CATIA V5 ABSOLUTE AXIS

[MRSSPOCK]

I probably know that the answer is NO even before I ask the question, but just in case someone has some secret information, I'll ask anyway.

It's been so long ago that I used V4 that I can't remember the details, but working with co-ordinate systems, changing from or to ABS was a real gift compared to V5. It seems really naff that they haven't a way to let you manipulate the ABSOLUTE axis in V5. Anybody have any secret weapons? Thanks

 

[jackk]

I haven't used V4 for awhile either, but I don't recall anything in V4 with 3D Axis Systems that can't be done in V5.

You can add as many secondary Axis Systems as you want, and you can choose any one to the active (current) one you're working with.

What can't you do?

 

[itsmyjob]

V4 absolute axis could not be changed or altered by user. This was good.

There is no V5 absolute axis. The only reference elements that cannot be altered by the user are the Ref Plane (XY, YZ, ZX).

You can create several axis system in V5 and define one of them as the active system (as in V4), then when you create point coordinate or get measures, this axis could be used.

Eric N.
indocti discant et ament meminisse periti ​

 

[jackk]

Eric,

We have our Tools Option set to always create an "Absolute Axis System" with every new CATPart file. So yes, there is an Absolute Axis system in V5.

And you're right; it can be moved and modified.

 

[MRSSPOCK]

"There is no V5 absolute axis" See attachment.

I realise it's easy to create as many axis systems as you like and make either of them active, but that is not the same as moving the ABSOLUTE origin.

V4 was gift.

We used to create a MODEL on the default AXIS system, i.e. not in a SESSION. We could then load the MODEL into a SESSION, snap it to it's proper location, the copy the ABSOLUTE axis from the SESSION into the MODEL, then once it was pasted into the MODEL, select this pasted in secondary axis and choose the option to make this secondary axis, the ABSOLUTE axis.

That meant it was possible to work indepently with no concern where the MODEL was relative the the final SESSION's absolute axis, until the very last save operation, once the SESSION absolute axis had been pasted into the MODEL, and converted to the MODEL's absolute axis.

Everybody in the company did this, i.e. make there last operation the positioning of the ABSOLUTE axis within their MODEL files. Then when they were inserted into the main SESSION they landed in exactly their proper place.

I asked a V5 bloke who teaches V5 and he said he also liked V4 for that reason, but he couldn't find a way to do it in V5.

I was just clutching at straws hoping someone had found a work around.

Thanks

 

[jackk]

V5 is different from V4, so you have to think differently and use different processes.

From what you described MrsSpock, it sounds like normal assembly modeling. Create all the CATParts based on the part Axis Systems, insert the CATparts into an assembly, and position the instances with assembly constraints.

 

[MRSSPOCK]

So, like I thought, the answer seems to be NO.

Ah well, thanks anyway.