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DMU Optimizer

Overview

Conventions

What's New?

Getting Started

Starting a Session Generating a Silhouette Generating a Wrapping Generating a Thickness Generating an Offset Generating a Free Space

User Tasks

Simplifying a Representation About Representation Simplification Generating a Silhouette More about Silhouette Generating a Wrapping More about Wrapping Using Simplification Command More about Simplification Merging Tree Representations

Thickness and Offset Generating a Thickness More about Thickness Generating an Offset along Normal Vectors More About Offset Along Normal Vectors Generating an Offset along Fixed Vectors More about Offset along Fixed Vectors

Swept Volume Creating a Swept Volume Creating a Swept Volume from a Moving Reference Using Wrapping and Simplification in Swept Volume Filtering Swept Volume Positions More About Swept Volume

Using Vibration Volume Capability Generating a Vibration Volume Generating a Vibration Volume from a Track More about Vibration Volume

Generating a Free Space About Saving Operations

Creating 3D Cuts Writing Macros Working with CGRs in DMU

Workbench Description

DMU Menu Bar DMU Optimizer Toolbar Sectioning Toolbar

Sectioning About Sectioning Creating Section Planes Changing Section Graphic Properties Creating Section Slices Creating Section Boxes More About the Section Viewer Creating 3D Section Cuts Manipulating Planes Directly Positioning Planes Using the Edit Position and Dimensions Command Positioning Planes On a Geometric Target Snapping Section Boxes to Planes Snapping Planes to Points and/or Lines Exporting Section Results Capturing Section Results Annotating Generated Sections Managing the Update of Section Results More About the Contextual Menu

DMU Optimizer Interoperability

Interoperability with ENOVIA LCA Optimal PLM Usability for DMU Optimizer Recommended Methodology for Working with ENOVIA LCA

Interoperability with VPM Navigator Working with DMO using VPM Navigator

Working with ENOVIAVPM: Managing Alternate Shapes

Customizing

DMU Optimizer DMU Sectioning General DMU Settings Cache Management Product Visualization

Index

OverviewWelcome to the DMU Optimizer User's Guide. This guide is intended for users who need to become quickly familiar with the DMU Optimizer Version 5 product.

This overview provides the following information:

● DMU Optimizer in a Nutshell

● Before Reading this Guide

● Getting the Most out of This Guide

● Accessing Sample Documents

● Conventions Used in this Guide

DMU Optimizer in a NutshellDMU Optimizer is a product dedicated to improve users' productivity by computing an optimized geometrical representation of data for mockup verification in the context of the immersive and collaborative design review environment of the full digital mockup. DMU Optimizer facilitates the full integration of Digital Mockup centric processes within the global engineering environment of the customer.

DMU Optimizer is a dedicated DMU Navigator workbench and is available on both UNIX and Windows environments.

Before Reading this GuideBefore reading this guide, you should be familiar with basic Version 5 concepts such as document windows, standard and view toolbars. Therefore, we recommend that you read the Infrastructure User's Guide that describes generic capabilities common to all Version 5 products. It also describes the general layout of V5 and the interoperability between workbenches. You may also read DMU Navigator User's Guide

You may also like to read the following complementary product guides, for which the appropriate license is required:

● DMU Space Analysis User's Guide.

● DMU Fitting Simulator User's Guide

Getting the Most out of this Guide

To get the most out of this guide, we suggest you start reading and performing the step-by-step tutorial Getting Started. This tutorial will show you how to create mechanisms and joints from scratch.

Once you have finished, you should move on to the next section: User Tasks dealing with the main capabilities of DMU Optimizer product (representation simplification, thickness, offset, free space swept volume, 3D cuts...) You might be interested in reading the Interoperability section which can

be accessed directly from the table of contents using the following icon . It may be also a good idea to take a look at the section describing the menus and toolbars: Workbench Description

Accessing Sample DocumentsTo perform the scenarios, you will be using sample documents contained in the online\dmoug_*X2\samples folder

When samples belong to capabilities common to different products, those samples will be found in the online\cfysm_X2\samples folder.

*Where X can be C for CATIA, D for DELMIA or E for ENOVIA.

For more information about this, refer to Accessing Sample Documents in the Infrastructure User's Guide.

Conventions Used in this GuideTo learn more about the conventions used in this guide, refer to the Conventions section.

ConventionsCertain conventions are used in CATIA, ENOVIA & DELMIA documentation to help you recognize and understand important concepts and specifications.

Graphic Conventions

The three categories of graphic conventions used are as follows:

● Graphic conventions structuring the tasks

● Graphic conventions indicating the configuration required

● Graphic conventions used in the table of contents

Graphic Conventions Structuring the Tasks

Graphic conventions structuring the tasks are denoted as follows:

This icon... Identifies...

estimated time to accomplish a task

a target of a task

the prerequisites

the start of the scenario

a tip

a warning

information

basic concepts

methodology

reference information

information regarding settings, customization, etc.

the end of a task

functionalities that are new or enhanced with this release

allows you to switch back to the full-window viewing mode

Graphic Conventions Indicating the Configuration Required

Graphic conventions indicating the configuration required are denoted as follows:

This icon... Indicates functions that are...

specific to the P1 configuration



Graphic Conventions Used in the Table of Contents

Graphic conventions used in the table of contents are denoted as follows:

This icon... Gives access to...

Site Map

Split View mode

What's New?

Overview

Getting Started

Basic Tasks

User Tasks or the Advanced Tasks

Workbench Description

Customizing

Reference

Methodology

Glossary

Index

Text Conventions

The following text conventions are used:

● The titles of CATIA, ENOVIA and DELMIA documents appear in this manner throughout the text.

● File -> New identifies the commands to be used.

● Enhancements are identified by a blue-colored background on the text.

How to Use the Mouse

The use of the mouse differs according to the type of action you need to perform.

Use thismouse button... Whenever you read...

● Select (menus, commands, geometry in graphics area, ...)

● Click (icons, dialog box buttons, tabs, selection of a location in the document window, ...)

● Double-click

● Shift-click

● Ctrl-click

● Check (check boxes)

● Drag

● Drag and drop (icons onto objects, objects onto objects)

● Drag

● Move

● Right-click (to select contextual menu)

What's New?This section identifies what new or improved capabilities have been documented in the Version 5 Release 14 of DMU Optimizer User's Guide.

Enhanced Functionalities


Interoperability with VPM Navigator Saving Alternate Shapes in ENOVIA LCA using VPM Navigator

Interoperability with ENOVIA LCA

Recommended Methodology for Working with ENOVIA LCA

Swept Volume

Improved save management Also read Multiple save management for swept volume

Customizing Settings

DMU Optimizer Multiple save management for swept volume available in Tools->Options->DMU Optimizer...

DMU Sectioning

New setting lets you manage 3D section cut display when sectioning tool is a plane

Getting Started

Before getting into the detailed instructions for using DMU Optimizer, the following tutorial aims at giving you a feel of what you can do with the product. It provides a step-by-step scenario showing you how to use key functions. The main tasks described in this section are:

Starting a SessionGenerating a SilhouetteGenerating a WrappingGenerating a ThicknessGenerating an Offset

Generating a Free Space

Starting a DMU Optimizer Session

Before starting this scenario, you should be familiar with the basic commands common to all workbenches. These are described in the DMU Navigator User's Guide.

This first task will show you how to enter the DMU Optimizer workbench and select your models.

1. Select Digital Mockup -> DMU Optimizer from the Start menu.

The DMU Optimizer workbench is loaded and an empty document opens:

1. Select Insert -> Existing Component... from the menu bar.

If the menu item cannot be selected, select and right-click product1 in the specification tree and select Existing Component... from the contextual menu.

2. Select the desired model files by clicking the first one then shift-clicking the last one you

want. Here, select the following .cgr files:

❍ ATOMIZER.cgr

❍ BODY1_2.cgr

❍ BODY2_2.cgr

❍ LOCK.cgr

❍ NOZZLE_1_1.cgr

❍ NOZZLE_1_2.cgr

❍ REGULATOR.cgr

❍ REGULATION_COMMAND.cgr

❍ TRIGGER.cgr

❍ VALVE.cgr

3. Click Open to open the selected files.

The specification tree is displayed showing all the selected products.

Use the Fit All In icon to position the model geometry on the screen.

Generating a Silhouette

This task will show you how to calculate new geometry and in this case generate a silhouette.

Insert the following .cgr files, using Insert-> Existing Component...)● ATOMIZER.cgr

● BODY1_2.cgr

● BODY2_2.cgr

● LOCK.cgr

● NOZZLE_1_1.cgr

● NOZZLE_1_2.cgr

● REGULATOR.cgr

● REGULATION_COMMAND.cgr

● TRIGGER.cgr

● VALVE.cgr

They are to be found in the online documentation filetree in the DMU Optimizer sample folder dmoug/samples(Optional)You can manage the Silhouette result as alternate shape automatically.

For more details, refer to Managing an Alternate Shape.

You can simplify your silhouette result within the Silhouette dialog box.For more detailed information, please read Using Simplification Command and More About Simplification

1. Click the Silhouette icon in the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Silhouette dialog box appears:

2. Select Product1 in the specification tree. (The number of triangles representing the tesselated shape

of the selected product is displayed in the Number of triangles field.)

3. Enter the desired value in the Accuracy field, for instance 2mm.

4. Click the View(s) button to display the View Multi-selection dialog box.

5. Select the desired views. The 6 views for instance.

6. Click OK to confirm your operation.

7. Click Preview to obtain a silhouette preview.

The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and, if necessary, interrupt (Cancel option) the calculation.

The Preview window is also displayed.

The number of triangles representing the silhouette result is displayed in the Number of triangles field as shown below:

8. Click Save

The Save As dialog box is displayed

9. Set the Type to .cgr

You can save your result as a .stl file.

This format can be reused and imported in other CATIA products for design purposes.For instance, with Digitized Shape Editor you can recreate exact surfaces from the imported point shell.

10. Click Close to exit the silhouette command.

11. Identify the folder in which you want to save the file

12. Enter a file name

13. Click Close to exit the silhouette command.

Generating a WrappingThis task will show you how to generate a Wrapping representation.

Insert the following .cgr files from the samples folder.

● ATOMIZER.cgr

● BODY1_2.cgr

● BODY2_2.cgr

● LOCK.cgr

● NOZZLE_1_1.cgr

● NOZZLE_1_2.cgr

● REGULATOR.cgr

● REGULATION_COMMAND.cgr

● TRIGGER.cgr

● VALVE.cgr

(Optional)● You can manage your Wrapping result as alternate shape automatically. Refer to Alternate Shape Management.

● you can customize wrapping color using Tools->Options...

● You can simplify your wrapping result within the Wrapping dialog box.For more detailed information, read Using Simplification Command and More About Simplification

1. Select Product1 in the specification tree.

2. Click the Wrapping icon in the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Wrapping dialog box appears:

The number of triangles representing the selected product is displayed in the Number of triangles area.

3. Set the grain accuracy by entering a value, 4mm for example.

Setting the Ratio

The Ratio determines the wrapping representation. A lower ratio results in a thinner wrapping coverage.

4. Move the slider to the right (set the ratio to 0.40 for example)

5. Click Preview button.


The number of triangles representing the wrapping result is displayed in the Number of triangles area as shown below:

The Preview window is also displayed:

6. Click Save.

The Save As dialog box appears.

7. Select the desired format type from the drop-down list. i.e. cgr and click Save.

8. Click Close to exit the wrapping functionality.

Generating a ThicknessThis task will show you how to generate a thickness object.

Load SCENARIO01.model from the samples folder using Insert ->Existing Component command

Use the Fit All In icon to position the model geometry on the screen.(Optional)You can manage automatically the Thickness result as alternate shape.Read Alternate Shape Management.

1. Click the Thickness icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Thickness dialog box appears.

2. Select SCENARIO01.model in the specification tree.

3. Enter the Offset values. In our example, keep the default values:

❍ Offset 1=2mm

❍ Offset 2= 0mm

4. Click Preview to generate the thickness representation.The preview window is displayed.

The Orientation constraints option is disabled by default. The constraint propagation is done automatically.

5. Zoom to visualize better the thickness result:

You are not satisfied with the result.

7. Click Preview.The propagation of constraints is not complete. The surfaces concerned are highlighted.

8. Select again the Orientation constraints check box. When turned on you can define constraints on the

initial representation.

9. Define constraints for the corresponding surfaces:

❍ Drag the cursor onto the surface

❍ When you are satisfied, click the left-hand mouse button.The constraint is created.

You are still in the Thickness command.

6. Select the Orientation constraints check box:

11. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is displayed

❍ Set the Type to .cgr

At anytime, you can delete a constraint, what you need to do is click on the white square.Note that if you click the arrow, you reverse the constraint orientation.

10. Click Preview when done. The surfaces are correctly positioned.

12. Click Save.

13. Click Close to exit the Thickness dialog box

You can save your result as a .stl file.

This format can be reused and imported in other CATIA products for design purposes.For instance, with Digitized Shape Editor you will be able to recreate exact surfaces from the imported point shell.

❍ Identify the folder in which you want to save the file

❍ Enter a file name

Generating an OffsetThis functionality enables to add an offset to a selected set of products. You can define the orientation in which the offset will be applied. This orientation can be changed either manually or automatically.

Insert SCENARIO01.model document from the samples folder.


1. Click the Offset icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Offset dialog box is displayed:

2. Select SCENARIO01 in the specification tree.

3. Enter the Offset value, 2mm for instance.

Note: you can now define an offset along fixed vectors, refer to the Generating Offset along Fixed Vectors

4. Click Preview

5. Select the Orientation constraints check box in the dialog box still displayed:

6. Click Preview.

Orientation Constraints

❍ The Orientation constraints option is disabled by default. (The propagation of default orientation constraints is done automatically).

❍ The constraints define the orientation of the offset (positive).

7. Click Save. The Save As dialog box appears

8. Enter a meaningful name, select the format type. In our example, select .cgr

9. Click Save.

10. Click Close to exit the offset command

Generating a Free SpaceThis task will show you how to calculate a free space for two different purposes

● You need to calculate a free space (volume) which will be assigned a new functionality (analysis...)(in box option)

● or a free space which corresponds to a capacity (in nearly closed geometry option)

Open TankClosed2.CATProduct document.


1. (Optional)

You can automatically manage your free space result as alternate shape. For this:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar.The Options dialog box displays.

2. Expand the Digital Mockup category from the upper-left tree.3. Select DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab.4. In the Free Space field, select the Manage as alternate shape and the

Activate shape check boxes to turn on the options. When the Activate shape option is turned on, the free space representation is the one visualized in the session.

2. Click the Free Space icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Free Space dialog box and Free space box are displayed:

The box appears in the geometry area

3. Select Product1

4. Keep the default type ( in box area)

5. Keep the default value in the accuracy field.

Note that if you change the accuracy value (because you are not satisfied with

the first value you entered), you need to use the command from the standard toolbar. You are still in the free space command and you can then enter a new accuracy value.

6. Define the free space, You can either:

❍ enter coordinates values in the Free space box,

❍ resize the box with the manipulators within the geometry area,

❍ or click

7. Click

8. Click Preview to generate the free space. The progress bar is displayed letting you

monitor and, if necessary, interrupt (Cancel option) the calculation.

The preview window shows the result:

9. Click Save.The Save As dialog box automatically appears

10. Enter a meaningful name and click Save to generate a 3dmap file.

11. Click Close

For more detailed information, refer to Generating a Free Space in the User Tasks section.

User Tasks

The table below lists the tasks you will find in this section.

Simplifying a RepresentationThickness and Offset

Swept VolumeUsing Vibration Volume Capability

Generating a Free SpaceAbout Saving Operations

Creating 3D CutsWriting Macros

Working with CGRs in DMU

Simplifying a Representation (Using Silhouette, Wrapping or Simplification Functionalities)

About Representation Simplification: gives background information about representation simplificationGenerate a Silhouette: click the Silhouette icon and select an object in the specification tree then enter the desired value in the grain field from the Silhouette dialog box. Click Preview. When done, click Save to save the silhouette representation.

Generating a Silhouette using a Reference ProductMore About Silhouette: provides examples and explanations about silhouette functionalityGenerate a Wrapping: click the Wrapping icon and select an object, then enter the desired value in the precision accuracy field (Wrapping dialog box). Move the slider to the right to set the ratio. Click Preview. When done, click Save to save the wrapping representation.More About Wrapping: provides examples and explanations about wrapping functionalityUse Simplification Command: click the Simplification icon and select an object, then enter the desired value in the precision accuracy field (Simplification dialog box). Move the slider to the right to set the ratio. Click Preview. When done, click Save to save the wrapping representation.More About Simplification: provides examples and explanations about simplification functionality

Merging Tree Representations

About Representation Simplification

DMU Optimizer lets you simplify a geometric representation with the two following functionalities:

● Silhouette: keeps only the external representation of a model.The result obtained is as precise as the initial geometric representation.

● Wrapping: provides a simplified external representation of a geometry through an additional tessellation computation. Depending on the computation parameters selected, the result obtained can be very "light" (but less accurate) or more precise (but "heavier").

● Simplification: provides a simplified representation of a geometry through an additional tessellation computation.

These three powerful functionalities allow the user to improve his productivity at any stage of the digital mockup review by significantly reducing the size of the mockups.

They also offer an easy solution to protect confidential information by replacing accurate models with their simplified representation.The following examples aim at illustrating the gain obtained with these functionalities:

Initial geometry

19348 triangles

Section

Silhouette Silhouette section

Accuracy= 0.2mm Result= 3868 triangles

Wrapping

Before wrapping After wrapping

Simplification

Initial geometry

19348 triangles

Simplification

Accuracy= 0.5mm Result= 7416 triangles

Note: the simplification result contains the inner parts of the mobile phone, therefore the number of triangles is higher than it is in the silhouette result.

This simple example shows you how triangles are significantly reduced during simplification operation

Generating a Silhouette

Silhouette functionality:

● allows to select a part or an assembly and only keeps the external facets of the selection. When in interaction with other parts, the same accuracy is kept while the file size is significantly reduced. For reviewing, the outer aspect of the part is identical to the original model (surface appearance, color...)

● lets you work on the Accuracy parameter in order to optimize the number of removed facets inside the silhouette

● allows you to work with 1 to 6 standard views and to use a camera from DMU Navigator to create an additional view of the silhouette. You can easily keep track of details that might have been lost with the standard views: for example you can set a camera on a hole axis in order to visualize data hidden from most views.

● you can select the reference axis system along which the computation will be done

For more detailed information, refer to More About Silhouette Functionality

This task will show you how to use silhouette functionality to simplify a geometric representation.

