Select File
ImportPart from the main menu bar to import a part from a CATIA V4-format file directly into ABAQUS/CAE. You can import CATIA-format parts, but you cannot export a CATIA-format part. For information about the versions of CATIA V4 supported by ABAQUS/CAE, see the Geometry Import page on the ABAQUS web site.
An imported CATIA part forms the base feature of a new part in ABAQUS/CAE; you cannot modify this base feature directly, but you can add additional features to it, such as a solid extrusion or a blind cut.
To import a part from a CATIA-format file:
From the main menu bar, select FileImportPart.
The Import Part dialog box appears.
From the File Filter menu at the bottom of the Import Part dialog box, select CATIA V4 (*.model*, *.catdata*, *.exp*).
ABAQUS/CAE lists all the files in the selected directory with a .model*, .catdata*, or .exp* file extension.
Select the CATIA file containing the part to import, and click OK.
ABAQUS/CAE displays the Create Part from CATIA File dialog box.
Click the Name-Repair tab to set the following:
Name
The name of the new part. For more information, see “Using basic dialog box components,” Section 3.2.1.
Repair Options
ABAQUS/CAE automatically repairs a CATIA part during the import process.
Topology
ABAQUS/CAE selects the topology—solid, shell, or wire—based on the entities that it finds in the file. In most cases you should accept the setting selected by ABAQUS/CAE. However, if the topology of the resulting part is not as expected, you can try importing the part again with a different topology selected.
Part Filter
A CATIA file can contain more than one part, and ABAQUS/CAE imports all of the parts in the file by default. Alternatively, you can toggle on Import part number and enter the number of a single part to import from the file.
Click the Part Attributes tab to set the following:
The modeling space of the part being imported. When you import a part, ABAQUS/CAE scans the file and tries to determine the modeling space.
The type of the part being imported. ABAQUS/CAE always assumes that the part type is deformable. Toggle on Discrete rigid to import a discrete rigid part. For more information, see “Part types,” Section 11.4.2.
Click the Scale tab to scale the part during the import process.
Choose No scale to maintain the dimensions stored in the file.
Choose Use transform from file, including scale to read the scale factor, the rotation matrix, and the translation matrix from the CATIA file.
Choose Multiply all lengths by, and enter a scale factor. ABAQUS/CAE applies the scale factor to all of the coordinates in the file. As a consequence, any offset from the origin will be scaled accordingly.
Click OK to import the part and to exit the Create Part from CATIA File dialog box.
ABAQUS/CAE scans the CATIA file and starts the repair process, depending on the options selected. If you wish to cancel the import process, click Stop in the prompt area.
When you import a single part, ABAQUS/CAE displays a message in the message area indicating if the part contains any validity or precision problems. If you import multiple parts from a single CATIA file, you can use the Part Manager to check if any of the parts are invalid or imprecise. If necessary, use the Query toolset to locate areas of invalid and imprecise geometry. For more information, see “Using the Query toolset in the Part module,” Section 11.16.4.
