How to make stiffener plots

When the part data is added to the detailed 3D assembly, it's time to make stiffener plots for the workshop. Creating clear and accurate stiffener lofting plots is essential for efficient production. This article outlines best practices and how MasterShip functionalities support them.

Did you know? Making stiffener plots manually can take hours-and-hours for a draftsmen. Doing it automatically with MasterShip brings this process back to seconds. 

Making stiffener plots in MasterShip

Here are some of the best practices from the engineering perspective. MasterShip includes all of these practices in the function SHIPSTIFFENERPLOT.

• Show the stiffener in different views: Presenting the stiffener in multiple views (e.g., side, top, and profile) provides a comprehensive understanding of its geometry.
• Mark lengths, bends, and dimensions: Accurately indicating stiffener length, bend locations, and end details is crucial for workshop operations. 
• Show end details: Provide detailed dimensions for end details to facilitate accurate cutting and bending. Include dimensions for all end details (length, angle, arc, etc.). A list of typical end-details can be downloaded in our download section.
• Use drawing templates: Employing consistent drawing templates streamlines the plotting process and enhances familiarity.
• Include stiffener properties: Displaying properties like length, material, weight, type, and number in a clear table format aids in communication. 
• Complete the drawing head: The drawing head should contain essential information for identification and reference. 

How MasterShip supports

• MasterShip’s SHIPSTIFFENERPLOT function includes all of these best practices automatically, and its use is highly recommended. Disclaimer: always check the output for correctness. 

Before using this command, be sure to assign a production unit to all the stiffeners that require a stiffener plot. And it is a good practice to run SHIPSYNCHRONIZEPROJECTFOLDERS, to make sure that all data is correctly processed before making the plots.

• Also the MasterShip stiffener plot template supports to to maintain a consistent drawing style and improve efficiency. AutoCAD’s TEXT command can be used to add additional details if desired.

Expert tip: The MasterShip template can be customized to your company standards. You can modify the template either per project (ProjectFolder/Templates/stiffplot.dwg) or as a default setting (GeneralSettingsFolder/Templates/stiffplot.dwg). 

Output and next steps

By following these guidelines and leveraging MasterShip's functionalities, you can create high-quality stiffener plots that effectively support the shipbuilding process.