Open the Mobile_Phone.CATProduct from the samples folder

(Optional)You might find useful to manage automatically your Silhouette result as an alternate shape of the initial component and specify a directory/path to save your result (see Customizing DMU Optimizer Settings)

Note: If your are not working in alternate shape mode, it is strongly recommended to use the Reference Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. Please read About Reference Product

1. Click the Silhouette icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Silhouette dialog box appears:

2. Select the product you need to simplify (i.e. Mobile phone) in the specification tree or in the geometry area.

Click the More button:

The Input Products dialog box is displayedThe listed selection corresponds to the those products you selected before you launched a calculation

❍ While the Input Products dialog box is active, you can change the selection in your session: the listed selection will be accordingly modified, for example:

❍ Likewise, if you change the selection in the Input products dialog box, the selection in your session will be correspondingly modified.

❍ You can select the Preview check box to see a preview of you product selection, for example:

Note: neither the Input Products dialog box nor the Preview check box are available when working in alternate shape mode.

You can select any node within the specification tree (terminal/non terminal) and even multi-select them provided that you are not working in alternate shape mode.

3. Enter the desired value in the Accuracy field for instance 2mm.

Please refer to More About Silhouette Functionality-Step 1

Setting the Accuracy:

Specify the silhouette calculation accuracy. A lower value results in a slower computation time, but a "lighter" silhouette representation.

4. Click the View(s) button to display the selection list. Please refer to More About Silhouette Functionality-Step 2

5. Select the desired views. The 6 views for instance.

6. Click OK to confirm your operation.

7. Click Preview to launch the calculation


The Preview window is also displayed.

The number of triangles representing the silhouette result is displayed in the Number of triangles field as shown below:

You can simplify your silhouette result within the Silhouette dialog box. For more detailed information, please read Using Simplification Command and More About Simplification

8. Select the Accuracy check box in the simplification area.

9. Enter a new value if needed.

In our example enter 0.2mm

The number of triangles representing the simplified result is displayed in the Number of triangles area. If you are not satisfied, click once in the accuracy field, enter a new value, press Enter and then click Preview.

10. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is displayed:

❍ Set the Type to .cgr. You can also save your resulting shape in .wrl, .model .stl formats



11. Click Save

Alternate Shape:

(Optional)You can manage automatically your Silhouette result as an alternate shape of the initial component.

For this:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar.The Options dialog box appears.

2. Expand the Digital Mockup category from the upper-left tree.3. Select DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab.

The Alternate Shapes Management is available:4. Select the Silhouette check box: the option "Activate" is automatically turned on.

The silhouette result is going to be added to the initial component as a new representation. For more details, please refer to Customizing DMU Optimizer Settings and Managing as an Alternate Shape.

Remember you can customize silhouette settings at any time.

More about Silhouette

How is the silhouette representation calculated?

You obtain the silhouette of a specific geometry by:

1. calculating a discrete envelope of the inital representation (discretization parameter = accuracy)

2. filtering the triangles of the geometry which:

● do not belong to this envelope

● are not seen from the selected view (s)

The following example aims at illustrating these two steps as well as the impact of accuracy and view parameters on the final result.

Step 1: Envelope calculation (using the Accuracy parameter)

Case 1: You select a small accuracy value Case 2: You select great accuracy value

Step 2: Filtering triangles (using the View parameter)

Case 1: Case 2:This image illustrates the result you obtain if you select 4 views

This image illustrates the result you obtain if you select 1 view

The table below shows the accuracy impact on the silhouette calculation

Accuracy Computation Time Used Memory Simplification Rate

Greater Shorter Less Lower

Smaller Longer More Higher

Generating a Wrapping

Wrapping functionality:

● Lets you select a part or an assembly and wrap it through an additional tessellation in order to generate a light external envelope of the part. The resulting envelope is a unique volume.

● Provides a selectable tessellation (Grain parameter) which lets you manage the file size against precision of the wrapped representation

● Through this functionality, you can:

● drastically reduce the size of your assembly

● roughly reserve room for a component not completely designed yet

● protect your data confidentiality when sending information to partners by hiding confidential details of your product

For more detailed information, refer to More About Wrapping.This task will show you how to simplify a representation using the Wrapping functionality.

Open the Mobile_Phone.CATProduct from the samples folder.

1. (Optional)

You can manage automatically your 'Wrapping result' as an alternate shape of the initial component. In this case, the wrapping result will be

automatically reinserted and will replace the initial component (provided the Activate check box is selected, it is by default)

Note: If your are not working in alternate shape mode, it is strongly recommended to use the Reference Product option to avoid positioning

problems when reinserting products. Read About Reference Product

Alternate Shape:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar.The Options dialog box is displayed.

2. Expand the Digital Mockup category from the upper-left tree3. Select DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab.

The Alternate Shapes Management is available

4. Select the Wrapping check box: the wrapping is automatically treated as an alternate shape

2. (Optional)

You can customize your wrapping result color easily selecting the Tools->Options...

1. Expand the Digital Mockup category from the upper-left tree.2. Select DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab.3. Change the default color as shown below:

About selection: you can select any node within the specification tree (terminal/non terminal) and even multi-select them provided that you are not working in alternate shape mode.

3. Select the product to you want to wrap (i.e. Battery.1) in the specification tree or in the geometry area.

4. Click the Wrapping icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Wrapping dialog box is displayed.

❍ The number of triangles representing the selected product is displayed in the number of triangles field.

❍ The Alternate shapes management field appears.

Note: Neither the Input Products dialog box nor the Preview check box are available when working in alternate shape mode.

5. Set the grain by entering a value, 4mm for example.

Setting the Grain

The grain determines the precision of the wrapping representation. The grain parameter determines the size of the triangles used to represent the wrapping. A lower setting results in slower computation time, but a more precise calculation of the wrapping.

For more detailed information, refer to More About Wrapping-Step 1.

Setting the Offset Ratio

The Ratio enables to inflate the wrapping representation. A lower ratio value results in a less enveloping representation.If you check the cubic option, you will obtain a coarse wrapping representation (voxel) but enveloping the product entirely.

Refer to More About Wrapping-Step 2.

6. Set the ratio:

1. Move the slider to the right to set the ratio to desired value (0.40, for example).or if you need a wrapping enveloping entirely the geometry:

2. Select the Cubic check box to obtain a voxel representation of the envelope (the Offset ratio option is grayed out).

7. Click Preview to obtain a preview.


The preview window lets you see the resulting wrapping:This is what you obtain with 0.40 as offset ratio value: This is what you obtain if you checked the cubic option :

About wrapping color customizationLet's see the result you obtain if you customized the wrapping volume color before launching the calculation

Default option:The option is turned off, the check box is cleared.

The option is turned off, the check box is cleared but you change the default color using the drop-down list:

You selected the 'Use part when possible, otherwise...' check box: in this case, there are three colors in the original model (light grey, blue and dark gray). The color chosen is the default one (see picture opposite)

You selected the 'Use part when possible, otherwise...' check box and selected a color of your choice:

8. Check the number of triangles representing the wrapping result. It is displayed in the Number of triangles field as shown below:

9. You can simplify your wrapping result. For more detailed information, read Using Simplification Command and More About Simplification

We assume you performed step.6 1.Select the Accuracy check box in the simplification field.

Enter a new value if needed. In our example, keep the default value

10. Click Preview

11. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is displayed. You can identify a specific path/ directory to save your resulting shape using Tools-

>Options... Read Path For Save section

1. Set the Type to .cgr2. Identify the folder in which you want to save the file3. Enter a file name

12. Click Close to exit the wrapping command.

The wrapping result is automatically inserted

13. Right-click Battery.1 in the specification tree and select Manage-> Representations to check your wrapping is treated as alternate shape

Remember you can customize wrapping settings at any time using Tools->Options...

More about Wrapping

How is the wrapping representation calculated?

You generate a wrapping from existing geometric elements by:

1. computing a set of points regularly spaced on the envelope of the original geometry (distance between points = grain parameter)

2. offsetting these points to obtain a inflated result which better includes the original geometry (offset value = grain * offset ratio)

3. building triangles from the set of offset points.

The following example aims at illustrating these three steps as well as the impact of grain and offset ratio parameters on the final result.

Step 1: Computing points (using the Grain parameter)

Step 2: Offsetting points (using the Offset Ratio parameter)

Step 3: Building the result

Case 1: Offset Ratio = 0.0 Case 2: Offset Ratio = 0.5

Cubic option:

If you select the cubic check box, you obtain a voxel (cubic) representation of the envelope. The voxel size equals to the grain parameter. The offset ratio is not used.

This image illustrates the wrapping result with the cubic option check box selected:

The table below shows the grain parameter impact on the wrapping calculation:

Grain Value Computation Time Used Memory Resulting Size (number of triangles)

Greater Shorter Less Smaller

Smaller Longer More

Cubic Mode

Shorter Less

Includes entirely the original geometry

No Change

The table below shows the offset ratio impact on the wrapping calculation:

Offset Ratio Value Computation Time Used Memory Resulting

Geometric SizeResulting Size

(number of triangles)

Greater

No Change No Change Bigger No change

Smaller

No Change No Change Smaller No Change

Using Simplification Command

Simplification functionality:

● Lets you select a part or an assembly and simplify it through an additional tessellation in order to generate a lighter mesh of the part.

● Provides a selectable tessellation which lets you manage the file size against precision of the representation

● Through this functionality, you can drastically reduce the size of your assembly

This functionality can applied on documents from the following types:

● .CATPart

● .cgr

● .vrml

● .model

and on

● silhouette

● wrapping

● vibration volume

● merger result

Also read Generating a Silhouette and Generating a Wrapping

For more detailed information, please refer to More About Simplification

This task will show you how to simplify a representation using the simplification functionality.

Open SIMPLIFICATION.CATProduct document

(Optional)You can manage automatically your Simplification result as an alternate shape of the initial component. In this case, the simplification result will be automatically reinserted and will replace the initial component (provided the Activate check box is selected, it is by default)

Note: If your are not working in alternate shape mode, it is strongly recommended to use the Reference Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. Please read About Reference Product

About selection:

You can now select any node within the specification tree (terminal/non terminal) and even multi-select them provided that you are not working in alternate shape mode.

1. Select the product to you want to simplify (i.e. Product1) in the specification tree or in

the geometry area.

2. Click the Simplification icon in the DMU Optimizer toolbar.The Simplification dialog

box is displayed

The number of triangles representing the selected product is displayed in the number of triangles field:

Setting the Accuracy:

defines the simplification calculation accuracy. A lower value results in slower computation time, but a "lighter" simplification representation.

3. Enter the desired value in the Accuracy field for instance 2mm.

4. Click Preview. The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and, if necessary,

interrupt (Cancel option) the calculation.

The number of triangles representing the simplification result is displayed in the Number of triangles field as shown below:The simplification representation is coarse but the number of triangles has been drastically reduced.





6. Click Save in the Save As dialog box

7. Click Close to exit the simplification command

8. Select File->New... and select product from the list of types in the New dialog box

9. Click OK.

10. Insert in the new CATProduct (Insert->Existing components) from the samples

folder

❍ SIMPLIFICATION.CATProduct document

❍ Product1_SIMPLIFICATION.cgr document

This is what you should have:

Now,we are going to compare the two products, please refer to "Comparing Products" in DMU Space Analysis User's Guide

11. Select Start->Digital Mockup->DMU Space Analysis...

12. Click the Compare Products icon in the DMU Space Analysis toolbar: Visual

comparison is the default comparison mode.The Compare Products dialog box appears.

13. Select one of the products you want to compare

14. Select the other product (new version), Product1_SIMPLIFICATION1.1

You are not satisfied with the result, you are going to simplify again with a finer accuracy value

15. Click Close to exit Compare Product command

16. Switch to DMU Optimizer workbench selecting Start->Digital Mockup->DMU

Optimizer

17. In the SIMPLIFICATION.CATProduct window, click the Simplification icon in the

DMU Optimizer toolbar.

18. Enter the desired value in the Accuracy field, this time 0.6mm.

19. Click Preview to obtain a preview.The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor

and, if necessary, interrupt (Cancel option) the calculation.

The number of triangles representing the simplification result is displayed in the Number of triangles field as shown below: This time the simplification representation is finer and the number of triangles result is still valid in terms of performance gains.You are satisfied with the result

20. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is automatically displayed:

21. Select .cgr file from the Save as type drop-down list and enter a meaningful name if

needed.

Alternate Shape:

(Optional)You can manage automatically your Simplification result as an alternate shape of the initial component.

For this:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar.The Options dialog box is displayed.


The Alternate Shapes Management is available4. Select the Simplification check box: the simplification is automatically treated as an

alternate shape

The simplification result will be added as a new representation of the initial component.For more details, please refer to Customizing DMU Optimizer Settings and Managing as an Alternate Shape.

Remember you can customize simplification settings at any time.

More about Simplification

Simplification functionality:● You can select a part or an assembly and simplify it using an additional tessellation to

generate a coarser mesh.

● Provides a selectable tessellation which lets you manage the file size against precision of the representation

● Through this functionality, you can drastically reduce the size of your assembly

How is the simplification representation calculated?You generate a simplification representation by:

1. computing a new mesh of the original geometry using an approximation error (= accuracy parameter)

2. removing and/or merging the existing triangles of this geometry

The following example aims at illustrating these two steps as well as the impact of accuracy parameter on the final result.

Merging Tree Representations

Merger

This functionality lets you simplify the tree representation by merging its visualization structure.

● available in interactive mode

● the result of this operation can be saved in cgr, VRML, CATIA V4 mockup Surface. It can be managed as an alternate shape.

This new functionality can be very useful especially:

In Clash context:

● you can now work on bigger models by optimizing other Multi-cad cgrs

In Track context, when distances specifications are defined and activated if you perform a merging operation:

● you will obtain significant performances gain

This task shows you how to use the merger fuctionality.

Insert the Keypad.cgr document. This cgr file is to be found in in the online documentation filetree in the DMU Optimizer samples folder online\dmoug_*X2\samples

Alternate Shape:

(Optional) You can manage automatically your result as an alternate shape of the initial component. For this:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar. The Options dialog box is displayed.2. Expand the Digital Mockup category from the left-hand tree.3. Select DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab. The Alternate Shapes Management is available4. Select the Merger check box: when activated the Merger representation is the one visualized in session.

1. Click the Merger icon in the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Merger dialog box is displayed:

❍ Edges: this check box is selected by default, the edges are kept.

❍ Decoration: this check box is selected by default

❍ Levels of detail: if checked, the calculation takes into account the levels of detail. If the selected product does not include levels of detail, note these will be calculated when launching the command, therefore the cgr size will be larger.

Note: If you manage the Merging operation result as an alternate shape, the Merger dialog box will be slightly different from the above dialog box, click on the image below:

In this case, the resulting merger representation will replace the initial component.

❍ In our scenario, we decided not to treat the merger representation as an alternate shape

2. Select the Product you want to be merged either in the geometry area or in the specification tree (i.e. keypad.1)

3. (Optional) Simplify your merger representation:

❍ Select the Accuracy check box in the simplification area.

❍ Enter a new value if needed.

Note:

❍ The Preview button is grayed out if you do not simplify your representation, because there is no changes in the visualization.

4. Click Save.

The save as dialog box is displayed:❍ Set the Type to .cgr. You can also save your resulting shape in .wrl, .model .stl formats



5. Click Save

6. Reinsert the merger representation (Keypad.1_MERGER.cgr) you just saved in Product1

❍ Right-click Product1, select Components->Existing Component...

❍ Select Keypad.1_MERGER.cgr in the File Selection dialog box and click Open

❍ use the 3D compass manipulation handle to obtain two different keypads in the geometry area (For more information, see Moving Objects using the 3D Compass in the Infrastructure User's Guide)

7. Compare the size of the two cgr documents:

Before merging operation After merging operation

The cgr is optimized and much lighter. The number of triangles is identical:

Thickness and OffsetGenerate a Thickness: click the Thickness icon and select an object, then enter the offset values in the Thickness dialog box. Click Preview to generate the thickness representation. If you are not satisfied, define constraints manually if necessary. When done, click Save and save.More About Thickness: provides examples and explanations about thickness functionality.Note: From V5R11, the calculation changes: offset1 and offset2 values make the selected surface move to two opposite directions (i.e. two positive values equal to 2mn will result in a thickness of 4mm).Generate an Offset Along Normal Vectors: click the Offset icon and select an object, then enter the offset value in the Offset dialog box. Click Preview. When done, click Save to save the offset representation.More About Offset Along Normal Vectors: provides examples and explanations about offset functionality using the " Along normals" option ( corresponds to the version V5R5 offset creation method)Generate an Offset Along Fixed Vectors: click the Offset icon, select an object and an axis system, then enter offset values in the Offset dialog box. Click Preview. When done, click Save to save the offset representation.More About Offset Along Fixed Vectors: provides an example and explanations about offset functionality using the "Along Fixed vectors" option.

Generating a Thickness

Thickness functionality:

● Allows to create a volume type representation of a selected surface type model in order to perform realistic analysis (such as clash, contact check...)

● Offsets are applied on both faces of the original 2D surface

● Ability to define the orientation in which the offsets are applied. These orientations can be changed manually or automatically to correct the possible lack of uniformity between the orientations of the different surfaces.

● This functionality is dedicated to all industries where the design is created using surfaces and where the user needs volume to perform realistic analysis such as clash checks or measures (volume, inertia...) on the digital mockup. This is for example the case for the body in white process.

For more detailed information, refer to More about Thickness.

Insert SCENARIO01.model from the samples folder.

Use the Fit All In icon to position the model geometry on the screen.(Optional)You can manage automatically your Thickness result as alternate shape of the initial component.

In this case, the thickness result will be automatically reinserted and will replace the initial component

(provided the Activate check box is selected, it is by default)

Note: If your are not working in alternate shape mode, it is strongly recommended to use the Reference

Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. Please read About Reference

Product

In our example, the Manage Alternate Shape option is activated for Thickness.

1. Click the Thickness icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Thickness dialog box is displayed.

2. Select the surface(s) you want to work on (i.e. SCENARIO01.model) in the specification tree or in

the geometry area.

Note: only 2D surface(s) can be selected.

About selection:

You can select any node within the specification tree (terminal/non terminal) and even multi-select them provided that you are not working in alternate shape mode.

3. Enter the Offset values:

For instance:

Offset 1=2mmOffset 2=0mm

Setting the Offset values:

Depending on the surface design, you can define any value meeting your needs (negative, positive, or null)

Please refer to More About Thickness

4. Click Preview to generate the thickness representation. The preview window is displayed.

5. Zoom to visualize better the thickness result:

If you are not satisfied with the result (because of gaps between surface patches or bad offset orientation)You can turn on the Orientation constraints optionOrientation Constraints

❍ The Orientation constraints option is disabled by default. (The default normal vectors are used)

❍ Through this functionality, you can define the orientation of the offset (on every surface patch).■ If you select the Orientation constraints check box (without defining additional vectors): the

normal vector orientation is done automatically. The first normal vector found defines the reference orientation which is propagated to the neighboring surfaces.

■ If the automatic propagation is still incomplete (for example, certain surfaces are not correctly connected), you need to define manually normal vectors.

You are still in the Thickness command.


