What Does CATIA Really Stand For

[TorsionalStress]

CATIA, Constantly Aggravated & Tortured Individuals All-the-time.

“I have never had to work so hard with software, until I started using CATIA. It’s a constant nightmare!”

 

[KevinDeSmet]

Hahaha. To be frank though, the questions you have been asking here over the past few months have been just the relatively few things Catia doesn't do or do well. So you've been in a bit of a bad luck spree, if you will

It's supposed to stand for: Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application and pronounced KEH-TEE-AH though I think it rolls of the tongue much better pronounced as KAY-SHEE-AH a little like pronouncing Acacia.

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[rstupplebeen]

I heard it was Close And Try It Again.

Rob Stupplebeen

https://sites.google.com/site/robertkstupplebeen/

 

[TorsionalStress]

KevinDeSmet, my approach to designing is common sense. Unfortunately CATIA to date is missing a lot of common sense designing capabilities.

 

[KevinDeSmet]

I look at it this way.

CATIA has mainstream modules and advanced modules. Even though Dassault does not develop all the modules themselves, I do believe they spend some considerable time with integration on them nevertheless. That means the core capabilities that most people use such as part design, assembly and drafting will be less developed than a mid-range solid modeler. Since that's practically all a mid range modeler focusing at.

To me, basic CATIA packages are less capable, quite a bit more expensive still (than a mid range solid modeler) and quite honestly is a mistake. The million dollar BUT is compliancy with the whole range of the CATIA environment and that means less data exchange for the people and departements that do make use of CATIA with its advanced modules.

I'll be honest with ya, I think it's very romantic to have one "single" platform like CATIA, but it's also very expensive to maintain that. From cost to capability across the board. Sometimes different stand-alone packages in a pipeline is more efficient, but that's got its own share of issues.

Even though CATIA is considered the "rolls royce" of CAD systems, everything's got its pros and cons

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[KevinDeSmet]

I've been "obliged" to use CATIA V5 for an automotive company, but let's say it wouldn't be my first choice either (certainly not for the trivial things they design, its small jigs and fixtures that support the manufacturing process)

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[KevinDeSmet]

Also another thing is, they often site that you keep all your "intelligence" this way. So everyone needs to be on CATIA.
What a load is that, right, it's a history based parametric solid modeler. This isn't a direct modeling tool! It's a pain to edit your own assemblies sometimes... let alone across departements and suppliers. It's actually not all that great unless you construct your models "just right". Of course mid range solid modelers -> same deal.

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[TorsionalStress]

A basic package should provide at least that, “the basics”. What bothers me is that the high end SolidWorks package is $8000 and the basic CATIA package is $12-15000. When it comes to design, SolidWorks is twice as fast. “Isn’t there something wrong with this picture?”

 

[KevinDeSmet]

SolidWorks spoils people, hehe, I think CATIA offers the basics pretty well. But I also think the pricing strategy is ill-founded from Dassault. I guess the auto/aero companies just keep buyingN

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[TorsionalStress]

SolidWorks got it right, it helps the designer design. I honestly think the only reason why CATIA is purchased is because it offers several different environments under the same umbrella. Personally, it doesn’t make it better.

 

[Azrael]

Think you hit the spot with the SW comment that it helps the designer design. Catia is in another league, it spans over all domains needed to develop, test and manufacture. I have worked with SW and UG before and I must admint that some things are easier done in those systems then in Catia but overall I would never change change back now. I work with both Catia and Delmia so I notice that things done in Catia, that made no senses, is used in Delmia later on. The biggest issue for me when switching systems was always finding the right methods, common sense as you put it comes from the previous system. You have just started with catia and I guess that you still run it as SW. You have an adjustment period ahead of you and I recommend you to keep asking question on the forum to get over the threshold... or wait for V6... have tried it and the user friendlyness has improved alot

 

[KevinDeSmet]

I personally started with CATIA and got introduced to SolidWorks after that. So I don't know...I do admit SolidWorks was the first CAD package I really spent a lot of time driving.

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[closer9]

I will stay out of the which is better debate, but I was told when I started with my current employer that they use...

Crash
And
Try
It
Again

 

[TorsionalStress]

closer9, That’s actually the one thing I like about CATIA, it rarely crashes, but I’m talking design point of view. Does it work for you, or do you work for it?

 

[closer9]

I have been working "with" it for over 2 months, and have yet to see it crash. I said I wasn't going to get in the debate, but my biggest complaint with it is that many of the little day to day tasks that I used to perform in Pro/e now take several extra clicks/menu drags or are not possible, and a work around or macro must be found. I get the job done, but it just seems to be more "work" than it used to.

 

[TorsionalStress]

closer9, those are the same complaints that I have. So, does the software work for the individual or the individual works for the software? If you always have to find a work around or a macro, the software can’t be working for you. It’s a big issue when it comes to a small project & a large project.

 

[closer9]

I would definately say the operator works for the software. There is only one other guy in my department that uses Catia, and it's pretty much the only software he's ever used, and he still gets quite frustrated with it.

 

[macduff]

Come
And
Take
It
Away

That's what we use to say when I was a 10+ year CATIA V4 user. I miss V4....I miss spending 10 min creating a single surface.

Here's one for IBM you'll chuckle over...

IBM....you can buy better, but you can't pay more.

Enjoy

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 5.0
Dell T5500 Windows 7 Pro (64-bit)
Xeon CPU 2.53 GHz 6.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro 4000 2 GB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[ntweisen]

I recently wrote a post about this at:

http://www.cadsystemshelp.blogspot.com

http://excelspreadsheetshelp.blogspot.com

 

[SMOKES]

Quick question do you have to do the airbus systems training to be eligable for job using Catia?
I have only used solidworks and solidedge.

Also what is drafting like compared to Edge or Works.
I have seen some of the drawings that come off the CATIA system before but they were geometrically dimensioned really badly which ment there were a lot of issues between suppliers and the designer /or cad jockeys as many guys called them...