CATIA Training

Foils

Structure Design

Version 5 Release 8
February 2002
EDU-CAT-E-STD-FF-V5R8

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 1

Structure Design

Objectives of the course

In this course you will learn methods to quickly create and modify linear and curved
structures, and plates using standard or user-defined sections. It addresses any kind of
Frames, Foundations and Steel construction …, in various domains like Aerospace,
Automotive and F&A.

Targeted audience
New CATIA V5 users

1 day

Prerequisites
Course PDG, course WFS
and course SKE

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Table of Contents (1/2)

1. Introduction to Structure Design

Structure Design Demonstration
Structure Design Workbench Presentation
2. Setting Options
Setting Options for Structure Design Intent
3. Creating Grids
Creating Grids in 3D
4. Defining & Placing Members
Defining Members
Placing Linear Members
Placing Members on Support
Placing Infilling Members
5. Creating Planar Elements
Creating Plates
Creating End Plates
6. Modifying Structures & Plates
Editing Structures
Editing Plates
Jointing Structures
Manipulating Structures

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Table of Contents (2/2)

1. Making Design Changes

Modifying Structure Geometry

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Introduction to Structure Design

You will become familiar with the Structure Design workbench

Accessing the workbench

Exploring the User Interface
Seeing Terminology
Understanding the General Process

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Accessing the Workbench

Structure Design
Workbench Icon

The Structure Design

Workbench is working
at Product level, like
Assembly Design.

Once you are in the Structure Design

Workbench, the associated toolbars
are displayed :

Design Elements

Products Selection Operations

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Exploring the User Interface
Product tree You are in the Structure
Design Workbench

Structure Design Filtered Selection

Feature
Grid
Section
Filtered Selection
Member
Part tree for toolbar
Infill
Member
Members on Support
Structure Design Plate
Features End-Plate

Joint Structure Design

toolbar
Translation and Rotation
Tree scrollbar
Manipulation

Part tree Assembly

for Plate toolbar

Standard tools
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Seeing Terminology (1/2)

TUBEC120x5.0_5 is the Part Number of the

beam automatically given by the system,
based on the Section type (TUBEC stand for
“tube carré”) and used to store the profile
on the Section Storage directory
Column_4 is the Instance Name
automatically given by the system, based
on the Member type and used to store the
part on the disk at the product level.

StructuralRib is a Structure Design feature.

It contains the sketch of the section profile
and possibly cutbacks.

StrSkeleton is a Structure Design feature. It

contains the construction elements of the
member.

Assembly Features are used by the system

to manage associativity between members.

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Seeing Terminology (2/2)

StrInfill is a Component automatically

created by the system when using the Infill
functionality. It contains the skeleton of the
Infill and the Infilling beams.

StrSkeletonInfill is a CATPart containing

the infill skeleton : lines and points
automatically created in the OpenBody of
the part.

Infilling Beams are same CATParts than

those created with Member or Member on
Support functionalities.

Th=10_14 is the Part Number of the plate automatically

given by the system based on the thickness value.
Gusset_14 is the Instance Name automatically given by the
system, based on the Plate type and used to store the part
on the disk at the product level.
This part is a standard CATPart automatically created using
the Plate functionality.

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General Process
From Assembly Design :
> Insert a New Product 1
(Design in context of assembly)
Or Define
Open an new CATProduct Settings
document Access
2
> To be inserted later on workbench

3 Create
5 4 a Grid

Create Place
Planar elements Members

Create 6
Joints

Modify your
Design

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Setting Options

You will see how to define needed settings in order to work within the Structure
Design workbench.

Setting Structure Design Options

Setting Part Design Options
Setting Assembly Design Options

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Setting Structure Design Options (1/4)

1 Select Structure Design in Mechanical Design item.

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Setting Structure Design Options (2/4)

2 Modify if needed the Member and

Plate color.

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Setting Structure Design Options (3/4)

3 Modify if needed the Member and

Plate material.

The material will be applied

automatically when you place
beams.

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Setting Structure Design Options (4/4)

Optionally, you can add or remove a new

4
Member type and/or a new Plate type.

Member and Plate types are useful

to classified structural elements.

5 Optionally, you can modify the Catalogs Storage directory path.

This path is given by default by the system.