If you change any of the dialog box parameters, the initial representation is displayed

7. Click Preview.

The Propagation is not complete.The surfaces concerned are highlighted.

8. Select the Orientation constraints check box again to define constraints on the original

representation.

9. Define constraint vectors for the corresponding surfaces in the document window:

❍ Drag the cursor onto the surface.

❍ When you are satisfied, use the left mouse button.The constraint vector is created.

At anytime, you can delete a constraint vector, what you need to do is to click on the white squareNote that if you click the arrow, you reverse the constraint vector orientation.

10. Click Preview when done. The calculation is based on the orientation of the constraint vectors.

This time, the result is correct (there are not any highlighted surfaces displayed):

11. Click Save.

The Save As dialog box is displayed:



12. Click Save.

13. Click Close to exit the thickness command

Alternate Shape:

(Optional)You can manage your Thickness result as an alternate shape

For this:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar.The Options dialog box appears:


The Alternate Shapes Management is available4. Select the Thickness check box: the thickness is automatically activated as an alternate shape

The Thickness result will be added as a new representation of the initial component.For more details, please refer to Customizing DMU Optimizer Settings and Managing as an Alternate Shape.

Remember you can customize thickness settings at any time.

More about Thickness

How is the thickness representation calculated?

To obtain a thickness representation:

● select the offset values depending on the surface design:

surface = solid (neutral- fibred)surface = solid (surface limit)

The thickness value can take any positive or negative value

The following example aims at illustrating the impact of the offset values on the final result.

Case 1: offset 1 value>0 and offset 2 value>0 (or the opposite)

The surface is assigned offsets on both sides

Note: From V5R11, the calculation changes: offset1 and offset2 values make the selected surface move to two opposite directions (i.e. two positive values equal to 2mn will result in a thickness of 4mm).

Case 2: offset 1 value>0 and offset 2 value=0 (or the opposite)

The surface is assigned an offset on one side

Now, if offset 1 value=0 and offset 2 >0 this is what you obtain:

Case 3: offset 1 value>0 and offset 2 value<0 (or the opposite)

The surface is assigned an offset twice on the same side.

Now, if the offset values are opposite, both offsets are applied in the same direction.

Orientation constraints option:

Sometimes you will tackle with design inconsistencies. You can check the orientation constraints option and/or define orientation constraint vectors to force the offset orientation This procedure can be used when different surface patches are assigned opposite normal vectors.

The following example aims at illustrating the orientation constraints option.

Case 1: the orientation constraints option is not checked

The default normal vectors define the offset orientation for each surface patch.

Result: If the surface patches are not correctly designed, there might be gaps between the different surface patches. In this case, you need to use the orientation constraints option (automatic mode)

NB. You should study the result preview carefully to detect inconsistencies.

Case 2: the orientation constraints option is checked (automatic mode)

The first default normal vector defines the offset orientation reference. This orientation is automatically propagated to the neighboring surfaces.

Result: If the surface patches are not correctly connected, there might still be remaining gaps between surface patches. In this case, you need to use the orientation constraints option and to define manually constraint vectors.

NB. The surface patches are not correctly connected are highlighted in the result preview.

Case 3: you checked the orientation constraints option and defined two orientation constraint vectors.

The orientation constraint vectors define the offset orientation references. This resulting orientation is propagated to the neighboring surfaces of each constraint

NB. The constraint vectors defined manually appear as red arrows on the picture.

Result: The surface patches are now correctly connected

Generating an Offset along Normal Vectors

Offset functionality:

● Allows to add an offset to a selected set of shapes (surfaces or volumes), this provides a security margin around these shapes

● Enables to define the orientation in which the offset is applied. This orientation can be changed manually or automatically to correct the possible lack of uniformity between the orientation vectors of the different surfaces.

For more detailed information, refer to More About Offset along Normal Vectors.

This task will show you how to generate offsets on a surface or volume using the offset functionality.

Insert SCENARIO01.model from the samples folder.

Use the Fit All In icon to position the model geometry on the screen.(Optional) You can manage automatically your Offset result as alternate shape of the initial component. In this case, the offset result will be automatically reinserted and will replace the initial component (provided the Activate check box is selected, it is by default)


Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. Please read About Reference

Product

1. Click the Offset icon in the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Offset dialog box is displayed.

2. Select the solid or surface you want to work on (i.e. SCENARIO0. model) either in the specification

tree or in the geometry area.

The result can be surface or a solid. The type of the offset result will be the same.

3. Enter the Offset value, 2mm for instance.

Note: you can define an offset along fixed vectors, please refer to theGenerating Offset Along Fixed Vectors

4. Click the More button:

The Input Products dialog box is displayedThe listed selection corresponds to the those products you selected before you launched a calculation

You can select the Preview check box to see a preview of you product selection

5. Click Preview to generate the offset representation.

The Preview window is displayed:

6. Zoom to visualize better the offset result.

If you are not satisfied with the result (because of gaps between surface patches or bad offset orientation)You may use the Orientation constraints optionOrientation Constraints

❍ The Orientation constraints option is disabled by default. (The default normal vectors are used)

❍ Using this functionality, you can define the orientation of the offset (on every surface patch).

■ If you select the Orientation constraints check box (without defining additional vectors): the normal vector orientation is calculated automatically. The first normal vector found defines the reference orientation which is propagated to the neighboring surfaces.

■ If the automatic propagation is still incomplete (for example, some surfaces are not correctly connected), you need to define manually normal vectors.


8. Click Apply.

The Propagation is not complete. The surfaces concerned are highlighted.

9. Select the Orientation constraints check box again to define constraints on the initial

representation.

10. Define constraint vectors for the corresponding surfaces in the document window:

❍ Drag the cursor onto the surface.

❍ When you are satisfied, click the left-hand mouse button.The constraint vector is created.

At anytime, you can delete a constraint vector, what you need to do is to click on the white squareNote that if you click the arrow, you reverse the constraint vector orientation.

11. Click Apply when done. The calculation is based on the orientation of the constraint vectors.

This time, the result is correct (there is no longer highlighted surfaces):

12. Click OK.


13. Enter a meaningful name and save in .cgr format.

14. Click Save

Alternate Shape:

(Optional) You can manage automatically your Offset result as alternate shape of the initial component.

For this:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar.The Options dialog box is displayed


The Alternate Shapes Management is available4. Select the Offset check box: the offset is automatically treated as an alternate shape

The Offset result will be added to the initial component as a new representation (it will replace the original component). For more details, please refer to Customizing DMU Optimizer Settings and Managing as an Alternate Shape.

Remember you can customize offset settings at any time.

More about Offset along Normal VectorsHow is the offset representation calculated?

The offset representation is obtained by:

1. Adding an offset to a selected set of shapes (surfaces or volumes), this provides a security margin around these shapes2. defining the orientation in which the offset is applied.

or/and if necessary

3. changing this orientation manually or automatically to correct the possible lack of uniformity between the orientation vectors of the different surfaces.

The offset value can take any positive or negative values.

The following example aims at illustrating the impact of the offset value on the final result.

Case 1: offset value> 0

Case 2: offset value <0

Now let's study the orientation constraints option impact

Orientation constraints option:

Sometimes you will tackle with design inconsistencies. You can check the orientation constraints and/or define orientation constraint vectors to force the orientation of the offset.This procedure can be used when different surface patches are assigned opposite normal vectors.

The following example aims at illustrating the orientation constraints option.

Case 1: the orientation constraints option is not checked.

The default normal vectors define the offset orientation.

Result: If the surface patches are not correctly designed, there might be gaps between the different surface patches. In this case, you need to use the orientation constraints option (automatic mode)

NB. You should study the result preview carefully to detect inconsistencies.

Case 2: you checked the orientation constraints option

The first default normal vector defines the offset orientation reference. This orientation is propagated to the neighboring surfaces.

Result: If the surface patches are not correctly connected, there might still be remaining gaps between surface patches. In this case, you need to use the orientation constraints option and to define manually constraint vectors.

NB. The surface patches are not correctly connected are highlighted in the result preview.

Case 3: you checked the orientation constraints option and defined two orientation constraint vectors

NB. The constraint vectors defined manually appear as red arrows on the picture.

Result: The surface patches are now correctly connected (there is no longer highlighted surfaces)

Case 4: cases which can not be resolved

Offset and thickness operations are not boolean, therefore, be careful when you deal with acute angles and high offset values because you might encounter overlapping surfaces. See pictures below:

Offset value still in a good range.

The angle is too "sharp" and/ or a too high offset value is set.

Generating an Offset along Fixed Vectors

Offset functionality:

● Allows to add an offset to a selected set of shapes (surfaces or volumes), this provides a security margin around these shapes.

● Enables to define the vectors along which the offset is applied. These vectors are defined either from the product main axis system or from any axis system in a .CATPart document (Part Design workbench, Axis System command).

For more detailed information, please refer to More about Offset along Fixed Vectors.This task will show you how to generate offsets along fixed vectors through the offset command.

Open mastervac_offset.CATProduct document

Use the Fit All In icon to position the model geometry on the screen.(Optional) You can manage automatically your offset result as alternate shape of the initial component. In this case, the offset result will be automatically reinserted and will replace the initial component (provided the Activate check box is selected, it is by default)


Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. Read About Reference Product

1. Click the Offset icon in the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Offset dialog box is displayed.

2. Select the solid or surface you want to work on (i.e. MASTERVAC (MASTERVAC.1) in the

specification tree or in the geometry area.

3. Select the Along fixed vectors check box. The along fixed vectors frame is no longer grayed out.

Note: Refer to Generating an Offset along Normal vectors for the Along normals mode

4. If necessary, click in the Axis system area and select the axis system which defines the offset

directions (the default axis system is the product main axis system)

❍ i.e. select Axis System.1 either in the geometry area or in the specification tree.

5. Enter the required offset values in the x, y and z fields:

❍ x min: -20mm

❍ x max: 20mm

❍ y min: 0mm

❍ y max: 0mm

❍ z min: 0mm

❍ z max: 0mm

For more detailed information refer to 'Fixed vectors' in More about Offset.

6. Click Preview to generate the offset representation.

The Preview window is displayed:

7. Zoom to visualize better the offset result.

8. Click Save to save the result.


9. Enter a meaningful name and save in the desired format (.cgr, .vrml or.CATIA model)

For more detailed information, please read About saving operations

10. In our example, save your result MASTERVAC.1_OFFSET in cgr format.

11. Click Close to exit the offset command

Alternate Shape:

(Optional) You can manage automatically your Offset result as alternate shape of the initial component.

For this:

1. Select Tools->Options from the menu bar. The Options dialog box is displayed


The Alternate Shapes Management is available4. Select the Offset check box: the offset is automatically activated as an alternate shape

The Offset result will be added to the initial component as a new representationFor more details, please refer to Customizing DMU Optimizer Settings and Managing as an Alternate Shape.

Remember you can customize offset settings at any time.

More about Offset along Fixed Vectors

When an object is moving along known directions (translations only) you can use the offset command with "Along Fixed Vectors" option to calculate the object envelope.

How is the offset representation calculated?

You obtain an offset representation by:

1. Adding an offset to a selected set of shapes (surfaces or volumes) along selected vectors.2. Defining the offset values along each vector.

The vectors used in the command are defined by an axis system.

The values xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax , zmin and zmax correspond to the offset values along the vectors of the axis system.

The offset values can take any positive or negative values.The following example aims at illustrating the impact of the offset values on the final result.

Swept VolumeDefine a Swept Volume: click the Swept Volume icon, then select a product to sweep using the more button if necessary. Click Preview to generate the swept volume. When done, click Save to save your swept volume in cgr format. Define a Swept Volume from a moving Reference: click the Swept Volume icon, then select a product to sweep and a reference product. Click Preview to generate the swept volume. When done, click Save to save your swept volume. Use Wrapping and Simplification in Swept Volume: click the Swept Volume icon, then select a product to sweep. Click Preview to generate the swept volume. Apply a wrapping When done, apply a simplification and click Save to save your swept volume. Filter Swept Volume Positions: click the Swept Volume icon, then select a product to sweep using the more button to display the Multi-selection dialog box, then check the Filter Positions option and enter a value in the Filtering precision field. Click Preview to generate the swept volume. When done, click Save to save your swept volume. More about Swept Volume: provides examples and explanations about swept volume functionality.

Initial geometry with a track Swept volume generated from a track

Creating a Swept Volume

Swept volume functionality:

lets you generate the swept volume of a moving part using an open simulation created with an external defined motion. For more detailed information, refer to More About Swept VolumeThis task shows you how to generate a swept volume.

Open the Mobile_Phone.CATProduct document.

1. Manage automatically your result as an alternate shape. For this:

❍ Select Tools->Options from the menu bar.The Options dialog box is displayed.

❍ Expand the Digital Mockup category from the left-hand tree.

❍ Select DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab. The Alternate Shapes Management is available

❍ Select the Swept Volume check box: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape. When activated the swept volume representation is the one visualized in session.

2. Select the products to sweep. In our example, select the battery track in the specification tree

Note: you can select or deselect products directly in the main window

3. Click the Swept Volume icon .

The Swept Volume dialog box is displayed.

4. (Optional) Click the more button to display the Multi-selection dialog box.

When you are satisfied with your selection, click OK.

5. (Optional) Select a reference product if necessary

Please refer to Creating a Swept Volume from a Moving Reference

6. Click Preview to generate the swept volume. The progress bar is displayed letting you

monitor and, if necessary, interrupt (Cancel option) the calculation.

The preview window shows the result.


❍ Set the Type to .cgr.

❍ Identify the folder in which you want to save the file.

❍ Enter a file name.

8. Click Save.

9. Click Close.

This is what you obtain:

Your swept volume is managed as an alternate shape, therefore, it is automatically inserted into your product and replaces the original component (Battery.1)

10. Right-click Battery.1 in the specification tree. Select Representations->Manage

representations... from the contextual menu displayed:

The Manage Representations dialog box is displayed:The swept volume Battery.1_SWEPTVOLUME.cgr is the activated shape.

Creating a Swept Volume from a Moving Reference

Swept Volume functionality:

lets you generate the swept volume of a moving part in the axis system of another moving part. It can be very useful if you need to perform clash detection or if you need to calculate the minimum distance between two products.For more detailed information, refer to More about Swept Volume.This task shows how to define a swept volume from a moving reference.

Open the MeasureSpeedAcceleration.CATProduct document.Note: This sample includes a Kinematics mechanism, therefore make sure you have a DMU Kinematics license.



2. Clear the Filter Positions check box, which is selected by default.

3. Select the product you want to sweep. In our example, select:

❍ Exit_Shaft.1

❍ Knuckle.1

❍ Movement_Converter.1

When you are satisfied, click OK.

4. Click to display the Reference Product Selection dialog box:

5. Select Eccentric_Shaft.1 as reference product.

6. Click Ok to confirm your operation. The Swept Volume dialog box is automatically updated.

7. Click Preview to generate the swept volume. The Preview window shows the result.


8. Click Save.

9. The Save As dialog box automatically appears.

10. Enter a meaningful name (in our example add a suffix _MOVING_REF to the first swept volume name) and save in the desired

format (use the Save as type drop-down list, in our example keep .cgr format)

11. Identify the folder in which you want to save the file.

12. Click Save.

Multiple save management for swept volume

You no longer need to repeat the operation with the next swept volumes as the option Use one directory and save in one click is selected by default, in Tools-> Options-> DMU Optimizer... please read Improved Save Management for Swept Volume

This means, the next swept volumes will be automatically saved within the same directory (i.e. the one you selected), as follows:

❍ Knuckle.1_SWEPTVOLUME_MOVING_REF .cgr

❍ Movement_Converter.1_SWEPTVOLUME_MOVING_REF .cgr

Notes: ❍ Their names are built as follows: product_name_shape_name._format_type (The saving operation

retrieves what you added to the first swept volume name you saved and takes it into account when building the following swept volume names).

❍ It is strongly recommended to select an empty directory not to overwrite existing swept volume results.

13. Click Close to exit the swept volume functionality.

Now, insert the swept volume results into your product

Note: a swept volume is created for each product selected: ❍ Exit_Shaft.1_SWEPTVOLUME_MOVING_REF.cgr

❍ Knuckle.1_SWEPTVOLUME_MOVING_REF.cgr

❍ Movement_Converter.1_SWEPTVOLUME_MOVING_REF.cgr, therefore, you can reinsert all swept volume documents in the product or only the one of your choice.

14. For instance, right-click Stamper in the specification tree.

15. Select Components->Existing Component from the contextual menu displayed.

16. Select Exit_Shaft.1_SWEPTVOLUME_MOVING_REF.cgr from the samples folder

(online\cfysm_X2\samples\DMUApplications\sweptvolumes)


The swept volume result is identified in the specification tree.

Using Wrapping and Simplification in Swept Volume


You can simplify the swept volume and wrap it to obtain a much cleaner swept volume. You can simplify the wrapped swept to make it even lighter.

Note: you can also compute a silhouette before the swept volume. Silhouette can be very useful by removing most of the triangles that lie inside the model, thiangles that are most of the time useless for swept volumes. The computation is therefore quicker and the result is simplified (fewer triangles)

When performing a swept volume followed by a wrapping operation, you can calculate both in one operation, with a parallelization of the computation and if necessary a saving operation of temporary files on disk. Thus, much longer tracks can be used and largest models too. We recommend you to use spatial split when handling large models (i.e. a model presenting tracks with numerous positions). Also read More about spatial split.

For more detailed information, read More about Swept Volume.

This task shows how to use wrapping and simplification in a swept volume.

Open the Mobile_Phone.CATProduct document.





❍ Select the Swept Volume check box: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape. When activated the swept volume representation is the one visualized in session.

2. Select the products to sweep. In our example, select the battery track in the specification

tree

3. Click the Swept Volume icon

.


4. (Optional) you can also compute a silhouette before the swept volume. This is very useful

when handling large models as the silhouette operation removes useless triangles.


The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and, if necessary, interrupt (Cancel

option) the calculation.

Now you want to simplify the swept volume result, you are going to reduce the number of triangles used to create the resulting shape, first wrapping the swept volume and then applying a simplification on the wrapping result.

6. Select the Apply Wrapping check box

7. Set the grain by entering a value. In our example, keep the default value 4mm

8. Set the Offset Ratio. In our example, keep the default value

9. Click Preview

The number of triangles representing the wrapping result is displayed in the Number of triangles field as shown below:

10. Select the Apply Simplification check box (on the wrapped swept volume)

11. Enter 0.2mm in the simplification accuracy filed

12. (Optional, i.e when dealing with a track presenting numerous positions or dealing with a

large digital mockup), you can select the Spatial Split check box. In this case and if the

Apply wrapping option is selected: the initial model (i.e. track) is spatially split and each

part is swept separately and then added to the wrapping.

More about Spatial split:

The wrapping result is exactly the same:

13. Click Preview to launch the calculation. This is what you obtain:

The number of triangles representing the simplification result is displayed in the Number of triangles field as shown below:

The simplification representation is coarse but the number of triangles has been drastically reduced.

