create axis (reference element) on 3D hole

[norkamus]

In Autodesk inventor, you can create work axes on appropriate solid geometry (cylindrical face). I am having trouble with this in CATIA.

What I am trying to do is make two components' holes coincident in a product. One of the components was generated from .STP and the holes are not recognized in CATIA to have a center (they are made of 4 arc surfaces). I would like to create an axis feature (line reference element) in the former component so I can continue constraining.

The problem is, CATIA has no way of creating an axis just by selecting a cylindrical face.
How do I go about doing this?

I have managed to create a point, and then separately create a line off of it. Is there no easier way?

Nick

Light structural commercial aircraft parts
APM Consortium Inc.
Cambridge Ontario, Canada

 

[DaSalo]

This is a common problem in most CAD systems when importing geometry from non-native formats. It happened all the time when importing .CATparts into UG/NX. My usual solution is to use isoparametric curves because they will work even if the cylinder end is not square to the axis. Just create an isoparametric curve at 0% and 100% V and then create points at the midpoint of those two curves. This will give you points at the absolute limits of the cylinder and you can then create an axis through those points. I'm pretty sure that you are looking for a less laborious method so hopefully someone else will have some input also.

CATIA V5 R20
PC-DMIS 2011 MR1

 

[norkamus]

I was hoping that I was just overlooking a certain snap setting somewhere. I want to "infer" arc centers like in NX. I'll survive for now just creating a point on the arc center and making a line normal to the adjacent surface.

Nick

Light structural commercial aircraft parts
APM Consortium Inc.
Cambridge Ontario, Canada

 

[ferdo]

To constrain components quickly in a CATProduct, I'm using Snap command, without creating any aditional elements . May be it will work also for you.

Regards
Fernando

https://picasaweb.google.com/102257836106335725208

 

[TibiX]

Hi norkamus,

If I understand well, you want to create an axis of a hole so that later it can be used to constrain that part.

In Generative Shape Design workbench, there is a feature for creating an axis (just look at the toolbar with the line on it). If that shouldn't work, try extracting the surfaces and then create the axis.

Best of luck!