CATIA V5 Knowledge Templates

By Franck Montigon, Strategy, CATIA V5 Shape Design and Styling, Knowledge and Analysis Solutions

Instantiation of the Assembly Template (automatic reconnection). Images courtesy of Dassault Systèmes. open image window for this article

One of the main purposes of the CATIA V5 Knowledgeware solutions is to capture the trade know-how required for product design and to harness this knowledge to develop new, better quality and faster products, notably by the creation of intelligent templates. These Knowledge Templates, as they are known in CATIA V5, combine varied elements included in product design. The templates are then reused either by the same team/project/company, or through the extended enterprise by way of exchanges between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers, for example. This components-based approach accelerates and simplifies design.

Definition of a Knowledge Template

A Knowledge Template is comprised of varied elements such as geometry, product structure, and especially trade know-how as defined in CATIA V5 Knowledgeware. The most common knowledge elements are Formulas and Rules (to parametrize a component), Design Tables (to define component alternatives), and Checks (to check that the components match rules relevant to the company practices). There are also more advanced functions such as Optimizations (to optimize a component), Reactions (which can add a behavior to a component) and Sets of Equations (to solve equations and inequations).

It is this wealth of knowledge that enables both the creation of intelligent components, which are able to adapt to a new context (component morphing), and the efficient communication of the original design intent.

To fully appreciate the power and benefits the Knowledge Templates offer, it is worth noting that the Knowledgeware is one of the core components of CATIA V5, launched in 1999. The result? Knowledge can be accessed and used at every product design stage, from the concept to the maintenance, as well as be enriched interactively from all V5 applications.

The Knowledge Template can be classified in three categories, depending on whether the original design is:

• A sub-part element, in which case it will concern Feature Templates;

• A whole part, in which case it will concern Part Templates;

• An assembly (several parts and/or sub-assemblies), in which case it will concern Assembly Templates.

Focus on Feature Template

There are two types of Feature Template:

The first allows for quick reuse of the design while controlling all the reused elements, i.e. being able to modify everything. These are PowerCopy templates (PwC).

The second is just as fast but its exterior view is a “black box” (users cannot modify elements apart from some control parameters). These are User-Defined Feature templates (UDF).

Either type of feature template may be chosen depending on the degree of control sought and degree of confidentiality required (Intellectual Property protection). The creation and reuse of the two types of feature templates is very similar. Part Template and Assembly Template creation follows exactly the same pattern.

Create a Feature Template

Your geometry is created as well as all the knowledge elements that comprise it. Figure 1 (click on "open image window" link above if you have not already done so) shows the screen that enables interactive creation of a Feature Template. There are a number of tabs that we shall look at in their order of use:

1. You need to select the component to transform into a template in the Feature Tree. The "Definition" window will then display the list of components to choose from, the related external documents and the inputs required for the instantiation of the template (i.e., the input elements that the end user will have to indicate to insert his component in a new context).

2. Then rename these entries to make them as easy to understand as possible using the "Inputs" tab.

3. "Parameters," the third tab, enables the creator of the template to choose the parameters accessible after instantiation (in case of a UDF).

4. Customize your template by attributing a particular icon to it for a quick identification in the Feature Tree ("Icon" tab).

5. Indicate the geometric output elements that you want to use to support future developments (UDFs only).

6. Attribute a specific identity to your template, recognized by the V5 infrastructure, for advanced operations (search, rules, etc). (UDFs only).

7. Click OK. Your template has been created and may now be found in the Feature Tree of your part.

Add Extra Knowledge

Note that for even easier use of your template, you can add extra documents to explain how you created your component and how it should be reused in much more detail. This information will be accessible directly by the end user, through URL links, when he wants to instantiate this template.

Store, Share, Deploy

After reusing your Feature Template, you can opt for different means of saving:

• The "file based" mode enables you to store your Feature Template like any other file and reuse it with the "Insert component" command.

• The CATIA catalogues permit you to consult categorized information, provide wider distribution and simplified reuse thanks to previews of templates. See Figure 2.

• Lastly, you can also save your templates in V5 Product Data Management systems (ENOVIA VPM, ENOVIA V5 LCA), and in SMARTEAM.

Reuse Your Feature Template in Another Context

1. From any CATIA workbench, go to the menu and select "Insert from catalog.” Choose the template to instantiate, the window (shown in Figure 3) will appear.This panel is comprised of a list of entries to fill in, an interactive window to view the component to be inserted, an explanation of the entries, and an access to more detailed information.

2. Select the inputs either directly on your model, or in the Feature Tree, or click on "Use Identical Name" if your entry parameters have already been identified in the context where you want to insert your template (automatic reconnection).

3. Click on OK. Your Feature Template has been instantiated and is adapted to the context. (See Figure 4).

After-Reuse Modifications

If you have chosen to create a Power Copy, you can modify everything, since you have retrieved the original structure and information (See Figure 5). However, if you have opted for a component-based approach (black box) via a UDF, you can only change the entries and the parameters left free by the template designer (See Figure 6).

Example of an Assembly Template
Figures 7-9

illustrate a simple example of an Assembly Template. It is a trailer coupling, an assembly comprised of three parts.

Summary

To recap, here are the points that we have dealt with in this article:

• Firstly, the user-friendliness of Knowledge Templates makes it a simple and powerful tool for capturing and reusing know-how. Everything is done interactively, whatever application you are working on.

• The knowledge integrated into these Templates allows it to be adapted instantly while spreading the company's best practices.

• Finally, the components-based approach speeds product design and increases productivity.