14. Click Save. The Save As dialog box automatically appears

15. Select cgr file from the Save as type drop-down list, enter a meaningful name and click

Save.

16. Click Close to exit the Swept volume command


Your swept volume is managed as an alternate shape, therefore, it is automatically inserted into your product and replaces the original component (Battery.1)

Filtering Swept Volume Positions


Enables to filter the number of pre-defined positions recorded in the simulation and to control the swept volume accuracy. It can be very useful if you need to reduce the computation time and the resulting size of the swept volume. This task shows how to filter swept volume positions.





❍ Check Swept Volume option: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape. When activated the swept volume representation is the one visualized in session.

2. Select the products to sweep. In our example, select the battery track in the specification

tree



4. Change filtering precision value to 3mm


The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and, if necessary, interrupt (Cancel


6. Click Save. The Save As dialog box automatically appears




7. Click Close to exit the Swept volume command

This is what you obtain, the positions are filtered:

Your swept volume representation is managed as an alternate shape, therefore, it is automatically inserted into your product and replaces the original component (i.e. Battery.1).

More About Swept Volume

About Filter positions option:

This option can be used to simplify the swept volume computation when the replay object contains many positions or when you know what precision level you need to obtain.The "filter precision" defines the maximum distance allowed between the simplified trajectory and the initial one (= discretization precision)

1- Filtering swept volume positions

The following example aims at illustrating the impact of the filter positions option on the final result

Case 1: the Filter positions option is not checked:

Case 2: the Filter positions option is checked Filtering precision = 5mm

Case 3: the Filter positions option is checked Filtering precision = 10mm

2- Relative swept volume About Relative swept volume:

You can compute the swept volume of a moving part in the system axis of another moving part.You can use this option when you need to analyze the swept volume of a product versus another product (moving or not)

Example: two moving parts: circle and squareWith the basic computation of the swept volumes, the clash analysis is not relevant:

the swept volumes clash but two objects may not be in the same clash area at the same time.

If you use the relative swept volume option and select the circle as the reference product, you can compute the square swept volume in the circle system axis.

The result can now be relevant for clash analysis.

Vibration Volume Generating a Vibration Volume

Generating a Vibration Volume from a TrackMore about Vibration Volume

Initial geometry Vibration volume

Generating a Vibration Volume

Vibration Volume functionality:

lets you calculate the dynamic envelope of a part or a group of parts with respect to a positions file (Adams or vda or from a Fitting track.

● This dynamic envelope is in fact given by a set of positions in Euler coordinates (in degrees) from an ASCII positions file (ADAMS format or vda format)

● Vibration volume as most Optimizer commands is a multi-selection command, which means the user can select as many input products he wants and then launch the process to the select product or group of products

● Once the computation is launched, a solid shape is generated: this shape represents an envelope of the products (s) placed in every position

● The result can be saved in CGR, VRML, V4 model or STL

This task will show you how to generate a vibration volume from a positions file

Open Mobile_Phone.CATProduct document

Use the Fit All In icon to to position the model geometry on the screenAlternate Shape

1. (Optional)

You can manage automatically your result as alternate shape of the initial component.

For this:




❍ Check Vibration Volume option: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape. When activated the vibration volume representation is the one visualized in session.

Note: If your are not working in alternate shape mode, it is strongly recommended to use the Reference Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. read About Reference Product

2. Click the Vibration volume icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Vibration Volume dialog box is displayed:

3. Select the product or the group of products on which you want to apply the vibration volume.

In our example, select Mobile Phone in the specification tree

4. Click Browse to select a positions file of your choice.

Two positions files are provided:

❍ Adams_4pos.txt

❍ ForSpec.vda

You can find them in C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B14doc\online\dmoug\samples folder

Description of a VDA transformation matrix

A VDA file is an ASCII file which contains a set of transformation matrix

Syntax: name = TMAT / c11, c12,c13,c21,c22,c23,c31,c32,c33,c41,c42,c43

Parameter: c11,c12,c13,c21,c22,c23 - real

c31,c32,c33,c41,c42,c43 - real

❍ c11,c12,c13,c21,c22,c23,c31,c32,c33 - coefficients of transformation matrix for rotation, shearing and scaling

❍ c41,c42,c43 - coefficients of transformation sub-matrix for translation (∆x, ∆y, ∆z)

Note: c11,c12...c33 must be an inverse transformation matrix , it means: det(c11...c33)<>0

A point with coordinates x, y, z will be transformed in x', y', z' with the following rules

x'= c11*x + c12*y + c13*z + c41

y'= c21*x + c22*y + c23*z + c42

z'= c31*x +c32*y + c33*z + c43

Description of an ADAMS File

An ADAMS file is an ASCII file which contains a set of transformations, described by an absolute position (x,y,z) and three Euler angles:

x,y,z (absolute position) and alpha, beta, gamma (Euler angles in degrees)

For instance:

-2.26 -0.58 5.9 0.3 0.56 -0.07

The following schemes describe the Euler angles used in this ADAMS file:

Note: you can also use another type of file (.mvf) almost identical to the ADAMS file ; the first column containing a parameter time in seconds (for each position).

5. The File Selection dialog box appears:

6. Select the positions file of your choice Adams_4pos.txt and click Open.

7. The path is updated accordingly in the Positions file field.

8. Set the vibration volume accuracy. In our example, enter 1mm

Setting the vibration volume accuracy

The accuracy determines the precision of the vibration volume representation. The accuracy parameter determines the size of the triangles used to represent the vibration volume. A lower setting results in slower computation time, but a more precise calculation of the vibration volume.

For more detailed information, please see More about Vibration Volume

9. Select the Apply Simplification check box and set the simplification accuracy as you wish (enter 0.5mm)

Note: you can also apply the simplification afterwards or launch the operation again with different accuracy values as many times as needed

10. Click Preview to launch the calculation and obtain a preview. The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and interrupt if necessary (Cancel


The preview window lets you see the resulting vibration volume.

If you are not satisfied with the result, you can simplify the vibration volume result again. For more detailed information, read Using Simplification Command and More about Simplification

11. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is displayed.




you can also save your result as a V4 model, .stl or .wrl documents. Also read About Saving Operations

12. Click Save.

Vibration volume is a 'journalized' functionality. You can therefore generate a macro using Tools->Macro->Record... Refer to Recording a Macro in the Infrastructure User's Guide and read CAA V5 Automation - DMU documentation. Access to the specific documentation is provided on the documentation homepage.

Generating a Vibration Volume from a Track

Vibration Volume functionality:

lets you calculate the dynamic envelope of a part or a group of parts with respect to a positions file or from a existing fitting track .

● This dynamic envelope is in fact given by a set of positions in Euler coordinates from an ASCII positions file (ADAMS format) or (VDA format) or a track

● Vibration volume as most Optimizer commands is a multi-selection command, which means the user can select as many input products he wants and then launch the process to the select product or group of products

● Once the computation is launched, a solid shape is generated: this shape represents an envelope of the products (s) placed in every position

● The result can be saved in CGR, VRML, V4 model or STL

This task will show you how to generate a vibration volume from a track

Open the Mobile_Phone.CATProduct document

Use the Fit All In icon to to position the model geometry on the screenAlternate Shape





❍ Check Vibration Volume option: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape. When activated the vibration volume representation is the one visualized in session.

Note: If your are not working in alternate shape mode, it is strongly recommended to use the Reference Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. Read About Reference Product.

2. Click the Vibration volume icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Vibration Volume dialog box is displayed:

3. Select the product or the group of products on which you want to apply the vibration volume.

In our example, select Mobile Phone in the specification tree

4. Select Track option button. Select Vibration (Vibration) from the drop-down list

5. Set the vibration volume accuracy by entering a value. In our example, keep the default value

1mm

Setting the vibration volume accuracy

The accuracy determines the precision of the vibration volume representation. The accuracy parameter determines the size of the triangles used to represent the vibration volume. A lower setting results in slower computation time, but a more precise calculation of the vibration volume.

For more detailed information, see More about Vibration Volume

6. Select the Apply Simplification option and set the simplification accuracy as you wish (enter

0.5mm)

Note you can also apply the simplification afterwards or launch again the operation with different accuracy values as many times as needed

7. Click Preview to launch the calculation and obtain a preview. The progress bar is displayed letting

you monitor and interrupt if necessary (Cancel option) the calculation.

The preview window lets you visualize the resulting vibration volume.

The number of triangles representing the simplified vibration volume is displayed in the Number of triangles area, as shown below:

If you are not satisfied with the result, you can simplify your vibration volume result again. For more detailed information, read Using Simplification Command and More about Simplification.

8. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is displayed.




you can also save your result as V4 model, .stl or .wrl documents. Read About Saving Operations

9. Click Save

10. Click Close

Your vibration volume is managed as an alternate shape, therefore, it is automatically inserted into your product and replaces the original component.

Vibration volume is a 'journalized' functionality. You can therefore generate a macro using Tools->Macro->Record... (read Recording a Macro in Infrastructure User's Guide and read CAA V5 Automation - DMU documentation).

More about Vibration Volume

How is the vibration volume representation calculated?

The vibration volume of a geometry is obtained by:

1. duplicating the original model (assembly) in all positions given by the position file 2. generating a wrapping on all those duplicated models, excluding the original one, except if the

original position is mentioned in the positions file. The grain value of the wrapping equals the vibration volume accuracy value, the offset value is set to 0.1

The following example aims at illustrating these two steps on the final result.

1. Original geometry 2. Duplicated geometry

The resulting vibration looks like this:

The table below shows the accuracy parameter impact on the vibration volume calculation:

Accuracy Value Computation Time Used Memory Resulting Size (number of triangles)

Greater Shorter Less Smaller

Smaller Longer More Bigger

Generating a Free Space

Free Space functionality:

lets you calculate and visualize the available space in a model. The result is a solid.You can then:

● easily perform different types analysis on this solid (volume, inertia...)

● consider this solid as the outside boundaries of the components to be assembled inside the original model.

● you can compute the free space between elements within the boundaries of a given area with a more accurate definition

● the free space functionality among the possibly multiple result pieces chooses to compute the only resulting piece which is derived by using the periphery of the objects that enclose a user defined point in closed or nearly closed space.

This task shows you how to calculate a free space for two different purposes:● You need to calculate a free space (volume) which will be assigned a new functionality (analysis...)(in box option)

● or a free space which corresponds to a capacity (in nearly closed geometry option)

Open TankClosed2.CATProduct document.


Alternate Shape:

1. (Optional)

You can manage automatically your result as alternate shape of the initial component. For this:




❍ Check Free Space option: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape.When activated the free space representation is the one visualized in session.

2. Click the Free Space icon in the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The Free Space dialog box and Free space box are displayed:

The box appears in the geometry area

3. Select Product1

4. Keep the default type (in box area).

5. Keep the default value in the accuracy field.

Note: if you change the accuracy value, you need to use the command from the standard toolbar. You are still in the free space command and you can then enter a new accuracy value.

6. Define the free space, You can either:

❍ Enter coordinates values in the Free space box,

❍ Resize the box with the manipulators within the geometry area,

❍ Or click .

7. Click .

Note: the 3D map memory size (in bytes) is displayed (in green) as you manipulate the box.

8. Click Preview to generate the free space. The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and, if necessary, interrupt

(Cancel option) the calculation. The preview window shows the result:

9. Click Save.

Note: clicking Save keeps the command active and lets you therefore launch the calculation again if needed. The Save As dialog box automatically appears

10. Enter a meaningful name and click Save to generate a 3dmap file.

Now repeat the scenario from step 1 but select the nearly closed area option in the Free Space dialog box. You are going to calculate the capacity of the tank.

11. Select in nearly closed area option

You can compute the free space between elements within the boundaries of a given area with a more accurate definition, selecting an init point

For this: press and hold down the left mouse button, then the middle mouse button and drag (still holding both buttons

down) to move the plane to the desired location.

Refer to Manipulating Section Planes Directly in the DMU Space Analysis User's Guide.

14. Click Ok in the Edit Section Plane dialog box. The box is updated with the coordinates defined.

15. Enter 40 mm in the Accuracy value field.

to position your point.

The Section Definition dialog box and a Preview window are displayed.

For more information, refer to Creating Section Planes in DMU Space Analysis User's Guide.

13. Position your init point accordingly. For instance, move the section plane in the x,y plane of the local axis system:

12. For this, click the Section Plane button

17. Validate the operation depending on the situation:

If you are satisfied with the result, then... If you are not satisfied, then...

click Save and then save in the Save As dialog box to obtain a 3dmap file.

enter a new accuracy value and press the Enter key. Click Save and then save in the Save As dialog box to obtain a 3dmap file.

16. Click Preview to generate the free space. The progress bar is displayed, letting you monitor and, if necessary, interrupt

(Cancel option) the calculation.

The Preview window shows the result:

About Saving OperationsThe saving operation in DMU Optimizer is similar for each and every DMU Optimizer command. The major difference between functionalities lies in the supported formats between the functionalities.

Note: when the swept volume selection includes several products, several saving operations are needed.

This section deals with the following topics:● Graphic Interface

● Saving Behaviors

● Customizing Path for Save

● Formats Supported in DMU Optimizer

● Improved Save Management for Swept Volume

Graphic Interface

● Click the Save button to display the following dialog box:

Now all you need to do is:● set the appropriate Save as type using the drop-down list

● identify the folder in which you want to save the file

● enter a file name

● click Save and then Close to exit the command (still active)

Behaviors common to all DMU Optimizer functionalities

● Clicking Save keeps the command active and lets you therefore launch the calculation again if needed. When satisfied click Save in the Save As dialog box. Click Close to exit the dialog box.

● When saving a DMU Optimizer representation in any format supported in DMU Optimizer product, the LOD (levels of details) are automatically re-calculated

Customizing Path for Save

You can now customize a default path to save your DMU Optimizer results.

All you need to do is specify the "path for save" using Tools->Options->Digital Mockup->DMU Optimizer... either using the

Browse button or entering the precise path

Formats supported in DMU Optimizer

DMU Optimizer supports various saving formats from the following:

● CGR (.cgr)

● VRML (.wrl)

● V4 model (.model)

● STL (.stl)

● 3dmap (.3dmap) (Free Space functionality only)

The table below lists the supported formats depending on the functionalities:

CGR WRL V4Model STL 3dmap

Silhouette

YES YES YES YES NO

Wrapping

YES YES YES YES NO

Thickness

YES YES YES YES NO

Offset YES YES YES YES NO

Swept Volume

YES YES YES YES NO

Free Space

YES YES YES YES YES

Simplification

YES YES YES YES NO

Result of a merging operation

YES YES YES YES NO

3D cutYES YES YES YES NO

Vibration VolumeYES YES YES YES NO

About CGR format

CGR stands for CATIA Graphic Representation. This file format is the common format used for the tesselation of all V5 data.

All MULTICAx Plug-in products convert native part data into CGR format. CGR files always have a .cgr extension.

About VRML format

VRML stands for Virtual Reality Modeling Language This is a vector-based language for modeling three-dimensional environments. It sends ASCII text files over the Internet, which are translated by the VRML viewing engine at the other end. VRML complements HTML. This format is useful for viewing Version 5 data using a Web browser. VRML files always have a .wrl extension.

Note: You can choose between two VRML versions using Tools->Options->Compatibility->VRML... as well as customize the export options:

About V4 Model format

CATIA Version 4 model. Note: only *POL surfaces are created.

About STL format

STL stands for stereolithography document (ASCII). STL files always have a .stl extension

This simple format is open for other CAD systems. The major interest of this capability lies in the re-use and import in other CATIA products for design purposes.For instance, with Quick Surface Reconstruction product (belonging to the Shape Design family) you will be able to recreate exact surfaces from the imported point shell.

About 3dmap format

This CATIA format lets you browse spacemap representation files.

Improved Save Management for Swept Volume

The new option Use one directory and save in one click available in Tools-> Options-> DMU Optimizer lets you save in a single directory, multiple swept volumes, in one click (when dealing with several moving products, for instance when performing a swept volume on a shuttle or on a mechanism).

By default, this new check box is selected in Tools->Options->DMU Optimizer...

Let's have a look at a simple example:

1. Create a swept volume from a shuttle-based track containing three moving products:

2. Click Save. The Save As dialog box appears only once.3. Identify the folder in which you want to save the file (a single folder where you want your swept volumes to be saved).

Note: It is strongly recommended to select an empty directory not to overwrite exisiting swept volume data (if you inadvertently selected a directory where swept volumes are stored, make sure you do not overwrite swept volume results. A warning message is displayed only once).

4. Enter a file name for the first swept volume. The default swept volume name is built as follows: product_name_shape_name. format_type

Note: The next swept volumes names are built following the same rule:

product_name_SWEPTVOLUME.format_type

or, If you add a prefix and/or a suffix to the first swept volume name, the next swept volume names will include them too.

i.e. Let's say, you have three moving objects, therefore three resulting swept volumes to be saved in the same directory (provided that you did not clear the Use one directory and save in one click new check box):

❍ Prod1

❍ Prod2

❍ Prod3

You decide to:

❍ Add a suffix to the first swept volume (_ref for example) and,

❍ Select cgr format from the Save as type drop-down list.

Saving the fisrt swept volume as Prod1_SWEPTVOLUME_ref.cgr means the next will be named:

❍ Prod2_SWEPTVOLUME_ref.cgr,

❍ and Prod3_SWEPTVOLUME_ref.cgr respectively.

Particular cases

When you change the product name (for instance Prod1 in MySweptVol), the product name is no longer recognized. You save the three swept volumes as follows:

MySweptVol_SWEPTVOLUME_ref.cgr,

MySweptVol_SWEPTVOLUME_ref_2.cgr,

MySweptVol_SWEPTVOLUME_ref_3.cgr.5. click Save and then Close to exit the command.

Creating 3D Cuts

3D Cut functionality:

The 3D Cut allows to compute the intersection (or the difference as defined by the user) between a CATPart, a CATProduct or a multi-selection of CATParts and a 3D box. The result is a truncated polygonal mesh, lighter than the original selection which can be saved as an independent geometry

The new geometry will keep attributes such as color, faces, edges... The 3D cut result can be automatically treated as an alternate shape as in any other DMU Optimizer command.

The 3D section box can be easily manipulated and resized.

The aim is to reduce the geometry of an assembly to only one dedicated zone, while still being able to perform all standard analysis necessary for Digital Mockup review

This task will show you how to create 3D cut

Open Mobile_Phone_3Dcut.CATProduct document.

Use the Fit All In icon to position the model geometry on the screen.Alternate Shape:

1. (Optional)

You can manage automatically your result as alternate shape of the initial component. For this:




❍ Select the 3D Cut option: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape. When activated the 3D cut representation is the one visualized in session.

