dassault systemès' CATIA visual scripting extends algorithmic design

dassault systèmes launches CATIA visual scripting

Pioneers in 3D design and engineering software, Dassault Systèmes embraces new technologies, enriches it, and then enables designers, engineers and architects to expand their own creative potential. The idea of generative design – using algorithms to generate geometries – has long been supported by the company, its experts and customers. CATIA Visual Scripting is the new enabler to design by algorithm, following on the knowledge of CATIA xGenerative Design.

‘The tool enables the possibility to create new shapes that were previously impossible to manually generate,’ begins Edouard Sutre, CATIA Design R&D, as the expert introduces CATIA Visual Scripting in an interview with designboom.

CATIA Visual Scripting aids the architecture, engineering and construction industry, transportation design, and even more classic industrial design like furniture

all images courtesy of Dassault Systèmes

‘In the Creative Design Portfolio team, we drive the research and development side of CATIA to deliver creative solutions. We analyze industries to drive the development of solutions to serve their needs in design,’ explains François Daudet, CATIA Design Senior Portfolio Manager at Dassault Systèmes.

Generative design has become a key aspect in design, whether in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, transportation design, or even more classic industrial design like furniture. It is an approach that generates highly sophisticated parametric designs using an intuitive and powerful algorithmic interface. CATIA xGenerative Design was the first significant step, but now creators need more flexibility in this automation. The new CATIA Visual Scripting application takes this to new levels of possibilities in the native environment of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

‘Generative design is an algorithmic approach to design where parametric descriptions lead to geometric variation. Algorithms can also solve the issue of creating and then changing each element one-by-one,’ adds Edouard.

the application boosts creative flexibility so that design alternatives can be explored and complex patterns developed at ease and speed

design by algorithm

‘Our new solution, called CATIA Visual Scripting, enables creators to develop their own algorithm – or script – using building blocks. This algorithm generates 3D geometries without any manual interactions. New proposals can be generated when any parameters are changed. Algorithms can be captured and reused. It is a huge gain in terms of speed and efficiency to be able to reapply knowledge to new projects,’ continues the CATIA Design R&D expert.

CATIA Visual Scripting enables highly complex, adaptive and intelligent parametric designs to be created across many different disciplines. For designers, architects and engineers, this boosts creative flexibility so that design alternatives can be explored and complex patterns developed at ease and speed. The Capture & Reuse feature, for instance, means algorithms can be grabbed, shared and repeated for new projects to improve efficiency and collaboration.

the Capture & Reuse feature allows algorithms to be grabbed, shared and repeated for new projects to improve efficient collaboration

no-code approach to design

Geometries can be generated by using a sequence of parametric operations. The system uses a no-code approach; not a single line of code is needed. Any user can easily and intuitively connect blocks of parameters to start defining and generating a design. The relations between the nodes are directly editable.

‘CATIA Visual Scripting more comfortably facilitates complex design for designers, engineers or architects. The user interface allows those who are not experts in programming to easily create algorithms and then highly complex creations. One only has to describe the design sequence by connecting simple nodes. It is like building blocks. The nodes can be divided into different blocks again and again. A designer can then access and fully edit the different blocks at any stage,’ confirms Edouard.

the no-code approach means any user can intuitively connect and edit blocks of parameters to generate designs

‘CATIA Visual Scripting is not only a really powerful tool to quickly add a lot of details to designs. Its capabilities push the limits of modelling. The algorithm can create the architecture of lines used for lattice generation. This is to obtain one single volume or shape to be 3D printed, for example. Creators can now also manipulate and deform meshes directly in the application,’ adds Edouard.

The tool’s capabilities are extended to enable designers to further push the boundaries of their designs efficiently. Specialized operators include Mesh Modeling Library, Mesh Softbody Solver and Lattice Connection. These additions enable geometries, such as those with meshes, to be manipulated and deformed directly in the system.

Mesh Modeling Library enables meshes to be manipulated and deformed directly in the system

The benefits of CATIA Visual Scripting enrich the creative possibilities of many roles in many industries, from creating and styling through to mechanical engineering and construction. It is as helpful to designers, architects and engineers in aerospace, transportation and urban planning as it is for both industrial and fashion designs, like in furniture and jewelry. The tool allows geometries to be explored in great detail, efficiently and collaboratively.

‘CATIA Visual Scripting aids creators in all industries, not only for aerospace, architecture or transportation. We are empowering those in the shoe, furniture and product industries as well, for example. The tool can extend from designing buildings and huge city plans to smartphones and even jewelry. It adds value to all creators by allowing people to really play with parameters and discover new geometries,’ concludes Edouard Sutre, CATIA Design R&D, to designboom.

specialized operators extend capabilities, including Mesh Modeling Library, Mesh Softbody Solver and Lattice Connection