Creating a Hole

This command is only available with the Automotive Body in White Templates product.

This task shows how to create a hole, which consists of removing material from a surface.

Open the Hole1.CATPart document.

  1. Click Hole .

    The Hole Definition dialog box is displayed.
     
    Various shapes can be created:
    • round
    • slot (elongated hole)
    • rectangular
    • square
    The shape is defined on a plane and projected along a direction on the surface. In that case, the nearest projection is used to create the hole.

  2. Select the shape in the drop-down list.

  3. Click a point to be the Center Point  in the geometry or in the specification tree.

  4. Select the Support surface.

  5. Define the Orientation to align the major axis along a direction.

    You do not need to define an orientation for the round holes.

  6. Define the Punch direction.

    • If the point lies on the support surface, by default the punch direction is the normal direction at the centre point.
    • If the point does not lie on the support surface, you must define a punch direction.

  7. Select the Axis Computation check box to automatically create an axis and direction lines passing through the center of the hole.

    One of the direction lines is created along the input orientation direction, while the other direction line is created mutually perpendicular to the axis and the first direction line.
    By default, this option is selected.
    1. Select the axis type.
      • Select the Finite Axis to create axes lines of finite length. The length of axis lines depends upon the shape of the hole:
        • Round: The axis length depends upon the diameter.
        • Slot: The axis length depends upon the slot length and width.
        • Rectangle: The axis length depends upon the rectangle length and width.
        • Square: The axis length depends upon the square length.
      • Select the Infinite Axis option to create axes lines of infinite length.
        Note: The global setting of axis length in Tools > Options > Shape > Generative Shape Design > General > Axes Visualization limited to the bounding box of the input (see General Settings in Customizing) will not affect hole axis visualization.
      The Finite Axis and Infinite Axis options will be available, if you select the Axis Computation check box. By default, the Finite Axis option will be selected.
       
    2. Select the Axis Normal to Surface check box to create axis lines normal to the direction of the support surface.
      By default, this option is cleared.

  8. Click Preview.

  9. Define the shape dimensions.

    To do so, either :

    • click the value to edit (here the diameter)

      The Diameter dialog box appears to let you modify the dimension.

    • click the Size tab.

      All dimensions related to the selected shape are displayed and can be modified.
       
    Some values must be greater than 0mm:
    • Diameter for the round hole
    • Length and width for the slot and rectangle hole
    • Length for the square hole
    Square and rectangle holes can be created with a null radius value: in this case, the hole is created without corner.
    Here are the parameters to be defined depending on the shape hole:
     
      Length

    Width

    		 Radius
    Round     X
    Slot X X  
    Rectangular X X X
    Square X   X

  10. Click OK to create the hole.

    The element (identified as Type Hole.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
    Round hole
    Radius = 35mm, Punch Dir. = Default    		   Slot hole
    Length = 30mm, Width = 15mm
    Orientation = zx plane, Punch Dir. = Line.1
     
    Rectangular hole
    Length = 40mm, Width = 10mm, Radius = 5mm
    Orientation = yz plane, Punch Dir. = Default    		   Square hole
    Length = 15mm, Radius = 2mm, Punch Dir. = xy plane
     
 
If several solutions are possible, the solution with the minimum distance is chosen. If all distances are equal, an error message is issued, asking you to modify the point position.