clipping planes

Ground Visually inserts a plane at ground level

Magnifier Creates a zoomed in view of your part in a separate window

Hide/Show Hides or shows geometry. The Swap visible

space option will toggle between the hidden

side and the show side.

Full Screen Shows your geometry using the full screen, with no menus or toolbars. To turn off full screen mode, use the right mouse button.

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Insert

Object Inserts an object such as a spreadsheet or a word processing document

Body Inserts a new body in to your part

Annotations Inserts annotations in to your part, same as Part Design options

Constraints Inserts constraints, same as the Sketcher options

Sketcher Runs the Sketcher, same as the Sketcher icon in Part Design

Axis System Defines a new axis system

Sketch-Based Features Inserts various Sketcher features, same as the Sketcher options

Dress-Up Features Inserts fillets, chamfers, etc., same as the Part Design options

Surface-Based Features Inserts various features using surfaces, same as the Part Design options

Transformation Features Inserts various transformation features, same as the Part Design options

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Tools

Formula Allows you to apply formulas to your part

Image Capture allows you to capture images off of the screen

into various formats such as TIFF, JPEG, PNG or BMP. The Album option is where the captured images go by default. This option will allow you to access them. The Video option allows you to record what you are doing and replay it.

Macro Records, edits and runs macros

Parent/Children Shows the relationships between components of the part

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Visualization Filters Allows you to create and apply filters

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Window

New Window Creates a new window

Tile Horizontally Tiles your windows horizontally so they do not overlap

Tile Vertically Tiles your windows vertically so they do not overlap

Cascade Cascades your windows so they overlap but you can still see the top and left side of each window

The other windows listed are the windows that are currently opened. You can switch windows by selecting from the list.

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Help

CATIA V5 Help Gets contextual help

CATIA User Companion Activates the user companion if available

Contents, Index and Search Allows you to search the online help

What’s This? Allows you to select an option to get information about it

User Galaxy Goes to Dassault Systèmes user galaxy

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Bottom Toolbar in Part Design

Creates a new part Open an existing part Saves the current part Prints the current part Cuts the selected objects Copies the selected objects Pastes what’s been copied or cut Undoes the last action

Redoes the last undo

Gets help on a selected item Generates a formula

Generates a table Knowledge inspector Goes to fly mode

Positions view normal to a plane Changes view

Changes render style Hides/shows elements Swaps visible space Applies material to a part Measures between two items Measures an item

Measures inertial properties Updates a part

Creates an axis system Tolerancing

Creates a datum Opens a catalog

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Part Design Workbench

Changes workbenches Selects geometry Goes to Sketcher Creates a pad Creates a pocket Creates a shaft Creates a groove Creates a hole Creates a rib Creates a slot Creates a stiffener Creates a loft Removes a loft

Fillets with a constant radius Fillets with a variable radius

Shells out a side

Adds thickness to a side Creates thread notation Adds thickness to a surface Splits an object

Closes a surface

Sews a surface into a part Translates an object Rotates an object Symmetries an object Mirrors an object

Generates a rectangular grid Generates a circular grid Generates a user-defined grid Scales an object

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Sketcher Screen

This is how the Sketcher screen normally looks when you first start a new sketch. Notice that the pull-down menus remain the same. However, the workbench on the side changes to the Sketcher workbench, and the toolbar at the bottom has some changes.

Also notice the grid that appears when you are in Sketcher. This grid can be turned on and off using the pull-down menu Tools/Options. This grid will be discussed in more detail later in this book.

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Sketcher changes to bottom toolbar

When you go to the Sketcher, most of the icons in the bottom toolbar remain. A few new ones also appear:

Cuts part by sketch plane. This is helpful when you need to use an edge of the cross-section to define a constraint.

Toggles between snapping to a point of the grid or not snapping. In the Sketcher there is a grid defined in the default settings. This grid can be modified using the pull-down menus. If this icon is highlighted then when you sketch, your selections will snap to a point on the grid. If you do not have this icon selected then you can select anywhere in the sketch to define a point for your sketch.

Toggles between creating standard geometry and construction geometry. When sketching, there are times when you just want to create some geometry to use for the construction of other geometry—you do not want it to be an actual part of your sketch in Part Design. If this icon is highlighted, the geometry you create will just be construction geometry, and will not be part of your sketch in Part Design. If you do not have this icon selected, you will be creating standard geometry that will be used in Part Design.

