CATIA Tips and Shortcuts

These keyboard shortcuts and tips are a collection of tricks that I used throughout my last job, where I worked as a mechanical design engineer. I used CATIA V5R21 extensively everyday, and built a reputation for delivering speedy work that was correct the first time. I hope this will help any student or professional be faster in modeling and especially drafting.

1. Alt-enter to quickly get the properties tab and change name of a feature.
2. if geometry disappears: go back to model > exit sketcher> 2X click on name of part> go to drawing > update.
3. To shorten a fillet radius dimension : Rclick on leader > object>create/modify> modify clipping> click on side to keep note: you may have to redo the radial dimension to get rid of the clipping.
4. drawing centerline circle : activate the frame> select the circle icon> draw it from the center> select dashed line #4> erase all the pre-generated crosshairs> choose the centerline icon from the side toolbar > make the bolt circle concentric by choosing the any centered circle as a reference> ctrl+ select all smaller circles belonging to the bolt circle pattern > choose the centerline icon> for reference select your bolt circle previously made
5. to fix angle dimensions for chamfers : Rclick and choose a different angle sector.
6. Hatching: to modify Rclick on pattern and set the pitch to either 1 or 0.5 for a fine pattern.
7. Use anchor points to change where a dimension comes from or how it is oriented.
8. To clip a section view choose "clipping view profile" under the detail icon> draw a square or a circle as desired.
9. To move a circle freely in detail mode: uncheck the "snap to point" option.
10. To start the creation of an assembly : select the name in the tree and then go to insert>existing component>choose the part
11. To insert a table made in excel save it as an .csv and import the table using the "table " tool in drafting mode.
12. When dimensioning a radius for a large circle or fillet turn off "extend to center".
13. When you update a model and the dimensions are off use rerouting: use the reroute tool below the dimension tool.
14. Spacebar to hide parts and features quick. User-customized
15. One solution when you get the topological operators: impossible relimitation on the main part. Rclick on the body that youre working on in the tree and select "define in work object"
16. When selecting the rotation axis for the groove tool open the groove definition box, expand the tree until you can see the sketch, reselect the sketch. Now the rotation axis should be pickable.
17. YZ is always front of part.
18. Always change dimensions from largest to smallest.