Improve your workflow with DMU Navigator

Personally I use DMU Navigator for a single reason, to use the command Translation or Rotation in .CATProduct files. With this command you can select lines, points, axis and planes to apply translate, rotate, position or transformations to any components.

When you click on the Translation or Rotation icon you will see for tabs that are available:

1. to translate components, see Translating a Component;
2. to rotate components, see Rotating Components;
3. to position components, see Positioning Components;
4. to apply transformations to components, see Applying a Transformation.

1. Translating Components in CATIA using DMU Navigator

To do a translation for a component you have two solutions, by entering translation values or by selecting geometric elements to define a translation direction.

Follow steps to do for Translating components in CATIA

1.1. Click the Translation or Rotation The 3D compass is automatically snapped onto the referential axis of the father part (the Product axis system). The Move dialog box is displayed. Either you specify an offset value between the element and the x, y or z axis, or you select a geometric element to define the direction you need. The move is defined in terms of an offset along x, y or z axes.

1.2. Select the component to be translated. The 3D compass is automatically snapped onto the referential axis of Product, the father.

1.3. To define the translation, enter an offset value for x, y or z in the Offset boxes e.g. 100 mm for y.

1.4. Click Apply.

1.5. Click Invert to reverse the previous operation and translate the component in the opposite direction. The translation is reversed.

1.6. Click OK to close the dialog box.

1.7. Repeat steps 1.1 and 1.2; this time uncheck the Relative move option.

2. Rotating Components in CATIA using DMU Navigator

To do a rotate you must enter the rotation angle and specifying the rotation axis for a component or by selecting a geometric element to define the rotation axis and entering the angle value.

Follow steps to do for Rotating components in CATIA

2.1. Click the Translation or Rotation icon.

2.2. Click the Rotation tab.

2.3. Select the component to be rotated

2.4. Click one of the Axis options to specify the axis of rotation, e.g. the y axis.

2.5. Enter an angle of rotation in the Angle box, e.g. 90deg.

2.6. Click Apply to rotate the component. The selected component is rotated accordingly.

2.7. You can click Apply as many times as you wish to rotate the component to the desired position.

2.8. Click OK to close the dialog box.

 3. Positioning Components in CATIA using DMU Navigator

To put in position a component you must enter the position values and specifying the axis values or by selecting a geometric element to define the rotation axis and entering the angle value.

Follow steps to do for Positioning components in CATIA

3.1. Click the Translation or Rotation icon.

3.2. Click the Position tab.

3.3. Select the component to be positioned.

3.4. Enter values for x, y and/or z to define the position e.g. enter 0.

3.5. Specify angle values for RotX (e.g. 0deg), RotY (e.g. 50deg) and RotZ (e.g. 0deg).

3.6. Click Apply. The selected component is positioned accordingly.

3.7. Click OK when satisfied.

4. Applying a Transformation in CATIA using DMU Navigator

To apply a transformation you must enter the position values and specifying the axis angle values or to by selecting a geometric element to define the rotation axis and entering the angle value.

Follow steps to do for Applying a Transformation in CATIA

4.1. Click the Translation or Rotation icon.

4.2. The Move dialog box is displayed.

4.3. Click the Transformation tab.

4.4. Select the component to be applied a transformation.

4.5. Enter values for dx (i.e. 0mm), dy (i.e. 100mm)  and dz (i.e.0mm)  to define the translation.

4.6. Specify angle values for dRotX (i.e. 0deg), dRotY (i.e. 50deg) , dRotZ (i.e. 0deg) to define the rotation.

4.7. Click Apply. The selected component is positioned accordingly (both translation and rotation are applied to the component).

You can manipulate components with Compass modifying their parameters, but this method will be detailed in another article.