CATIA V5 R21: The Best Choice for Equipment and Systems Engineering

CATIA V5 R21: What's New and How to Upgrade

CATIA V5 is a powerful 3D software that can be used for design, engineering, analysis, and manufacturing. It is developed by Dassault Systèmes, a French company that specializes in 3D and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions. CATIA V5 has been widely used in various industries, such as aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, and consumer goods.

In 2011, Dassault Systèmes introduced CATIA V5 R21, the latest release of CATIA V5 at that time. CATIA V5 R21 brought several new features and enhancements to the existing portfolio, as well as improved compatibility and collaboration with CATIA V6, the next generation of CATIA. In this article, we will explore some of the main highlights of CATIA V5 R21 and how to upgrade from previous versions of CATIA V5.

Catia V5 R21

Download File

What's New in CATIA V5 R21

CATIA V5 R21 introduced more than 200 new capabilities across various domains, such as mechanical design, shape design, product synthesis, equipment and systems engineering, analysis, machining, infrastructure, and web-based learning. Some of the key features and enhancements are:

Upward and downward compatibility between CATIA V5 and V6 data: In V5 R21, Dassault Systèmes delivered upward and downward compatibility between CATIA V5 and V6 data that is equivalent to the compatibility between two releases of V5. This means that users can open, edit, and save CATIA V6 data in CATIA V5 R21 without losing any information or functionality. Similarly, users can open, edit, and save CATIA V5 R21 data in CATIA V6 without any issues. This feature enables seamless data exchange and collaboration between CATIA V5 and V6 users.

Collaborative relational design between CATIA V5 and Version 6: In addition to data compatibility, CATIA V5 R21 also supports collaborative relational design between CATIA V5 and Version 6. This means that users can create and manage design relationships between CATIA V5 and Version 6 objects, such as constraints, formulas, parameters, publications, etc. This feature allows users to leverage the best of both worlds: the rich functionality of CATIA V5 and the innovative technology of Version 6.

Enhancements in Part Design: Part Design is one of the most widely used products in CATIA V5. It allows users to create solid models with complex shapes and features. In CATIA V5 R21, Part Design has been enhanced with several new capabilities, such as:

Multi-sections solid: This feature allows users to create a solid by sweeping a profile along multiple guide curves. The profile can be sketch-based or surface-based. The guide curves can be planar or non-planar. The resulting solid can have variable sections along the sweep path.

Offset surface: This feature allows users to create a surface that is offset from a reference surface by a specified distance. The offset distance can be constant or variable. The resulting surface can have sharp or smooth edges.

Thick surface: This feature allows users to create a solid by adding thickness to a reference surface. The thickness can be constant or variable. The resulting solid can have sharp or smooth edges.

Local operations: This feature allows users to perform local operations on selected faces or features of a solid. The local operations include extrude, revolute, sweep, draft, fillet, chamfer, etc. The local operations can be associative or non-associative.

Enhancements in Generative Shape Design: Generative Shape Design is another popular product in CATIA V5. It allows users to create complex surfaces with high quality and precision. In CATIA V5 R21, Generative Shape Design has been enhanced with several new capabilities, such as:

Blend corner: This feature allows users to create a smooth transition between two or more surfaces that meet at a corner. The blend corner can have constant or variable radius. The resulting surface can have G1 or G2 continuity with the reference surfaces.

Extrapolate: This feature allows users to extend a surface beyond its original boundary. The extrapolation can be linear or curved. The resulting surface can have G0, G1, or G2 continuity with the reference surface.

Connect curve: This feature allows users to create a curve that connects two or more curves. The connect curve can have constant or variable curvature. The resulting curve can have G0, G1, or G2 continuity with the reference curves.

Curve smooth: This feature allows users to smooth a curve by reducing its number of control points and adjusting its shape. The curve smooth can be applied to sketch-based or surface-based curves. The resulting curve can have G1 or G2 continuity with the original curve.

Enhancements in Class A: Class A is a product that allows users to create and modify surfaces with the highest quality and aesthetic standards. It is mainly used in the automotive and consumer goods industries. In CATIA V5 R21, Class A has been enhanced with several new capabilities, such as:

Global deformation: This feature allows users to deform a surface globally by applying a transformation matrix. The transformation matrix can be defined by using points, vectors, planes, axes, etc. The resulting surface can have G0, G1, or G2 continuity with the original surface.

Local deformation: This feature allows users to deform a surface locally by applying a deformation function. The deformation function can be defined by using points, curves, surfaces, etc. The resulting surface can have G0, G1, or G2 continuity with the original surface.

Surface matching: This feature allows users to match a surface to another surface by adjusting its shape and continuity. The surface matching can be applied to boundary curves or internal curves of the surfaces. The resulting surface can have G0, G1, or G2 continuity with the target surface.

Surface analysis: This feature allows users to analyze the quality and properties of a surface by using various tools and indicators. The surface analysis can be performed on curvature, deviation, reflection lines, highlights, etc.

Enhancements in Imagine and Shape: Imagine and Shape is a product that allows users to create and modify organic shapes by using a virtual clay modeling approach. It is mainly used for conceptual design and styling. In CATIA V5 R21, Imagine and Shape has been enhanced with several new capabilities, such as:

Symmetry: This feature allows users to create and maintain symmetry between two halves of a shape. The symmetry can be applied to the whole shape or to selected parts of the shape. The symmetry can be planar or radial.

Subdivision: This feature allows users to subdivide a shape into smaller parts for more detailed modeling. The subdivision can be applied to the whole shape or to selected parts of the shape. The subdivision can be uniform or adaptive.

Smoothing: This feature allows users to smooth a shape by reducing its number of polygons and adjusting its shape. The smoothing can be applied to the whole shape or to selected parts of the shape. The smoothing can be uniform or adaptive.

Sculpting: This feature allows users to sculpt a shape by using various tools and brushes. The sculpting can be applied to the whole shape or to selected parts of the shape. The sculpting can be additive or subtractive.

Enhancements in Composites: Composites is a product that allows users to design and manufacture composite parts with complex shapes and structures. It is mainly used in the aerospace and marine industries. In CATIA V5 R21, Composites has been enhanced with several new capabilities, such as:

Zone-based design: This feature allows users to design composite parts by using zones as basic elements. Zones are regions of the part that have homogeneous properties and layup rules. Zones can be created automatically or manually. Zones can be modified individually or globally.

Ply-based design: This feature allows users to design composite parts by using plies as basic elements. Plies are layers of composite material that have specific orientation and thickness. Plies can be created automatically or manually. Plies can be modified individually or globally.