Updating geometry parameters in an imported model

The parameter update capability allows a bidirectional associative import, in which you modify the dimensions of geometric features in a model that has been imported into Abaqus/CAE, then propagate the new dimensions back to the model files from the original CAD system. This bidirectional import feature is currently available only with the CATIA V5 Associative Interface, the CATIA V6 Associative Interface, and the Pro/ENGINEER Associative Interface.

See Also
What can I do with the associative interfaces?
Creating a CAD connection

Context:

To use the parameter update capability, you must first use the CAD system (CATIA V5, CATIA V6, or Pro/ENGINEER) to indicate which model dimensions can be modified within Abaqus/CAE. The modifiable dimensions must be defined in terms of feature-level parameters, which are imported into Abaqus/CAE along with the model. For example, a parameter may be associated with the radius of a hole in the model; modifying the value of that parameter also modifies the radius of the hole. Each parameter name must begin with the string ABQ_ to be imported into Abaqus/CAE. In addition, to avoid overwriting an existing parameter with the same name, each parameter name must be unique.

The CATIA V5 Associative Interface, the CATIA V6 Associative Interface, and the Pro/ENGINEER Associative Interface use a special parameters (.par_abq) file to pass parameters to Abaqus/CAE. For more information about defining modifiable parameters in an imported CATIA V5, CATIA V6, or Pro/ENGINEER model, refer to the CATIA V5 Associative Interface, the CATIA V6, or the Pro/ENGINEER Associative Interface User's Guides. These guides are available from the Dassault Systèmes Knowledge Base at http://support.3ds.com/knowledge-base/.

You can use the CAD Parameters dialog box in Abaqus/CAE to assign new values to the imported parameters. When you change a parameter value, the associated geometry feature is regenerated both in the Abaqus/CAE model and in the saved CAD model. This dialog box also enables you to keep the CAD software running in the background after you make a change to CAD parameters. Having the CAD software running in the background improves performance for bidirectional parameter update, but this option occupies a license for your CAD software for the remainder of your session.

  1. Do either of the following:

    • Import a model from CATIA V5 using the CATIA V5 Associative Interface.

    • Import a model from CATIA V6 using the CATIA V6 Associative Interface.

    • Import a model from Pro/ENGINEER using the Pro/ENGINEER Associative Interface.

  2. Open the CAD Parameters dialog box:

    • In the Part module, select ToolsCAD Parameters.

    • In the Assembly module, select ToolsCAD InterfacesCAD Parameters.

    The CAD Parameters dialog box displays all of the parameters that can be modified.

  3. If you are importing parameters from CATIA V5 or Pro/ENGINEER, click on a parameter name to highlight the portion of the model that is impacted by that parameter in the viewport.
  4. To modify a parameter value, click the appropriate cell in the Value column, and enter a new value.
  5. If you are importing parameters from Pro/ENGINEER, you can toggle on Keep CAD software running in the background after parameter update. This option improves performance if you perform bidirectional import or make additional updates.
  6. When you have changed all of the necessary parameter values, do one of the following:

    • Click Update to regenerate the model in Abaqus/CAE based on the new parameter values. The geometry in the saved Pro/ENGINEER part (.prt) files is updated as well. The original model must not be open in Pro/ENGINEER when you perform the update.

    • Click mouse button 3, and select Write to File to create an updated parameters file without updating the model geometry. This file can be used to manually update parameters using the Abaqus Scripting Interface. For more information about the parameters file, refer to the Pro/ENGINEER Associative Interface User's Guide.

    • Click Defaults to reset all of the parameters in the CAD Parameters table to the values in the current Abaqus/CAE model.