2. Right-click Battery(Battery.1) in the specification tree and select Representations-> manage Representations... from the contextual menu

displayed

The Manage representations dialog box is displayed

3. Select Battery.1_SWEPTVOLUME.cgr and click Activate button in the Manage Representations dialog box displayed.

4. Click Close

5. Click the 3D Cut icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.

The 3D Cut dialog box is displayed:

This dialog box contains a variety of tools letting you positioning the section box and selecting the cutting type

6. Select Battery.1 either in the specification tree or the geometry area

Product (s) selected are highlighted in the specification tree and geometry area The section box is not yet correctly positioned (not snapped onto the battery)

Note: if you select the product(s) of interest for your selection before entering the 3D Cut command, the section box will be automatically positioned on the selected product(s).

7. Click the Positioning tab and click the Reset Position icon

The section box is positioned with respect to the selection:

8. Select the automatic Reset check box.

This new capability lets you reset the section box on a selected product with correct dimensions.

For example, if you change your selection:

❍ select Front shell either in the geometry area or in the specification tree, this is what you obtain:

❍ select again Battery.1, the section box is positioned and resized accordingly

see picture in step 7

9. Adjust the thickness of the section box:

1. Clicking the Edit Position and Dimensions icon and entering the desired values in the Edit Position and Dimensions dialog box displayed:

Notes:❍ For more information about the Edit Position and Dimensions dialog box, read refer to Sectioning section in DMU Space Analysis

User's Guide

❍ Units are current units set using Tools-> Options (Units tab under General-> Parameters and Measure).

❍ The Undo and Redo icons in the Edit Position and Dimensions dialog box let you cancel the last action or recover the last action undone respectively.Only the section box position is recovered, the dimensions are not.

2. positioning the cursor over one of the slave box plane edges, clicking then dragging to translate the plane in the desired direction

Notes: ❍ As you move the cursor over box edges, the cursor changes appearance and arrows identifying the directions along which box

thickness is defined appear.

❍ You can also re-size the box by clicking and dragging one of the box sides. Arrows likewise appear to help you.

10. Click the Definition tab to select the desired cutting types.

Select the cutting type using the arrow:

:cuts away the material from the product, inside the box to expose the cavity within the product

: cuts away the material from the product, outside the box

Note: you can swap from one cutting type to the other directly in the geometry area, all you need to do is click the section box edges (the arrows are reversed)

Select the behavior on the border using the arrow:

: keeps only the triangles included within the box.

: keeps the triangles included within the box or partially included.

11. Still in the Definition tab page, click the Volume Cut icon in the visual feedback area to obtain a section cut.

This capability gives you an automatic visual feedback of what you can get, for instance if you resized the section box as following:

The material is cut away exposing the cavity of the product. Re-click the Volume Cut icon to go back to the initial state.

Note: the volume cut is purely visual and therefore cannot take into account the cutting type (in/out)

12. Click Preview when satisfied

13. Click Save. The Save As dialog box automatically appears:




Note: clicking Save keeps the command active and lets you therefore launch the calculation again if needed. When satisfied click Save in the Save As dialog box. Click Close to exit the dialog box.

14. Click Close

15. In our scenario, we managed the result as an alternate shape, therefore the 3d cut replaces the original representation:

Writing Macros

If you perform a task repeatedly, you can take advantage of a macro to automate it. A macro is a series of functions, written in a scripting language, that you group in a single command to perform the requested task automatically.

This task will show you how to edit a macro created in the DMU Optimizer workbench.

Open the ThicknessMacro.CATScript from the sample folder with a Text editor

You stored your recorded macros in a text format file. For more details about recording, running macros refer to the DMU Navigator Infrastructure User's Guide.

You can easily modify the macro instructions specific to DMU Optimizer (strings of characters put in bold).Here is an example:

● Thickness Macro

THICKNESS MACRO EXPLANATIONS

Language="VBSCRIPT"

Sub CATMain()

Dim productDocument1 As DocumentSet productDocument1 = CATIA.ActiveDocument

Dim dMOThicknesses1 As DMOThicknessesSet dMOThicknesses1 = optimizerWorkBench1.Thicknesses

Dim product1 As ProductSet product1 = productDocument1.Product

Dim groups1 As AnyObjectSet groups1 = product1.GetTechnologicalObject("Groups")

Dim group1 As GroupSet group1 = groups1.Add()

group1.AddExplicit product1

Dim dMOThicknesses1 As AnyObjectSet dMOThicknesses1 = product1.GetTechnologicalObject("Thicknesses")

Name of the product selected for the thickness.

Enter a meaningful name if you wish to edit the name.

Dim arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(5)arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(0) = 1665.173462arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(1) = -682.007568arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(2) = -29.914585arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(3) = -0.006795arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(4) = -0.173679arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(5) = 0.984779Dim document1 As DocumentSet document1 = dMOThicknesses1.ComputeAThickness(group1, 2.000000, -2.000000, 0, arrayOfVariantOfDouble1)

Dim optimizerWorkBench1 As WorkbenchSet optimizerWorkBench1 = productDocument1.GetWorkbench("OptimizerWorkBench")

2.000000, -2.000000, Gives the values of the offset 1 and offset 2, you defined.

groups1.Remove group1

document1.Activate

1 corresponds to the number orientation constraints.

arrayOfVariantOfDouble1: defines the constraint coordinates:

● Constraint location point

arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(0) = 1665.173462arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(1) = -682.007568arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(2) = -29.914585

● Corresponding normal vector

arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(3) = -0.006795arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(4) = -0.173679arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(5) = 0.984779

document1.SaveAs "./Product1_THICKNESS.cgr"

productDocument1.Activate

productDocument1.Activate

End Sub

Gives the location of the cgr file you saved.

Note: From V5R11, the calculation changes: offset1 and offset2 values make the selected surface move to two opposite directions (i.e. two positive values equal to 2mn will result in a thickness of 4mm).

Open the ThickR11.CATScript document to access a V5R11 thickness macro (taking in account this behavioral change)Open the SilhouetteMacro.CATScript document from the samples folder

Silhouette macro example :

Dim arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(17)arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(0) = 1.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(1) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(2) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(3) = -1.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(4) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(5) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(6) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(7) = 1.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(8) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(9) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(10) = -1.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(11) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(12) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(13) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(14) = 1.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(15) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(16) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(17) = -1.000000Dim document1 As DocumentSet document1 = silhouettes1.ComputeASilhouette(group1, arrayOfVariantOfDouble1, 20.000000, 0.000000)

Coordinates of the first viewpoint vector :

arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(0) = 1.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(1) = 0.000000arrayOfVariantOfDouble1(2) = 0.000000

and so on...

Working with CGRs in DMU

This section provides information on working with CGRs in a DMU context. This is the default document format used for DMU sessions when working in Visualization mode and with the cache system. This format is not suitable for design.

CGR stands for CATIA Graphical Representation. CGR files always have a .cgr extension.All MULTICAx Plug-in products convert native part data into CGR format.

When using CGRs, a representation of the geometry only is available; the geometry is not available.

Advantages:

● Requires less memory

● Documents are lighter

● Considerably reduces the time required to load your data

For example, with the following CATProduct document, you can easily check the difference between the .Model document and the corresponding CGR file:

With .Model: 6,708 MB

With CGR: 670KB

This may be useful when dealing with complex products or assemblies involving large amounts of data.

Drawbacks:

● No design possible

● Relations between objects cannot be established because they are based on design features. For example, in DMU Kinematics, you cannot create joints because joints are built on design constraints.

In DMU:

● CGR documents can be inserted directly into DMU sessions

● They are generated automatically from exact geometry ( V4 Models, CATParts...) when working with the cache system

● You can also generate CGR representations in certain DMU applications and save them as CGR files, for example DMU Optimizer

Definitions:

Cache system concept: Two different modes are available when a component (V4 model, V5 CATPart, V5 CATProduct, etc.) is inserted into a DMU Navigator CATProduct document

● Design mode

● Visualization mode

Using a cache system considerably reduces the time required to load your data. The cache system is organized into two parts:

Local cache: a read/write directory located locally on your machine and used to store cgr files. The first time a component is inserted, it is tesselated. This means that the corresponding cgr file is computed and saved in the local cache as well as displayed in the document window. The next time this component is required, the cgr file which already exists (and not the original document) is automatically loaded from the local cache. The user is normally responsible for the local cache.

Released cache: a read-only cache that can be located anywhere on your network.Several directories can be defined for the released cache. If a cgr file cannot be found in the local cache, the software browses the released cache directories in their listed order to see if the cgr file is located in one of them. If the cgr file is still not found, the component is tesselated and the resulting cgr file is saved in the local cache. The site administrator is normally responsible for the released cache.

A timestamp enables the verification that no modifications have been made to a document since the generation of the corresponding cgr file found in either of the above caches:

Timestamp: the date and hour at which the origin document was last modified. If you activate the Check timestamp button, then before a cgr file is loaded into a viewer, its timestamp will be checked to verify that no modifications have been made to the document since the generation of the cgr file. If you do not activate the Check timestamp button, then a cgr file of a document will be loaded without any verification of its time-wise coherence with the document.

The process used for loading data using the caches is as follows:

Please refer to Customizing Cache Settings in Customizing for DMU Navigator section (DMU Navigator User's Guide)

Design mode: A working mode in which the exact geometry is available and documents (V4 models, V5 CATParts, V5 CATProducts, etc.) are inserted as is.

Tessellation: The generation of a triangular mesh representation of an object from a solid or surface.

Visualization mode: A working mode in which a representation of the geometry only is available and the corresponding cgr file, if it exists, is inserted from the data cache.

Cache System & multi-processors:You can choose the creation of cache files in multi-process for this, select the Multi-Process Visualization Mode with local cache checkbox in Tools->Options->Infrastructure->Product Structure->Product visualization.You also need to customize multi-process settings

For more detailed information please read Customizing Product Visualization Settings and Customizing Multi-Process settings

DMU Applications

The following table lets you see at a glance what you can do with CGRs in the various DMU applications, and lists in particular any restrictions to working with CGRs in a DMU context.

Note: in DMU kinematics context, you cannot work on cgrs.

DMU Space Analysis

Commands Insert CGRs and Run... Save Results as CGR...Clash Yes No

Sectioning Yes No

Distance and band analysis Yes Band Analysis Results only

Compare Products Yes No

2D Measure No No

Arc through 3 points Yes No

Measure BetweenYes, except for measure between points (1)

(2)

No

Measure Item

Yes, except for measure properties of points (1) (2) No

Measure Thickness Yes No

Measure Inertia Yes No

(1) Points in edge limits, arc center and picking point selection modes are taken into account

(2) Exact / approximate measures on CGRs: exact measures can only be obtained on canonical elements in Measure Between and Measure Item commands; all other measures are approximate.

DMU Optimizer

Commands Insert CGRs and Run... Save Results as CGR...

Silhouette Yes Yes

Wrapping Yes Yes

Thickness Yes Yes

Offset Yes Yes

Swept Volume Yes Yes

Free Space Yes Yes

Simplification Yes Yes

Result of a merging operation Yes Yes

3D Cut

Yes Yes

DMU Navigator

Commands Insert CGRs and Run... Save Results as CGR...

Annotated View Yes No

Camera Yes Not Applicable

3D Annotation Yes No

Hyperlink Yes Not Applicable

Group Yes Not Applicable

Scene Yes Yes

Symmetry Yes Yes

Translation or Rotation Yes Yes

Axis System Creation Yes, except selecting a sub-element Yes

Point Creation

Yes, except selecting a sub-element Yes

Line Creation Yes, except selecting a sub-element Yes

Plane Creation Yes, except selecting a sub-element Yes

Cumulative Snap Yes Yes

Modify Sag No, requires the part document No

Spatial Query Yes Not Applicable

Current Selection Yes Not Applicable

Publish Yes Not Applicable

Reset Position Yes Yes

Init Position Yes Yes

Track Yes No

Color Action Yes No

Visibility Action Yes No

Sequence Yes No

Clash Detection Yes Not Applicable

Record Viewpoint Animation Yes Not Applicable

Workbench DescriptionThis section contains the description of the icons and menus which are specific to the DMU Optimizer workbench.

The DMU Optimizer window looks like this: (click the sensitive areas to see the related documentation)

DMU Menu BarDMU Optimizer Toolbar

Sectioning Toolbar

DMU Optimizer Menu Bar

Here we will present the various menus and menu commands that are specific to DMU Kinematics Simulator Version 5.

Start File Edit View Insert Tools Analyze Windows Help

Tasks corresponding to General menu commands are described in the DMU Version 5 Infrastructure User's Guide.

Edit

For... Description...

Undo Cancels the last action.

Redo Recovers the last action that was undone.

CutCopyPastePaste Special

Performs cutCopyPaste andspecial paste operations.

Delete Deletes selected geometry.

Search Allows searching and selecting objects.

Links Manages links to other documents.

Properties Allows displaying and Editing

Insert

For... See...

Existing Component Starting a Session

Tools

For... Description... Formula... Allows using

Knowledgeware capabilities.Image Allows capturing and

managing images for the album.

Macro Writing a DMU Optimizer Macro

Customize... Allows customizing toolbars.see DMU Infrastructure User's Guide

Options... Allows customizing settings.See Customizing for DMU Optimizer

Search Order...

Allows creating a document search order.

DMU Optimizer Toolbar

The DMU Optimizer toolbar contains a number of tools that are useful for DMU Optimizer.

See Generating a Silhouette

See Generating a Wrapping

See Generating a Thickness

See Generating an Offset

See Defining a Swept VolumeSee Defining a Swept Volume from a Moving ReferenceSee Filtering Swept Volume Positions

See Generating a Free Space

See Using Simplification Command

See Using Vibration Volume Capability

See Creating 3D Cuts

See Merging Tree Representations

Sectioning Toolbar

DMU Optimizer provides the sectioning tool. Refer to Sectioning in DMU Space Analysis User's Guide for more information.

Sectioning

Using cutting planes, you can create sections, section slices, section boxes as well as 3D section cuts of your products automatically.

Sectioning

About sectioning: Gives general information about the Sectioning command.

Create section planes: Click the Sectioning icon.

Change section graphic properties: Gives information about changing line segment color, linetype, and thickness, as well as plane color.

Create section slices: Create a section plane then click the Section Slice icon in the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

Create section boxes: Create a section plane then click the Section Box icon in the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

More about the Section viewer: Create a section plane.

Create 3D section cuts: Create a section plane then click the Volume Cut icon.

Manipulate planes directly: Create a section plane, drag plane edges to re-dimension, drag plane to move it along the normal vector, press and hold left and middle mouse buttons down to move plane in U,V plane of local axis system or drag plane axis to rotate plane.

Position planes using the Edit Position and Dimensions command: Create a section plane, click the Edit Position icon and enter parameters defining the plane position in the dialog box.

Position planes on a geometric target: Create a section plane, click the Geometrical Target icon and point to the target of interest.

Snap boxes to planes: Create a section box, click the Geometrical Target icon and select two or three planes.

Snap planes to points and/or lines: Create a section plane, click the Positioning by 2/3 Selections icon and make your selections.

Export section results: Generate section results then click the Export As icon to export to a V4 model, V5 CATPart, IGES or VRML document.

Capture section results: Generate section results then select Tools ->Image ->Capture

Annote generated sections: Gives information about annotating using generic measure tools and 3D and 2D annotation tools.

Manage the update of section results: Generate section results, then select appropriate option in Behavior tab and exit command.

More about the contextual menu: Right-click the section feature or section in geometry area and select the command from the menu.

About Sectioning

Using cutting planes, you can create sections, section slices, section boxes as well as 3D section cuts of your products automatically.

Creating section slices and section boxes are DMU-P2 functionalities.

The Section Plane

The section plane is created parallel to absolute coordinates Y, Z. The center of the plane is located at the center of the bounding sphere around the products in the selection you defined.

● Line segments represent the intersection of the plane with all surfaces and volumes in the selection. By default, line segments are the same color as the products sectioned.

● Points represent the intersection of the plane with any wireframe elements in the selection,

and are visible in both the document window and the Section viewer.

Notes:● Any surfaces or wireframe elements in the same plane as the section plane are not visible.

● If no selection is made before entering the command, the plane sections all products.

In DMU-P1, you cannot select products to be sectioned: the plane sections all products.

A plane has limits and its own local axis system. The letters U, V and W represent the axes. The W-axis is the normal vector of the plane.

You can customize settings to locate the center and orient the normal vector of the plane as well as de-activate the default setting taking wireframe elements into account. This is done using the Tools ->Options..., Digital Mockup ->DMU Space Analysis command (DMU Sectioning tab).

Manipulating the Plane

Sectioning is dynamic (moving the plane gives immediate results). You can manipulate the cutting plane in a variety of ways:

● Directly

● Position it with respect to a geometrical target, by selecting points and/or lines

● Change its current position, move and rotate it using the Edit Position and Dimensions command.

Section Results

Results differ depending on the sag value used. Using default value (0.2mm): Using a higher value:

Sag corresponds to the fixed sag value for calculating tessellation on objects (3D fixed accuracy) set in the Performance tab of Tools -> Options -> General -> Display. By default, this value is set to 0.2 mm.In Visualization mode, you can dynamically change the sag value for selected objects using the Tools -> Modify SAG command.

The 3D Section Cut

3D section cuts cut away the material from the cutting plane to expose the cavity within the product, beyond the slice or outside the box.

Creating Groups of Products

In DMU-P2, prior to creating your section plane, you can create a group containing the

product(s) of interest using the Group icon in the DMU Space Analysis toolbar or Insert -> Group... in the menu bar.

Groups created are identified in the specification tree and can be selected from there for sectioning. Only one group per selection can be defined.

Creating Section Planes

This task shows how to create section planes and orient the normal vector of the plane.

Insert the following cgr files: ATOMIZER.cgr, BODY1.cgr, BODY2.cgr, LOCK.cgr, NOZZLE1.cgr, NOZZLE2.cgr, REGULATION_COMMAND.cgr, REGULATOR.cgr, TRIGGER.cgr and VALVE.cgr.

They are to be found in the online documentation filetree in the common functionalities sample folder cfysm/samples.1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the

menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon

in the DMU Space Analysis toolbar to generate a section plane.

The section plane is automatically created. If no selection is made before entering the command, the plane sections all products. If products are selected, the plane sections selected products.

P1 Functionality

In DMU-P1, you cannot select products to be sectioned: the plane sections all products.

The Section Plane

The plane is created parallel to absolute coordinates Y,Z. The center of the plane is located at the center of the bounding sphere around the products in the selection you defined.

● Line segments represent the intersection of the plane with all surfaces and volumes in the selection. By default, line segments are the same color as the products sectioned.

● Points represent the intersection of the plane with any wireframe elements in the selection.

A section plane has limits and its own local axis system. U, V and W represent the axes. The W-axis is the normal vector of the plane. The contour of the plane is red.

You can dynamically re-dimension and reposition the section plane. For more information, see Manipulating Section Planes Directly.

