How to Convert PDF to AutoCAD

One question many CAD users ask is if there is an easy way to convert PDF to AutoCAD format. Well, now there is an easy, and best of all, FREE solution for you. PDFAutoCAD is a free PDF to DWG  and DXF conversion for AutoCAD-designed PDFs.

Some of its distinct features are:

• High quality conversions with lines, arcs, scale presets and texts preserved, and no need for further touch-ups.
• Files of up to 40MB can be uploaded and converted quickly.
• All uploaded user data, including emails, is deleted in accordance with their privacy policy.
• Everything is free - they support themselves via ads on the homepage (please, don’t be confused by them).

I've used this site myself and find it very useful. Check it out here.

Importing AutoCAD Drawings into CATIA

 How to convert DXF drawings into CATIA CATPart sketches 

There's a little trick I use when I need to copy and paste DXF 2D drawing views from AutoCAD into a sketch for a CATPart file. First of all, if you attempt to simply copy and paste a drawing view directly into the part file you may get something that looks the image picture below- a jumbled mess of data, points, and lines. 

In order to fix this problem to import the drawing data completely, open the dxf file in CATIA. Next, save the drawing as an IG2 file (which is a 2D iges file). Now open the IG2 file and copy the main view into the CATPart. Or, another option is you can rename your IG2 2D file in Windows as .igs and then open that file and it will be imported in CATIA as a 3D part file. Sometimes you have to get creative and employ these little work-arounds to get the software to do exactly what you want it to do.

Dealing with Different Versions of CATIA

Only one version of CATIA V5 can be registered with Windows at a given time. If you have R16, R17, and R18SP2 installed on your PC, only one of these is currently registered. You can find which one is registered by looking at the directory when you register. To automate a specific version of CATIA you first have t register that version with Windows. Here are the steps to un-register or re-register a CATIA V5 version:
 
1.        Reboot your pc
2.        Open a command prompt
3.        CD to the unload directory of the version of CATIA you want to un-register (i.e. “c\program files\dassault systemes\B15\intel_a\code\bin”)
4.        Run the command “cnext-unregserver”
5.        Open up the task manager and wait until the “cnext” process stops running (which may take a few minutes)
6.        CD to the unload directory of the version of CATIA you want to register (i.e. “c\program files\dassault systems\B16\intel_a\code\bin”)
7.        Run the command “cnext-regserver”
8.        In the task manager again, wait until the “cnext” process stops
9.        Open up VB and check that the correct version is registered
10.        Please note this only needs to be done between full releases and not service packs!

How to add amacro icon to a toolbar in CATIA V5?

There are multiple ways to initiate a CATScript macro in CATIA V5. Did you know that it is possible to invoke your macro through a tool bar icon? How do you create an icon for your macro? Go to tools >customize >commands > macros > show properties. Next, simply define a logo for your macro by picking one from the 180 plus icons to choose from (or browse to your own custom made icon) and then drag and drop it into the menu bar where you want it. It's that easy. So now you should have three ways to run your VBA CATScripts: going to Tools>Macro>Macros, hitting Alt+F8, or by clicking on your icon in a toolbar.

Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0 Tips

Keyboard/mouse shortcuts
CTRL+D Default view
Middle-Button Spin
SHIFT+Middle Pan
CTRL+Middle Zoom (press, drag up-down)
CTRL+Middle Turn (press, drag left-right)
Scroll Wheel Zoom
CTRL+G Regenerate
CTRL+R Repaint
CTRL+A Activate window

--- Refit (no key, use toolbar icon)

Part Design

To change background color: View > Display Settings > System Colors. Change Background and uncheck Blended Background.

To extrude: R-click for short-cut options.

To dimension: Dimension tool > L-click start > L-click end > C-click to place.

To dimension a diameter: L-click outside > L-click center line > L-click outside > C-click to place.

To assign a material and/or density: Edit > Setup > Mass Props > enter density (Aluminum = 0.095 lb/in^3, Steel = 0.282 lb/in^3). Units are current units for part. An even better way: Edit > Setup > Material > Define. Then Material > Assign.

To find weight and c.g. of a part: Analysis > Model Analysis > Model Mass Properties > Compute

To add relations: Double-click on part to show dimensions. Tools > Relations. Note that dimensions changed to symbols. In the Relations dialog box, use the toggle button to toggle between dimension symbols and numbers. Add relation like this (line 1 is a comment)/* notch is 1/4 the width */d3 = (d1)/4

To add a feature to the top of a part: Pick feature tool > Select Front as sketch plane. In References window, create new Ref by picking top surface of part (rotate to select) and deleting default top reference plane.

To add a round (or fillet): Pick round (or fillet) tool > Pick edge(s) > Drag handles, center-click.

To copy a feature: Edit > Feature Operations > Copy > Same Refs | Select | Dependent > Done > select feature (use of model tree to select) > Done > In GP VAR DIMS box select feature location dimensions to change > Done. Follow messages.

