2D lines plan to a 3D surface model

In some cases you only have a 2D lines plan available, and need to convert it into a 3D model. A 3D surface model gives the ideal basis for making an assembly and drawing a construction in MasterShip. This video shows how to make a 3D surface model in MasterShip from a 2D lines plan.

Making a 3D model from a 2D lines plan in MasterShip

To convert lines from the 2D lines plan to 3D lines, we can use the command SHIPCONSTRUCT2DTO3D. This command requires a line from two different planes. For example: 

• A bilge knuckle from the side view (XZ-plane)
• The same bilge knuckle in the top view (XY-plane).
• The same bilge knuckle in the front view (YZ-plane).

In the video above, a side view and a top view is used. Note: those views are mapped out in the same plane, and must share the same base point (x = 0). Therefore those views lay on top of each other, which can be somewhat confusing at first, but it is need for the usage of this command in MasterShip. 

The lines that correspond to each other in the video are marked with the same color. So, the yellow deck line in the side view corresponds to the yellow deck line in the top view. And the blue bilge knuckle in the side view, with the blue bilge knuckle in the top view. Et cetera.

Things to consider and best practices

These lines should be consistent with each other. Not only in order to run the command, but also from a geometric perspective. If the lines are not consistent with each other, there is a mistake in your lines plan. 

A simple way to check this is to check if the line starts and stops at the same ordinate in all views. For example: if a bilge knuckle start and ends at ordinate 81 and 95 respectively in the top view, then this same bilge knuckle seen in the side view should do that as well.

There are two other conditions for this command to work: 

• The input lines need to be polylines. Any line type can be converted using the command SHIPCONVERTLINES.
• The input lines need to be facing in the positive direction of the coordinate system. The direction of a polyline can be checked using the command SHIPPOINTSONENDS. If needed, the direction of a polyline can be reversed with the command SHIPPOLYREVERSE.

Next steps

After the lines are constructed in the 3D view, one can generate surfaces in between them using the LOFT command. Once the geometry is final, you can import the shape model into the MSD, which is the next step towards construction modelling.