Using the Tools ->Options... command (DMU Sectioning tab under Digital Mockup ->DMU

Space Analysis, you can change the following default settings:

● Location of the center of the plane

● Orientation of the normal vector of the plane

● Sectioning of wireframe elements.

P2 Functionalities

In DMU-P2, you can create as many independent section planes as you like.

Results Window

A Section viewer is automatically tiled vertically alongside the document window. It displays a front view of the generated section and is by default, locked in a 2D view.

Notice that the section view is a filled view. This is the default option. The fill capability generates surfaces for display and measurement purposes (area, center of gravity, etc.).

Sectioning Definition Dialog Box

The Sectioning Definition dialog box appears.

This dialog box contains a wide variety of tools letting you position, move and rotate the section plane as well as create slices, boxes and section cuts. For more information, see Positioning Planes with respect to a Geometrical Target, Positioning Planes Using the Edit Position Command, Creating Section Slices, Creating Section Boxes and Creating 3D Section Cuts.

P2 Functionalities

Creating section slices and section boxes are DMU-P2 functionalities. 2. Click the Selection box to activate it.

3. Click products of interest to make your selection, for example the TRIGGER and BODY1.

Products selected are highlighted in the specification tree and geometry area.

Note: Simply continue clicking to select as many products as you want. Products will be placed in the active selection. To de-select products, reselect them in the specification tree or in the geometry area.

The plane now sections only selected products.

You can change the current position of the section plane with respect to the absolute axis system of the document:

4. Click the Positioning tab in the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

5. Select X, Y or Z radio buttons to position the normal vector (W-axis) of the plane along the selected absolute system axis.

Select Z for example. The plane is positioned perpendicular to the Z-axis.

6. Double-click the normal vector of the plane (W-axis) or click the Invert Normal icon to

invert it.

7. Click OK when done.

The section plane definition and results are kept as a specification tree feature.

By default, the plane is hidden when exiting the command. Use the Tools->Options, Digital Mockup-> DMU Space Analysis command (DMU Sectioning tab) to change this setting.

To show and edit the plane again, double-click the specification tree feature or select Hide/Show the plane representation in the contextual menu.

Changing Section Graphic PropertiesTo make it easier to read your result, you can:

● Specify different properties (color, linetype and thickness) for section line segmentsBy default line segments are the same color as the products sectioned.

● Change the plane color of the current feature.

You can change... Via Properties command - Graphic tab

Via Graphic Properties toolbar3

Line segment:

● Color

● Linetype

● Thickness

● Yes1 (Lines and Curves)



● No

● Yes

● Yes

Plane:

● Color ● Yes2 (Fill Color) ● Yes

Legend:(1) To change the line segment color, linetype and thickness, right-click the section in the geometry area and select Properties(2) To change the plane color, right-click the specification tree feature and select Properties(3) To return to the initial colors, select No color.

Creating Section Slices

This task explains how to create section slices. To do so, you must first create the master section plane.


They are to be found in the online documentation filetree in the common functionalities sample folder cfysm/samples.1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU

Space Analysis toolbar to create a section plane.

The section plane is automatically created. If no selection is made, the plane sections all products. If products are selected, the plane sections selected products.

This plane is the master plane and controls all operations on the section slice.

The Sectioning Definition dialog box is displayed. This dialog box contains a wide variety of tools letting you position, move and rotate the master plane. For more information, see Positioning Planes with respect to a Geometrical Target, and Positioning Planes Using the Edit Position Command.


2. In the Definition tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog

box, click the Section Slice drop-down icon to

create a section slice:

A second plane, parallel to the first, is created. Together both planes define a section slice through your products. The contours of both planes are red.

The Section viewer is automatically updated.

3. Adjust the thickness of the section slice: position the cursor over one of the slave plane edges, click then drag to translate the plane in the desired direction.

Note: As you move the cursor over plane edges, the cursor changes appearance and arrows identifying directions along which slice thickness can be defined appear. The thickness of the slice is also indicated as you drag.

4. Click OK when done.

Creating Section Boxes

This task explains how to create section boxes. To do so, you must first create the master section plane.


They are to be found in the online documentation filetree in the common functionalities sample folder cfysm/samples.

1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU

Space Analysis toolbar to generate a section plane.

The section plane is automatically created. If no selection is made before entering the command, the plane sections all products. If products are selected, the plane sections selected products.

This plane is the master plane and controls all operations on the section box.

The Sectioning Definition dialog box is displayed. This dialog box contains a wide variety of tools letting you position, move and rotate the master plane. For more information, see Positioning Planes with respect to a Geometrical Target, and Positioning Planes Using the Edit Position Command.


2. In the Definition tab, click the Section Box drop-down icon to create a section box:

A sectioning box is created. The contours of box planes are red. The Section viewer is automatically updated.

3. Adjust the thickness of the section box: position the cursor over one of the slave box plane edges, click then drag to translate the plane in the desired direction.

Notes:

● As you move the cursor over box edges, the cursor changes appearance and arrows identifying the directions along which box thickness is defined appear. Box thickness is also indicated as you drag.

● You can also re-size the box by clicking and dragging one of the box sides. Arrows likewise appear to help you.

● Use the Geometrical Target icon in the

Positioning tab to snap boxes to planes.

4. Click OK when done.You can create boxes around the various areas of your product and then, using the Volume Cut command isolate the area on which you want to work.

More About the Section Viewer This task illustrates how to make the most of section viewer capabilities.

Orienting the sectionWorking with the 2D gridWorking with a 3D view

Detecting collisions Most of the commands described in this task are to be found in the Result tab of the Sectioning Definition

dialog box or in the Section viewer contextual menu.



1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU Space

Analysis toolbar and create the desired section plane, slice or box and corresponding section. The Section viewer is automatically tiled vertically alongside the document window. It displays a front view

of the section, and is by default, locked in a 2D view. Points representing the intersection of the section plane with any wireframe elements are also visible in the Section viewer.

Notice that the section view is a filled view. This is the default option. The fill capability generates surfaces for display and measurement purposes (area, center of gravity, etc.). To obtain a correct filled view, the section plane must completely envelop the product.

To obtain an unfilled view, de-activate the Section Fill icon in the Result tab of the Sectioning

Definition dialog box.

● In the Section viewer, the appearance of the cursor changes to attract your attention to the existence

of the contextual menu.

● You can change the default settings for this window using Tools ->Options... command (DMU Sectioning tab under Digital Mockup ->DMU Space Analysis).

Orienting the Section

2. Orient the generated section.

Flip and Rotate commands are to be found in the contextual menu. Right-click in the Section viewer and:

● Select Flip Vertical or Flip Horizontal to flip the section vertically or horizontally 180 degrees.

● Select Rotate Right or Rotate Left to rotate the section right or left 90 degrees.

Orienting the section using Flip and Rotate commands is not persistent. If you exit the section viewer, any flip and rotate settings are lost.

Working with the 2D Grid

3. Click the Result tab in the Sectioning Definition

dialog box, then select the Grid icon under

Options to display a 2D grid.

By default, grid dimensions are those of the generated section. Moving the section plane re-sizes the grid to results.

To size the grid to the section plane, clear the Automatic grid re-sizing check box in the DMU Sectioning tab (Tools -> Options..., Digital Mockup -> DMU Space Analysis).You can edit the grid step, style and mode using the Edit Grid command.

4. Select the Edit Grid icon to adjust grid

parameters:

The Edit Grid dialog box appears:

In the above example, the grid mode is absolute and the style is set to lines.

In the absolute mode, grid coordinates are set with respect to the absolute axis system of the document.

The grid step is set to the default value of 100. The arrows let you scroll through a discrete set of logarithmically calculated values. You can also enter a grid step manually.

Units are current units set using Tools-> Options (Units tab under General-> Parameters and Measure).

5. Scroll through grid width and height and set the grid step to 10 x 10.

6. Click the Relative mode option button:

In the relative mode, the center of the grid is placed on the center of section plane.

7. Click the Crosses style option button.

Grid parameters are persistent: any changes to default parameters are kept and applied next time you open the viewer or re-edit the section.

8. Click the Automatic filtering checkbox to adjust the level of detail of grid display when you zoom in and out.

9. Right-click the grid then select Coordinates to display the coordinates at selected intersections of grid lines. The Clean All command removes displayed grid coordinates.

Note: You can customize both grid and Section viewer settings using the Tools -> Options... command (DMU Sectioning tab under Digital Mockup ->DMU Space Analysis).

Alternatively, select Analyze ->Graphic Messages ->Coordinate to display the coordinates of points, and/or Name to identify products as your cursor moves over them.

Clicking turns the temporary markers into 3D annotations. 10.Click OK in the Edit Grid dialog box when done.

Working with a 3D View

By default, the Section viewer is locked in a 2D view. De-activating the 2D view lets you:

● Work in a 3D view and gives you access to 3D viewing tools

● Set the same viewpoint in the Section viewer as in the document window.

Returning to a 2D view snaps the viewpoint to the nearest orthogonal view defined in the Section viewer.

11.Right-click in the Section viewer and select the 2D Lock command from the contextual menu.

The Import Viewpoint command becomes available. 12.Manipulate the section plane.

13.Right-click in the Section viewer and select the Import Viewpoint command from the contextual menu.

The viewpoint in the Section viewer is set to that of the document window.

14.Continue manipulating the section plane.

15.Return to a locked 2D view.

The viewpoint in the Section viewer snaps to the nearest orthogonal viewpoint in this viewer and not to the viewpoint defined by the local axis system of the plane in the document window.

You can also save sectioning results in a variety of different formats using the Export As command in the Result tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog box or the Capture command (Tools ->Image ->Capture).

16.Click OK in the Sectioning Definition dialog box when done.

If you exit the Sectioning command with the Section viewer still active, this window is not closed and filled sections remain visible.

P2 Functionality - Detecting Collisions

In DMU-P2, You can detect collisions between 2D

sections. To do so, click the Clash Detection icon in

the Result tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

Clashes detected are highlighted in the Section viewer.

Collision detection is dynamic: move the section plane and watch the Section viewer display being updated.

Creating 3D Section Cuts

3D section cuts cut away the material from the plane, beyond the slice or outside the box to expose the cavity within the product.

This task explains how to create 3D section cuts.



1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU Space Analysis toolbar

and create a section plane.


2. In the Definition tab, click the Volume Cut icon to obtain a section

cut:

The material in the negative direction along the normal vector of the plane (W-axis) is cut away exposing the cavity within the product.

Note: In some cases, the normal vector of the plane is inverted to give you the best view of the cut.

Double-click the normal vector of the plane to invert it, or click the Invert Normal icon in the Positioning tab of the

Sectioning Definition dialog box.

3. Re-click the icon to restore the material cut away.4. Click OK when done.

3D Section Cut Display

The 3D section cut display is different when the sectioning tool is a plane. To obtain the same display as for slices and boxes (see illustrations below) and make measures on the generated wireframe cut:

● Select the Allow measures on a section created with a simple plane option in the DMU Sectioning tab (Tools -> Options, Digitial Mockup -> DMU Space Analysis)

● Then, create your section cut based on a plane.

When the Sectioning Tool is a Slice: When the Sectioning Tool is a Box:

P2 Functionality

In DMU-P2, you can turn up to six independent section planes into clipping planes using the Volume Cut command to focus on the part of the product that interests you most.

DMU Review

Section cuts created during DMU Reviews are not persistent and are only valid for the duration of the review. If you exit the DMU Review, the section cut is lost.

Manipulating Planes Directly

You can re-dimension, move and rotate section planes, or the master plane in the case of section slices and boxes, directly. As you move the cursor over the plane, the plane edge or the local axis system, its appearance changes and arrows appear to help you.

Re-dimensioning:Moving along the normal vectorof the plane:

Rotating:Moving in the x,y plane of thelocal axis system:

Sectioning results are updated in the Section viewer as you manipulate the plane.

To change this setting and have results updated when you release the mouse button only, de-activate the appropriate setting in the DMU Sectioning tab (Tools ->Options..., Digital Mockup ->DMU Space Analysis).This task illustrates how to manipulate section planes directly.


They are to be found in the online documentation filetree in the common functionalities sample folder cfysm/samples.1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU Space Analysis

toolbar and create a section plane.

A Section viewer showing the generated section is automatically tiled vertically alongside the document window.

The generated section is automatically updated to reflect any changes made to the section plane.

You can re-dimension the section plane:2. Click and drag plane edges to re-dimension plane:

Note: A dynamic plane dimension is indicated as you drag the plane edge.

You can view and edit plane dimensions in the Edit Position and Dimensions command. The plane height corresponds to its dimension along the local U-axis and the width to its dimension along the local V-axis.You can move the section plane along the normal vector of the plane:

3. Move the cursor over the plane, click and drag to move the plane to the desired location.You can move the section plane in the U,V plane of the local axis system:

4. Press and hold down the left mouse button, then the middle mouse button and drag (still holding both buttons down) to move the plane to the desired location.

You can rotate the section plane around its axes: 5. Move the cursor over the desired plane axis system axis, click and drag to rotate the plane around the selected

axis.

6. (Optional) Click the Reset Position icon in the Positioning tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog box to

restore the center of the plane to its original position.7. Click OK in the Sectioning Definition dialog box when done.

Positioning Planes Using the Edit Position and Dimensions Command

In addition to manipulating the plane directly in the geometry area, you can position the section plane more precisely using the Edit Position and Dimensions command. You can move the plane to a new location as well as rotate the plane. You can also re-dimension the section plane.

In the case of section slices and boxes, it is the master plane that controls how the slice or box will be positioned.

This task illustrates how to position and re-dimension the section plane using the Edit Position and Dimensions command.


They are to be found in the online documentation filetree in the common functionalities sample folder cfysm/samples.1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU Space

Analysis toolbar and create a section plane.

A Section viewer showing the generated section is automatically tiled vertically alongside the document window. The generated section is automatically updated to reflect any changes made to the section plane.

The Sectioning Definition dialog box is also displayed. 2. Click the Positioning tab in the Sectioning

Definition dialog box.

3. Click the Edit Position and Dimensions

icon to enter parameters defining the position of the plane:

The Edit Position and Dimensions dialog box appears.

4. Enter values in Origin X, Y or Z boxes to position the center of the plane with respect to the absolute system coordinates entered.By default, the center of the plane coincides with the center of the bounding sphere around the products in the current selection.

Using the Tools -> Options... command (DMU Sectioning tab under Digital Mockup ->DMU Space Analysis), you can customize settings for both the normal vector and the origin of the plane.You can move the section plane to a new location. Translations are made with respect to the local plane axis system.

5. Enter the translation step directly in the Translation spin box or use spin box arrows to scroll to a new value, then click -Tu, +Tu, -Tv, +Tv, -Tw, +Tw, to move the plane along the selected axis by the defined step.

Note: Units are current units set using Tools-> Options (Units tab under General-> Parameters and Measure).

Change the translation step to 25mm and click +Tw for example. The plane is translated 25 mm in the positive direction along the local W-axis.

You can rotate the section plane. Rotations are made with respect to the local plane axis system.

6. Enter the rotation step directly in the Rotation spin box or use spin box arrows to scroll to a new value, then click -Ru, +Ru, -Rv, +Rv, -Rw, +Rw, to rotate the plane around the selected axis by the defined step.

Note: Units are current units set using Tools -> Options.

With a rotation step of 45 degrees, click +Rv for example to rotate the plane by the specified amount in the positive direction around the local V-axis.

You can edit plane dimensions. The plane height corresponds to its dimension along the local U-axis and the width to its dimension along the local V-axis. You can also edit slice or box thickness.

7. Enter new width, height and/or thickness values in the Dimensions box to re-dimension the plane.

The plane is re-sized accordingly.

● Use Undo and Redo icons in the Edit Position and Dimensions dialog box to cancel the last action or recover the last action undone respectively.

● Use the Reset Position icon in the Positioning tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog box to

restore the section plane to its original position.

● You can also view and edit plane dimensions in the Properties dialog box (Edit -> Properties or via the contextual menu).This command is not available when using the sectioning command.

8. Click Close in the Edit Position and Dimensions dialog box when satisfied.

9. Click OK in the Sectioning Definition dialog box when done.

Positioning Planes On a Geometric Target

You can position section planes, section slices and section boxes with respect to a geometrical target (a face, edge, reference plane or cylinder axis). In the case of section slices and boxes, it is the master plane that controls how the slice or box will be positioned.

This task illustrates how to position a section plane with respect to a geometrical target.



1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU Space Analysis toolbar




The generated section is automatically updated to reflect any changes made to the section plane.

2. Click the Positioning tab in the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

3. Click the Geometrical Target icon to position the plane with

respect to a geometrical target.

4. Point to the target of interest:

A rectangle and vector representing the plane and the normal vector of the plane appear in the geometry area to assist you position the section plane. It moves as you move the cursor.

5. When satisfied, click to position the section plane on the target.

Notes: ● To position planes orthogonal to edges, simply click the desired edge.

● A smart mode recognizes cylinders and snaps the plane directly to the cylinder axis. This lets you, for example, make a section cut normal to a hole centerline. To de-activate this mode, use the Ctrl key.

● Selecting the Automatically reframe option in the DMU Sectioning tab (Tools -> Options -> Digital Mockup ->

DMU Space Analysis), reframes the Section viewer and locates the point at the center of the target at the center of the Section viewer.

Zooming in lets youpinpointthe selected point.This is particularly useful when using snap capabilities in a complex DMU session containing a large number of objects.

P2 Functionality

In DMU-P2, you can move the plane along a curve, edge or surface:

● Point to the target of interest

● Press and hold down the Ctrl key

● Still holding down the Ctrl key, move the cursor along the target. The plane is positioned tangent to the small target plane. As you move the cursor, the plane moves along the curve or edge.

6. (Optional) Click the Reset Position icon to restore the center of the plane to its original position.


Snapping Section Boxes to Planes

You can snap section boxes to two planes. The first target positions the master plane, the second defines a rotation (if needed) and adjusts box dimensions.

This task illustrates how to snap a section box to two planes.

No sample document is provided.

1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or

click the Sectioning icon in the DMU Space

Analysis toolbar and create a section box.



2. Click the Positioning tab, then the Geometrical Target

icon to snap the box to planes.

3. Point to the first plane of interest.

The Geometrical Target command recognizes that it is a section box.

A rectangle and vector representing a plane and the normal vector of the plane appear in the geometry area as well as the figure 1 to assist you. It moves as you move the cursor.

4. When satisfied, click to position the master plane of the section box on the first target.

Note that the visual aid now displays the figure 2.

5. Select a second plane.

This plane adjusts box dimensions, and if required, rotates the box.

The section box is totally constrained to selected planes.

The two selected planes are parallel: box thickness is modified

The two selected planes are perpendicular: box height is modified

Snapping Planes to Points and/or Lines

You can position section planes by selecting three points, two lines, or combination of the two.

This task illustrates how to snap a section plane to a selection consisting of lines and/or points.

No sample document is provided.

1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in

the DMU Space Analysis toolbar and create a section plane.



2. Click the Positioning tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

3. Click the Positioning by 2/3

Selections icon.

