Patterns Driven by Tables 1

[dkepich]

Hi all,

Catia beginner here, so bear with me.

I'm trying to create a drill bit index in catia, and currently have a piece of sheet metal with a 1/4 inch diameter hole, and a rectangular pattern that populates the sheet with the same hole in 3 rows and 9 columns. I would like to be able to change the diameters of the patterned holes based on an excel spreadsheet that contains a column of diameters, but google hasn't turned up any results on what information I need in the excel spreadsheet to make that happen. Is such a thing even possible, or do I need a different approach instead a rectangular pattern?

Thanks for the help.

 

[itsmyjob]

a Design Table could control the diameter of the Source Hole and X & Y pattern parameter.

Eric N.
indocti discant et ament meminisse periti ​

 

[dougsnell]

There is a capability in CATIA called a 'Design Table' (located on the Knowledge toolbar) that will allow you to control Parameters in the model based on an Excel Spreadsheet or CSV file.

My assumption based on the wording of your message is that you would like the sizing on each hole within the "Pattern" to vary. Will the dimension (3 x 9)of the Hole Pattern positions also be modified? If not, you could 'Explode' the pattern you have generated (via the contextual menu), which will produce independent hole features in those positions. Those hole features could then be renamed appropriately, center points constrained, and then those values along with diameter controlled via a design table.

Unfortunately, the patterning capability in CATIA will not allow for independent diameter values per instance as it is instantiating the volume and specification of the Reference feature.

--Doug

 

[dkepich]

Thanks Doug, that works well. I wasn't aware that each hole on a pattern couldn't be controlled individually. Nevertheless, I have a working design table and a completed drill index.