6 You must enter a path for the Sections Storage directory.

When you choose sections in the catalog the system stores them as

favorites in the Section Storage directory and therefore it gives you

a quickest way to access these sections.

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Setting Part Design Options (1/2)

1 Select Part Design in Mechanical Design item

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Setting Part Design Options (2/2)

2 Check that the Keep Link with … option

in the External References frame is ticked.

This option maintains the links between external

references, copied elements and their origin.

3 Check that the Automatic option

in the Update frame is ticked.

4 Check that the Synchronize all …

option in the Update frame is
ticked.
This option assumes that all
modifications to other parts affect
external references included in your parts.

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Setting Assembly Design Options

1 Select Assembly Design in Mechanical Design item

2 Skip options as it is

You can control whether or not CATIA automatically updates a

product (i.e. an assembly) by selecting the Automatic or Manual
option in the Update frame.

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Creating Grids

You will see how to generate grids by assigning the basic parameters needed
to create the grid.

Creating Grids in 3D

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What about Grids ?

Before starting to create any beams and plates you will need to define a
grid. This grid makes the positioning of structures easier and lets you
design in context.
You can create structures referencing geometrical grid
elements. Thus, design changes can be performed easily
by modifying the grid and updating the structure in
consequence.
A grid is a CATPart comprising an Open_Body where are
stored all the components (planes, intersections and lines)
of this grid.
If needed, you can modify, whenever you want, planes and
lines of the grid; even if the grid includes beams.
You can add planes, lines, curves and points on a grid.

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Creating Grids in 3D (1/3)

This is the general process to create grids.

Grid

1 Select the Grid icon

Grid

2 Enter a name for the grid

This name is mandatory.

3 Select the creation mode

In the absolute mode, grid planes are positioned

with respect to the grid origin. Planes can be
repositioned independently of one another.
In the relative mode, grid planes are positioned
with respect to each other. Moving a plane
impacts other planes offset from that plane. This
is the default mode.

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Creating Grids in 3D (2/3)

4 Enter absolute coordinates in the Origin frame or

select a point in the 3D to define the grid origin.

If you select a point, the point is identified in

the dialog box. The grid origin is now linked
to this point.

5 Select the Cartesian tabpage and enter H

and V values to define the local x-axis
or,
Select the Polar tabpage and enter an
angle to define the polar axis or,
Select a line in the 3D.

If you select a line, the line is identified in

the dialog box. The first direction is now
linked to this line.

Selected point
Selected line

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Creating Grids in 3D (3/3)

6 Specify the grid spacing

You can create a grid on XY plane

by omitting to specify the spacing
number and the spacing value for
the Z axis.

7 Select the More button if you

want to create an uneven grid

8 Specify the other sets of grid coordinates.

You MUST specify the first set of

coordinates at step 6.

9 Select the OK button to create the grid

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Defining & Placing Members

You will see how to define an then place members on a grid or in the space by
using the provided functionalities.

Defining Members
Placing Linear Members
Placing Members on Support
Placing Infills

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What About Members ?

A Member is a CATPart define by its:

Type (Column, Beam, H-Brace,
V-Brace, by default),
Section coming from a standard catalog,
a user catalog or a resolved sections
directory,
Anchor Point: the point at which you
anchor the section along the support axis,
Orientation,
Direction and its,
Material.
When you place a beam the system create:
Structural Rib which contains the sketch
of the section and later on cutbacks.
StrSkeleton which contains the wireframe
support.
Published elements: Start cntr, End cntr,
Support cntr which are the wireframe
elements of the member support

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Defining & Placing Members …

Before placing a member, you have to:

Define sections to be used
 By creating a favorite list, or
Member on Support
 On the fly
Define member type
Define member section
Define member anchor point
Define member orientation
Define member direction for:
 Linear member using
• points
• Line axis
• Planes
 Member on support
 Infill

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 26

Define Sections to be Used

Creating a list of favorite sections.

1 Section
Select the Section icon.
The Catalog Browser window is
displayed

2 Select a Family.

3 Select a section

Repeat steps 3 to add sections in your

favorite list (see setting Structure
Design Options).

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Define Member Type and Section (1/2)

1 Select a member type.

If you have added new member types

in Tools+Options you should get
them instead of the default ones .

2 Select an available section or,

Select "Other section…" to access
the catalogs.

Right-click in first box and select

Section properties from the contextual
menu to view geometrical and
mechanical properties of the selected
section.

