The lines plan is a 2D representation of a vessel's hull shape. It's generated by intersecting a finalized 3D model, with a series of planes. This process effectively "slices" through the 3D model, revealing the exact contours of the ship's hull. A lines plan comes in handy for effective communication and review with stakeholders throughout the design phases. 

Fun fact: Did you know the lines plan concept has roots dating back to ancient Egypt? While their ship designs were simpler, early shipbuilders used similar techniques to visualize and communicate the planned shapes of their vessels.

Extracting a lines plan in MasterShip

MasterShip offers several functionalities that can be used to extract a lines plan according to best practices in shipbuilding:

• Importing a 3D Model: The first step is to import a shape model of the vessel into MasterShip. This can be done using a variety of file formats. Having a shape model in MasterShip makes it easier to extract a lines plan.
• Creating Intersections: Once the vessel's shape is imported, you can use the SHIPDRAWINTERSECTIONS function to create intersections between the model's surfaces. This function allows you to specify the locations of the intersections, including:
  • Orthogonal directions (x, y, z): It is recommended to create intersections in all three orthogonal directions to get a good overview of the shell plating. A rule of thumb is to create 20 frame intersections, 10 waterline intersections, and 5 buttock intersections.
  • Non-orthogonal directions: In addition to orthogonal intersections, it is also recommended to create at least one to three non-orthogonal intersections, also called diagonals. These diagonals help to check for fairness in all directions.

Note: The function SHIPDRAWINTERSECTIONS makes intersections at specified positions, and uses the shape data from the MSD. Also if the MSD only contains a wireframe model of the shape, this function can still make intersections at any specified position. For this, MasterShip Polyline Technology is used in the background.

While using the function, the surfaces to intersect do not have to be visible in the AutoCAD view, because the shape is stored in the MSD.

This function differs from the function SHIPADDINTERSECTIONS, in that this last function also adds the intersection to the MSD. When extracting a lines plan, this is usually not desired. 

• Present the Lines Plan: After creating the intersections, you can use them to generate a 2D lines plan in a clear and comprehensive view. There are no strict rules for how to present a lines plan, but some tips include:
  • Use a template: MasterShip provides templates that include a drawing head, which can help you to create a professional-looking lines plan. These templates can be found in your settings folder. This folder is usually located at a destination similar to ...\MasterShip Projects\Settings\Templates
  • Organize the view: Make sure that the intersections are well-organized and easy to understand. You can use different line styles and colors to differentiate between different types of intersections.

Output and next steps

Once you are satisfied with the lines plan, you can share it with stakeholders for review. The lines plan can be exported as a PDF or plotted as a hard copy.

By following these best practices and leveraging the functionalities of MasterShip, you can efficiently extract high-quality lines plans to support your shipbuilding projects.