Customization of the Reference Fastener Type Files

Fastening natively supports the most common spot process types (Weld, Adhesive, Sealant, Rivet and Clinch), assembly process types (Rivet and Bolt) and bead process types (Weld, Adhesive and Sealant). An additional "Unspecified" category is supplied to classify specific technologies that do not belong to the app natively supported process categories.

A reference fastener type is identified by a string descriptor: "FTYP_PTYP1! PTYP2". In CATIA resource environment, theapp provides a set of files named "Fst_Spot_PTYP1! PTYP2.xls" that match the specifications provided by the administrator in the Fsr_Standard file.

This page discusses:

See Also
Customization of the Fst_Standard File
Fastener Symbols
Fastener Check Rules

Location of the Reference Fastener Type Files

The reference fastener type files are located according to the reffiles\FstStandards path from CATIA run time view root directory (win_b64 for Windows, aix_a for IBM UNIX, irix_a for SGI UNIX, solaris_a for SUN Unix, hpux_a for HP UNIX).

Two filename extensions are implemented for this file:

  • .xls for Windows Operating System run time usage. Here is an example with the Fst_Spot_Weld!21.xls file.
  • .txt for UNIX Operating System run time usage. It is the master file and must be generated from the customized "Fst_Spot_PTYP1! PTYP2.xls" file on Windows using the Save as Text Excel command.

Customization of the Reference Fastener Type Files

The reference fastener type files can be fully customized by the company data administrator, according to the company or industry specific standards requirements.

These files are divided into two columns:

  • The first column identifies the parameter name
  • The second column specifies the list of possible values of the identified parameter: value1, <value2>, value3 (brackets <>, specify the default value: i.e. value2 is the default value of the previous list).

Set-Up of the Fastener Type Identification and Classification Parameters

The above Fst_Spot_Weld! 21.xls reference file contains the following specification parameters:

  • Fst_ID_VERSION & Fst_ID_CUSTOMVERSION (not supported yet).
  • Fst_CLASSATTRLIST parameter enables the administrator to specify the name of the classification attributes for this fastener type:



The attributes must be chosen out of the list of attributes specified in the reference fastener type file:



  • For each chosen attribute, the administrator can specify the possible applicable values. Here is an example with the Robustness and Regulation attributes as defined in Fst_Spot_Weld! 21.xls:



Important: It is not necessary to specify the possible values of an attribute if no pre-defined value is specified. In the Fst_Spot_Weld!21.xls file, the U02 attribute corresponding to "Attribute 2" is a custom attribute whose values are not specified.

Set Up of the Fastener Location and Fastener Component Parameters

  • The Fst_LOCATIONMETHOD parameter enables the administrator to specify the range of the applicable fastener positioning methods of the spot fastener command:



By default, this parameter is set to enable all the possible location methods supplied by the spot fastener command as specified in the reference fastener type file:



  • The Fst_COMPLIST parameter enables the administrator to specify the list of fastener components.

Each component of the list must be identified by a symbolic name (for instance, "Weld"). This symbolic name has to be added as a suffix to each characteristic parameter of this component, as shown in the table below:



  • The Fst_COMP_GENERATIVESHAPE_Weld parameter coded value is set to 1, which means that the component shape is generative. As a consequence, you are prompted to specify the shape parameters values.

    Only canonical generative shapes (Code=1) are supported, as specified in the reference fastener type file:

  • The Fst_COMP_SHAPEDEFINITION_Weld parameter enables to specify the expected possible shape types for a fastener type component, by choosing the appropriate definition code, as specified in the reference fastener type file:



    In the Fst_Spot_Weld! 21.xls reference file, the Fst_COMP_SHAPEDEFINITION_Weld parameter is set by default to create a 3D point shape (Code=1101):



  • The Fst_COMP_GENERATIVEMATERIAL_Weld parameter enables to define a material specification, if needed, as specified in the reference fastener type file:



    In the Fst_Spot_Weld! 21.xls reference file, the Fst_COMP_GENERATIVEMATERIAL _Weld parameter is set to 0, as no material is expected:

  • The Fst_COMP_GENERATIVELOCATION

    _Weld parameter enables to specify that the expected position of a fastener component does not coincide with the fastener location. It is set to 0 as the shape definition of the weld fastener component is coincident with the fastener axis location:

  • The Fst_COMP_LOCATION_PARAMETERS_XXX enables to specify the offset parameters (KOFFSET, IOFFSET and JOFFSET). The Fst_COMP_LOCATION_XXXOFFSET_YYY parameter enables to specify the expected positioning parameters of a fastener component with respect to the fastener location.

    Important: Only offset parameters are supported.
  • The Fst_COMP_GROUP_XXX enables to specify the component group parameter.

    • Head: the component belongs to the Head group.
    • Tail: the component belongs to the Tail group.
    Important: This parameter applies to flexible fasteners only.

Set Up of the Fastener Check Rules Parameters

  • The Rules section allows you to define the rules and their parameters you want to use while checking the fastener reference type
  • Set up the applicable rules

    Specifies the rules to be used while checking the fastener reference type. For example, enter: STK;FCE;FBE;MSP;NCPP;FPCN;FFLC;FCLS. To know the names of the rules, see Section C: Set Up the Company Standard Fastening Rules Names.



  • Set-Up the input parameters of the rule STK

    Specifies the parameter values to be used while checking for the STK rule. This is an example:

  • Set-Up the input parameters of the rule FCE

    Specifies the parameter values to be used while checking for the FCE rule. This is an example:

  • Set-Up the input parameters of the rule FBE

    Specifies the parameter values to be used while checking for the FBE rule. This is an example:

  • Set-Up the input parameters of the rule MSP

    Specifies the parameter values to be used while checking for the MSP rule. This is an example:

  • Set-Up the input parameters of the rule FCLS

    Specifies the parameter values to be used while checking for the FCLS rule. This is an example:

    • HeadTailOnlyClash: takes the whole geometry of fasteners into account to check clashes.
    • NoClash: does not take any clash into account

Backup of the Reference Fastener Type Files

  • The Fst_LOCATIONMETHOD parameter enables the administrator to specify the range of the applicable fastener positioning methods of the spot fastener command:
  • On Windows, the data administrator:
    • Edits and modifies the excel file (for instance, Fst_Spot_Weld! 21.xls)
    • Saves this file as .xls by keeping its original name (Fst_Spot_Weld! 21.xls)
    • Saves this file as tab delimiter by keeping its original name (Fst_Spot_Weld! 21.xls) This standard text file will be used by default at import time.
  • On Unix, the data administrator:
    • Edits and modifies the text file,
    • Saves this file as .txt.

Customization of the NLS Files

This sub-topic helps you customize the NLS files.

The NLS translation of all Fastening model attributes is customizable by editing the CATFstCatalogNLS.CATNls file located according to the resources\msgcatalog path from CATIA run time view root directory (win_b64 for Windows, aix_a for IBM UNIX, irix_a for SGI UNIX, solaris_a for SUN Unix, hpux_a for HP UNIX).

In 3DEXPERIENCE R2022x, Fastening attributes and values appear explicitly with their full name in the reference fastener type file, whereas in V5, they appear as shortcuts. In order to provide an upward NLS translation of V5 attributes and values, a default translation is provided at the end of the CATFstCatalogNLS.CATNls file, for each V5 shortcut example given:



To view examples supporting this topic, see win_b64\reffiles\FstStandards in the installation folder.