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Define Member Type and Section (2/2)

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Define Member Anchor Point (1/3)

The Anchor Point defines the relative position of the member along the
support axis.

3 Select an anchor point in the list or

in the preview section window.

Since the section selected is symmetrical, gravity

anchor points coincide with standard anchor
points:

Standard and gravity anchor points

for a channel shape section.

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Defining Member Anchor Point (2/3)

Understanding the anchor points manipulation (1/2)

Standard symmetrical shape anchor points

and their relative preview along X+ axis.

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Defining Member Anchor Point (3/3)

Understanding the anchor points manipulation (2/2)

Bottom Left anchor point Bottom Left anchor point Bottom Left anchor point
along X+ axis. along Y+ axis. along Z+ axis.

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Defining Member Orientation

4 Select the Up or Down arrow or,

Key-in an orientation.

You can use the arrows to change the angular

dimension value and orient the section around its
anchor point: the Orientation field is updated in 90
degree increments by default. Right-click in this
field to change the step.

+
20°

+
20°
20° +

Bottom Left anchor point Bottom Left anchor point Bottom Left anchor point
along X+ axis. along Y+ axis. along Z+ axis.

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Placing Linear Member Using Points (1/3)

1 Select "Unspecified" direction in the list.

"Unspecified" means that you have to define Member

the direction of the member by using points.
At that stage, you can define a length value.

2 Key-in a length value, if needed.

3 Select a Start Point.

At that stage, you have several options:

1. Select an existing point or,
2. Select a structure extremity or,
3. Select an edge extremity or,
4. Key-in a point coordinates or,
5. Create a "Point on Member" .

4 Select an End Point.

You have the same options as

to select a Start Point.

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Placing Linear Member Using Points (2/3)

Selecting Start or End Points (1/2)

1. Select an existing point. 2. Select a structure extremity. 3. Select an edge extremity.

You can either enter values in the Point 4. Key-in a Point Coordinates.
Definition window or in the Dialog area.

Dialog area Select this icon to hide

or show Point Definition
window.

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Placing Linear Member Using Points (3/3)

Selecting Start or End Points (2/2):

5. Create a "Point on Member".

1 Select Point on member.

2 Select a structure extremity.

3 Key-in values or slide

the handler.

4 Select OK button.

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Placing Linear Member Using Line Axes

1 Select "Parallel to the X axis" or,

Select "Parallel to the Y axis" or,
Select "Parallel to the Z axis".

2 Or Select "Parallel to an
unspecified line".

At that stage, you must select

a line as a member direction

3 Select a line in the geometry area.

the line is identified in the dialog box

4 Select a Start Point.

5 Select an End Point.

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Placing Linear Member Using Planes

1 Select "Parallel to the XY plane" or,

Select "Parallel to the YZ plane" or,
Select "Parallel to the XZ plane".

At that stage, you can define an offset.

2 Or select "Parallel to an unspecified

plane" or, select "On an unspecified
plane".
XY plane
At that stage, you must select a plane as
member direction.

3 Select a plane in the geometry area.

the plane is identified in the dialog box offset

Start Point
4 Select a Start Point.

5 Select an End Point.

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Placing Member on Support (1/3)

Selecting a support

Select wireframe element as member Member on Support

1
support.

Elements can be lines, curves, helix or

sketches.

Right-click in the geometry area to access

the contextual menu allowing you to specify
the number of previewed sections.
Previewed sections

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Placing Member on Support (2/3)

Selecting a reference

2 To orient the section with respect to a reference

curve or surface, click the Reference box and
select the desired curve or surface.

Specifying a surface as a reference lets

you create twisted members.

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Placing Member on Support (3/3)

Selecting limits

3 Select limits to trim the member.

Limits can be planes, intersection elements

or faces of existing structures.

4 Optionally, you can enter a value or use the arrows

to change the value of offset 1 or offset 2.

5 Select the OK button to create the member.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 41

Placing Infill (1/4)

Specifying number and support

1 Select up or down arrows to increase or Infill

decrease the number of infilling
members.

2 Select the Support box to define a support

plane and select a plane or a planar face.
Select the Offset box to set an offset with
respect to the selected support plane.

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Placing Infill (2/4)

Specifying position

3 Select Relative or Absolute mode to

position the infilling members.

