CATIA V5 Part

Use

You can import and view CATIA V5 part (.CATPart .CATShape) files.

CATIA V5 is the file format used in the CAD applications developed by Dassault Systems, and is one of the most popular CAD applications.

Supported

  • CATIA V5-style hierarchy support with a structured Scene Tree

  • Standard Views and Captures (user-defined model views in CATIA V5 software)

  • File properties, Model properties, and Geoset Metadata (creates nodes with hierarchy to store metadata)

  • Object Attributes color, opacity, visibility, and object names (both part number and instance names)

  • Solid or mesh import
    • Tessellation control with mesh import and dynamic tessellation option for solid import

  • Normals and UV coordinates

  • 2D sketches(points and wireframes)

  • Selection set

  • PMI (Functional Dimensioning & Tolerancing, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing)

  • Construction geometry; for example, Points, Coordinate Axis, Surfaces/Curves, Wireframes, planes

  • Import Dimensions saved in V5 Analyze/Measurement Tool

  • PMI to surface highlighting and PMI to Edge highlighting

  • Persistence Identifier and CAD Identifiers

Limitations

  • No Kinematics support

  • No texture support

  • CATIA5 piping not supported

  • Not all electric features are supported, except for electric splice points

  • Animations not supported

  • UV Coordinates from Mesh not supported

  • Metadata in the Scene Tree sorts in alphabetical order so the original order is not preserved.

  • Initial view is not respected when loaded in SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Author or SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Generator

Features

This format contains import options. You can use them to customize the way in which your file is opened.

Import Interface

Field

Functional Description

Common

Defines the general settings including tessellation (arrangement and density of the polygons)

Geometry: Defines the geometry settings

  • Import Filters: Defines the import filter settings

    • Import Hidden Objects: Imports all hidden objects. If you modify any visible objects that contain hidden subobjects after import, those hidden objects are also modified.

    • Display Hidden Objects: Displays all hidden objects in the viewport after importing the file

    • Import Construction Geometry: Imports the construction geometry defined in CATIA software. It could contain solid geometry or polylines.

    • Display Construction Geometry: Displays the imported construction geometry. This option is only available if Import Construction Geometry is set.

    • Import Metadata: Imports file metadata from the original CAD file (stored inside the file as the metadata category CADMetadata)

    • Import Hidden Metadata: Imports file metadata that is hidden within the original CAD file

    • Collect Metadata to Geometry: Determines how metadata is collected. This option is only available if Import Metadata is set to Yes.

      • From Parents: All metadata is collected to the parent geometry node, and there are no metadata nodes solely to store metadata

      • Do Not Merge: There can be empty nodes to store metadata

    • Import Selection Sets: Imports selection sets. A Selection set in CATIA5 is a group of filtered selected items that can be saved with the document. Selection sets are represented as model views, and a separate portfolio called “Selection Set” is created to hold selection sets. Each model view refers to a layer of entities in a CATIA5 selection set, and a model view is created for each selection set imported. Default view is used for all of the selection set model views.

    • Import 2D Sketch Geometry: Imports sketch geometry where sketch information is applicable. This geometry can be either points or wireframes - respective import settings control the geometry. Points and wireframes can be imported together.

      • No 2D Sketch Geometry: Do not import sketch geometry

      • Both 2D Sketch Wireframes and Points: Import wireframes and points together

      • Only 2D Sketch Wireframes: Import 2D sketch wireframes only

      • Only 2D Sketch Points: Import 2D sketch points only

    • Import 2D Layout: Imports the 2D layout geometry where applicable

    • Compact Scene Tree: Loads a collapsed version of the Scene Tree, and is set to Yes by default. For further information on this option, see Compact Scene Tree.

    • XML file for Collapse Rules: Selects an XML file, which determines how the collapse affects the Scene Tree. This option is only available if Compact Scene Tree is set to Yes.

  • Tessellation Settings: Defines the tessellation settings

    • Import Splines, Surfaces and Solids: Determines whether splines, surfaces, and solids are imported

    • Tessellation Level: Applies different resolutions based upon preselected values for chord height ratio and normal tolerances. If you select User Defined, further options become available.

      • Angular Tolerance: Determines the maximum angular deviation (in degrees), allowed between an analytical surface and its triangulation. Pairs of triangles do not incorporate a dihedral angle greater than this amount. For example, this setting dictates the minimum number of facets around a smaller circle or cylinder regardless of the Surface Deviation setting. This parameter gives you added control over faces with small radii. Lower values result in finer tessellations, while higher values produce coarser tessellations.

      • Chord Height Tolerance: The value between the analytical surface and its triangulation that determines the distance and accuracy of the tessellation. The lower the value, the more accurate the result. 0.00001 is the minimum unit (high detail), and 1 000 000 is the maximum unit (low detail).

      • Chord Height Behavior: Determines how accurately the chord height tolerance is applied. Absolute applies the chord height tolerance as it is. Scaled adjusts the values depending on the scale of the object being tessellated.

    • Angular Tolerance Cap: The minimum value that is applied to angular tolerance, irrespective of other settings. For example, an angular tolerance cap of 45 degrees, which ensures that a circle is tessellated to have at least eight sides.

    • Chord Height Tolerance Cap: The minimum value that is applied to chord height tolerance, irrespective of other settings

PMI Captures Model Views: Defines settings for PMI

  • Import PMI: Imports any Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) within the file. You can access the PMI data objects from within the 3D Objects list.

  • Import Hidden PMI: Imports any Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) that is hidden within the file

  • Import Model Views: Imports any custom model views within the CAD file

  • Import Captures: Imports any captures within the file. Captures define a list of PMI and Geometry to display. For each capture, there is a model view in the Scene Tree.

  • Create Extra Section Geometry: Imports all associated sectioning information for a geometry node. A cross-section is taken of the geometry that is visible (or included), in this model view, and it is cut to make a cross-section geometry. This option, if set to No (false), creates a real-time cross section that can be removed or reinstated. If set to Yes (true), section geometry is created as separate mesh, and displays in the corresponding capture. The default is No.

  • Create Initial View with PMI: Creates a model view with all the PMI in the scene. You can view all the PMI and geometry in default view that may not have been otherwise included in any other views or captures.

  • Create Initial View without PMI: Creates a model view without any PMI, but containing all geometry in the scene

Geometric Entity Filter: Defines settings for the construction geometry

  • Import Axis Systems: Imports and draws axis systems as defined in the CAD file. There may be one or more axis systems defined in the CAD file, for one or more nodes.

  • Import Surfaces: Imports all construction geometry

  • Import Points: Imports all 3D point data stored inside the CAD file and draws points as saved in CATIA files

  • Import Planes: Imports all infinite 3D plane data stored inside the CAD file and draws planes as transparent mesh

  • Import Wireframes: Imports all wireframes if any exist

  • Draw Wireframes on Top: Draws wireframes on top of other 3D geometry

Geometry Transformation

Transforms (rotate, position, and scale) the scene along the X, Y, and Z axes:
  • Rotation: Sets the degrees of rotation around each axis from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. The rotation values can be entered with up to 6 decimal places.

  • Scale: Scales the object along the X, Y, and Z axes

  • Position: Sets the position of the scene along the X, Y, and Z axes