Toggles between automatically generating geometric constraints or not. If it is highlighted, CATIA will automatically generate geometric constraints as you sketch your profile. If it is not highlighted, geometric constraints will not automatically appear.

Toggles between automatically generating dimension constraints or not. If it is highlighted, CATIA will automatically generate dimension constraints as you sketch your profile. If it is not highlighted, dimensional constraints will not automatically appear.

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Sketcher Workbench

Changes workbenches Selects geometry Exits Sketcher

Creates constraints by dialog Creates a constraint

Creates constraints automatically Animates constraints

Creates a user-defined profile Creates a rectangle

Creates an oriented rectangle Creates a parallelogram Creates an elongated slot

Creates an elongated curved slot Creates a keyhole

Creates a hexagon Creates a circle

Creates a circle through 3 points

Creates a spline

Creates a connect curve Creates an ellipse Creates a parabola Creates a hyperbola Creates a conic Creates a line

Creates an unlimited line Creates a bitangent line Creates a bisect line Creates an axis Creates a point

Creates a point using coordinates Creates equidistant points

Creates an intersection point Creates a projected point Creates rounded corners

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Symmetries elements Translates elements Rotates elements Scales elements Offsets elements

Projects 3D geometry onto the sketch plane

Intersects 3D geometry with the sketch plane

Projects canonical edges onto the sketch plane

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Working with Documents

It is important for you to understand how to work with the documents and especially how to save them in order to be productive using CATIA Version 5.

Creating a new document

This allows you to start a new document. For this class you will normally start a Part document. This does not close any documents that are already opened, it only creates a new window with the document.

Select the new icon in the bottom toolbar. This allows you to create a new

document. The document that will be created depends on the selection you make, either an analysis, drawing, part, product or other. You see that there are many different types of documents that you can create in CATIA.

Select Part.

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Opening an existing document

This allows you to open a document that has been previously saved. This does not close any documents that are already opened, it only opens a new window with the document.

Select the open icon in the bottom toolbar. This allows you to open an existing document. A File Selection window should appear.

This allows you to specify the folder that you want to look in and then specify the file or document that you want to open.

Find the document that you want to open and select it. You can either open a document

by selecting it and then selecting Open or you can just double-click on the file and it will automatically open. This step assumes that you just selected the file not double-clicked on it. The name of the document should appear in the File name box.

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Saving a document

This allows you to save a document that you currently have opened.

Select the save icon in the bottom toolbar. This will allow you to save the document with the current name. If this is the first time you saved this document then it will automatically open a Save As window allowing you to specify a name for the document. Otherwise it will just save the document with the same name it already has.

If you want to save a document with a different name, you have to use the Save As option in the pull-down menu File.

Select Save As. A Save As window should appear. You will need to specify which folder

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Closing a document

This allows you to close a document that is currently open with or without saving. If the document has not been saved, CATIA will ask you whether or not you want to save it.

Select Close. If the document has already been saved and has not been modified, CATIA

will close the current document. If the document has been modified and not saved, CATIA will open the Close window.

If you want to save the changes then press Yes. If the document has previously been saved, it will be saved again under the same name; otherwise, the Save As window will appear. If you do not want to save the changes, press No. To return to the document rather than closing it, select the Cancel button.

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Basic Sketcher

This section will cover the basic use of the Sketcher to create profiles for the Part Design package. This section will consist of four parts: basic shapes, profiles, constraints and modifications to profiles.

It is assumed that you have the default icons selected in the bottom toolbar. This includes the snap-to-grid icon, the geometrical constraint icon and the dimensional constraint icon. These and the other options in the bottom toolbar will be discussed in more detail later in the manual.

The pictures in this manual are shown without a grid; this is to make them easier to see. When you are sketching, though, you will have a grid by default. If you want to turn the grid off, you can use the pull-down menus.

Basic Shapes

This part will discuss the various shapes that can be created in the Sketcher using the icons on the Sketcher workbench. The purpose of this group of exercises is to introduce how to use those icons and generate the basic shapes. The usefulness of these shapes depend on the profile you are trying to create. Therefore you should just concentrate on what each icon allows you do and the corresponding shape it creates. Later in the class you will learn how to put everything together to generate your parts.

The following exercises assume that you are in a new sketch. The first page shows you the necessary steps to begin a new model and start a new sketch on a particular plane. After that if you need help you will have to refer back to that page.

