Catia V5 Basic-Excavator

CATIA V5R16 Overview – Toy Excavator
CATIA V5 Overview
(Tutorial 1-Toy Excavator)
Infrastructure
Sketcher
Part Design (Solid-modeling)
2D-Drafting
GSD (Surface-modeling)
Assembly Design
A- 1
Version 1d- May07 By Dickson Sham (ME dept, HKPU)
CATIA Overview
Tutorial 1A
- CATIA Infrastructure
- Sketcher
- Part Design (Solid-modeling)
- 2D-Drafting
- Auto-Update
Tutorial 1B
- Part Design (Solid-modeling)
- Generative Shape Design (Surface-modeling)
- Real-time rendering & Material Mapping
Tutorial 1C
- Assembly Design
- Clash Detection & Part Modification
Please be reminded that this series of tutorials is designed to demonstrate a

design approach with CATIA, rather than the command itself.
A- 2
Tutorial 1A
• Enter CATIA by double-clicking its icon on the
desktop.
• (If a license menu pops up), select ED2 and close
CATIA. Then reopen again.
• By default, a empty “Product” file is created. But
now, you don’t need this, just select “File/Close”
on the menu.
• You are going to draw a machine arm as below:-

• Select ‘Start/Mechanical Design/Part Design”on
the menu bar.
• If you’re using Catia V5R16, uncheck “Enable
Hybrid Design” and then click “ok”.
• An empty part is now created on “Part Design”
workbench. You can see a specification tree at the
upper left-hand corner and xyz datum planes in the
middle of the screen .
A- 3
Tutorial 1A
To reset the layout of workbench:-
• Sometimes the workbench may not be tidy
before you use; some toolbars are missing and
some are at wrong positions. To reset the
layout, select “View/Toolbars/Customize”
and select “Toolbar/restore position” on the
pop-up window; Close and exit.
To rename the tree:-

• Single-click “Part1” on the tree, right-click it,
and then select “Properties”.
• Modify Part Number as “front_arm” on the tab
page “Product”.
• Select “ok” to exit .
A- 4
To build 1st
sketch:-
Tutorial 1A
• click “Sketch” icon and select xy plane.
Sketch
• Now the display is temporarily switched to a
new workbench, Sketcher, in which you can
draw 2D elements on the selected plane.
• Draw a circle at the origin. 1st click is to define
the centre and 2nd click is to define the radius.
Draw circle
(no need to care too much about the position
of 2nd click, we will define the radius later) Constraint
• Add a dimension constraint onto the circle by
clicking “constraint” icon and then selecting the
circle.
• Double-clicking on the dimension and modify
the diameter as 10mm; the circle will be
resized automatically.
Double-click to modify
• Exit the workbench by clicking “Exit” icon.
• Now, you are back to Part Design Workbench
(3D environment) and “Sketch.1” is created on
the tree.
Exit
A- 5
To build 2nd
sketch:-
Tutorial 1A
• Click somewhere near the circle to deselect
Sketch
Sketch1.
• Click “Sketch” icon again and select xy plane
again to draw another sketch.
• Draw a circle on the left of the previous circle.
With the help of auto-detection, you can define Draw circle
the center on the x-axis. (no need to care too
much about the size and the position, we will Constraint
define later).
• Add a dimension constraint onto the circle
and modify its diameter as 17mm.
• To define their distance, click “Constraint” icon
and select their centers. Modify it as 84mm.
(You will see that only the current circle will
move correspondingly. Remark: you cannot
modify any elements that do not belong to the
sketch.)
• Exit the workbench.
• You can see Sketch.2 on the tree.
A- 6
Tutorial 1A
Sketch
To build 3rd sketch:-
• Click somewhere near the 2nd circle to Draw Profile
deselect Sketch2.
• Click “Sketch” icon and select xy plane again
to draw another sketch.
• Draw a profile as below( Five straight lines
forming a closed profile).
• Switch off “Snap to Point” so that you can
draw the lines easily.
Snap to point
Remark: To temporarily disable auto-creation

of constraints, press and hold “Shift” key while
A- 7 drawing the profile
Tutorial 1A Constraints
defined in
dialog box
To build 3rd sketch (Cont’):- 3