45°

Absolute mode Absolute mode

Orientation = 0° Orientation = 45°

45°

Relative mode Relative mode

Relative mode Absolute mode Orientation = 0° Orientation = 45°

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Placing Infill (3/4)

Specifying infill spacing

3 Select a spacing mode for Reference 1,

And for Reference 2.

4 Select the first member

as Reference 1.

5 Select the first member

as Reference 2.

The point at which you select structures is important.

The system determines the end nearest this point and
computes infill spacing along the selected structure
from this end.

6 Specify spacing on Reference 1 and Reference 2.

7 Select the OK button to create the infilling members.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 44

Placing Infill (4/4)

Specifying spacing mode and spacing options (D1, D2, D3):

D1 gives the value of the distance from the

pointed extremity of the selected structure
(Reference1) to the first infilling member.
D2 gives the value of the distance between
infilling members.
Equal/Equal mode: D3 gives the value of the distance from the
D2 is deducted by the system
other extremity of the selected structure
(Reference 1) to the last infilling member.

Use the Same as 1 option when structures

are not parallel to keep the same distances
between infill and the ends of structures.

Equal/Same as 1 mode:
D2 is deducted by the system

In Defined mode, you must enter distances

D1 and D2. Distance D3 is generally deduced
by the system.

Define/Perpendicular to 1 mode:
D3 is deducted by the system

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 45

Creating Planar Elements

You will see how to create planar elements by using the provided
functionalities.

Creating Plates
Creating End Plates

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What About Planar Elements ?

A Plate or an End Plate are CATParts.

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Creating Plates (1/3)

Using existing edges (1/2)

Plate
1 Select a Plate type.

You can create your own type using

Tools+Options menus.

2 Key-in a thickness.

3 Select a support.

The support can be a plane or the

face of an existing structure
(members and plates) or the face
of a mechanical part.

4 Key-in an offset, if needed.

This will be the distance between
the selected face of the support
and one of the opposite face of
the plate.

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Creating Plates (2/3)

Using existing edges (2/2)

5 Define the contour of your plate.

6 Select the OK button

Select points, lines or edges to define the plate contour.

To create the contour of a rectangular plate in 3 or 4 steps:
1. Select the first line or edge.
2. Select opposite line or edge.
3. Select Reverse Direction (if needed).
4. Select the OK button.

Instead of selecting OK button you can also click on Apply

button and select the Sketcher Icon in order to modify or
add holes, for example, to the being created plate.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 49

Creating Plates (3/3)

Using Sketcher

5 Select the Sketcher icon.

6 Create the profile of your plate.

You can constrain your profile to existing structure members or plates

7 Exit the Sketcher workbench.

8 Select the Reverse Direction (if needed).

9 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 50

Creating End Plates

Use this functionality to create plate at member

extremities
End Plate

1 Select an end plate type.

The length and width are

defined with respect to the

Y-axis
Local
local axis system of the
2 Key-in Length, Width and structure, for example, in
Thickness values. the case of an I shape, the
width is defined along the
x-axis parallel to the

Length
Local
3 Select a free member extremity flange and the length X-axis
along the
y-axis parallel to the web.

4 Select the OK button Width

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 51

Modifying Structures and Plates

You will see how to modify members and plates definition and how to
manipulate them.

Editing Structures
Editing Plates
Jointing Structures
Manipulating Structures

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Editing Structures (1/5)

This is the general process to modify structures.

1 Right-click a member in the tree

or in the geometry area.

select the type of modification

2 you want to make from the
contextual menu.

3 Define new parameters in the

respective window.

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Editing Structures (2/5)

Modifying definition

Select Definition in
1
the contextual menu.

The Member Definition window is displayed.

2 Modify one or more parameters.

You can modify :

• member type
• member section
• member anchor point
• member orientation

3 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 54

Editing Structures (3/5)

Extending members

1 Select Extend in the

contextual menu.

The Limits Definition window is displayed.

2 Modify one or more parameters.

The dialog box content changes

according to the way you have
place members .

3 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 55

Editing Structures (4/5)

Stretching members

Select Stretch in the

1
contextual menu.

This command is only available for

unconstrained linear members, i.e. those
created by entering coordinates or with the
"Keep link with selected object" option de-
activated.

2 Select the manipulator or key-in

new point coordinates.