The section plane is hidden.

4. Make your selection of lines and/or points.● The current selection is highlighted in red.

● The cursor changes to assist you make your selection. It identifies the type of item (point, line, cylinder, cone, etc.) beneath it.

A plane passing through the selection is computed and the section plane automatically snapped to this plane.

Exporting Section Results

You can save section results in a variety of different formats using: ● The Export As command. This command is particularly useful for exporting results to CATIA

V4.

● The Capture command.

This task illustrates how to export sectioning results in a number of different formats using the Export As command.



1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click the Sectioning icon in the DMU

Space Analysis toolbar and create the desired section plane, slice or box and corresponding section.

2. Click the Result tab in the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

3. Click the Export As icon:

The Save As dialog box appears.

4. Specify the location of the document to be saved and, if necessary, enter a file name. 5. Click the Save as type drop-down list and select the desired format.

You can save sectioning results as:

● a V4 model (.model)

● a V5 CATPart (.CATPart)

● a V5 CATDrawing (.CATDrawing)In this case, polylines are generated.

● DXF and DWG formats (.dxf/.dwg)

● a STEP document (.stp)

● an IGES document (.igs)

● a Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) document (.wrl).

6. Click Save to save the results in a file in the desired format.

Note: If you set the DLName document environment (Tools -> Options -> General -> Document) as your current environment, clicking Export As will open the DLName dialog box instead of the usual Save As dialog box.

The DLName document environment lets you restrict the access to specific folders referenced by logical names referred to as 'DLNames'. Each folder is assigned a logical name. In this mode, you can only access documents in folders referenced by DLNames.

For more information on the DLName document environment, see the Infrastructure User's Guide.

7. Exit the Sectioning command when done.

More About the CATPart

For each element sectioned, a topologically correct spline is generated under the Open_body. Each spline is obtained by interpolating all the points making up the element sectioned. The resulting spline may not be smooth.

These curves can then be used, for example, to create features:

● Select the Update icon to update your CATPart document

● Create a sketch from your curve using the Project 3D Elements command in the Sketcher workbench

● Create your feature, for example a pad.

Note: Section result colors are exported when section results are saved as CATPart documents.

Working with a Cache System

If you are working with a cache system, you must select the Save lineic elements in cache check box to be able to properly save your section result in V4 model, V5 CATPart, STEP, IGES, and VRML formats. This will save wireframe section results. If you do not do so, the document will be empty.

● Save lineic elements in cache is located in the Miscellaneous box of the Performance tab, Tools->Options->General->Display

Capturing Section Results

This task illustrates how to export sectioning results to a CGM document using the Capture command.For more information on this command, see the Infrastructure User's Guide.1. Generate your section.2. In the active viewer, select Tools ->Image ->Capture.3. Click the Vector Mode icon in the Capture toolbar.

4. Click the Save As icon. Different CGM types are proposed in the Save As dialog

box.The CGM file can then be opened (File ->Open) in the DMU Mockup 2D workbench and used for comparison purposes. For more information on 2D comparison functionalities, see the DMU Navigator's User Guide.

Annotating Generated Sections

You can use generic measure tools, keeping measures as annotations, as well as 2D and 3D annotation tools to annotate generated sections in the Section viewer.

Create the desired section plane and corresponding section.

To... Select...

Measure distances at item levelMeasure Between

You can measure minimum distances between edge primitives or between sections of elements (solid of a model, body of a CATPart). You can also measure distances between points representing the intersection of the plane with any wireframe elements present and other sectioned items, however, you cannot make measures with respect to grid elements.

Note: The Measure Between result is different depending on whether or not the section view is a filled view. If the section view is filled, the result obtained is the minimum distance between sections of selected elements. If the section view is unfilled, the result obtained is the minimum distance between edge primitives.

For more information, see Measuring distances and angles between geometrical elements, and Measuring minimum distance in the Section viewer.

Measure propertiesMeasure Item

You can measure properties on generated sections.

For more information, see Measuring properties.

Measure distances at product levelDistance and Band Analysis in DMU Space Analysis

You can measure minimum distance between the sections of selected products (model, CATPart, etc.).

For more information, see Measuring minimum distances and distances along X, Y, Z, and Measuring minimum distance in the Section viewer.

Add 3D text3D Annotation in DMU Space Analysis

For more information on 3D annotation, see the DMU Navigator User's Guide.

Create and annote 2D viewsCreating Annotated Views in DMU Space Analysis

The Creating Annotated Views command lets you create and annotate a 2D view of your section using the arrows, lines, text, etc. provided in the DMU 2D Marker toolbar. 2D views are identified in the specification tree and can be recovered

using the Managing Annotated Views icon.

For more information on 2D annotation, see the DMU Navigator User's Guide.

Managing the Update of Section Results

A number of options are provided to let you manage section update once you have exited the Sectioning command. This is particularly useful, for example, if you run a fitting simulation or kinematics operation that moves products affecting the section result.

These options are to be found in the Behaviour tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog box.This task shows how to manage the update of section results.


They are to be found in the online documentation filetree in the common functionalities sample folder cfysm/samples.1. Select Insert -> Sectioning from the menu bar, or click

the Sectioning icon in the DMU Space Analysis toolbar



2. Click the Behavior tab in the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

Three options are available in this tab:

● Manual update (default value)

● Automatic update

● Section freeze

By default, after exiting the command, the generated section is not updated when you move products affecting the section result (manual update). This, for example, will improve performance of fitting simulation and kinematics operations.

Section results that are not up-to-date are identified by the section icon and the update symbol in the specification

tree. 3. Click Automatic update to update the section automatically, after exiting the command, when you move products for

example.

In the example below, after exiting the Sectioning command, we moved a product using the 3D compass. The product was moved along the Y-axis such that it continued to intersect the section plane.

Automatic update turned on: Automatic update turned off:

4. Click Section freeze to freeze section results. Notes:

● This command takes effect immediately: section results will not be updated if you resize or move the plane, or move products affecting the result.

● Frozen section results are identified in the specification tree by the section icon plus a lock.

5. Move the section plane:

Note that the section result in neither the document window nor the Section viewer is updated.

You can in this way create a history of sectioning operations.

Frozen section results are identified in the specification tree by the section icon plus a lock .

6. Reset the default option in the Behavior tab, and click OK in the Sectioning Definition dialog box when done. Toggling on and off these commands can also to be done via the contextual menu.

More About the Contextual Menu

The following commands are available in the contextual menu when you have exited the command.

1. Unless specified otherwise, simply right-click the specification tree feature or the section in the geometry area, select Section.1 object and then the command of interest from the menu.

● Definition...: lets you modify the selected section object.

● Update the section: locally updates the selected section.Note: In scene contexts, this command is labelled 'Force update the section' and updates both the scene and the geometry area to reflect modifications made to the scene.

● Behavior: lets you manage section update. These are the same options as those

found in the Behavior tab of the Sectioning Definition dialog box. The greyed out option is the current option and by default, is the one set in the dialog box before exiting the command.

- Activate the section result manual update: the generated section is not updated when you move products affecting the section result.

- Activate the section result automatic update: the generated section is automatically updated when you move products affecting the result.

- Freeze the section result: the generated section is not updated if you resize or move the plane, or move products affecting the result.

● Activate/Deactivate the section cut: turns the Volume Cut command on or off.

● Activate/Deactivate the section fill: turns the fill capability on or off.

● Hide/Show the plane representation: turns the section plane on or off.

● Export the section(s): lets you save section results in CATPart, IGES, model, STEP,

VRML formats.Note: If you want to save results as a CATDrawing, use the Export As command in the Sectioning Definition dialog box.

Note: Multiple selection tools are available for all these contextual menu commands. You can, for example, export a multiple selection of section results to a CATPart document.

● Select the product(s): highlights products in the specification tree associated with selected sections:

1. Select a section or Ctrl-click to select sections in the geometry area of the document window or in the Results window.

2. Right-click to access the contextual menu and choose Select the product(s).

Associated product(s) are highlighted in the specification tree.


In this section, you will find information on working with PDM systems and DMU Optimizer

Interoperability with ENOVIA LCA

Interoperability with VPM Navigator

Working with ENOVIAVPM: Managing Alternate Shapes

Working with ENOVIA LCAOptimal PLM Usability for DMU Optimizer


Working with ENOVIA LCA: Optimal PLM Usability for DMU Optimizer

When working with ENOVIA LCA, the Optimal PLM Usability for DMU Optimizer ensures that you only create and modify data in CATIA that can be correctly saved in ENOVIA LCA.

ENOVIA LCA offers two different storage modes Workpackage (Document kept - Publications Exposed) and Explode (Document not kept- Structure Exposed).

In DMU optimizer workbench, when saving data into ENOVIA LCA, the global transaction is guaranteed (both in Workpackage and Explode modes). All DMU Optimizer commands are thus available at all times.

The recommended methodology for working with ENOVIA LCA is:

● Send your ENOVIA document to CATIA

● Review your design, simplify your products ... using all DMU optimizer commands.

● Save your CATIA data in ENOVIA

To ensure seamless integration, you must have both a CATIA and ENOVIA session running

1. In the Product Structure workbench of CATIA V5, click the Init Enovia V5 Connection icon to establish the connection

between CATIA V5 and ENOVIA LCA.

2. In ENOVIA LCA, send your ENOVIA document to CATIA.

3. Work on your digital mockup in your DMU Optimizer application, for instance create wrapping representations.

4. In the Product Structure workbench of CATIA V5, click the Save Data in ENOVIA V5 Server... icon to save your data in

ENOVIA

The Save in ENOVIA dialog box appears showing alternate shapes to be saved and set to the correct save mode and save options.

5. Simply click Ok in the dialog box


The recommended methodology for working with ENOVIA LCA is:● Create a product in Enovia

● Send your ENOVIA product to CATIA

● Review your design, simplify your products ... using all DMU optimizer commands.

● Save your CATIA data in ENOVIA

To ensure seamless integration:● you must have both a CATIA and ENOVIA LCA session running.

● In the Product Structure workbench of CATIA V5, click the Connect to Enovia LCA icon to establish the connection between CATIA V5 and ENOVIA LCA.

Creating a Product in ENOVIA

At the top level of the ENOVIA product hierarchy is the product class root. This is the highest entity in a product structure and is used to group products. Products can be created directly under this level or under an intermediate level called the product class depending on how you want to structure your data. It is not necessary to create product classes, but the product class root and product must always exist. This is the product that will be sent to CATIA and is mapped to the CATIA document root.

To know more about creating a product (root class), please refer to 'Creating a Product' task and to 'Create the Product Class Structure' section in the LCAS - Engineering LifeCycle documentation.

1. In the ENOVIA home page, open the Engineering Life Cycle folder and double-click the Product Classes folder.

2. In the Product Class browser, click the New Product Class Root icon in the topmost toolbar.

3. Enter a meaningful name for your product class root in the Product Class ID field and then click Add.

4. Right-click the product class root you have just created and select New -> Product from the contextual menu.

5. Enter a meaningful name for your product in the Product ID field and then click Add

6. Don't forget to click the Save icon in the topmost toolbar to save the structure in ENOVIA.

Sending an ENOVIA Product to CATIA

8. Right-click the ENOVIA product and select Send to -> CATIA V5 from the contextual menu.

Saving CATIA Data in ENOVIA

9. In the Product Structure workbench of CATIA V5, click the Save Data in ENOVIA LCA Server... icon in the ENOVIA LCA

toolbar.

The Save in ENOVIA V5 dialog box appears showing objects to be saved and set to the correct save mode and save options.

10. Click OK in the dialog box.

A Save in ENOVIA V5 progress bar lets you monitor the progress of the operation.

11. Do not forget to refresh the ENOVIA product structure to view the data you have just saved in ENOVIA LCA.

Interoperability with VPM NavigatorVPM Navigator allows you to access both product definition and product data stored in the ENOVIA Hub, from a single, simple user interface integrated within CATIA

DMU users performing DMU Optimizer operations can take advantage of ENOVIA VPM Navigator interoperability. The table below lists basic operations in VPM Navigator interoperability context: ● Creating PRCs in Enovia LCA

● Sending PRCs to CATIA V5 using VPM Navigator

● Adding Components to the Product

● Creating Alternate Shapes

● Saving Products with Alternate Shapes in ENOVIA LCA using VPM Navigator

● Activating Alternate Shapes in VPM Navigator CATIA View

To perform the step-by-step scenario, read Working with DMU Optimizer using VPM Navigator

Working with DMU Optimizer using VPM Navigator

The following task shows you how to work with ENOVIA LCA, using VPM Navigator.

VPM Navigator allows you to access both product definition and product data stored in the ENOVIA Hub, from a single, simple user interface integrated within CATIA.In this scenario, the user:● creates a product in Enovia LCA and sends it to CATIA V5

● adds components to the product

● creates an alternate shape (in our example: a wrapping representation managed as an alternate shape) For more information read Customizing section - Alternate Shape Management in DMU Optimizer User Guide

● saves the product in ENOVIA LCA using VPM Navigator and sends the product again to CATIA

● activates the wrapping alternate shape in VPM Navigator CATIA View

Make sure you have selected ENOVIAV5 in the View -> Toolbars menu

1. Create a Product in ENOVIA LCA. Note that you can close ENOVIA LCA after creating the Product.

Sending the product to CATIA

2. Send your product to CATIA V5 using VPM Navigator, for this proceed as follows:

❍ In CATIA, click the Connect icon in the ENOVIA V5 toolbar . The Log On to Enovia V5 dialog box displays.

❍ Enter your User Name, and your password.

❍ Select your role in the Role drop-down list and click OK when done.

❍ Click the Search ENOVIA icon. The VPM Search dialog box displays.

❍ In the Objects drop-down list, select the Product option.

❍ Enter the Owner's ID.

❍ Click OK when done. The Product ID displays in the RESULT window.

❍ Right-click the root product and select the Open command

❍ The Open Modes dialog box displays. The Out of Context option button is selected by default.

❍ Keep the default settings and click OK. The CATIA view displays.

Adding components to the product

3. Click the root product and select the Insert->Existing Component... command. Select the component of your choice. This is what you can obtain:

4. Click the Save data in Enovia V5 icon The Save in ENOVIA dialog box displays. Check the Unlock All option and click OK when done.

5. Close your product in the CATIA view.

6. Send you product in VPM Navigator, proceed as follows:

❍ in the RESULT window, right-click the product you want to send to VPM Navigator

(PRC_FBP_1)

❍ Select Send to VPM Navigator item from the contextual menu displayed

7. Lock your documents in the VPM Navigator view to enable editing and saving operations, proceed as follows:

❍ Right-click successively Mobile Phone.1 and Mobile_Phone,

❍ Select the Lock item from the contextual menu displayed:

❍ Select the Component check box in the Lock dialog box and click Ok

Your products are locked (a green key identifies the lock operation):

You are ready to generate alternate shapes and save them in ENOVIA LCA database using VPM Navigator

Creating a wrapping representation managed as an alternate shape

8. To manage your 'Wrapping result' as an alternate shape of the initial component proceed as follows:


❍ Expand the Digital Mockup category from the upper-left tree

❍ Select DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab.The Alternate Shapes Management is available

❍ Select the Wrapping check box: the wrapping is automatically treated as an alternate shape

In this case, the wrapping result will be automatically reinserted and will replace the initial component (provided the Activate check box is selected, it is by default).

9. Select Start-> Digital Mockup-> DMU Optimizer...

10. Select the product you want to wrap (i.e. Battery.1) in the specification tree or in the geometry area.

11. Click the Wrapping icon from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.The Wrapping dialog box is displayed.

For more detailed information about wrapping capability, read "Generating a Wrapping" in DMU Optimizer User Guide.

12. Set the required options and click Preview button.

13. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is displayed:

❍ Enter a meaningful name

❍ Select cgr in the Save As type drop-down list.

14. Click Save, when done click Close

In our example, we obtain something like this:

Saving Data in ENOVIA LCA

14. Click the Save data in Enovia V5 icon . The Save in ENOVIA dialog box displays. Check the Unlock All option and click OK when done.

15. Close the product in the CATIA view. In our example PRC_FBP_1

Activating the wrapping alternate shape in VPM Navigator CATIA view

16. Send again your product to CATIA (Repeat Step 2) using VPM Navigator. To do so, proceed as follows:

❍ Click the Search ENOVIA icon in the ENOVIA V5 toolbar. The VPM Search dialog box displays.

❍ Double-click the product that you want to load in the RESULT window The VPM Navigator view displays:

17. Tile your windows vertically using the Windows-> Tile Vertically from the menu bar

18. Right-click Mobile_Phone_3Dcut and select Show Documents item from the contextual menu displayed:

The attached documents are displayed, you can see the wrapping representation you have just created and saved in Enovia:

19. Still in the VPM Navigator view, right-click Mobile_Phone.1 and select Open from the contextual menu displayed

The Open Modes dialog box is displayed:The In Context (Product) option button is selected. Click Ok.

Useful Reminder:

In Context (Product)

The tree of the selected object is opened and displayed within the appropriate context i.e. with all its parents as far as the PRC.For example, if you select a CATPart instantiated on a PRC, the CATPart opens with the PRC and the associated instance. You can see the geometry, all the parent instances and the PRC.

Out of Context

The tree of the selected object appears out of context.For example, if you select a CATPart instantiated on a PRC, the CATPart opens without the PRC and the associated instance. You just see the geometry but you do not see the position of the instance.

The Out of Context mode allows you to:

❍ open objects in a new or existing VPM Session. For more information about this workbench, see VPM Session: Working with Reference Data from VPM Navigator.

❍ open objects in a window

For more detailed information, refer to VPM Navigator User Guide

The Catia view is displayed.

20. In the Catia view, right-click Battery.1 in the specification tree and select Manage -> Representations to check your wrapping is treated as alternate shape.

21. In the Manage Representations dialog box, select the Wrapping representation and click the Activate button:

The wrapping representation is activated:

Working with ENOVIAVPM: Managing Alernates Shapes

You can manage alternate shapes in ENOVIAVPM which means:

● from a CATIA Version V5, you can: ❍ save a new alternate shape

❍ modify an existing alternate shape

❍ delete an existing alternate shape.

● from ENOVIAVPM, you can: ❍ load alternate shapes into V5 by means of a dialog box.

Loading Alternate Shapes

Alternate shapes are not visible in the PSN; only the master representations are. These are the representations located in the database, either in CATIA_MODEL or in DOCXX. They are available by means of the dialog boxes used to access documents or models.

To ensure seamless integration, you must have both a CATIA and ENOVIA session running

1. Select the elements to be opened and either select the Open item in the contextual menu or click on the CATIA V5 icon. If

none of the selected objects contains any alternate shapes, the following dialog box appears:

However, if one of the objects does contain an alternate shape, another dialog box will appear allowing you to select the object to be loaded into CATIA V5:

Load Order tab

As you can see below there are two lists:

❍ Available Shapes: lists the types of alternate shapes there are for all the selected elements.

