CATIA V5

StudioTools CATIA V5 DirectConnect is a stand-alone utility that allows the exchange of 3D model data between StudioTools and CATIA V5 using the native CATIA part (.CATPart) and product (.CATProduct) documents. Please follow installation instructions provided in the README.txt file.

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CATIA Requirements

Version 5 of CATIA (Release 10, 11, 12, or 13) and an appropriate CATIA license.
Version 12 of SurfaceStudio, AutoStudio, Studio or DesignStudio, and a CATIA V5 DirectConnect license.
IRIX or Windows operating system.
On IRIX, ftn_eoe must be installed for CATIA V5 DirectConnect to work:

ftn_eoe Standard Execution Environment (Fortran Headers and Libraries, 7.4)
ftn_eoe.sw.lib Standard Execution Libraries (N32bit)

See Before you create the model for a list of modeling practices to use as a quick reference guide if problems arise.

If you have a network installation of CATIA V5, please see the installation notes (README.TXT) for important information about environment variables that must be set.

Before you create the model

Units should be set to mm.

Optimal tolerances should be set as follows, as recommended by Dassault Systemes:

Curve Fit Distance = 0.001 mm (lower as necessary)
Curve Fit Checkpoints = 10
Max Gap Distance = 0.01 mm
Trim Curve Fit = 0.005 mm (lower as necessary)
Topology Distance = 0.02 mm

While you create the model

Models should be transferred periodically from StudioTools to CATIA during construction to manage the quality of the model being created.
The StudioTools model should be capable of being successfully stitched before export. If you periodically stitch the geometry to ensure that the model meets all tolerance requirements, you'll have a good indication of whether the final model will stitch correctly.
Avoid using Object Edit > Attach > Attach and Curve edit > Join Curves since these functions create multiknots in StudioTools geometry that may result in unusable geometry in CATIA.
Use surface building tools such as Square and Rail Surface, taking advantage of the Boundary Rebuild option to control curvature continuity between surfaces and ensure surfaces do not contain multi-knots.
Use Evaluate > Check Model to be alerted to potential problems: it's another good practice.

Workflow

Before transferring geometry between StudioTools and CATIA, you should consider the purpose of the transfer to plan an appropriate workflow. Two common workflows are:

Geometry (describing mechanical components) is transferred from CATIA to StudioTools for concept design surfacing, then those Studio surfaces are transferred back to CATIA.
A StudioTools model is transferred to CATIA, and both StudioTools and CATIA databases are developed independently. Later, the modified StudioTools model is transferred again to CATIA, replacing the StudioTools geometry from the first transfer. In this scenario, all work done in CATIA on the first StudioTools model transfer will affect the new, modified geometry.

There are many variations on these two examples. Whatever the transfer scenario, you should carefully plan the transfer process, to ensure that the appropriate data is written out and is useful.

What are the curve to fit distance tolerances in StudioTools

The Curve Fit Distance is the tolerance to which trim boundaries are rebuilt to (or approximated). The default positional tolerance in CATIA V5 is 0.001 mm, and the StudioTools Curve Fit Distance setting should be set to 0.001mm.

This Curve Fit Distance setting should normally be accurate. If you find that it is not resulting in StudioTools geometry that can be successfully used in CATIA, then experiment with the Curve Fit Distance-it can set to as low as 0.001 mm. This setting will enhance the success of post transfer processes, such as skinning, that are to be carried out once the geometry is in CATIA.

Tip Tip

The Curve Fit Distance tolerance in StudioTools should not be set at less than 0.001 mm. Lower than this will impact processing time.

Whether you are creating a model, verifying a model, or debugging a translation, there are a number of tools in StudioTools you can use to check the quality of the geometry you have created. The most useful tool is the Locators > Deviation Min/max measurement tools. Use this tool to check the maximum distance between any two surface boundaries.