Structure and Nesting

ShipConstructor
By ARL - Albacore Research Ltd.
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Sep-01
Contents
Structure and Nesting
Overview....................................................................................................................................1
Menus.........................................................................................................................................1
ShipConstructor Menu
Overview....................................................................................................................................3
Project Settings ..........................................................................................................................4
Navigator Dialog........................................................................................................................5
3D Unit tab ..................................................................................................................6
2D Group tab ...............................................................................................................9
Properties ...................................................................................................................12
Nest Tab.....................................................................................................................13
Profile Tab .................................................................................................................15
Assembly Tab ............................................................................................................16
Standard Tab..............................................................................................................19
Interference Tab.........................................................................................................20
Outfit Tab...................................................................................................................21
Piping Tab..................................................................................................................22
Workshop Tab ...........................................................................................................22
Template tab ..............................................................................................................22
Export Tab .................................................................................................................23
Project Menu ............................................................................................................................24
Project - New Project.................................................................................................24
Project - New Unit .....................................................................................................27
Project - Activate Manager ........................................................................................28
Project - Create XREF Project Drawing ....................................................................28
Project - Lock and Unlock Files ................................................................................28
Project - Transfer Groups to Unit ..............................................................................29
View.........................................................................................................................................30
Planar Group menu ..................................................................................................................31
Planar - New ..............................................................................................................31
Planar - Visibility.......................................................................................................31
Planar - Transfer Entities to Group ............................................................................32
Planar - Layer Off ......................................................................................................32
Curved Group menu.................................................................................................................33
Curved Group - New Curved Group.........................................................................33
Curved Group - Insert Curved Plates........................................................................33
XREF Groups...........................................................................................................................37
Piping Penetrations...................................................................................................................38
AutoPlant Piping Penetrations .................................................................................................38
Project - Piping Penetrations / Import from AutoPlant ..............................................38
Project - Piping Penetrations / List ............................................................................38
Project - Piping Penetrations / Check ........................................................................39
Check Interferences..................................................................................................................39
Structural interferences ..............................................................................................39

Pipe Penetration Interferences ...................................................................................41
Licensing..................................................................................................................................41
Check Menu .............................................................................................................................43
Check - 3D Unit DWG ..............................................................................................43
Check - Planar Group DWGs ...................................................................................44
Check - Inactive Parts ................................................................................................46
Check List Unused Geometry .................................................................................46
Check Nests ............................................................................................................47
About ShipConstructor.............................................................................................................47
SC Structure Menu
49
Overview..................................................................................................................................49
Toolpath ...................................................................................................................................50
Select Process...........................................................................................................................51
Solid Menu...............................................................................................................................51
Solid - New Plate .......................................................................................................51
Solid - Stiffener Menu ...............................................................................................52
Solid - Stiffener New Twisted ................................................................................60
Solid - Faceplate Menu ..............................................................................................67
Solid - Flange Plate ..................................................................................................................70
Part Menu.................................................................................................................................73
Part - Define...............................................................................................................74
Part - List ...................................................................................................................79
Part - Add Objects......................................................................................................80
Part Insert Scallop ...................................................................................................80
Part - Mirror...............................................................................................................81
Part - Undefine...........................................................................................................81
Part - Edit Properties..................................................................................................82
Part - Deactivate.........................................................................................................82
Part - Reactivate.........................................................................................................83
Part - Piecemark.........................................................................................................83
Part - Mark With OOP Text.......................................................................................83
Part Mirror text Marking.........................................................................................84
Insert Standard Part..................................................................................................................84
Detailing Menu ........................................................................................................................85
Detailing - Break Intersection ....................................................................................86
Detailing - Break Distance.........................................................................................87
Detailing - 3D to 2D Poly ..........................................................................................87
