3D studio max

[stonedpirate]

Hello,

I have been modelling in 3ds max for years and cant be bothered learning another modeling program.

I want to design a stich and glue hull and need a way to turn my model into chine shapes that i can transfer to plywood.

Below is a simple test model that i applied a UVW unwrap modifier to in order to get the shapes.



My question is, is this a reasonable way of achieving this?

Or do yacht focused software provide a featur for flattening panels to get the shape?

It would be nice to have more CAD features in max like accurate measuring tools for length and volume. Is there a CAD plugin for max?

If not, guess i'll have to wing it.

Anyone know if max can work out the volume of this thing?

[lewisboats]

Freeship will do it for you...and if you can export it into something freeship can import then it would be very simple to get the panel expansions.

[Timothy]

Just go to utilities,(the hammer)select measure from the list. and you can get surface area, volume , center of volume . as well as length hight and width. With these it is easy to calculate displacement and center of effort or whatever.

[stonedpirate]

Thanks Lewis.

I downloaded freeship and made a simple boat.

There doesnt seem to be a feature for getting the panel shapes.

Anyone know where it is?

Thanks

[stonedpirate]

Thanks Tim.

Now i just got to figure out what the numbers mean

Is there a way in max to use meters, and cm^2 etc.

What do the units in max represent?

[Timothy]

The units in max are generic . You can have max calculate in any units you want .Go to customize on the main toolbar select units from the list and choose metric , imperial, fractions. decimals etcetera.

[stonedpirate]

Never mind.

Figured it out

Cheers

[stonedpirate]

Beat me to it