How to modify the shape

Before you can begin drawing your construction, it's important to ensure your imported shape model is accurate and ready for use. This article will guide you through the process of modifying your shape data in MasterShip, if needed.

In general, modifying a shape involves checking the imported model for completeness, correctness, and fairness. This may include making adjustments to ensure the model is fully defined, free of errors, and smooth in its curvature. By following these steps, you'll establish a solid foundation for your design project in MasterShip.

Before starting with the basic construction design, the shape data should be as final as possible. A change in the shape after the construction is designed will lead to rework and miscommunications. 

How to do modify the shape in MasterShip

By following these best practices below, you can ensure a solid foundation for your shipbuilding project, avoiding downstream errors and rework.

• Checking for fairness: Inspect the smoothness of the surfaces using MasterShip's functionality SHIPDRAWINTERSECTIONS after the model is imported. This function allows you to create intersections throughout the shape model, highlighting any irregularities in the polylines. Alternatively, ANALYSISZEBRA or ANALYSISCURVATURE from AutoCAD can be used to assess surface continuity.
• Fairing the shape: If irregularities are found, corrections can be made directly in MasterShip using the SHIPFAIR2D function for lofting curves. the LOFT command within AutoCAD can be used to create a surface from the adjusted lofting curves.
• Checking for correctness and completeness: Carefully examine the imported model to ensure it includes all necessary components. Also, check if there are no too exotic shapes in the model that will be very hard or even impossible to make with the material to be used.

Modify the model if needed, or have this done by the one that supplied the shape data. Modifications are always to be discussed with the supplier.

• Addressing unwanted shapes: Unnecessary or wrong surfaces in the MSD will cause wrong intersectional drawings, in which the construction will be modelled later on. The command  SHIPREMOVESURFACE can be used to remove unwanted shapes from the MSD.

Although a change in the shape during the design of the construction should be avoided, MasterShip does provide a solution for this: Updating the MSD.

Output and next steps

Once you've addressed any fairness, accuracy, or completeness issues, you'll have a final shape model ready for further processing in MasterShip. This may include extracting a lines plan, generating a shell expansion drawing and defining sectional drawings and the assembly

Following these best practices will ensure a smooth transition from the initial imported shape model to the the start of the basic construction design your shipbuilding project in MasterShip. By taking the time to modify your data upfront, you'll save time and resources throughout the design and construction process.