Note: It may not be necessary to do all of the following exercises step by step. If you feel comfortable with the material then you can create all of the basic shapes on one sketch. If you struggle or would like more information then you can consult the individual exercise for that shape.

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Creating a new part with a new sketch

Select the new icon in the bottom toolbar. This creates a new document. There are many types of documents possible, so next you will choose which type you want.

Select Part.

Select OK. This will create a new part.

Select the Sketcher icon. This will activate the Sketcher, but first CATIA needs to know which plane you wish to use for your sketch.

Select the yz plane. You can either select the yz plane symbol in the center of your screen

or you can select the yz plane name in the specification tree. By selecting this plane you are telling the computer that you want to sketch a profile in that plane. CATIA will rotate the window around so that you are looking straight down on (that is, normal to) the plane to perform your sketch.

Note: Remember to refer back to this page if you have trouble creating a new part with a new sketch.

Saving and closing the part

Select the pull-down menu File. This will give you the option to use Save As. Select the Save As option from the pull-down menu. This will open up the Save As

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Rectangle

This will cover the steps necessary to build a rectangle using the rectangle icon. This is useful any time you need a box shape. All you have to do is specify two opposite corners of the rectangle and Sketcher will generate it for you.

Select the rectangle icon. Notice this icon has a down arrow on it. If you select the icon at the location of the arrow the various sub-option icons will appear. For now you just want the regular rectangle. Once you select the icon it should highlight.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify one of the corners of your

rectangle.

Select somewhere up and out to the right. This defines the other corner of the rectangle

and the rectangle should appear similar to the one below.

Notice how the horizontal and vertical constraints automatically appeared on the rectangle. If you wish, you can save your document: call it rectangle with your initials.

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Oriented Rectangle

This will cover the steps necessary to build an oriented rectangle using the oriented

rectangle icon. This is useful any time you need a box type shape that is oriented at an angle instead of being horizontal and vertical. You have to specify a location for the rectangle to begin at and then specify the other end of the line representing a side of the rectangle. After doing that then you have to specify a location for the height of the rectangle and then the rectangle will be generated for you.

Press and hold the left mouse button while on the down arrow of the rectangle icon.

This allows you to access the sub-option icons. You will want the oriented rectangle icon.

Release the button on top of the oriented rectangle icon. The icon should change to the oriented rectangle icon and highlight. Notice how the rectangle icon no longer appears; it has moved to the options now. Remember you can always access the sub-options by holding down the left mouse button on the down arrow of the respective icon.

rectangle. The next location that you select will define the orientation of the rectangle.

Select somewhere up and to the right. This defines the other end of a side of the oriented

rectangle. The next location that you define will determine the height of the oriented rectangle.

Select somewhere up and to the left of the last location. This defines the height of the

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Parallelogram

This will cover the steps necessary to build a parallelogram using the parallelogram icon. This is useful any time you need a shape where the sides are parallel to one another but they can be at any angle. This is similar to the oriented rectangle except the angle between sides does not have to be 90 degrees. You have to specify a corner point for the parallelogram, then a point for the other end of a line representing a side of the parallelogram. Finally, you have to specify the endpoint for one other side of the parallelogram. CATIA will generate a parallelogram using the given points.

(Note: The rectangle icon may not currently be showing; if not, select the down arrow on the icon that is showing in the rectangle spot. If you just completed the last exercise then the icon will be the oriented rectangle icon.) This allows you to access the sub-option icons. You will want the parallelogram icon.

Release the button on top of the parallelogram icon. The icon should change to the parallelogram icon and highlight. Notice how the previous icon no longer appears; it has moved to the sub-options now. Remember you can always access the sub-options by hold down the left mouse button on the down arrow of the respective icon.

parallelogram. The next location that you select will define the endpoint of one of the sides of the parallelogram.

Select somewhere up and to the right. This defines the other end of a side of the

parallelogram. The next location that you define will determine the endpoint of the other side.

Select somewhere up and to the right of the last location. This defines the endpoint of

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Elongated Slot

This will cover the steps necessary to build an elongated slot using the elongated slot icon. This is useful any time you need to define a slot that is linear and curved with a full radius on both ends. You have to specify a location for the center of one of the curved ends and then define a location for the center of the other curved end. After doing that then you have to specify a location defining the radius of the ends and then the elongated slot will be generated for you.

(Note: The rectangle icon may not currently be showing, just select the down arrow on the icon that is showing in the rectangle spot. If you just completed the last exercise then the icon will be the parallelogram icon.) This allows you to access the sub-option icons. You will want the elongated slot icon.