Detailing - Mark Group with drawings......................................................................88
Detailing - Thickness Throw Lines............................................................................89
Detailing - Insert Stiffener Cutout .............................................................................91
Detailing - Insert Stiffener Cutouts from Group ........................................................95
Detailing - Reference Lines - NEW...........................................................................96
Detailing Replicate Entities to Other Groups..........................................................98
Detailing Move Entities to Other Groups ...............................................................99
Detailing - Scallop ...................................................................................................100
Detailing - Fillet.......................................................................................................101
Detailing Orthographic Projection ........................................................................101
Detailing - Remove Vertices below Tolerance ........................................................102
Detailing - Convert Ellipse or Spline to Polyline.....................................................102
Detailing - Insert Orientation Icon ...........................................................................103
Detailing - Insert Weld-Shrinkage Icon ...................................................................103
Activate UCS .........................................................................................................................104
Snap........................................................................................................................................106
Check Group DWG................................................................................................................107

List Unused Geometry ...........................................................................................................108
Hide Objects...........................................................................................................................108
Un-Hide Objects ....................................................................................................................108
Unhide All Objects.................................................................................................................109
Utilities Menu ........................................................................................................................109
Utilities - Create Bevel Text ....................................................................................109
Utilities - Layer........................................................................................................109
Utilities Create Quality Matrix .............................................................................111
Utilities - Show extended data .................................................................................112
Variable Menus
115
Overview................................................................................................................................115
SC Build Strategy Menu
117
Overview................................................................................................................................117
Terminology...........................................................................................................................117
Creating Build Strategy Drawings .........................................................................................118
Develop Build Strategy ..........................................................................................................119
Changing the logical build sequence .......................................................................120
Assign To Assemblies .............................................................................................121
Levels.......................................................................................................................121
SC Assembly Menu
123
Overview................................................................................................................................123
Navigator - Assembly Tab .....................................................................................................124
Navigator - Update Keymap ....................................................................................124
Navigator - Open Keymap .......................................................................................124
Navigator - Open Assembly.....................................................................................125
Navigator - New Assembly......................................................................................125
Assembly Visibility................................................................................................................127
Assembly Update Parts ..........................................................................................................127
Annotation Sub-Menu............................................................................................................127
Annotation - Create..................................................................................................128
Annotation - Quick ..................................................................................................129
Annotation - Copy ...................................................................................................130
Annotation - Erase Duplicate piece marks...............................................................130
Annotation - Mark Endcuts......................................................................................130
Insert Keywords .....................................................................................................................131
Icons menu .............................................................................................................................131
Icons - Orientation ...................................................................................................131
Inserts Icons - User Icon ..........................................................................................132
Icons - CG Point ......................................................................................................132
Flip UCS ................................................................................................................................133
Move UCS..............................................................................................................................133
Set Viewport Keymap ............................................................................................................133
SC Profile Plots
135
Overview................................................................................................................................135
Navigator - Profile Plots.........................................................................................................136
Setting a base dimension style ...............................................................................................136
SC Profile Plots - Insert Profile Plots.....................................................................................138
SC Profile Plots - Options ......................................................................................................140
SC Profile Plots - Zoom .........................................................................................................142

SC Profile Plots - Print Plots ..................................................................................................143
SC Profile Plots - Check Profile Drawings ............................................................................143
SC Nesting Menu
145
Overview................................................................................................................................145
Nesting Preparation................................................................................................................146
Manager Nesting Settings ........................................................................................146
Stock independent nest settings ...............................................................................146
Stock dependent nest settings ..................................................................................147
Machine dependent nest settings..............................................................................147
Organizing Nesting ..................................................................................................148
Nesting Terminology ...............................................................................................148
Nesting Toolbar......................................................................................................................149
Navigator Nest Tab ................................................................................................................150
Open.........................................................................................................................150
New..........................................................................................................................150
Nesting - Nest Drawing Sub-Menu ........................................................................................151
Nest - New ...............................................................................................................152
Nest - Delete ............................................................................................................153
