Using Knowledge Advisor Capabilities  

 

Material specifications defined using Real Time Rendering are shared with Knowledge Advisor. This is illustrated in the two tasks below.

In our examples, you will change the material mapped onto a part or a product directly in the knowledgeware Formulas dialog box as well as write a rule using material as a parameter to, for example, change the mapped material as a function of hole diameter.

For more information on Knowledge Advisor, see the Version 5 - Knowledge Advisor User's Guide. Note that to use this product you need the appropriate license.

 

Changing the Material Mapped onto a Part or a Product Directly in the Formulas Dialog Box

 

This task explains how to change the material mapped onto a part or a product directly in the knowledgeware Formulas dialog box.
Open the ChangeMaterial.CATProduct document.

  1. Click Formula in the Knowledge toolbar. The Formulas dialog box appears listing all the part parameters.

  1. Select the Material parameter. The boxes displayed below Edit name or value of the current parameter are updated:

  2. Enter another material, Gold for example, directly in the box.

    The dialog box, part itself and specification tree are all updated. You have changed the material mapped onto the part directly in the dialog box.

    You can only change materials mapped in the Formulas dialog box to those available in the default material library.

    Any material changed in this way will be mapped as linked objects and will be automatically updated to reflect any changes to the original material in the library.
    Note: The material icon in the specification tree appears with a link to indicate that the material gold is mapped as a linked object.

 

Writing a Rule

This task explains how to write a rule using material as a parameter to, for example, change the mapped material as a function of hole diameter.
Open the WriteARule.CATProduct document. 

Make sure that the Shading with Material icon is selected in the View toolbar.

  1. Select Tools > Options > Infrastructure > Part Infrastructure > Display then select the Relations check box to display relations in the specification tree.

  2. Select the part.

  3. Select Start > Knowledgeware > Knowledge Advisor.

  4. Click Rule :

    The Rule Editor dialog box appears.

  5. Click OK to identify your rule in the Rule Editor dialog box. The Rule Editor : Rule 1 dialog box is displayed. You can now write your rule.

  6. Write the following rule:

    if (Part2\PartBody\Hole.1\Diameter > 60mm)

    Part2\Material = "Gold"

    else

    Part2\Material = "Aluminium"
    For detailed information on the Knowledge Advisor rules, refer to "Using Rules" in the Version 5 - Knowledge Advisor User's Guide.

  7. Click OK when done: the system checks that your syntax is valid. If it is not, you are prompted to correct it.

    You cannot edit or apply materials that have been incorporated as parameters into rules.
    You can now check your rule.

  8. Select Start > Mechanical Design > Part Design.

  9. Right-click the hole and select Hole1.Object > Edit Parameters.

  10. Double-click the hole diameter and enter a new value in the Constraints Edition dialog box, for example 70, then press Enter.

    The material changes from Aluminium to Gold.
    Before: After:

Materials incorporated as parameters into rules are mapped as linked objects. Linked materials are identified in the specification tree by a material icon with a white arrow symbolizing the link.