From surface to solid

Discussion in 'Software' started by Baksteen, Oct 16, 2014.

  1. Baksteen
    Joined: Oct 2014
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    Baksteen New Member

    Hi all, I'm currently busy on a schoolproject and modelled a hull in Maxsurf. Now, I would like to create a little interior and some other stuff within Solidworks. The first thing I wanted to do is thickening the hull to 15mm. I did this before with another hull and deck, but Solidworks isn't letting me do the same thing with another hull.

    How can I best translate the surface hull from maxsurf into Solidworks?

    Hull is attached in Iges, maybe a little easier to explain what I did wrong.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. ludesign
    Joined: Aug 2003
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    ludesign Senior Member

    Should work. Worked fine using Vectorworks using the shell tool. It's based on Siemens Parasolids 3D engine. Keel and rudder was a bit iffy though. Isn't it possible to design the interior in Maxsurf? I use one program for the entire project from hull fairing down to small details in the interior....;)
     
  3. Baksteen
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    Baksteen New Member

    Keel and rudders won't be the problem for me, it's just about the hull and deck (interior and rigging).
    Since I'm limited to a few programs (Maxsurf, Rhino, Solidworks) I would like to do it in one of these programs, or open it in one of these.
    Else, Is it possible to export the hull from Vectorworks into Solidworks or Rhino(iges or something)?
    Thanks for the help.
     
  4. ludesign
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    ludesign Senior Member

    Don't know why Solidworks can't create a solid out of this, and I don't know if SolidWorks has shifted 3D engine yet, but at least in previous versions, both SolidWorks and Vectorworks used the Siemens Parasolids 3D engine. So, if it works in one, it should work in the other. As for adding a shell, it worked fine on the hull, transom and some of the keel and rudder parts. That could probably be fixed by flipping normals, which where badly organized. Didn't like the deck though. Also tried importing the model to my main marine design program, TouchCAD, where I do all my marine design work in a high degree of detail, and then re-imported it to Vectorworks. The model looked almost identical, but VW still didn't like the deck.
     
  5. SukiSolo
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    SukiSolo Senior Member

    You may well be better off exporting from Maxsurf into Rhino and then exporting to Solid Works. As Rhino is a Solid Works Gold Partner it nearly always works. I've put lots of odd surfaces that SW cannot create through this way.

    Once inside SW as a bare surface create the solid and shell it. The surface import should remain a Parametric feature and allow you to change it (the file) and then rebuild a sbefore.

    There are lots of tools - like checking Normals (flipping them if necessary) etc in Rhino. Just make sure th base unit file is 'tight' enough ie 0.001 or even 0.0001mm tolerance when you import the original Maxsurf surface. The Rhino Help gives the correct IGES flavour to get into SW.
     
  6. Baksteen
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    Baksteen New Member

    Wow, thanks for all the responses. Anyhow, I can't get it to work.
    In rhino, the two 'mirrored' parts are collapsing, and solidworks does nothing, absolutely nothing. Is there anyone willing to help me with a thickened model (inside 15mm)?
     

    Attached Files:

  7. ludesign
    Joined: Aug 2003
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    ludesign Senior Member

    No problems here in Vectorworks (on a Mac of all things!). The deck needed re-fairing in TouchCAD using the usual "Botox for boats" procedures to get it to work. Everything done with 15 mm inwards, except the keel and rudders, which had to go outwards to work to keep it from collapsing. Used just 2 mm there though to keep it as close to the original as possible. The keel needs some work too though, both in fairing and attaching it to the hull.
     

    Attached Files:


  8. SukiSolo
    Joined: Dec 2012
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    SukiSolo Senior Member

    No problems getting a 15mm offset surface from any surface in that IGES file in Rhino at all. I imported the file into a 'template' set at 0.001mm initially. Increased Isocurve density to 15 on hull shape and offset the surface using the Loose option. Deck will do it without the Loose option but cleaner if you do.

    So no problem to get the internal thickness at all, unless you need to be at a thousandth of a millimeter accuracy. Most CNC at small scale won't get anywhere near this, a tenth is more realistic.

    Attached file gives SW flavour IGES as surfaces only NOT a solid. Really you should be able to get SW to shell the initial shape before adding the cutback transom.
     

    Attached Files:

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