3 Select the OK button.

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Editing Structures (5/5)

Flipping members

1 Select Flip in the

contextual menu.

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Editing Plate (1/2)

Modifying plate definition

1 Select Definition in
the contextual menu.

The Plate Definition window is

displayed.

2 Modify one or more parameters.

You can modify :

• Plate type
• Plate thickness
• Plate Direction
• Plate profile

3 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 58

Editing Plate (2/2)

Modifying end plate definition

1 Select Definition in the contextual menu.

The Plate Definition window is displayed.

2 Modify one or more parameters.

You can modify :

• End plate type
• End plate length
• End plate width
• End plate direction

3 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 59

Jointing Structures (1/6)

This is the general process to create joints on structures.

1 Select a type of cut.

2 Key-in an offset, if needed.

3 Select the member to trim.

4 Select the trimming member.

You can select a structure or a plate.

5 Select the OK button.

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Jointing Structures (2/6)

According to your settings the member will be

automatically updated.
The system create specific features in the tree.

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Jointing Structures (3/6)

Performing a Normal cut

1 Select Normal cut.

2 Key-in an offset, if needed.

3 Select the member to trim.

4 Select the trimming member.

You can select a structure or a

plate.

5 Select the OK button.

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Jointing Structures (4/6)

Performing a Weld cut

1 Select Weld cut.

2 Key-in an offset, if needed.

3 Select the member to trim.

4 Select the trimming member.

You can select a structure or a

plate.

5 Select the OK button.

Offset

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Jointing Structures (5/6)

Performing a Miter cut

1 Select Miter cut.

2 Key-in an offset, if needed.

3 Select the member to trim.

4 Select the trimming member.

You can select a structure or a

plate.

5 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 64

Jointing Structures (6/6)

Resetting a cut

1 Select None.

This option lets you remove a

previously applied cut

2 Select the member to

reset.

3 Select the member extremity

you want to reset.

5 Select the OK button.

The "Split to delete" field is
valuated automatically.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 65

Manipulating Structures (1/3)

Translating structures

1 Select the "Translation or Rotation" icon.

The Move window is displayed

2 Select the component you want to translate.

You can select grids, structures plates and

any other mechanical part as well.
Warning: if you intent to translate only one
beam; this beam must be isolated first.

3 Key-in X, Y, Z offsets or,

4 Select the Selection

button.
You can select lines, points, planes or part edges
as direction.

5 Select the Apply button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 66

Manipulating Structures (2/3)

Rotating structures

1 Select the "Translation or Rotation" icon.

The Move window is displayed

2 Select the Rotation tabpage.

3 Select the component you want

to translate.

You can select grids, structures plates

and any other mechanical part as well.

4 Select X, Y, Z axis or,

5 Select the Selection button.

You can select lines or part edges

as axes.

6 Select the Apply button.

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Manipulating Structures (3/3)

Manipulating structures

1 Select the "Manipulation" icon.

The Move window is displayed

3 Select the component you want

to Manipulate.

You can select grids, structures plates and

any other mechanical part as well.

4 Select an option,

5 Drag the component.

6 Select the OK or Cancel button.

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Making Design Changes

You will see how to use the associativity between the members and plates that
have been created and the construction grid to adjust the length of your
structure.

Modifying Structure Geometry

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Modifying Structure Geometry (1/3)

By modifying a plane type

1 Double-click a plane.

You will enter the Part Design workbench.

2 Double-click again the plane.

The Plane Definition window is displayed.

3 Select a point.

The dialog box contents changes

according to your selection

4 Select the OK button.

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Modifying Structure Geometry (2/3)

By modifying a plane offset

1 Double-click a plane.

You will enter the Part Design workbench.

2 Double-click again the plane.

The Plane Definition window is displayed.

3 Change the Offset by:

- selecting the handler or,
- Key-in a new value .

4 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 71

Modifying Structure Geometry (3/3)

By modifying member point coordinates

1 Double-click the extremity point.

By default the skeleton of the member

is in NoShow.

2 Or, Double-click the

DistanceOnBeam parameter.

The Edit Parameter window is

displayed.

3 Key-in a new value.

4 Select the OK button.

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 72

To Sum Up

In this course you have seen :

Grid creation
Member definition and placement
Planar elements creation
Beams and plates modification
Design changes

Copyright DASSAULT SYSTEMES 2002 73