Welcome to 3DEXPERIENCE Technical Practices!
In this section, you will explore a use case demonstrating how to use fallbacks for modules.
| Designers often rely on a primary module that may become unavailable (deleted, corrupted or out‑of‑date). When the primary module fails, downstream modules break, forcing manual re-modeling. Without a fallback, a single missing module can delay an entire project. A fallback ensures continuity and prevents costly rework. |
| When a connection of a module breaks with an upstream module, the dependent module fails to generate. A fallback is a backup surface, plane, or parameter assigned to an input interface. When the original connection is lost, the input interface switches to the fallback automatically, while the dependent module continues to generate without interruption. |
| The Modules & Interfaces feature is available if you have one of the following roles: |
Mechanical Designers, Conceptual Designers, Mechanical Surface Designers |
| Know more about Fallback |
The fallback creates a backup, allowing the part to continue generating even if the original output is deleted. As long as the link between the modules exists, construction features from Module 2 will be generated. If this connection breaks, the design of Module 2 will continue to be created. There are two types of fallbacks:
When interfaces are created automatically, a fallback is also systematically created in a geometric set named FallbackDatums. If it is a geometric fallback, the fallback is an isolated element. You can also customize the fallback to change the default element.
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Use Case: Maintaining Design Continuity Despite Corrupted or Deleted Module OutputsScenario: During a modular design process, downstream modules often depend on geometry or parameters provided by output interfaces from other modules. If the primary output becomes unavailable due to a design change, deletion, corruption, or broken connection, dependent features may fail to update, interrupting the design workflow and requiring manual rework to restore the model. Here, with the help of Fallbacks in CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE, you can configure Automatic Fallback or define Manual Geometric and Manual Parametric Fallbacks for input interfaces. When the original output is unavailable, the input interface automatically switches to the first available compatible result or to the predefined backup geometry or parameter, ensuring downstream modules continue generating while maintaining design continuity. |
Play the video to watch how to create the Automatic Fallback. |
| Play the video to watch how to create the Custom Fallback. |
| Play the video to watch how to create the Parametric Fallback. |
To learn more about Modules and Interfaces, you can refer Explore the Mechanical and Shape Engineer Role Learning Module. |
