3DCS, CATIA V5, Cache Mode and You - A How To Guide on Using Cache Mode in CATIA V5

This Tips and Tactics article walks through the use and value of using the Cache Mode tool in CATIA V5. This tool greatly increases the speed at which modelers can work on large models. 

Introduction

3DCS and CATIA V5, together, offer great tools for a robust user experience. This article focuses on one of those tools, called Cache Mode. Cache Mode in CATIA V5 offers flexibility when building a Tolerance Model in 3DCS. When Cache Mode is activated, large amounts of data are stored in a local folder, reducing the overall size of an assembly. For 3DCS users, this means building and running Simulations of an entire vehicle faster. 

Getting to Know Your Model

It’s important to know when to use Cache Mode. If you notice your assembly takes a while to load, it might be a good time to activate Cache Mode in CATIA V5. This will greatly improve the loading, modeling and design time over the course of the project.

With large assemblies, the user can decide which part to load in a session.

• When loading an assembly into Cache Mode, right-click the top/root assembly, go to Representation and select Design Mode. Design Mode will load all parts within the assembly, or a sub-assembly.
• Visualization Mode will switch the selected parts or assembly back to a "light-weight" part or assembly.

Activating Cache Mode

Activating Cache Mode in CATIA V5 can be found in CATIA’s Options dialog. Once activated, the user will need to restart CATIA.

1. Launch CATIA V5.
2. Find the Tools menu dropdown and select Options.
3. In the Options dialog, go to Infrastructure and then Product Structure

In this area, the user can activate Cache Mode by selecting “Work with a Cache System” and setting the folder location. You have the option to use a new folder, or keep the data with the assembly and model folder.

The Maximum Size refers to the overall size of the items in the folder. When new data is loaded in Cache Mode, CATIA will limit the cache size allotted in the folder.

Cache Mode: The Secret Tip

Activating Cache Mode in CATIA V5 is not difficult but can be time consuming. There is, however, a faster way to convert your assembly to Cache Mode. The secret way uses the CATIA V5 Utility, which the user can launch in or outside of CATIA. This method allows the user to batch load all of the parts into Cache Mode before opening CATIA.

            The CATIA V5 Utility is a Batch list of CATIA V5 tools. Other functions available in the Utility includeCATDUA V5, a part and assembly cleaning tool that removes errors, “Ghost Links” and much more (see previous Tips & Tactics). In this case, the Cache Mode Utility takes the assembly from the folder and converts all parts and assemblies into Cache Memory for CATIA to load later.

            To get to the Batch Utility for Cache Mode:

1. Launch CATIA V5

2. Go to Tools and then Utilities…

Windows users can also find this Utility list in the Start Menu of Windows 7, 8.1 and 10

• Go to the Start menu
• Go to the CATIA V5 folder, usually under CATIA V5 in the Applications list (CATIA V5 R24)
• Find Batch Management: CATIA V5-6R2014

3. In the Utilities list, find: CATDMUBuilder – Build CATProducts using given product structure documents and prepare Cache

4. In the CATDMUBuilder dialog, define the Input File as a Product (find the product or assembly file (structure) to read from).

5. In the Product Directory, select the folder location of your assembly.

You’re now done. Click Run to run the batch command and let it go to work. Shortly, depending on the size of the model, the conversion to Cache Mode will be complete and you will only need to load the same assembly the folder.

NOTE: There is also a Save option, which allows any settings modified in the dialog to remain if the user needs to come back.

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