Release the button on top of the elongated slot icon. The icon should change to the elongated slot icon and highlight. Notice how the previous icon no longer appears; it has moved to the sub-options now. Remember you can always access the sub-options by hold down the left mouse button on the down arrow of the respective icon.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the center of one of the

curved ends of your slot. The next location that you select will define the center of the other curved end of your slot.

Select somewhere up and to the right. This defines the center of the other curved end of

the slot. The next location that you define will determine the radius of the ends.

Select somewhere up and to the right of the last location. This defines the radius of the

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Elongated Curved Slot

This will cover the steps necessary to build an elongated curved slot using the elongated curved slot icon. This is useful any time you need to define a slot that is circular and curved with a full radius on both ends. The first step is to specify a location for the center of the circular path that the slot is going to follow. Then you specify a location to define the radius of the circular path which also is the definition of the center of one of the curved ends. The next step is to specify the center of the other curved end along that radius. The last step is to specify a location that defines the width of the slot. After all that the elongated curved slot will be generated for you.

Press and hold the left mouse button while on the down arrow of the rectangle icon of the current workbench. (Note: The rectangle icon may not currently be showing; just

select the down arrow on the icon that is showing in the rectangle spot. If you just

completed the last exercise then the icon will be the elongated slot icon.) This allows you to access the sub-option icons. You will want the elongated curved slot icon.

Release the button on top of the elongated curved slot icon. The icon should change to the elongated curved slot icon and highlight. Notice how the previous icon no longer appears; it has moved to the sub-options now. Remember you can always access the sub-options by hold down the left mouse button on the down arrow of the respective icon.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the center of the circular

path. The next location that you select will define the radius of the circular path and the center of one of the curved ends.

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Select out to the right. This defines the radius of the circular path that the slot is going to

follow and the center of one of the curved ends of the slot. The next location that you define will be the center of the other curved end.

Select somewhere down and out to the left of the last location. This defines the center of

the other curved end of the slot. The next location will determine the width of the slot.

Select somewhere above the last location. This determines the width of the slot and it

should look similar to the one shown below.

Notice how the concentric and tangency constraints automatically appeared on the elongated curved slot. If you desire you can save the document and call it elongated curved slot

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Keyhole

This will cover the steps necessary to build a keyhole shape using the keyhole icon. This is useful any time you need to define a keyhole. To get the keyhole, you need to define four locations, in order: the center of the large radius, the center of the small radius, the radius value of the small radius, and the radius value of the large radius. After all that the keyhole will be generated.

(Note: The rectangle icon may not currently be showing, just select the down arrow on the icon that is showing in the rectangle spot. If you just completed the last exercise then the icon will be the elongated curved slot icon.) This allows you to access the sub-option icons. You will want the keyhole icon.

Release the button on top of the keyhole icon. The icon should change to the keyhole icon and highlight. Notice how the previous icon no longer appears; it has moved to the sub-options now. Remember you can always access the sub-options by hold down the left mouse button on the down arrow of the respective icon.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the center of the larger radius

of the keyhole. The next location that you select will define the center of the smaller radius of the keyhole.

Select down below. This defines the center of the smaller radius of the keyhole. The next

location that you specify will determine the smaller radius of the keyhole.

Select to the right of the last location. This defines the radius of the smaller end of the

keyhole. The next location will determine where the larger radius is to begin.

Select somewhere above the last location. This determines the size of the larger radius,

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Hexagon

This will cover the steps necessary to build a hexagon using the hexagon icon. This is useful any time you need to define a hexagon. All you have to specify is the center of the hexagon and the distance to a side. The hexagon will then be generated.

(Note: The rectangle icon may not currently be showing, just select the down arrow on the icon that is showing in the rectangle spot. If you just completed the last exercise, the icon will be the keyhole icon.) This allows you to access the sub-option icons. You will want the hexagon icon.

Release the button on top of the hexagon icon. The icon should change to the hexagon icon and highlight. Notice how the previous icon no longer appears; it has moved to the sub-options now. Remember you can always access the sub-options by hold down the left mouse button on the down arrow of the respective icon.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the center of the hexagon.

The next location that you select will define the distance to a side of the hexagon.

Select to the right. This defines the distance to a side and the hexagon should appear

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Circle

This will cover the steps necessary to build a circle using the circle icon. This icon is similar to the rectangle icon in the sense that it has many sub-options available. For the main option, all you need to do is specify two points, representing the center and radius of the circle, and the circle will be generated for you.