1 2
• To ensure the lines are tangent to the small
circle, we need to add a geometrical
constraint:-
• Multi-select the line and the small circle by
pressing and holding “ctrl” key on the
keyboard.
• Then select “Constraints defined in dialog
box” icon.
• Select “Tangency” and “ok”.
tangent
• Repeat the same steps for the other line…
A- 8
tangent
Tutorial 1A
To build 3rd sketch (Cont’):-
• Continue to add the remaining constraints until
the sketch turns green, which is fully- Exit
constrained.
• Exit when it is complete.
• Now, you should see Sketch1, Sketch2 and
Sketch3 on the tree.
Tangent &
coincided
Tangent &
Coincided
A- 9 coincided
only
Tutorial 1A
To build a solid:-
• Select “Sketch.3” on the tree /
directly click on the geometry .
• Click “Pad” icon.
• Enter 4mm as the length of First
Limit.
• Click “ok”.
• A solid is created.
To round the sharp edge:-

• Add a “Edge Fillet” R11mm onto the
uppermost corner of Pad1.
A- 10
Tutorial 1A
• Add another “Edge fillet” R3mm.
To make the solid hollow:-

• Click “Shell” icon.
• Enter 1.5mm as “Default inside
thickness”.
• Select the top surface of the solid, which
is considered as “Face to remove”.
• Click “ok” to complete.
A- 11
Tutorial 1A
• You should now have a model as shown on
the right; all the wall thickness is 1.5mm, and
the top cover is removed.
To build 2 more pads:-

• Select Sketch.1
• Enter 7mm as First Limit.
• Click Ok to complete.
Similarly,
• Select Sketch.2
A- 12
Tutorial 1A
To make a hole:-
• Select the circular edge of the bigger cylinder. 2
• Click “Hole” icon.
• Select the top surface of the cylinder. 3
1
(w/ the steps, the hole and cylinder are concentric.)
• Select “Up to Last” to have an infinite depth.

• Enter 13mm as Diameter.
• Make another hole Dia6mm on the smaller

cylinder in the same way…
A- 13
Tutorial 1A
To duplicate another half:-
• click “Mirror” icon and select xy plane as the
mirroring element.
A- 14
Tutorial 1A
To build a sketch (open profile):- Sketch
• Click “Sketch” icon and select xy plane.

• Draw a horizontal line, w/ one end at
center of the small circle and the other
outside it.
• No need to specify its length.
• Click “Exit” icon to exit.
To remove material with an open profile:-

• Click “Pocket” icon.
• Select “Thick” on the menu.
• Enter 2.2mm for both thickness1 &2.
• Select “Up to Last” for both first limit &
second limit.
• Click ok to complete.
A- 15
Tutorial 1A
Similarly, to build another sketch (open profile):-
• Draw a inclined line, w/ one end near center of the
big circle and the other outside it.
• Add a concentricity constraint to ensure the
endpoint is at the circle center.
• Inclined angle =45 deg from the x-axis.
• No need to specify its length.
To remove material with an open profile:-