Nest - Rename..........................................................................................................153
Nest - Find ...............................................................................................................153
Nest - Change Stock Plate........................................................................................154
Nest - Plot ................................................................................................................154
Remnant Sub-Menu ...............................................................................................................155
New..........................................................................................................................155
Delete.......................................................................................................................157
Part Sub-Menu .......................................................................................................................157
Insert (ShipConstructor)...........................................................................................158
Insert (AutoNest) .....................................................................................................159
Re-insert...................................................................................................................163
Un-Nest....................................................................................................................163
Slide Along ..............................................................................................................163
Move / Rotate ..........................................................................................................165
Rotate Shortest Dim.................................................................................................166
List ...........................................................................................................................167
Snap .........................................................................................................................167
Align with H or V ....................................................................................................168
List Un-Nested Parts - New .....................................................................................169
Assign to Nest..........................................................................................................170
Un-Assign from Nest ...............................................................................................170
Layers Sub-Menu ...................................................................................................................171
Visibility ..................................................................................................................171
Activate All..............................................................................................................171
Flip NC-Pyros ..........................................................................................................171
Insert Keywords .....................................................................................................................172
Auto Label from BOM Index.................................................................................................172
Label properties......................................................................................................................173
Check Nests and BOM...........................................................................................................173
Update Nests and BOM .........................................................................................................174
Check for Overlap - New .......................................................................................................174
NC-Pyros Sub-Menu..............................................................................................................175
Export to NC-Pyros .................................................................................................175
Import from NC-Pyros.............................................................................................176
Bridge Sub Menu ...................................................................................................................177
Bridge - Insert Bridge ..............................................................................................177

Bridge - Delete All...................................................................................................179
SC Standards Menu
181
Overview................................................................................................................................181
Structural Standards ...............................................................................................................182
Standard Part - New.................................................................................................182
Standard Part - Rename ...........................................................................................184
Standard Part - Un-Define .......................................................................................184
Outfitting Standards ...............................................................................................................184
Profile Standards ....................................................................................................................184
Manager Profile & Plate Library .............................................................................185
Creating your own profile stock ..............................................................................185
Templates
189
Overview................................................................................................................................189
SC Assembly Template
191
Overview................................................................................................................................191
Assembly Template menu......................................................................................................191
Investigating the supplied template..........................................................................191
Creating an Assembly or Spool Drawing Template.................................................192
SC Assembly Template - Set Viewport Keymap.....................................................193
SC Assembly Template - Insert Keywords..............................................................194
Assigning Assembly Templates...............................................................................194
SC Nest Template
197
Overview................................................................................................................................197
SC Nest Template - Define Border ..........................................................................197
SC Nest Template - Define Border ..........................................................................197
SC Orientation Icon Menu
199
Overview................................................................................................................................199
SC Orientation Icon - Setup ...................................................................................................199
User Icon
201
Overview................................................................................................................................201
SC Profile Plots Template
203
Overview................................................................................................................................203
SC Profile Plot Template - Plot - Define Border....................................................................204
SC Profile Plot Template - Plot - Define Border....................................................................205
SC Profile Plot / Sub Plot / Define Sub Border......................................................................206
SC Profile Plot / Insert Keywords ..........................................................................................207
Weld Shrinkage Icon
209
Overview................................................................................................................................209
SC Workshop Menu
211
Overview................................................................................................................................211
Insert Group .............................................................................................................211
Insert Part.................................................................................................................212
Index
215
Overview
ShipConstructor can be purchased with several optional program modules. These modules are covered in separate manuals.
These manuals are
Structure & Nesting
Piping & Outfitting
ShipCAM
NC-Pyros
Manager
This manual describes the modules Structure and Nesting.
Menus
Structure and Nesting functions are available from several menus. The two main menus are always available. These are:
SC Structure Menu
Several other menus are only available when in a type of drawing that requires the functions on the menu. These are:
SC Assembly Menu
SC Profile Plots Menu
SC Nesting Menu
SC Standards Menu
SC Assembly Templates Menu
SC Nest Templates Menu
SC Workshop Menu
ShipConstructor Structure & Nesting
The ShipConstructor menu provides functions to create and navigate the project drawing, to view and to check.
The SC Structure menu provides functions for part detailing, solid modeling, part definition and checking.
The SC Build Strategy menu provides function to set up and modify your build strategy.
The SC Assembly menu provides functions to create and manage workshop drawings.