Select the circle icon. Notice this icon has a down arrow on it similar to the rectangle icon. If you select the icon at the location of the arrow the various sub-option icons will appear. For now you just want the regular circle. Once you select the icon it should highlight.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the center of the circle. The

next location will define the radius of the circle.

Select any location a short distance away from the center. This determines the radius of

the circle. CATIA will generate a circle similar to the one shown below.

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Circle through 3 points

This will cover the steps necessary to build a circle passing through three points. You have to specify the three locations for the circle to pass through and then the circle will be generated for you.

It is assumed that you know how to access the sub-options of a particular icon therefore the steps will just tell you to select the sub-option icon. If you have trouble, please refer back to the previous exercises.

Select the three-point circle icon. This is located in the sub-options of the circle icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify one of the locations that the

circle will pass through. The other two locations will finish the definition of the circle.

Select up and to the right. This specifies the second location for the circle to pass through. Select to the left of the last location. This specifies the last location for the circle to pass

through and the circle appears similar to the one shown below.

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Circle with Cartesian coordinates

This will cover the steps necessary to build a circle using coordinates. You have to specify the coordinates for the center of the circle and its radius and then the circle will be generated for you.

Select the circle using coordinates icon. A Circle Definition window should appear and the icon should be highlighted.

Notice that you can enter the coordinates using the Cartesian coordinate system or the polar coordinate system. You will want to use the Cartesian coordinate system for this exercise.

Enter 2 for H, 2 for V and 1 for Radius. The circle appears similar to the one shown

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Circle tangent to 3 elements

This will cover the steps necessary to build a circle tangent to three elements. You have to specify the three elements that you want the circle to be tangent to and then the circle will be generated.

Start a new part and go into the Sketcher with the yz plane.

Select the circle using coordinates icon. You will use this icon to create three circles

in order to see how the tri-tangent circle icon works.

Create 3 circles using the following coordinates. H=0, V=3, Radius=1.5; H=4.5, V=3,

Radius=2; H=1.5, V=-1, Radius=1. Three circles should appear as shown below. Next you will create a circle tangent to all three of these.

Select the tri-tangent circle icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the three circles to be tangent to. This will specify the three elements that you want

the circle to be tangent to and the circle appears similar to the one shown below. You can create a circle tangent to any three elements using this icon.

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Arc through 3 points

This will cover the steps necessary to build an arc passing through three points. You simply need to specify any three points and an arc will be generated which starts at the first point, ends at the third point and passes through the second point.

Select the three point arc icon. It should highlight.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify one of the locations that the

arc will pass through. The other two locations will finish the definition of the arc.

Select up and to the left. This specifies the second location for the arc to pass through. Select up and to the right of the last location. This specifies the last location for the arc

to pass through and the arc appears similar to the one shown below.

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Arc through 3 points using limits

This will cover the steps necessary to build an arc passing through three points. The

difference between this method and the last one is the order used to specify the three points. In this icon, the first two points you select are the endpoints, and the third is an additional point the arc will pass through.

Select the three point arc using limits icon. It should highlight.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify one of the endpoints of the

arc. The other two locations will finish the definition of the arc.

Select up and to the right. This specifies the other endpoint of the arc.

Select to the left of the last location. This specifies the location for the arc to pass through

and the arc appears similar to the one shown below.

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Arc

This will cover the steps necessary to build an arc by specifying the center point and then the starting point and ending point of the arc. The first location that you define will be the center point of the arc. The second location determines the radius of the arc and the starting point of the arc. The third location defines the other endpoint of the arc.

Select the arc icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the center of your arc. The

other two locations will finish the definition of the arc.

Select up and to the left. This specifies the starting point of the arc and the radius of the

arc.

Select to the right of the last location. This specifies the other endpoint of the arc and the

arc appears similar to the one shown below.

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Spline

This will cover the steps necessary to build a spline. This icon is useful to create arbitrary smooth curves through a series of points. You need to specify a number of locations for the spline to pass through and it will create a smooth curve passing through them. The last point on the spline needs to be defined by double-clicking.

Select the spline icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify one endpoint for the spline.

The other locations will define the shape of the spline.

Select up and to the right. This specifies the second location for the spline to pass

through.

Select down and to the right of the previous location. This specifies the third location for

the spline to pass through.

