This article presented a general overview of the Dassault Systemes approach in managing design intent with knowledgeware capabilities, as well as a quick overview of the CATIA V5 knowledgeware tools. The usage of knowledgeware tools provides infinite design possibilities and saves a lot of time for worldwide CATIA users.

Introduction
This article is the first of a series on the CATIA V5 knowledgeware tools. It provides an overview of Dassault Systemes approach on knowledge technology, as well as CATIA V5 knowledgeware capabilities & tools.

Dassault Systemes approach on knowledgeware

CATIA V5 not only offers its users the ability to simply design and assemble products in a 3D environment but also the ability to capture the engineering knowledge and reuse this knowledge to reduce the design cycle time and increase the product quality, notably by the creation of intelligent and automated templates from a generative model. Such templates or generative models can then be used by multiple users through the same company and its suppliers, thanks to knowledgeware tools.
The Dassault Systemes approach to knowledge technology is based on the CATIA V5 product that leverages corporate engineering know-how to secure product design process and ensures the designers of the quality and consistency of their design with corporate standards.

For example, an automotive company is developing a new product. The first step would be to define the product requirements. Those product requirements are driven by marketing, engineering and manufacturing requirements. Design intent is driven by product requirements.

Product Requirements drive the design Intent

How can knowledgeware drive the design intent? Often, the product’s requirements can be described through knowledge features. For example, in the automotive industry, while the marketing department needs a rim with material and manufacturing cost not to exceed 110$ per unit, the engineering department must accommodate a one inch diameter hub with five holes in the rim. In this particular case, the user would have to create knowledgeware rules and checks to make sure his rim respect those marketing and engineering requirements. The knowledgeware features then verify the design intent as per the product requirements. CATIA V5 has such capabilities and much more.

Knowledgeware features to impose the design intent of a product

 

CATIA V5 knowledgeware is a set of tools intended to assist engineering decisions and design intent. It automates design and detects predefined design errors for maximum productivity. CATIA V5 offers a suitable variety of knowledgeware tools that allows users to design a wide range of products from simple to complex shapes in a simple, fast and efficient way. Amongst the advantages of CATIA V5 knowledgeware suite of tools are the benefits from full integration with all other CATIA V5 applications, the conversion of engineering intent in 3D and the ability to do quick reverse engineering.

Four models generated with the same CATIA file in a simple way

The objective of this series is to go through a quick overview of CATIA V5 knowledgeware tools to be able to build a generative model after. The table below provides a brief description of the main CATIA V5 knowledgeware tools.

Definition of main CATIA V5 knowledgeware tools