To mirror a feature: Edit > Feature Operations > Copy > Mirror | Select | Dependent > Done > select feature (use model tree to select) > Done > select plane to mirror about.

To make a pattern: Select feature. R-click > Pattern. (Or select the feature then the Pattern tool at the right.) Follow prompts to enter increment value, and total number of instances.

To set units: Edit > Setup > Units > select units > Set > read warning box

To edit dimensions: Double click on part then on dimension. Or right click on feature in menu tree > Edit. Regenerate when done.

To change dimensioning scheme or to re-sketch part: Rght click on feature in menu tree > Edit definition. Takes you to dash board. Placement > Edit Sketch. In the Sketch dialog, select Sketch.

Raised text: Create protrusion on desired surface. Text tool in sketcher toolbar > follow directions, for text line draw bottom to top.

Hex object: New feature > protrusion. Add 2 centerlines that go through the origin, spacing lines by about 120 deg with one of them about 60 deg from vertical. Dimension one of the lines to be 60 deg from the vertical reference and dimension between lines to be 120 deg. Create a Center/Point circle (do not dimension this circle). Select circle, then Edit > toggle construction. Draw hexagon while constraining to the construction circle, the reference lines and the centerlines. Dimension across one flat; the rest will follow.

To change model name: File > Rename.

To view order that model was created: Tools > Model Player. Click for/rev arrows to step through model creation.

To make a spring, use a helical sweep: Create new part. Insert > Helical Sweep > Protrusion > Constant | Thru Axis | Right Handed > Done. Select Front datum for sketch plane and Top datum for top reference. Create a vertical center line that passes through the origin. Create a vertical line of height 20.0 located 5.0 to the right of the origin. Accept the sketch. Enter pitch value of 4.0. Sketch a circular cross-section (the cross-section of the spring) of diameter 1.5. Accept the sketch. Preview the feature.

Blends: Create a new part. Insert > Model Datum > Plane. Reference to FRONT, offset by 100. Select Sketch Tool icon at the right and sketch on the FRONT plane. Sketch the first cross section (a square). Accept the sketch. Create a second cross section sketch on DTM1. Each section in the blend must have the same number of vertices. Create the blend. Insert > Blend > Protrusion > Parallel | Regular Sec | Sketch Sec > Done > Straight > Done. Follow the message prompts. Select the FRONT sketch plane. Flip arrow to point towards the DTM1 plane. In sketcher, use the Create an entity from and edge tool to pick up all four edges of the square. Note the order of the vertices which must be consistent in the next section. When done, select the arrow tool then right press > Toggle Section. Use the edge tool to pick up the next section. Accept the sketch. Enter the depth of the section. Select Preview from the Protrusion dialog box, then OK.

To color a part: View > Color and Appearance. Follow directions in Appearance Editor.

To apply fancy rendering: View > Display Setting > Model Display > Shade tab > Check Real-time rendering.


To add fancy rendering button: R-click in top tool bar > Commands > View > Drag Realtime Rendering button to model display toolbar.


To create a new stored view: Reorient View button > Saved Views > enter name for new view > Save.

To suppress display of tangent lines: View > Display Settings > Model Display > Edge Line, Tangent Edges = No Display.

If printouts of lines for transparent parts are not showing: 1. View > Display Settings > Model Display> Uncheck the box for colors. 2. View > Display Settings > System Colors > Scheme = Black on White. 3. In the Printer dialog box, choose Properties, then set resolution to something higher than 600x600 dpi (if this is an option.)

To spin wildly: Orient mode button > R-click in window > Velocity mode. Drag part with center mouse button.

To create a high quality rendering of the part for use in PowerPoint presentations or reports (taken from a Pro/E FAQ): You can dramatically improve the way your models appear directly onscreen by using Photorender: View -> Model Setup -> Render Control. Click "Render Final Image" on the toolbar that pops up and see the difference! If you do a screen capture now it is going to look so much better. The default background color for rendered images is black. To change the background, click "Modify Render Settings" on the rendering toolbar, and then check the "Render Room" box. Close that dialog and click "Modify Room Settings" on the render toolbar. Click on one of the walls and set the color to white, do the same for the ceiling and floor. Now render the final image and you'll have a white background instead of black. You can of course do much more detailed renderings and output to a file, but just doing the basic steps above to render the image directly on your screen will make a world of difference in any screenshots you take, and the process takes all of about 15 second

To create a co-axial hole. Select axis (Set pick filter to Datums). Select hole tool. With Ctrl held down, select drilling surface or datum.

To create a notch in a cylinder. In the sketcher, lay down a construction line that is at the edge of the cylinder and snap to that construction line.

That's all for now! More later...

ProEngineerProEngineer WildFire 2.0 Student Edition