Select up and to the right of the previous location. This specifies the fourth location for

the spline to pass through.

Double-click down and to the right of the previous location. By double-clicking this

location you are telling the computer that this location is the other endpoint of the spline. The finished spline should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Connect Curve

This will cover the steps necessary to build a connect curve. This icon is useful to create arbitrary smooth curves connecting two elements. You need to specify the two endpoints of the connecting curve along the existing elements that you wish to connect. This option has two sub-options which will appear to the right of your sketcher icons in the bottom toolbar or wherever you located them.

This will connect the two elements with an arc This will connect the two elements with a spline

In this exercise you will use the connect with spline option, but feel free to use both options.

Select the spline icon. It should be highlighted.

Create two splines that look similar to the diagram shown below. You will have to refer

to the previous exercise if you need help creating the splines.

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Select the connect with spline icon. This icon is located next to your sketcher icons in the bottom toolbar or wherever you located them.

Select on the spline near the location shown below. Where you select the element

determines one of the endpoints of the connect curve.

Select on the other spline near the location shown below. This defines the other endpoint

and generates the connect curve. It should appear similar to the diagram shown below.

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Ellipse

This will cover the steps necessary to build an ellipse. This icon is useful to create elliptical shapes. This is a conic shape that has certain mathematical properties useful for some designs. The first location you define is the center of the ellipse; the second one gives both the orientation and one of the two diameters. Finally you define the other diameter by selecting another location.

Select the ellipse icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the center of the ellipse. The

next location determines the orientation and length of the ellipse.

Select down and to the left. This determines the orientation and the length of the ellipse.

The next location will define a location that the ellipse will pass through thereby defining the width of the ellipse.

Select up and to the right of the previous location. This specifies a location that the

ellipse will pass through determining the shape of the ellipse. It should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Parabola

This will cover the steps necessary to build a parabola. This icon is useful to create parabolic shapes. This is another conic curve that has certain mathematical properties useful for some designs. You have to define a location for the focus of the parabola and then the apex, or tip. Finally you must define the two endpoints for the parabola.

Select the parabola icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the focus of the parabola.

The next location determines the apex or tip of the parabola.

Select below the origin. This determines the apex. A parabola’s shape is determined by

the distance between the focus and the apex. The next two locations define the starting and ending points of the parabola.

Select up and to the left of the previous location. This specifies the starting location for

the parabola.

Select up and to the right of the previous location. This specifies the ending location for

the parabola and it should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Hyperbola

This will cover the steps necessary to build a hyperbola. A hyperbola is another conic curve that has certain mathematical properties useful for some designs. You have to define a location for the focus of the hyperbola and then the center of the hyperbola. After defining those locations then you must specify a location for the apex or tip of the hyperbola. Then you can define a starting point and ending point for the hyperbola.

Select the hyperbola icon. It should highlight.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify the focus of the hyperbola.

The next location determines the center of the hyperbola.

Select a location well above the origin. This determines the center of the hyperbola. The

next location defines the apex, or tip.

Select somewhere between the origin and the previous location. This determines the

apex, or tip, of the hyperbola. The three locations you have specified so far—focus, center, and apex—determine the shape of the hyperbola. Next you will specify its endpoints.

Select to the left of the origin point. This specifies one endpoint of the hyperbola. Select to the right of the origin point. This specifies the other endpoint. The finished

hyperbola should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Conic

This will cover the steps necessary to create a conic. There are many sub-options available under this icon. Depending on which options you select will determine what you can define when creating the conic. You can define five points, tangency at the first end, tangency at the second end or tangency at both ends. This exercise will only cover creating a conic with tangency at both ends but feel free to use the other options until you are comfortable with them.

Define tangency at the first end Define tangency at the second end Define tangency at both ends

Select the conic icon. It should highlight.

Select the tangency at both ends icon. This will allow you specify a location that will define the tangency at both ends of the conic.

Select the origin point. This defines the first end point of the conic.

Select a location to the right of the origin. This defines the second end point of the conic. Select a location above and between the two points. This defines the tangency at both

ends, from the endpoint to this point.

Select below the last location. This defines the actual shape of the conic based on the

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Line

This will cover the steps necessary to build a line. Use this icon for straight edges of your profiles. To create a line, you only need to specify the two endpoints.

Select the line icon. It should highlight.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify one endpoint of the line.

The next location specifies the other endpoint.