• Select “Thick” on the menu.
• Enter 5.8mm for both thickness1 &2.
• Select “Up to Last” for both first limit & second
limit.
A- 16
Tutorial 1A
To build a new sketch:-
• Draw the profile as shown.
• Exit to complete.
An axis is
coincident with the
solid surface
A- 17
Tutorial 1A
To add material by rotating a sketch:-
• Click “Shaft” icon to add material by rotation.
• Enter 90deg for both first & second angles.
Result
A- 18
Tutorial 1A
To save the new part in a Project Folder:-
• It is a good practice to store all part files of a

product in one specific folder.
• Create a folder wherever you can save (by MS
window technique).
• Save your current part as
“front_arm_a.CATPART” into the folder.
• Add “a” after its name to remind us its version.
For example, I sent you the part with version
“a” some days ago. But now I modify the part
and resend you with version “b”. When you
see both files, you know which is the latest one.
A- 19
Tutorial 1A
To create a 2D drafting:-
• Select “Start/Mechanical
Design/Drafting”.
• Select “A4 ISO” as paper format.
• Select “Front, Top, Left” as layout.
• Click “OK” to complete.
A- 20
Tutorial 1A
To add & modify views:-
• Click & Drag the dotted rectangle of a

view to move it to a desired position.
• You can also add additional views by
clicking “Projection view” icon.
This view is created from the

projection from the active view.
A- 21
Tutorial 1A
To add an isomeric view:- Isomeric view
• Click “Isomeric view” icon;

• Select “window/select/front_arm” to
view the 3D part.
• Select xy plane or any other planes
of the 3D part.
• Then the system will go back to the
drafting mode; you will see the 3D
part on the drawing and a blue
circular panel at the upper right-hand
corner.
• Click any button on the blue panel to
select the favorite orientation.
• Click anywhere on the drawing to
complete.
A- 22
Tutorial 1A
Now you have two files:-
• Front_arm_a.CATPART
• Drawing1.CATDrawing
• The drawing is created from the

part file, and so if the part is
changed, the drawing will change
automatically.
• Now try to modify the 3D.

• Go back to the drawing.
• Click “Update” icon to update the
drawing.
• Close both files without saving.
A- 23 END of Tutorial 1A
Summary of Tut-1A
Build a Sketch:-
• Click “Sketch” Icon
• Select a plane
3. Draw a profile (with lines, curves and/or axis)
4. Add geometrical constraints
5. Add dimensional constraints

& modify the values
6. Click “Exit” icon
A- 24
Summary of Tut-1A
Build a Solid:-
Shell
Sketch Pad
Fillet
Mirror Hole Pad

Pocket
Create a 2D
drawing &
get drawing
update after
3D change
Pocket A- 25
Shaft
Tutorial 1B
Continuing what we learnt in Tutorial 1A, we are
going to build the cabinet by the solid-
modeling technique plus some surface
modeling technique…
• Enter CATIA.
• Close all files.
• Select ‘Start/Mechanical Design/Part Design” on the
menu bar.
• If you’re using Catia V5R16, uncheck “Enable Hybrid
Design” and then click “ok”.
• Select Tools/Options/infrastructure/Part
Infrastructure… then deselect the option “Enable
Hybrid Design inside part bodies and bodies”

• Single-click “Part1” on the tree, right-click it, and then
select “Properties”.
• Modify Part Number as “cabinet” on the tab page “Product”.
A- 26
Tutorial 1B
To build a sketch:-
• Click “Sketch” icon and select XY plane.
• Draw a rectangle (47x31) as shown; the centre
aligned on y-axis & one edge aligned on x-axis
(you need to add a symmetry constraint/ or you
may use “centered rectangle”)
To build a solid:-
A- 27
Tutorial 1B
To build 2nd sketch:-
• Click “Sketch” icon and select YZ plane.
• Draw an arc R35 & a line as shown; They are
tangent to each other; The line is aligned onto
the solid edge and one endpoint touches x-axis. A line
• Click the open area near the solid to deselect
Sketch.2
To build 3rd sketch:-

• Click “Sketch” icon and select XY plane.
• Draw an arc R70 as shown; The endpoints
should be symmetric about the y-axis (while
pressing “ctrl” on keyboard, select both
endpoints then the y-axis, then click “constraints
defined in dialog box” icon)
• Click the open area near the solid to deselect
Sketch.3
A- 28
Tutorial 1B
To build a SURFACE:-
Sweep
• Select ‘Start/Shape/Generative
Shape Design” on the menu bar;
and now we are moved to a
surface-modeling workbench.
• If necessary, reset the layout to
make it tidy.
• Click “Sweep” icon
• Select “Explicit” as Profile Type
• Select “Sketch.3” as Profile
• Select “Sketch.2” as Guided
Curve
• Click ok to complete
On the tree, this surface is stored in

