Best Practices for replacing an imported body in CATIA

[josephv]

Hello,

Would like your input on the following.

Let's say someone imports an IGES file of a plastic bottle (that was created in another CAD software) in order to create a mold in CATIA.

Now the plastic bottle changes and you want to replace the existing imported body with the new IGES file.

What is the best way to do this? Keeping in mind that you may have already translated and rotated the original body.

We are looking for a command or even an API solution.

Thanking you in advance,

Joseph

 

[jackk]

If the IGES file was imported with a link, then I would replace the old bottle with the new one. The old translations (if done to the linked geometry) would still apply.

 

[DBezaire]

Josephv - If you are working in assembly mode, new data is extremely fast for updates. Some preperations are required. If you have Product A (your main tool), Product B (Data) Product C - Mold

Product A
Product B
CATPart containing Part Data
New CATPart
Product C
Core Block
Cavity Block

Apply an assembly move to Product B while Product A is active, now when a new part is added to Product B the assembly moves are also applied to the part data.

Regards,
Derek

 

[josephv]

Thank you for your help.

DBezaire - Unfortunately all the work is being done on a Part (i.e. not a Product). Please let me know if you have any ideas on how to do this for a part.

jackk - How do you import an IGES file with a link? Please point me to a help file. Does this work for parts (i.e. we are not using Products)?

Any other ideas are welcome. Sorry I was not clear in my original post. We are working only with 1 Part (i.e. not Products).

 

[jackk]

Joseph...

I was thinking of a linked solid when I first posted. But know I'm thinking you only have surface geometry since it's coming from IGES.

So, I'm guessing that your first IGES bottle comes into CATIA as a Geom Set. And you join (close) the surfaces to make a solid in a PartBody. And then you translate&rotate the solid.

If you take the new IGES geometry and import it into a new CATPart, copy&paste its Geom Set to the first CATPart, repeat the join with the new bottle, and then edit the CloseSurface feature (or whatever converted the surface to a solid) by re-linking it to the new closed surface in the pasted Geom Set.

 

[josephv]

Thank you, using Paste Link has solved the problem.

I have another question about Paste Link but will create a new thread for this.

Best regards,

Joseph