Select up and to the right of the origin. This determines the other endpoint. The line

should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Unlimited Line

This will cover the steps necessary to build an unlimited line. Use this icon for straight edges of your profiles that you do not want a specific length but instead you want it to go out essentially forever. This icon has three sub-options that will allow you to create a horizontal, vertical or point to point unlimited line. Depending on which sub-option you choose determines what is necessary to create the line. In this exercise you will just use the point to point sub-option but feel free to use the other options to get familiar with them.

Select the unlimited line icon. It should highlight.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify a point along the line. The

next location specifies another point along the line.

Select up and to the right of the origin. This defines another point along the line. The

line should pass through those two locations and go out essentially forever. It should appear similar to the diagram shown below.

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Bi-tangent Line

This will cover the steps necessary to build a bi-tangent line. A bi-tangent line is tangent to two other elements such as circles. All you have to do is specify the two elements that you wish the line to be tangent to.

Select the circle using coordinates icon. You will create two circles using this icon.

Create 2 circles using the following coordinates. H=0, V=3, Radius=1; H=2, V=0,

Radius=.5 Two circles should appear as shown below.

Select the bi-tangent line icon. It should highlight.

Select the right side of the larger circle. This will specify the line to be tangent to that

side of the circle. The next location specifies the other element that the line is to be tangent to.

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Select left side of the smaller circle. This makes the line tangent to that side of the circle

as well. The line should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Bisect Line

This will cover the steps necessary to build a bisect line. A bisect line splits the angle between two other lines. All you have to do is specify the two lines that you wish to bisect and the bisecting line will be created.

Select the line icon. It should be highlighted.

Create two lines similar to the ones shown below. Start each line at the origin.

Select the bisect line icon. It should be highlighted.

Select one of the lines. This defines one side of the sector that will be bisected. Select the other line. A bisecting line should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Axis

This will cover the steps necessary to build an axis. An axis can be used for mirroring or for creating a shaft or groove in Part Design. To create an axis, all you have to do is specify two endpoints.

Select the axis icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This will specify one endpoint of the axis.

Next you will specify the other endpoint.

Select above the origin. This determines the other endpoint of the axis and it should

appear similar to the one shown below.

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Point

This will cover the steps necessary to build a point. Points are useful for constraining your profile. All you have to do is specify a location for the point.

Select the point icon. It should be highlighted.

Select up and to the right of the origin. This will specify a location for the point. You

also have the option of selecting an element to put the point on the element at the specified location. That option will automatically add a coincidence constraint. The point should appear similar to the one shown below.

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Point using coordinates

This will cover the steps necessary to build a point using coordinates. This icon is useful for generating points at specific locations. Normally this is used to position an item within your profile. All you have to do is enter the coordinates in the window that opens.

Select the point using coordinates icon. A Point Definition window should appear and the icon should be highlighted.

Notice that you can enter the coordinates using the cartesian coordinate system or the polar coordinate system. You will want to use the cartesian coordinate system for this exercise.

Enter 2 for H and 2 for V. This will generate a point at that coordinate and it should

appear similar to the one shown below.

Notice the dimension constraints were automatically generated when you created the point. If you desire you can save your document and call it coord point with your initials.

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Equidistant points

This will cover the steps necessary to build equidistant points. This icon is useful for generating points equidistant along an element. You have to specify an element and then specify the origin or the starting location for your spacing. Then you have to specify the spacing and the number of points to be spaced.

Select the three point arc icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This specifies an endpoint of the arc. The

other two locations will determine the shape of the arc.

Select up and to the right of the origin. This defines the second location for the arc. Select down and to the right of the previous location. This defines the third location for

the arc to pass through and the arc should appear similar to the one shown below.

Select the equidistant points icon. It should highlight. You will now have to specify the element you want to create equidistant points on.

Select the arc. This is the element that you are going to create equidistant points along.

The next location will determine the starting point for the spacing of the points.

Select the right end of the arc. This determines the starting point for the creation of the

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Enter 1 for Spacing and 3 for New Points. This specifies the distance between the points

and how many points that you want generated.

Select OK. The points should appear similar to the ones shown below.

Notice that constraints were automatically generated for you. If you desire you can save your document and call it equidist point with your initials.

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Intersection Point

This will cover the steps necessary to create a point at the intersection of two elements. All you have to do to create an intersection point is select the two elements.

Create two lines as shown below.

Select the intersection point icon. It should be highlighted.

Select one of the lines. It will use this line as one of the intersecting elements.

