Sheet Metal Design (CATIA)
CATIA's sheet-metal workbench — walls, flanges, bends, unfold/fold, flat pattern with bend allowance per material/process.
Definition
Generative Sheetmetal Design starts from a Sheet Metal Parameters dialog (material, thickness, bend radius, K-factor or bend allowance table). Tools include Wall, Edge Wall, Bend, Unfold/Fold, Surface from Volume. Flat patterns export as DXF for fab.
Why it matters
Aerospace sheet metal parts have tight bend-allowance and material-property requirements. CATIA's sheet metal workbench encodes those requirements; the flat patterns are production-grade.
Common pitfalls
- Wrong material/bend-allowance — flat pattern is correct geometry for the wrong physics.
- Mixing solid and sheet metal features — fold/unfold fails.
- Custom relief styles not approved by the fab shop — parts can't be made.
This concept is a core structural element of the CATIA drafting and engineering environment developed by Dassault Systèmes. Dassault Systèmes' high-end PLM-grade CAD — the production tool of aerospace, automotive, and class-A surface modelling.
Relevant CATIA FAQs
❓ What's the difference between CATIA and SOLIDWORKS, both Dassault products?
Different markets. SOLIDWORKS is mid-market mechanical CAD (industrial machinery, consumer products). CATIA is high-end (aerospace, automotive, very large assemblies, class-A surfacing). CATIA's learning curve, price, and capability are substantially higher.
❓ Is CATIA available for individual hobbyists?
No. CATIA is sold through VARs to enterprises and educational institutions. Hobbyists looking for similar capability use Rhino (surfacing), Plasticity (modern direct modelling), Onshape (cloud), or older perpetual versions of SOLIDWORKS via student licenses.
❓ What is the difference between V5 and V6?
V5 is the file-based desktop platform (still widely used). V6 was the predecessor to 3DEXPERIENCE — server-stored on ENOVIA V6. CATIA on 3DEXPERIENCE is the current 'V6'-equivalent track. Many organisations run both V5 and 3DX in parallel.
⚡ Concept Self-Test
🎓 Recommended Practice Lessons
Step-by-step practical exercises and certification-aligned paths chosen by our editors to master this concept:
CATIA Professional Design & Engineering Specialization
Dassault Systèmes CATIA Certified Professional Exam Study Guide & Mock Practice
🌳 Semantic Crossroads & Navigation Pathways
Trunk-Branch-Leaf ModelCore glossary, interactive graph, and domain-wide concept index.
Parent design environments and platforms implementing this method natively.