❍ Ordered Shapes: Shows the order in which you want to load the alternate shape types. For each element, the Ordered Shapes list comes into play.

■ If the type exists, the appropriate object is loaded and the next one is processed.

■ If the type does not exist the next type in the list is handled and so on until a type is found or until the end of the list is reached. In the latter case, no representation for the object is loaded.

To create the Ordered Shapes list you must first select the types in the Available Shapes list then click on the rightward arrow

to put them in the Ordered Shapes list. Then use the vertical arrows to move the types inside the list to indicate the order you

prefer.

To remove types from the Ordered Shapes list select them then click on the leftward arrow.

The dialog box should then look something like this

Detailed tab

In this tab, only those types that exist for each selected object are displayed. You can select as many as you want for each object or even not select any. You can select a whole line or a whole column by clicking on the appropriate button. To select the whole table, use the Select All button. To deselect, just reclick on the corresponding button.

2. Once selection of the alternate shapes has been made you just have to click on Add or Replace. The Replace button creates a

new session in CATIA V5 where the elements are loaded. Select the Add button to add the elements to the active session in CATIA

V5.

3. If there is no representation amongst those you selected for each object a window will appear to tell you what representations are

missing in CATIA V5. Also, they are selected in the PSN to enable easy opening of a representation for each object.

Saving and Deleting Alternate Shapes

Once the create or delete operation has been performed it is registered in the CATIA V5 log. A synchronization on CATIA V5 allows you to commit the creation or deletion of one or more alternate shapes, directly in the database. Nothing has to be done on the VPM side.

Limitations

● There is a single alternate shape per alternate shape name for a given object. Generating an alternate shape of a given type overwrites the previous alternate shape if there is one.

● To have a CATPart and an associated alternate shape simultaneously in CATIA V5 you must either open them simultaneously by means of the Detailed tab or first open the CATPart and then the alternate shape using the Load Order tab. If you first load an alternate shape without its master and you then load the associated master only the alternate shape will be visible in the CATIA V5 session.

CustomizingBefore you start your first session, you can customize the way you work to suit your habits. This type of customization is stored in permanent setting files: these settings will not be lost if you end your session.

To access them, proceed as follows:

1. Select the Tools -> Options command.

The Options dialog box appears.

2. Select the Digital Mockup category in the left-hand box.

3. Select the DMU Optimizer sub-category.

The DMU Optimizer and DMU Sectioning tabs appear.

The DMU Optimizer tab lets you customize options dealing with:

❍ Alternate Shape Management

❍ Wrapping Color

❍ Vibration Volume Color

The DMU Sectioning tab lets you customize settings for:

❍ Section Planes

❍ Section grid

❍ Results Window

Other tabs are also needed for DMU Optimizer.

4. To access preview settings, select the Digital Mockup category, then click the General tab

❍ General

5. To access Cache settings, select the Infrastructure category category, then the Product Strcuture sub-category

Click the tabs of interest:

❍ Cache Management

❍ Product Visualization

6. Set options in these tabs according to your needs.

7. Click OK in the Options dialog box when done.

DMU Optimizer

The DMU Optimizer tab contains three categories of options:

● Alternate Shape Management

● Wrapping Color

● Vibration Volume Color

● Save Management for Swept Volume

Alternate Shape Management

Shape NameSelect the desired representation(s) to be managed as alternate shape(s)i.e. Silhouette representation

For instance, if the Silhouette check box is selected, the resulting silhouette shape is managed as the silhouette component alternate shape (i.e. input component)

Note: when you select a specific check box to manage a representation as an alternate shape, the Activate and Default options become available.

By default, all shape name check boxes are cleared.

ActivateSelect this check box to visualize the selected shape in the current session.

For instance, if this check box is selected, the silhouette representation becomes the one visualized in the session.

By default, the check boxes are selected.

Default

Select this check box to activate the selected representation as the default shape (i.e. the one loaded when opening the CATProduct document).

In our example, if both Silhouette and Default check boxes are selected, the silhouette representation becomes the default shape.

By default, the check boxes are cleared.Notes:

● In DMU Optimizer, it is impossible to generate various alternate shapes with the same name. Only the last generated alternate shape is taken into account.

● This option does not work with CATPart documents (i.e. when the initial selection is a CATPart document).

Path For Save

Specify the full path for save or select this path using the Browse button .Notes:

● the path/directory you selected for one shape is now the default path specified in the Save as dialog box. You can still change it, if you need to, when saving.

● You can customize a specific path/directory for each alternate shape.

By default, this field is left blank.

Wrapping Color

Vibration Volume Color

Use part color when possible, otherwise...

Select the Use part color when possible, otherwise... check box to swap from the part color to another color when it is appropriate (default color or a color of your choice)

By default, this check box is cleared.

Default color

Use the color chooser to define the default color of wrapping or vibration volume.

By default, color is as shown above.

Save Management for Swept Volume

Use one directory and save in one click

Select the Use one directory and save in one click check box to save in a single directory, multiple swept volumes, in one click (when dealing with several moving products, for instance when performing a swept volume on a shuttle).For more information, read Swept Volume section in DMU Optimizer User's Guide.

By default, this check box is selected.

DMU Sectioning

The DMU Sectioning tab contains three categories of options:

● Section planes

● Section grid

● Results window

Section Planes

Default color

Use the color chooser to define the default color of section planes.

By default, color is as shown above.

Normal X, Y, Z

Select the option specifying the absolute axis along which you want to orient the normal vector of the section plane (master plane in the case of slices and boxes).

By default, the normal vector is oriented along X.

Origin

Select the option locating the center of the plane:

● 0,0,0: at absolute coordinates 0,0,0

● Selection: at the center of the bounding sphere around the products in the selection you defined.

By default, the origin option is set to Selection.

Hide the plane

Selecting this checkbox hides the plane on exiting the command. If cleared, the plane is kept in the Show space on exiting the command.

By default, this option is selected.

Hide the section results in the No Show space

Selecting this checkbox transfers the section results to the No Show place on exiting the command.

By default, this option is cleared.

Automatic computation of the result

Selecting this checkbox automatically updates sectioning results while manipulating the plane. If cleared, sectioning results are computed when you release the mouse button.


Wireframe elements cut

Selecting this checkbox takes wireframe elements into account and the section plane sections any wireframe elements present. Points represent the intersection of the plane with wireframe elements.If cleared, wireframe elements are not taken into account.


Allow measures on a section created with a simple plane

Selecting this checkbox gives the same 3D section cut display for a plane as in the case of a slice or box and lets you make measures on the wireframe section cut.

By default, this option is checked.

Section Grid

Mode

Select the option to locate the grid:

● Absolute: sets grid coordinates with respect to the absolute axis system of the document.

● Relative: places the center of the grid on the center of the section plane (master plane in the case of slices and boxes).

By default, the mode is set to Absolute.

Style

Select the option defining how the grid is represented: Lines or Crosses.

By default, the style is set to Lines .

Steps - Automatic filtering

Selecting this checkbox automatically adjusts the level of detail of the grid display when you zoom in and out.


Steps - Width, Height

In the Width and Height boxes, type or select a new value to specify the spacing between grid lines. Units are current units set using Tools -> Options.

By default, width and height are set to 100.

Steps - Automatic grid resizing

Selecting this checkbox automatically re-sizes the grid to section results when moving the section plane. If cleared, the grid has the same dimensions as the section plane.

By default, this option is selected.Automatic grid resizing ON: Automatic grid resizing OFF:

Results Window

Automatically open

Selecting this checkbox always displays the Section viewer when in the Sectioning command. Note: If cleared, the preview window is displayed. If, in addition, you clear the Sectioning preview option in the Digital Mockup General tab (Tools -> Options -> Digital Mockup -> General), then no viewers are displayed.


Always 2D view

Selecting this checkbox locks the Section viewer in a 2D view. If cleared, you can work in a 3D view.


Automatically reframe

Selecting this checkbox automatically fits the results into the available space in both the Section viewer and preview window when manipulating the section plane in the document window.


Section fill

Selecting this checkbox fills in the section to generate a surface for measurement and display purposes.


General DMU Settings

Preview

You can customize the automatic display of preview windows

Select Preview check boxes as appropriate to change the automatic display setting of preview windows.

By default, the automatic display is activated for all preview windows.

For more information, read General in the Infrastructure User's Guide, Customizing-> Customizing settings-> Digital Mockup...

Cache Management Using a cache system considerably reduces the time required to load your data. This task explains how to customize cache settings.

The released cache feature requires a DMU license.

The timestamp feature requires a DMU license.

If you activate the cache using a VB macro, you will not receive a message reminding you to re-launch your session. You must, however, re-launch your session.

For information on working with a cache system, see About Working with a Cache System.

A DMU Navigator document must be opened.

It is imperative that any directory designated for use as a cache directory be reserved for this usage only, i.e. you should not manually save any other files in this directory. (When necessary, the Check Maximum Size option purges the least-recently-accessed files in order to maintain the cache smaller than the designated Maximum size. As a result, any files that you manually save to this directory could eventually be purged.)

When you are working in Cache mode, a .model or .CATPart is converted to a .cgr format. You can convert the .cgr to a .model or .CATPart format using the Design Mode command. See the task Design Mode in the Product Structure user guide.

The Cache Management settings page concerns the following settings categories:

● Accessing Cache Settings

● Cache Activation

● Cache Location

● Cache Size

● Timestamp

● Cache Content

Accessing Cache settings

1. In the menu bar, select Tools -> Options.

The Options dialog box appears.

2. Click the Infrastructure -> Product Structure category.

3. Click the Cache Management tab.

Cache Activation

Work with the cache system

To activate the cache, check the Work with the cache system checkbox. (By default, the cache is not activated.)

By default, this option is unchecked.

Cache Location

Cache Location

New features have been added to the Cache Management that render the configuration of the local and released caches easier. The new features are:

● Local cache - a history of the last five defined paths

● Released cache - a configuration panel that enables you to:

● select directories from a list of "accessible" directories that have been pre-defined by the administrator

● reorder the directories list

● remove entries from the directories list

Note that it is possible to use environment variables to define a local cache or a released cache:

● the variable should be defined (using the set command on Windows or the export command on UNIX) in the script file used to launch the executable file of the interactive application

● the variable must be correctly valuated to an existing directory

● the entry in the local cache or released cache text-entry field should be of the form ${variable_name}

Path to the local cache

To define a local cache directory, enter the name of the directory in the Path to the local cache text-entry field or click the Path to the local cache selection button and select an entry from the proposed history list.

By default, this variable is valuated to Windows: C:\Documents and Settings\userid\Local Settings\Application Data\Dassault Systemes\CATCache UNIX: $HOME/CATCache

Path to the released cache

To define a released cache directory, enter the name of the directory in the Path to the released cache text-entry field or invoke the released cache configuration panel by clicking the Path to the released cache Configure button.

By default, this variable will be a list of the released caches that have been defined by your administrator.

Configure

Click the Path to the released cache Configure button. The Configuration dialog box appears.

To add one of the Accessible Directories to the list of Current Directories, select the entry in the

Accessible Directories list and click the Right-arrow icon .The entry is added to the Current Directories list.

Note: The list of directories in the Accessible Directories list is defined by the administrator as follows:

● define a .txt file of which each line contains the path to a directory that will appear in the list of accessible directories

● set and export an environment variable AVAILABLE_CACHE_DIR_PATH that points to the above .txt file

● the administrator can, of course, manage the access rights to the above-defined directories so as to restrict their access to groups of users or specific users

To move one of the entries in the Current Directories list to a higher place in the list (remember that released cache directories are searched in the order in which you see them displayed), select the

entry in the Current Directories list and click the Up-arrow icon .The entry is moved up in the list.

To delete an entry from the Current Directories list, select the entry in the Current Directories list and click the Delete button.

To enter the paths identifying the cache locations, click the Browse icon . The Browse enables you to locate the file you want. The user can enter the path to his own local cache location, and if permitted by the site administrator, one or more paths to released cache locations.

The default directory is the user's home directory under UNIX and the USERPROFILE directory under Windows.

Cache Size

Check maximize size

(Optional) Set the maximum size for the local cache (in write mode).

When the maximum size is exceeded, the automatic deletion of .cgr files (on a first-in / first-out basis) is triggered. The default maximum size is 500 MB.


Maximum size

(Optional) Set the maximum size for the local cache (in write mode).

When the maximum size is exceeded, the automatic deletion of .cgr files (on a first-in / first-out basis) is triggered. The default maximum size is 500 MB.

When inserting a component, the maximum size is checked before tessellation of the component to be inserted. Therefore, it can occur that the cache size becomes greater than the maximum size specified in the setting.


Timestamp

Check timestamps

(Optional) Set the Check timestamp option:

The timestamp option serves to check whether or not the tessellated cgr file is up-to-date.

If clicked, the system checks the original document's date against that of the corresponding cgr file, and if older, tessellates the document again overwriting the out-of-date version. If dates are the same, no tessellation is done and the cgr file in the data cache is loaded.Turning this option off means that no check is run and cgr files in the cache are systematically loaded.


GMT timestamp format

Until now, the cache timestamp has been based on local time. This can lead to unwanted re-tessellations if you are sharing data between sites located in different time zones.

It is now possible to base your cache on GMT time.

The following are the rules for implementing your cache based on GMT time:

● a batch job will permit you to migrate old caches to GMT time-based caches

● once a cache is migrated to or designated as GMT time-based, you can never go back to a local time-based cache

● ALL caches (local cache and released caches) must be of the same format

To migrate an old cache, use the following command:

CATSysMvCache -o UTC -inputdir input_directory -log file.txt [-outputdir output_directory]

If outputdir is not set, the cache specified in inputdir and the documents it contains are converted to GMT format.

Once a cache has been migrated to GMT time-based, it is no longer compatible with previous releases of ENOVIA DMU or CATIA (i.e. a migrated cache cannot be used in V5R11 or below).

To designate all caches specified in Cache Location as GMT time-based, check the GMT timestamp format checkbox.

Note: When the GMT timestamp format option is activated:

● all new caches will be based on GMT time

● all specified caches must have been updated using the provided batch job

If any of the caches specified do not conform to the rule that all caches must be of the same format, an error message will appear.


Cache Content

Generate cgr with level of detail

When working in visualization mode, the Insert Component of a CATProduct will generate in the cache a cgr containing Levels of Detail (Lods).

The generation of the Levels of Detail increases the time to generate the cgrs.

To deactivate the Generate cgr with level of detail option, click the corresponding checkbox.

By default, this option is checked.

Confirming chosen options

4. When you have finished customizing options, click OK to confirm.

Product Visualization

This task explains how to customize Product Visualization settings.

1. Select the Tools->Options... command.

2. Select the Infrastructure category, then the Product Structure sub-category, then the Product

Visualization tab:

Representation

In the "Representation" area, if you click the "Do not activate shapes on open" selection box, the graphical representations of all the components will not be computed when opening a CATProduct. So the only thing that will be displayed is the specification tree.This option may be used to speed up the opening of large CATPRoducts when you don't need to see all the components.Once the CATProduct is opened, you can display the component you need to see by using the Representation -> Activate Node option in the contextual menu of these components.

Visualization Mode Type

● Visualization Mode with local cache: option by default, when the Cache is activated (check the Work with the cache system checkbox). In this case you create all the cgr files in a local cache in mono process.

● Multi Process Visualization Mode with local cache: when the Cache is activated. You can choose the creation of Cache files in multi process (DMU context). If you decide to check "Multi Process Visualization Mode with local cache" rather than "Visualization Mode with local cache", the following message appears:

● Visualization Mode without local cache: the cgr files within local Cache cannot be visualized; they are not created in the local cache.

● None: when this option is activated, you are not in Visualization Mode but in Design Mode.

3. Click OK to confirm.

Index

Numerics3D cut, creating

Aabout representation simplification

alternate shape (see to Tools->Options->DMU Optimizer...)

alternate shape, managing

alternate shapes in ENOVIAVPM, managing

annotating

Ccache settings

customizing

capturing section results changing position

section plane(s) command

3D Cut

Capture

Clash Detection

Edit Grid

Edit Position and Dimensions

Export As

Flip Horizontal

Flip Vertical

Free Space

Geometrical Target

Grid

Invert Normal

Merger

Offset

Positioning by 2 or 3 Selections

Reset Position

Rotate Left

Rotate Right

Section Box

Section Fill

Section Slice

Sectioning

Silhouette

Simplification

Swept Volume

Thickness

Vibration Volume

Volume Cut

Wrapping contextual menu

sectioning creating

3D Cuts

a free space

offset along fixed vectors

offset along normal vectors

section box(es)

section cut(s)

section plane(s)

section slice(s)

silhouette

swept volume

swept volume from any moving reference

thickness

vibration volume from a track

wrapping customizing

cache settings

sectioning

Ddetecting

collisions between 2D sections

DMU Optimizer Menu Bar

EEdit Grid command

Edit Position and Dimensions command

ENOVIAVPM interoperability

Export As command exporting results

section

Ffiltering swept volume positions

Flip Horizontal command

Flip Vertical command

free space, creating

freezing section results

GGeometrical Target command

Grid command

IInvert Normal command

Mmacros, writing managing

alternate shapes in ENOVIAVPM manipulating

section plane(s)

merging tree representation more about

offset along fixed vectors

offset along normal vectors

saving operations

selection

silhouette

simplification

swept volume

vibration Volume

wrapping moving

section plane(s)

multiple save management for swept volume

Ooffset

along fixed vectors

along normal vectors

Optimal PLM Usability for DMO

Ppositioning

section boxes

section planes

section planes along a curve or edge

section planes on geometrical target

section planes using the Edit Position and Dimensions command

Positioning by 2 or 3 Selections command

preview, using properties

section

Rre-dimensioning

section plane(s)

Reset Position command results window

sectioning

Rotate Left command

Rotate Right command rotating

section plane(s)

Ssearch clashes

with Interactive CATIA V5 section

exporting results

properties

Section Box command section box(es)

creating

snapping section cut(s)

creating section plane(s)

along a curve or edge

changing position

creating

manipulating

moving

on geometrical target

re-dimensioning

rotating

snapping

using the Edit Position and Dimensions command

Section Slice command section slice(s)

creating sectioning

about

automatically updating results

collision detection

contextual menu

creating section planes

customizing settings

freezing results

manually updating results

results window

Sectioning command selection

Input Products dialog box silhouette

not using a reference product

simplifying representation swept volume

basic mode

creating

filtering

from any moving reference

saving

with wrapping and simplification

swept volume, creating

swept volume, filtering

swept volume, saving

Ttoolbars

DMU Optimizer

Sectioning Tools Options - DMU Optimzer

DMU Optimizer Tools Options - DMU Space Analysis

DMU Sectioning

tree representation, merging

Uusing

simplification command

vibration volume

wrapping and simplification in swept volume

Vvibration volume, using viewer

sectioning

Volume Cut command

Wworking with

ENOVIA LCA

ENOVIAVPM

writing macros