Select the other line. The two lines do not have to actually intersect as long as they would

intersect if they were to continue in length. The intersection point should appear with constraints as shown below.

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Projection Point

This will cover the steps necessary to create a point by projecting a point to an element. All you have to do to create a projection point is select a point that you want to project and then select the element that you want to project the point to.

Create a line as shown below.

Select the point icon. It should be highlighted.

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Select the line. A projected point is created and should appear with constraints as shown

below.

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Profiles

This part will discuss the profile icon which the most commonly used icon when defining sketches. The purpose of these exercises are to demonstrate the usefulness of the profile icon and how to use it effectively. You can use it to generate basic shapes or more involved shapes all in one operation.

The most common use is to specify corner points of your desired profile and it will generate lines between those points until you either click on the profile icon again, double-click a location or select a location that closes the profile. You also can use two other icons that are located in the bottom toolbar to generate curves as you are defining the profile. Also while using the line icon of profile you can generate curves by holding down the left mouse button and dragging it in the direction you want the curve to go and it will know to create a circular curve from that location.

As you are defining the profile occasionally the element will appear in blue before defining the endpoint or a constraint may appear in blue. If you select the endpoint while the element or the constraint is blue then it will automatically put those constraints on the geometry when it is created. This is useful when defining horizontal and vertical lines because if they appear in blue while you are defining them then the horizontal and vertical constraint will automatically be generated on the element.

You will now build various profiles to get experience using the various capabilities of the profile icon. The first profile you are going to build looks like the one shown below.

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Select a location above the origin. If the line appeared blue before you selected the second

location then it should appear with the vertical constraint on it like the one shown below. Make sure when you specify the other locations that those elements appear blue as well before selecting the location.

Select a location to the right of the previous location. It should appear with the

horizontal constraint on the element and look similar to the diagram shown below.

Select a location below the previous location along the H axis. It should appear similar

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Select a location to the left of the previous location. It should appear similar to the

diagram shown below.

Select a location above the previous location. It should appear similar to the diagram

shown below.

Select a location to the left of the previous location. It should appear similar to the

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Select a location below the previous location. It should appear similar to the diagram

shown below.

Select the origin point of the sketch again. The profile should appear similar to the

diagram shown below and exit the profile icon.

If you desire you can save your document and call it profile1 with your initials.

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You will now perform a sketch of a part using the three point arc icon in the bottom toolbar during the sketch. This icon allows you to define a three point arc while using the profile icon. The second profile you are going to build looks like the one shown below.

Start a new part and go into the Sketcher with the yz plane. Select the profile icon. It should be highlighted.

Select the origin point of the sketch plane. This specifies the starting point for your

profile. When you specify the next location make sure the line appears blue before selecting the location. This will put the vertical constraint on your element automatically.

Select a location above the origin. If the line appeared blue before you selected the second

location then it should appear with the vertical constraint on it like the one shown below. Make sure when you specify the other locations for the lines that they appear blue as well before selecting the location.

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Select the three point arc icon in the bottom toolbar. This icon will allow you to specify a location for the arc to pass through and an ending location for the arc. The arc will begin at the last location specified which is the endpoint of the line.

Select up and to the right of the previous location. This specifies the location that the arc

should pass through. The next point specifies the endpoint of the arc.

Select down and to the right of the previous location. This location should be straight

across from the start of the arc. It should appear similar to the diagram shown below. Notice how the three point arc icon in the bottom toolbar automatically turned off and the line icon turned on.

Select to the right of the previous location. It should appear similar to the diagram shown

below.

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Select to the left of the previous location. It should appear similar to the diagram shown

below.

Select above the previous location. It should appear similar to the diagram shown below.

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Select down and to the left of the previous location. This location should be straight

across from the start of the arc. It should appear similar to the diagram shown below. Notice how the three point arc icon in the bottom toolbar automatically turned off and the line icon turned on.

below.

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Select the origin point of the sketch again. The profile should appear similar to the

diagram shown below and exit the profile icon.

If you desire you can save your document and call it profile2 with your initials.

Catia+Part+Design+Book

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Part Design & Sketcher

Log on/off procedures for Windows NT

CATIA Version 5 Screen

Part Design Screen

Pull-down Menus

Bottom Toolbar in Part Design

Part Design Workbench

Sketcher Screen

Sketcher changes to bottom toolbar

Sketcher Workbench

Working with Documents

Basic Sketcher