“Geometrical Set.1”, so it will not be
mixed with solids.
A- 29
Tutorial 1B
To cut the solid with this SURFACE:-
split
• Select ‘Start/Mechanical
Design/Part Design” on the menu
bar to go back to the solid-
modeling environment.
• Click “Split” icon.
• Click OK on the warning window.
• Select the Yellow Surface
“Sweep.1”
• Click on the arrow if it is pointing
outwards.
Hide/show
To hide the surface & its curves:-
• Select the surface and click
“hide/show” icon.
• Hide Sketch.2 & Sketch.3 too.
A- 30
Tutorial 1B
Add a “Edge Fillet” R3mm as shown.
Add a “Chamfer” onto the edges as shown:-

• Select “Length1/Angle” as mode.
• Enter 2mm as Length1.
• Enter 45deg as Angle.
• Select “Tangency” as Propagation.
• Click 3 edges at
A- 31
Tutorial 1B
Add a “Edge Fillet” R10mm on the 3
edges at
A- 32
Tutorial 1B
concentric
To build a sketch:-
• Click “Sketch” and select Plane .
• Draw a profile as shown; The profile
must be fully-constrained.
To make a pocket:-
• Enter 1.5mm as First Limit.
A- 33
Tutorial 1B
Add “Edge Fillet” R3mm on the four edges
of the Pocket:-
• Do not add fillets at positions.
To add a Draft onto the side faces of the

pocket:-
• Click “Draft Angle” icon. Faces to draft
• Select “Constant” as Draft Type.

• Select the lower side face as “Faces to
draft”.
• Select the bottom face as “Neutral
Element”. Neutral Element
• Click the arrow once if it is not pointing
outward.
A- 34
Tutorial 1B
To add another Draft onto the side faces of
the pocket:- Faces to draft
• Click “Draft Angle” icon.

• Select “Constant” as Draft Type.
• Select the upper side face as “Faces to
draft”.
Neutral Element
• Select the bottom face as “Neutral
Element”.
outward.
• Click ok to complete. Draft.2
Now you should have two drafts on the pocket.
Draft.1
A- 35
Tutorial 1B
Add “Edge Fillet” R1mm on the remaining
two edges of the Pocket at positions.
To create an offset plane:- plane

• Click “Plane” icon
• Select “Offset from plane” as type.
• Select ZX plane
• Enter 70mm as Offset (Value)
Now a plane is created in front of the solid,

which is stored in “Geometrical Set.1” on the
tree. A- 36
Tutorial 1B
To build a sketch on the offset plane:-
• Click “Sketch” icon and select “Plane.1”.
• Draw a rectangle (24x25) and position it
as shown. (you may use “centered
rectangle” for convenience)
sketch
Plane.1
A- 37
Tutorial 1B
To create an offset surface from the solid:-
• Select “Start/Shape/Generative Shape
Design” on the menu bar.
• Click “Join” icon.

• Select the two surfaces at
• Click Ok to complete
• A new group of surfaces is created on
the tree.
A- 38
Tutorial 1B
Offset
• Click “Offset” icon.
• Select “Join.1” on the tree.
• Enter 2mm as Offset (Value) .
• Click the red arrow once or click
“Reverse Direction” icon on the menu, if
it is not pointing inwards.
• A offset surface is created inside the
The offset surface
solid, and it is stored in
will appear when
“Geometrical.Set.1”. the solid is semi-
transparent
To visualize the offset surface:-
• Hide “Join.1” (click it on tree, right-click
to show the contextual menu, then
select Hide/Show)
• Make “PartBody” semi-transparent
(click it on tree, right-click to show the
contextual menu, select Properties,
then set transparency to 100)
A- 39
Tutorial 1B
To make a pocket:-
• Go back to Part Design
workbench (select
“Start/Mechanical Design/Part
Design”) Offset.1
• Select “Sketch.4” as Profile.
• Select “ Up to surface” as Type
of First limit.
• Select “Offset.1” on tree as Limit.
• Hide “Offset.1” & “Plane.1”

