Hydrostatics in Rhinoceros

I've just completed and posted for beta testing two new Rhinoceros plug-ins for marine design:

RhinoStatics - True Hydrostatics in Rhinoceros
http://www.basline.com/rhinoplugin/RhinoStatics.htm
Hydrostatics has long been a shortcoming in Rhino for us boat-types. This plugin (which also runs standalone) will calculate all the usual hydrostatic properties of your hull. No need to have a closed solid or finished hull. Simply join all surfaces to be analyzed, specify the baseline and number of stations.

RhinoLR - Linear Regression Analysis on an unlimited number of points
http://www.basline.com/rhinoplugin/RhinoLR.htm
Enter or collect from your data collector (or other source) any number of points through which you would like to see a straight line (like a trend line for stock performance). RhinoLR will perform a Linear Regression Analysis and draw the straight line for you. RhinoLR will also run standalone, given a text file of x,y,z points. I'm working on a version which will run in AutoCAD.

Additionally, I've created a set of tutorials, which will guide the user through the process of modeling hulls and superstructures and includes topics on:
Lofting existing vessels from Designer's Lines
Designing new vessels (from scratch)
Lofting developable surfaces and "unrolling" the plates
Lofting Superstructures
Lofting masts
Lofting decks and bulwarks


Cheers,

**********************************************************************
*** Cliff W. Estes cestes@basline.com ***
*** BaseLine Technology ph (425)882-7317 ***
*** 15834 NE 67th Place fax (425)882-7327 ***
*** Redmond, WA 98052 http://www.basline.com/ ***
**********************************************************************
Quality Marine Fairing, Modeling and Rendering
http://www.basline.com/imggal.shtm

[Jeff]

Very Nice!

May I ask what the cost is, esp for RhinoStatics?

> Very Nice!
Thanx

> May I ask what the cost is, esp for RhinoStatics?

I haven't set the price, yet. It will be on the low side of $100-$200.
When I decide, in the next week or two, I will post this information to the page

Thanx for your interest.
--
Cheers,

**********************************************************************
*** Cliff W. Estes cestes@basline.com ***
*** BaseLine Technology ph (425)882-7317 ***
*** 15834 NE 67th Place fax (425)882-7327 ***
*** Redmond, WA 98052 http://www.basline.com/ ***
**********************************************************************
Quality Marine Fairing, Modeling and Rendering
http://www.basline.com/imggal.shtm

[Jeff]

In addition to RhinoStatics from BaseLine Technology, there is now a second Hydrostatics & Stability Plug-In for Rhino - this one from Proteus Engineering (FastShip).

PHASER (Proteus Hydrostatics And Stability Engine for Rhino) offers:
- Proven, accurate hydrostatics engine
- Righting arm calculations at a range of heel angles, free to trim
- Not necessary to have a closed model, or to create sections
- Input one or more waterline heights, displacement/CG, or - draft/trim
- Track critical points (downflooding point, vents, etc.) as the model heels/trims
- Transform the model to the new flotation plane
- Formatted output to web browser (html file)
- Tabular and Plotted output to Excel® (sectional area curve, curves of form, righting arm curves)

"We've taken the hydrostatics component from our FastShip™ hull design software and adapated it to work as a plug-in within Rhino. This means that you can have confidence in the results, knowing that the software has been in use around the world by hundreds of naval architects, since 1983.

Our approach to hydrostatics is unique, not requiring that you first create stations (cross sections) through the model. For upright hydrostatics, the model doesn't even have to be closed. For righting arm calculations, there shouldn't be any free edges (transom corner, deck edge) that will become submerged. Our calculations use the surface itself, which not only saves the step of creating sections, but also means that no features of the model, such as a step in the keel line, will be missed, leading to more accurate results."

The price for this plugin is $199 until April 1, 2002 and $249 after that.

I don't have experience with either plugin yet, but it looks like Rhino is getting stronger.

http://www.proteusengineering.com/phaser.htm

[cestes]

I note that the newest post speaks of the impending release of RhinoStatics.

Well, it's out and running. It's #US135.00 and it Rocks. You can see it and download a 30-day fully-functional demo at

http://www.basline.com

Also available are plugins for tables of offsets and linear regression as well as a standalone app for viewing your GHS files and converting them to DXF as well as a series of tutorials for marine modeling in Rhinoceros.

[dolphin300]

Which is a better choice - Rhino + HydroStatics Plugins or ProSurf? Or somethine else around that price, less than $1000?

[cestes]

You'll have to excuse my enthusiasm, but I have been fairing hulls on computers for over fifteen years. When I discovered Rhino, I discontinued marketing my own hull fairing software, BaseLine II, since Rhino was capable of doing everything BaseLine II could do and a whole lot more.

In no case have I ever heard a user of a hull-design program say "it does everything I need it to." There's invariably an "except..." at the end of the end of that statement. Trying to fair tightly curved surfaces into gently curved surfaces (stem wrappers, transom corners), trying to model superstructures, trying to model hulls with discontinuous sheer lines are just a few of the examples of fairing problems which hull design programs have, which don't even phase the Rhino user.

Of course, I will be labeled as biased, but the bias comes from using Rhino, not from the fact that I write/market plugins for Rhino. It is because of my enthrusiasm for Rhino that I am involved with the plugins and tutorials.

You can check these plugins/tutorials out as well as see a collection of images modeled with Rhino at http://www.basline.com

[duluthboats]

You have a great site Cliff. Now how am I going to sleep tonight.

Gary

[Jeff]

Thanks very much for giving us an update Cliff. And welcome to our forums too!

I've always liked McNeel's software so it's nice to see Rhino gaining a lot of ground with great plugins available from you. Also a pretty strong endorsement!

I do think ProSurf is easier for the beginner to get started with and possibly faster (though maybe not once you have a lot of experience with Rhino), but on the other hand it seems Rhino is more flexible especially in terms of general modeling.

I wonder how many Rhino users (in marine design) there are right now?

[duluthboats]

Well I broke down and downloaded yet another CAD package for evaluation. After 1 hour I’m very impressed. Good selection of tools, good help file, and seems to be stable, At least I couldn’t get it to crash.

http://rhino3d.com/

Gary

I'm a user of Rhino and prolsurf basic and i think the mix is just great i work mostly with 3d with iges surfaces files and works just great and besides i will say that the price is more than reasonable this people invest so much time in this softwares and they provide us with stable and reliable software in a reachable price

i try most of the softwares in the market and i'm more than convinced of the capacity of this programs.

so i will say dont look further and try this programs, rhino is growing and prosurf is too.

fastship,multisurf,prolines,maxsurf are just great but pricewise and for what you want to draw i'll stick with rhino and prosurf.

i will say rhino is the multitool of the programs

thanks