Using FreeShip

[pairomedicsfish]

I just downloaded freeShip. I love the program and have a skiff design in the works. Once the layout is done, then what? Can this program be used to pattern forms? I want to go from design in freeship to a male plug, to pull a mold.

[marshmat]

You can create any number of sections in freeship, at any spacing. If you create sections where you want the frames of your plug to go, you can then export these to a cutter, or plot them (full scale, if you want to). Tracing them onto plywood, then subtracting the thickness of the plug material, would give you the outlines of the frames for the plug.

[pairomedicsfish]

Ok, where is that function on the program? I cannot seem to find it. I have checked the developability of the skiff and as I figured, it cannot be constructed of plates. There are many "free" curves, mostly to emilinate hull slap. I want to station out the model and create a plug. Once I have the stations on the stongback, i strip it out like cold molding, then fair my plug.

[marshmat]

Calculations menu, choose Intersections. You can specify stations and spacing here. Descriptions of the controls will pop up if you hover the cursor over the buttons for a second.
If you're having the frames CNC cut, you can adjust the view to show only the station curves, make sure they're what you want, then export a DXF. Or you can export offsets and loft them to plywood by hand.

[pairomedicsfish]

Ok, so I selected all 17 stations, I clicked the green check, how do I view them or export the numbers to loft them? Sorry about the stupid questions, I just exited that I have found this program and want to get going on the plug. wait, I spoke too son, I found the offsets, but I am too stupid to use them. Is ther a way to create paterns from these or other information withion the program?

[CGN]

You can export to DXF all your sections and use ProgeCAD (is a free Download) setup the file and plot to scale your sections, so you can loft from a printed drawing using a scale or just use ProgeCAD to read the dimensions of each of the sections.

[pairomedicsfish]

I downloaded progeCAD and exported the stations to the program, but they will nit open indivdually. I guess I gotta go back to scool. Is ther a way to take the station files to a shop and have them cut the patterns?

[marshmat]

Yes. All CNC-capable shops can handle DXF format files. If you simply want someone to cut them for you, you can just give a DXF of the sections to the shop, along with a bit of money.

[pairomedicsfish]

Sounds good, now to find a shop. I will want the sections cut out of plywood. There will be 17 stations each approximatly 2.5' X 3.5'. Wonder how much that'll cost me? Thanks for the replies. I am VERY new here, I just found you guys and plan on spending a bunch of time here....Kev