• Reset Transparency of
“PartBody” to 1
Sketch.4
A- 40
Tutorial 1B
Add “Edge Fillet” R1mm at 2 corners of
“Pocket.2” at positions
Pocket.2
To split the solid into a half:-

• Click “Split” icon.
• Select YZ plane.
to the pocket side.
To copy another half by mirroring:-

• Click “Mirror” icon.
• Select yz plane.
A- 41
Tutorial 1B
To remove material along a guide:-
• Click “Sketch” icon and select yz plane.

• Draw a circle D1.5mm; 5mm above the
base, & circle center is aligned on y-axis
• Select “Start/Shape/Generative Shape

Design” on the menu bar
• Click “Boundary” icon
• Select the bottom surface of solid
• Select the endpoints at position as
Limit 1 & Limit 2.
• Click the red arrow once if it is not
choosing the longer path
A- 42
Tutorial 1B slot
• Go back to Part Design Workbench

(Select “Start/Mechanical Design/Part
Design”)
• Click “Slot” icon.
• Select “Sketch.5” as Profile.
• Select “Boundary.1” as Center Curve.
thickness
• Click “Thickness” icon

• Select the faces at the both ends of the
slot
• Enter -10mm as Default thickness
• Now you can see the slot has open ends
A- 43
Tutorial 1B
Add “Edge Fillet” R1.0mm on the edges of
both sides, except those of the front pocket.
Add “Edge Fillet” R1.0mm on the edges of

the front pocket.
• Sometimes, we need to build fillets

separately when the sharp edges are too
close to each other. We need to build a
fillet on one edge first, and then build
another one on top of it.
A- 44
Tutorial 1B
To apply material properties on the model:-
• Click “Apply Material” icon.
• Select “Plastic” on the tab-page ”Other”
• Click “PartBody” of the tree
• Double-Click “Plastic” on the tree

• Select “Rendering” Tab-page
• Change “Ambient” to 1.00
• Change “Diffuse” to 1.00
• Change color as Red 60, Green 60, Blue 60
To view the material rendering:-

• Click “Shading with material” icon
Save the file as “Cabinet_a.CATPART” in

your project folder and then close it.
A- 45
Tutorial 1B
To apply material properties on “front_arm”:-
• File/Open… “front_arm_a.CATPART
• Click “Apply Material” icon.
• Select “Plastic” on the tab-page ”Other”.
• Click “PartBody” of the tree.
• Double-Click “Plastic” on the tree.

• Select “Rendering” Tab-page.
• Change “Ambient” to 1.00
• Change “Diffuse” to 1.00
• Change color as Red 255, Green 204, Blue 0
Save and Close the file
A- 46 END of Tutorial 1B
Summary of Tut-1B
Build a Solid:-
Create a Chamfer
Surface Split Fillet
Pad
Pocket up to Draft Fillet Pocket Fillet

surface
Mirror Thickness
Slot A- 47
(-ve) Fillet
Tutorial 1C
In Tutorial 1A &1B, we have learnt some basic
modeling technique to create parts. Now it’s time
to assemble them together…
To collect all component files into your project folder:-

• In the folder, you should have two part files;
– Front_arm_a.CATPART
– Cabinet_a.CATPART
• For the rest, you can download from the web:

http://myweb.polyu.edu.hk/~mmdsham/Ex1.htm
– Base_a.CATPART
– Body_a.CATPART
– Arm_support_a.CATPART
– Engine_a.CATPART
– Back_arm_a.CATPART
– Bucket_a.CATPART
– Exhaust_a.CATPART
A- 48
Tutorial 1C
• Enter CATIA.
• Close all files.
• Select ‘Start/Mechanical Design/Assembly
Design” on the menu bar.
• You may need to reset the layout of the toolbars
if the workbench isn’t tidy.

