Analyzing Constraints

This task shows you how to analyze the constraints of an active component.

Open the AnalyzingAssembly02.CATProduct document.

Select Analyze -> Constraints.

The Constraint Analysis dialog box is displayed. The Constraints tab displays the status of the constraints of the selected component:

Active Component displays the name of the active component.

Component displays the number of child components contained in the active component.

Not constrained displays the number of child components not constrained in the active component.

Status displays the status of the constraints:

	Verified displays the number of verified constraints
	Impossible displays the number of impossible constraints. "Impossible" means that the geometry is not compatible with the constraint. For example, a contact constraint between two cylinders whose diameter is different is impossible. The yellow unresolved symbol is displayed in the specification tree on the constraint type icon: .
	Not updated displays the number of constraints to be updated. The application has integrated new specifications, which affect constraints. The update symbol is displayed in the specification tree on the constraint type icon: .
	Broken displays the number of broken constraints. A reference element is missing in the definition of these constraints. It may have been deleted for example. You can then reconnect this constraint (see Reconnecting Constraints). The yellow unresolved symbol is displayed in the specification tree on the constraint type icon: .
	Deactivated displays the number of deactivated constraints (see Deactivating or Activating Constraints). The deactivated symbol is displayed in the specification tree. It precedes the constraint type icon: .
	Measure Mode displays the number of constraints in measure mode.
	Fixed Together displays the number of fix together operations
	Total displays the total number of constraints of the active component.

In our scenario, the command displays the status of all constraints defined in AnalyzingAssembly product.

Since CATIA V5R6, the command Analyze -> Constraints. displays the status of constraints defined for sub-assemblies too. What you have to do is set the combo box on top of the dialog box to the sub-assembly name of your choice.

In addition to the Constraints tab, the Broken tab and the Deactivated tab provide the name of the broken and deactivated constraints already indicated in the Broken and Deactivated fields.

The constraints are clearly identified in these tabs and you can select them. Once selected, they are highlighted both in the tree and in the geometry area.

Additional tabs may be displayed if one of these constraint status exists:

	Impossible
	Not updated
	Measure Mode

The tab Degrees of freedom also displays if all constraints of a given component are valid.

To redefine the colors of the different type of constraints, see Customizing Constraint Appearance.

This capability does not show overconstrained systems. The application detects them when performing update operations. For more information, see Inconsistent or Over-constrained Assemblies. You can also use the command Analyze -> Dependence.

Quit OK to exit and delete the following constraints to perform the rest of the scenario: Coincidence.12, Parallelism.15 and Line Contact.16.

The document now contains only seven constraints. They all are verified.

Select Analyze -> Constraints again. The Constraints Analysis dialog box no longer contains the tabs Broken and Deactivated.

Click Degrees of freedom tab.

The application displays this tab only if all constraints are verified. The tab displays the components affected by constraints and the number of degrees of freedom remaining for each of them.

Double-click CRIC_TOP.1.

The Degrees of Freedom Analysis dialog box displays.

One rotation as well as one translation remain possible for CRIC_TOP.1. For more information, please refer to Analyzing Degrees of Freedom.

Click Close then OK to exit.