Catia is consistently considered to be one of the most popular CAD/CAM software options available. It was designed by Dassault Sytemes, a French company, to provide users with the perfect platform for design, analysis, and manufacture of new products. It is focused on making collaboration simple and streamline the creation process to make product development faster and easier. The latest version that has been released is CATIA Version 6. However, many companies have chosen to not yet upgrade from version 5 because they simply do not understand what improvements have been made.

What You Need to Know About CATIA v6

1. Upgrading From Version 5

One of the biggest reasons that companies do not considering upgrading their software to the latest version is potential compatibility options. Fortunately, upgrading from version 5 to version 6 is actually a very simple transition. Catia v6 was designed with nearly a 80% portfolio similarity. This was done specifically to make upgrading from version 5 easy and trouble-free.

2. Online Creation and Collaboration

Catia v6 has been optimized in order to enable concurrent work in real time. This is done through a simple internet connection, even from remote locations. This is considered by many to be a huge breakthrough for companies that are currently utilizing a global engineering and manufacturing strategy. It allows for wide scale IP (Intellectual Property) modeling in a collaborative environment with joint scalability throughout the entire creation process.

3. Using a Single PLM Platform

Catia v6 was natively built on a single PLM platform. This allows for support of IP modeling that spans every engineering discipline and collaborative business processes (CBP) which allows for coverage throughout the entire product life-cycle Since the design data, engineering data, and manufacturing data are all stored within the same base it can accessed in a unified way, thus enhancing multi-dicipline collaboration

4. Creating a Lifelike Experience

Catia v6 was designed to insert 3D into the heart of every company. Users can now experience the product as if it was already created. This was achieved by providing new shaders which creates more realism within the product definition view as well as new working ambiance in regards to the floor, reflections, etc.

Designers will also gain an advantage because Catia v6 is so easy to use that it can quickly be integrated with a variety of daily tasks. Even the most casual users will be able to use the Catia 3DLive interface to find information, experience the product, as well as collaborate with others in a 3D online environment.

5. Creating a Global Collaborative Innovation

Catia 3DLive is a key feature in Catia v6. It creates a 3D portal to allow all actors across the country to access all parts of the product definition. It also has integrated tools specifically to allow online global collaboration as well as instant global collaboration This allows for peer to peer connection with a heads up display style that allows for “drag and drop” ideas, in 3D, between designers. The highly scalable architecture is based upon SOA which allows for simple management of the worldwide product development process.

Catia v6 offers a variety of tools that will allow the entire product process to be streamlined, saving both time and money. Now, designers, engineers, and even the most casual users can interact in a 3D environment, just as if they were in the same room.

Author Bio: Find Catia jobs in engineering and design worldwide.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: catia version 6, catia vs, catia 3dlive