• Single-click “Product1” on the tree, right-click it,
and then select “Properties”.
• Modify Part Number as “Upper_assm” on the tab
page “Product”.
A- 49
Tutorial 1C
To insert existing parts into a product:- DRAG
• File/Open…”Body_a.CATPART”.
• Select “Window/Tile vertically”.
• Click and hold the highest icon of the
part tree “BODY” and then drag it
onto the product tree.
OR
• (NO need to open a part file)

• Right-click the highest icon of the
Product tree “Upper_assm”, then
select “Components/Existing
component…”
• Select “Body_a.CATPART”
• Click “open”
A- 50
Tutorial 1C
• Similarly, insert all parts EXCEPT
“Base_a.CATPART”
You can multi-
• You should see all inserted parts select the
are mixed together and at wrong
parts by
positions. It is normal because the
system puts all the parts’ origins
holding “ctrl”
onto the product’s origin. on keyboard
A- 51
Tutorial 1C
Compass
To move a part by “Compass”:-
• Click and hold the RED dot of the

compass
• Drag it onto the part that you want to
move.
• The compass will then turn into green
and its axis labels will be v-u-w.
• Drag along the green lines/arcs of the
compass to move the part to a desired
position.
• After moving one part, drag the

compass onto the other part.
• Click the 2nd part once so that the
compass turns green again. Now the
compass can move the 2nd part. Click on the
part to turn
compass
GREEN
A- 52
Tutorial 1C
• Repeat the steps so that all parts are
NEARLY at a desired positions.
• Now the parts are separated. It is

easier for us to select part features
later.
To reset “Compass” as original:-

• Click and hold the red dot of the
compass.
• Drag it onto the coordinate system at
lower right-hand corner of the window
and then release.
• It will be auto-reset.
A- 53
Tutorial 1C
To assemble parts by adding constraints:-
• Click “Fix” icon

• Select “Body” on tree; Now the part Fix
“Body” is fixed in position. Contact constraint
Coincidence constraint
Link “Cabinet” to “Body”

• Click “Contact” icon
• Check “Do not prompt in future” and click
“close” to close the message box.
• Select the bottom face of “Cabinet” and
then select the face of “Body”
• A constraint is created, although
“Cabinet” hasn’t snapped onto “Body”.
If you want to delete a constraint, just click the

constraint either on the model or on the
tree, and then press “Delete” key on
keyboard.
A- 54
Tutorial 1C
Link “Cabinet” to “Body” (cont’)
• Add another “Contact” Constraint
between the faces marked with
• Add a “Coincidence” Constraint

between the edges marked with
• Click “Update” Icon to update

the position.
A- 55
Tutorial 1C
Link “Engine” to “Body”
• Add a “Contact” Constraint between
the bottom face of Engine and the top
face of Body

between the yz plane of Engine and
the zx plane of Body

between the faces marked with
• Click “Update” Icon to update

the position.
A- 56
Tutorial 1C
Link “Arm_support” to “Body”
• Add two contact constraints and
one coincidence constraint.
• Click “Update” Icon to

update the position.
• Remark: We cannot add

“Coincidence constraint” between
the faces with because they are
not parallel. Therefore they can
only add the constraint between
their edges
A- 57
Tutorial 1C
Link “Exhaust” to “Body”
• Add a “Coincidence” constraint
between the axes. (Remark, when
the mouse cursor is on the circular
surface of the cylinder, the axis is
auto-detected)
• Add a “Contact” constraint as

