Convert CATDRAWING to CATPART

A recipient may require an editable 3D model for measurement, design changes, assembly reuse, or manufacturing, while the available file contains only the drawing. A CATDrawing normally cannot be converted directly into the original CATPart because it references model geometry rather than storing the complete part definition.

What the CATDRAWING format is

.CATDrawing is Dassault Systèmes CATIA V5’s native 2D drafting format. It stores sheets, drawing views, dimensions, annotations, tolerances, tables, symbols, and other documentation used for manufacturing and inspection.

A CATDrawing commonly contains associative links to one or more .CATPart or .CATProduct documents. The linked model supplies the 3D geometry from which views are generated; the drawing usually does not contain the source part’s complete solid, sketches, parameters, or feature history.

What the CATPART format is

.CATPart is CATIA V5’s native single-part 3D model format. It can store solids, surfaces, sketches, parameters, constraints, feature history, and design relationships for Part Design, Generative Shape Design, machining, and assembly workflows.

A CATPart is the correct target when the recipient must edit geometry, inspect the 3D model, reuse the part in a .CATProduct assembly, or create manufacturing data. It is not a 3D version of a drawing sheet: it is normally the model that the drawing documents.

How to obtain the CATPART

Use the linked source model when available. This preserves the original geometry and, when the source is a native CATPart, its CATIA design data.

1. Open the CATDrawing in CATIA V5.
2. Open the drawing’s link information with Edit → Links and Relations → Links. The exact menu wording can vary by CATIA V5 release and workbench; File → Desk can also help locate referenced documents.
3. Identify the referenced .CATPart and open it from the link manager or document browser. If the drawing references a .CATProduct, inspect that assembly to find its individual CATPart files.
4. Resolve broken or moved links before checking the model. Confirm that the model updates correctly and that its geometry matches the drawing views.
5. Copy or rename the source with File → Save As if a separate deliverable is required, and retain the .CATPart format. Keep the original links and CATDrawing if associative updates are needed.

If the drawing references several parts, there is no single correct CATPart for the whole document; the appropriate deliverable may be the referenced CATProduct assembly and its component CATPart files.

Rebuilding a part when the source is missing

CATIA cannot generally reconstruct the original parametric model from projected views, dimensions, and annotations. Manual remodeling is required:

1. Create a new part with Start → Mechanical Design → Part Design, then use File → New → Part.
2. Open the CATDrawing separately and use its orthographic, section, detail, and auxiliary views as dimensional references.
3. Create sketches on suitable planes and apply the dimensions and constraints shown on the drawing.
4. Build the solid with features such as Pad, Pocket, Shaft, Groove, Hole, Fillet, and Chamfer. Use Generative Shape Design for surface-based geometry.
5. Check the reconstructed part against every available view and section, then save it as a new .CATPart.

Exporting the drawing as DXF or DWG can transfer 2D linework into a sketch, depending on the CATIA release and drafting configuration. This transfers reference curves only: drawing dimensions, annotations, title blocks, feature history, design intent, and 3D topology do not become CATPart features automatically.

Compatibility and conversion limits

CATIA V5 is the reliable desktop option because it understands native CATDrawing links and CATPart data. A CATIA-compatible environment such as the relevant 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA configuration may also open or migrate supported documents, but availability and conversion behavior depend on the release, licenses, and data-management system.

No general online converter reliably converts a CATDrawing into an editable CATPart. Online CAD services that accept related CATIA formats may export 2D content, create a visualization, or convert an already available 3D model; they cannot recover missing 3D topology and parametric history from a drawing. Do not upload confidential engineering data without checking storage, retention, and confidentiality terms.

If the source model is available but CATIA is not, ask the model owner for the original .CATPart or for a neutral 3D export such as STEP. STEP usually preserves the part’s shape but loses CATIA-specific feature history, parameters, and design intent; IGES is generally less suitable for solid-part exchange. Neither format can be generated as a complete 3D part from a CATDrawing alone.