Part Document Tab
Displays options controlling part file creation and format.
New part
Activating Create an Axis System when creating a new part creates a separate axis system at the origin each time you create a new CATPart. CATIA adds this system to the Specification Tree. You can leave the axis system at the origin or move it to a new position.
Activating Create a Geometrical Set when creating a new part simply creates a default Geometrical Set body in the Specification Tree for you when you create a new CATPart, as opposed to CATIA creating one for you when you begin creating those types of elements.
Tips
In addition to the Part Design workbench, you can access the Part Design options from any workbench in CATIA or through Settings Management located in CATIA Tools in Windows.
Parametric Modeling
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Parameters and Specifications
CATIA V5 was programmed using object-oriented programming methods, which means that every object you create has a group of properties, or specifications, that go along with it. And while you don't have to use relative positioning between features, doing so is seamless and fast.
Understanding Design Intent
The important thing to remember about creating a parametric model is to try to capture your 'design intent'. This means that the dimensions and sizes you use should reflect how you want the part to be, not some arbitrary standard. One thing many people struggle with is that you should not necessarily create feature dimensions the same way you would dimension the part on a print destined for manufacturing.
Consider the following example. The part shown has a round boss with a hole in it.
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Clearly, you always want the hole to go through the center of the boss; this is the design intent. However, when you create the hole, it is possible to create positioning dimensions from the edges of the part.
This positioning may accurately reflect how the inspection department checks the hole location on the finished part. However, if you then decide to move the boss, the hole does exactly what you told it to, and stays where you positioned it.
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You now have an extra step to reposition the hole. A better method would be to define the hole center as concentric to the boss, instead of dimensioning to the edges. That way, when you move the boss, the hole goes too, keeping the design intent intact.
This is a simple example, but it demonstrates the considerations to keep mind when creating a part using parameters and relative positioning. If you keep your design intent in mind as you create your model, making changes to the model becomes much easier.