Introduction to CATIA

CATIA stands for Computer Aided Three Dimensional Interactive Application.

CATIA V5 provides three basic platforms: P1, P2, P3.

P1 is for small and medium sized process oriented companies, which wish to grow toward the large scale digitized product definition.

P2 is for the advanced design engineering companies that require product , process, and resource modeling.

P3 is for the high-end design application and is basically for Automotive and Aerospace Industry, where high quality surfacing, or Class-A surfacing is used for designing

Extensions:

CATpart is a file extension associated with all the files that are created in the Sketcher, Part Design, and Wireframe and Surface Design workbenches.

CATproduct is a extension associated with all the files that are created in the Assembly design workbench.

CATdrawing is file extension associated with all the files that are created in the Drafting workbench. 

Power Input Field Bar:

The Power Input Field bar lets you invoke the commands and enter the data or value that can be directly associated with the feature.

To launch any command using the Power Input Field bar, the general syntax of command is

C: <name of the command>  e.g. C: New

Hot keys:

ALT + ENTER                                       Invokes the Properties tool

SHIFT + F2                                           Invokes the Specification Overview tool

F3                                                          Toggles the display of the specification tree

SHIFT + F1                                            Invokes the What’s This? Tool

CTRL + D                                              Invokes the Fast Multi-Instantiation tool in the Assembly Design                                                                    workbench             

          

CTRL + E                                               Invokes the Define Multi-Instantiation tool in the Assembly                                                                             Design workbench