Freeship question

[Swey]

I have a 6 chine per side design I am working on with Freeship but whenever I convert the curved side to a "crease" (or a chine) it changes the bow line or stem in profile view from a smooth curve to one that is very angular. Is there a way to get a curved stem with an otherwise all chined boat using this software? Thanks for your help.

[lewisboats]

You will probably have to play with that point location. I think Freeship turned your point into a corner because the line is hard. You could try and take the check mark back out of the corner box but it might not work.
You should be able to approximate a smooth curve by slightly repositioning the points. If you actually plan on building it you can fair this in as you built the boat.

[Swey]

Thanks for the quick reply. I tried to uncheck the corner box of the points along the stem but the program won't let me, it keeps putting a checkmark in and making it a corner.

[lewisboats]

In the shape that the point and attached points make...are there 4 points or some other number? Freeship is picky about having each point be related to 3 others to make a 4 sided figure. It really doesn't like 3 and 5 isn't much better. Sometimes if you can get it to 4 points it might help a bit. Otherwise...try to move the points to get as close an approximation as you can.

[LP]

Any time you have three or more "creased" edges come together in Freeship, it is going to make it a corner. The best option I have found is to add intermediate control points on the edge that you want to be rounded and use those to "fair" the curve as it approaches the corner.

[Swey]

Thanks - I will give that a try

[lewisboats]

Those extra points may play hell when you look at it in developability check but they shouldn't be too much of an issue for the actual panel. Like I say...you can fair it in if and when you actually assemble the real panels.

[Swey]

Is there a simple way to reduce the scale to make plans for a model to be able to check it out before full scale building?

[lewisboats]

Sure...Transform/Scale/scale everything by the factor you want...say .1 for 1/10 or .2 for 1/5 then File/Save As and name it blah model. Then go to tools/develop plates and either print the offsets or do what I do and copy the offsets directly from the screen. I don't like the way it prints the offsets...they go around the model instead of using upper and lower lines...it's confusing form me and it doesn't lay out easily. I move each piece to 0:0 (lower left point) and copy the offsets for each piece...at the spacing I want rather than what the computer generates. Sometimes you have to fiddle with the angle a smidge but it is easy in the dialog box to the right.

[Swey]

That's great, thanks.

[frank smith]

you might try to add intermediate longitudinal lines and leave them not creased, then play with the bow line.

[Swey]

Frank Smith you are the best! I put in a longitudinal set close to the stem and did as you said and left the small distance between the new set of points on each strake and was able to get a fair curve on the stem as opposed to the angular edge when it is creased all the way to the stem. Thanks a bunch.

One final question - what is the "quickest" way to define temporary stations that could be exported as DXF to be used to form the strakes around on a strongback and later removed?

[lewisboats]

I don't know about DXF but if you go under Calculations and put in individual stations where you want them to be then export the offsets you will get the offsets of the knuckles (chines) at those stations. This can be used to lay out your building molds. Remember though that you must subtract the thickness of your planking material from the numbers because they are measured to the surface of the skin. If the stations are exported in the DXF then the same would apply...you have to factor in the thickness of your planking materials.

[Swey]

Does anybody have a link for a newer version of Freeship as I am using version 2.6 at this point. I don't know if I am missing out on any improvements.

It would be helpful to create stations if you could lock the x cooridinates on a longitudinal rows, finish fairing with the x and y coodinates and then just create a surface (or station) that could be exported as a DXF file. Just a thought.

[lewisboats]

There is Freeship plus but I don't think that what you are looking for is in there and there is Delftship free but it isn't in there either. Don't know what program would do what you need except a dedicated CAD program.