shown.
• Click “Update” Icon
• The angular orientation is not

important in this case, but you may
use the compass to change it…
(place the compass on the circular
surface of a cylinder, the compass
will snap onto the axis)
A- 58
Tutorial 1C
Link “Back_arm” to “Arm_support”
auto-detected)

between xy plane of Back_arm
and yz plane of Arm_support

important in this case, you may
A- 59
Tutorial 1C
Link “Front_arm” to “Back_arm”
auto-detected)

between xy plane of front_arm and
xy plane of back_arm

A- 60
Tutorial 1C
Link “Bucket” to “Front_arm”
auto-detected)

between yz plane of bucket and xy
plane of front_arm
• Click Update Icon

A- 61
Tutorial 1C
To hide all constraints:-
• Just single-click “Constraints” on
the tree and right-click to show the
contextual menu; then select
“Hide/Show”.
To hide all datum planes:-

• You can multi-select all planes and
click “hide/show” icon.
OR
• Select “Edit/Search..” on the menu
bar and then click “Load all type”
Search &
icon.
select
• Select “Plane” as Type.
• Click “Search & Select” icon.
• Click “Hide/Show” icon. A- 62
Tutorial 1C
To simulate the motion of the machine
arm:-
• Because the angular orientation at the

joints is not constrained, we can use the
Compass to change the angular
positions of the arm and the bucket.
• Drag the compass onto the axis of the

bucket and then release. Click the
bucket once to ensure that it is
activated.
• Press & Hold “Shift” key on the

keyboard.
• Drag the bucket with the compass and

you will see that front_arm & back_arm
are moved correspondingly.
A- 63
Tutorial 1C
To save the file:-
• As there is a modification (hiding all

planes) in each part file, we should save
all documents again.
• Select “File/Save all”

• Click OK to close this message box
(because you have to define the file
location of the new Product file,
“Upper_assm”
• Click “Save As…” icon
• Enter “Upper_assm_a.CATProduct” as
filename and save it in your project
folder.
• Close All files.
A- 64
Tutorial 1C
To assemble the upper assembly to the
base:-
• Select “Start/Mechanical
Design/Assembly Design” on the menu
bar; A new product is then created.
• Rename the product tree as “Excavator”
• Insert an existing part…

“Base_a.CATpart” in your folder
• Insert an existing
product… ”Upper_assm_a.CATproduct”
in your folder
A- 65
Tutorial 1C
Link “Upper_assm” to “Base”
• Drag the upper_assm upward with the

compass so that we can see the whole
model
• Add a “Fix Component” constraint on

the base
• Add a “Coincidence” constraint to align

them
• Add a “Contact” constraint between the

faces with
• Click “Update” icon
A- 66
Tutorial 1C
To simulate the angular motion of the
upper assembly
• Drag the compass onto the circular

surface under the upper assembly; The
compass should snap onto the axis of
the rotation.
• Rotate the upper assembly with

compass
A- 67
Tutorial 1C
To simulate the angular motion of the
machine arm:- Double-click
• Double-click “Upper_assm” on the

tree to activate that level.
• Now, you can move the arm with

the compass individually as before.
A- 68
Tutorial 1C
To check any collision among parts:-
• Select “Analyze/Clash…”
• Select “Contact + Clash” as Type
• Select “Between all components”
• Click “apply” to view the result
• On the list of Conflict, we find a

Clash, which happens between
“front_arm” and “bucket”
• The interference area is

highlighted in RED in the
PREVIEW window
• Now we know where the problem

is and we are going to correct the
bucket design…
A- 69
Tutorial 1C
To modify the error part:-
• Extend the Product Tree and

locate the error part “Bucket”
• Single-click on it and right-click to
show the contextual menu; then
select “bucket.1.object/ Open in
new window”
Create a sketch on
• Select “Sketch” icon and select this face
the planar face under the joint
• Draw a rectangle in the middle
Draw a
A- 70 rectangle here
Tutorial 1C
• Add a “coincidence” constraint to
align an edge of the rectangle onto
the solid edge nearby.
• Similarly, align the edge on the

opposite side.
• Add a dimensional constraint

9mm as shown
• Exit to complete
A- 71
Tutorial 1C
• Click “Pocket” icon
• Enter 5mm as First Limit
To re-do the clash analysis of the

whole assembly:-
• Select “ Window/Excavator” to
switch the display back to the
whole assembly.
• You can see that the “Bucket” of

the assembly has been updated
with an opening.
A- 72
Tutorial 1C
• Select “Analyze/Clash…” on the

menu bar.
• Select “Contact + Clash” as Type
• Select “Between all components”
• Click “apply” to view the result…
• There should be no clash error on

the list now.
A- 73
Tutorial 1C
To save the file:-
• (Hide all constraints)
• (Hide all datum planes)
• Select “File/Save all”

• Click OK to close this message box
(because you have to define the file
location of the new Product file)
• Click “Save As…” icon
• Enter “Excavator_a.CATProduct” as
filename and save it in your project
folder.
• Close All files.
A- 74 END of Tutorial 1C
Summary of Tut-1C
Assemble parts:-
Build an Put the upper
Insert assembly
existing upper
assembly onto the base
components
Redo the
clash Modify the
analysis error part
Find a clash
between
parts
A- 75
For enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Dickson S.W. Sham

CATIA Certified Professional,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Tel : (852) 2766 4507

Email : mmdsham@polyu.edu.hk
Website : http://myweb.polyu.edu.hk/~mmdsham
A- 76

Catia V5 Basic-Excavator

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Catia V5 Basic-Excavator

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Catia V5 Basic-Excavator

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CATIA V5R16 Overview – Toy Excavator

Please be reminded that this series of tutorials is designed to demonstrate a

• You are going to draw a machine arm as below:-

To rename the tree:-

Remark: To temporarily disable auto-creation

To build 3rd sketch (Cont’):- 3

To round the sharp edge:-

To make the solid hollow:-

To build 2 more pads:-

• Select “Up to Last” to have an infinite depth.

• Make another hole Dia6mm on the smaller

• Click “Sketch” icon and select xy plane.

To remove material with an open profile:-

To remove material with an open profile:-

• It is a good practice to store all part files of a

• Click & Drag the dotted rectangle of a

This view is created from the

• Click “Isomeric view” icon;

• The drawing is created from the

• Now try to modify the 3D.

• Close both files without saving.

3. Draw a profile (with lines, curves and/or axis)

4. Add geometrical constraints

5. Add dimensional constraints

6. Click “Exit” icon

Mirror Hole Pad

To rename the tree:-

To build 3rd sketch:-

On the tree, this surface is stored in

Add a “Chamfer” onto the edges as shown:-

To add a Draft onto the side faces of the

• Select “Constant” as Draft Type.

• Click “Draft Angle” icon.

Now you should have two drafts on the pocket.

To create an offset plane:- plane

Now a plane is created in front of the solid,

• Click “Join” icon.

• Hide “Offset.1” & “Plane.1”

To split the solid into a half:-

To copy another half by mirroring:-

• Click “Sketch” icon and select yz plane.

• Select “Start/Shape/Generative Shape

• Go back to Part Design Workbench

• Click “Thickness” icon

Add “Edge Fillet” R1.0mm on the edges of

• Sometimes, we need to build fillets

• Double-Click “Plastic” on the tree

To view the material rendering:-

Save the file as “Cabinet_a.CATPART” in

• Double-Click “Plastic” on the tree.

Save and Close the file

Pocket up to Draft Fillet Pocket Fillet

To collect all component files into your project folder:-

• For the rest, you can download from the web:

To rename the tree:-

• (NO need to open a part file)

• Click and hold the RED dot of the

• After moving one part, drag the

• Now the parts are separated. It is

To reset “Compass” as original:-