The SC Nesting menu provides functions for nesting parts and exporting to NC-Pyros
The SC Standards menu provides functions for the definition of standard brackets and similar parts.
The SC Assembly Templates menu provides functions to set up and modify your assembly drawing templates to suit
your companys requirements.
The SC Nest Templates menu provides functions to set up and modify your nest drawing templates to suit your
companys requirements.
The SC Orientation Icon menu provides functions to set up and modify your orientation icon to suit your companys
requirements.
The SC Weld Shrinkage menu provides functions to set up and modify your weld shrinkage icon templates to suit your
companys requirements.
The SC Workshop menu provides function to set up and modify workshop and classification drawings.
Overview
Navigator
XREF drawings
New Planar Group
ShipReport
Lock Files
These ShipConstructor menu functions are mainly used while working in the:
3D unit drawing
Interference drawing
The functions are described in the order that they appear on the menu.
Project Settings
Menu:
Tools / Options / ShipConstructor
Toolbar:
None
The dialog allows you to change several ShipConstructor settings. These include:
Auto Shade - If checked a group drawing will be automatically shade every time a solid is made.
Quick part list - Check this button if the part list dialog display is too slow. This happens if the database is very large
or if you have a slow network. Instead of displaying the part name and several main properties for each part in the same
group drawing, only the block number is displayed. However, you can still use the right-click-menu to display the
complete properties dialog for any part in the list.
Regular Part List.
Quick Part List
AutoSave - Controls if a drawing is saved after every part edit or any number of part edit. Saving after part edit is
important in order to avoid un-synchronization between a group drawing and the ShipConstructor database file.
Navigator Dialog
The Navigator is a convenient way to navigate through the large number of drawings involved in ship design project. The
Navigator is a tabbed dialog that lets you navigate effortlessly through the many drawings that make up a ShipConstructor
project. There is one tab for every major area of drawings, such as 3D Unit, 2D Group, Nest, Assembly, Standard,
Interference, Outfit, Piping, Workshop, Template, and Export.
Each tab in the Navigator provides buttons to create new drawings, and open existing ones. All drawings are displayed in a
tree control with easily understandable icons identifying the drawing types. After a very short time you will be comfortably
navigating though the numerous drawings, which would normally be a major headache.
These are the tabs available on the Navigator:
3D Unit - To register a project and unit to work on.
2D Group - To create and access the individual structural drawings.
Nest - To create and access the nesting drawings.
Profile - To create and access profile plot drawings.
Assembly - To create and access 3D assembly drawings.
Standard - To create and access standards such as brackets.
Interference - To create and access interference drawings.
Outfit - To create and access outfit drawings.
Piping - To create and access piping drawings.
Workshop - To create and access workshop or general arrangement drawings.
Template - To create and access the various template drawings.
Export - To create and access export drawings.
Menu:
ShipConstructor / Navigator
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCNAVIGATE
3D Unit tab
The 3D Unit tab lets you register a unit to work on, a unit drawing, and reload the settings from the ShipConstructor
database.
Register
Changed
You have to register a project and select a unit within the project in order to work on any of its drawings. After registration
ShipConstructor will access only drawings belonging to the registered unit. You can at any point register another unit.
1.
Click the Register button.
2.
The Register Unit dialog is displayed.
Project - Displays the project that is currently loaded. Click the Change Project button to select a different
project.
Unit Ones a project is selected, ShipConstructor looks up all units within the project and displays them in the Unit
list. Select the unit you wish to work on and click Ok.
Preview Shows a preview of the unit drawing you selected.
3.
The Logon dialog is displayed. Select the login name and type the password. Click OK.
4.
The licensing dialog is displayed. The licensing has changed compared to earlier versions. ShipConstructor can now be
purchased in several different modules and several different levels. As you may have a combination of one or more local
locks on you computer, plus one or more network locks on the network, the licenses that you require can be acquired as a
mix of local and network locks.
Search Sets the options which locks to search. It may take several seconds to find licenses on a network lock.
Thus you may want to limit the search to your local lock, if that is all you need.
Automatically get all available licenses Gets all licenses from the local lock. This is a good default option,
unless you need to get some licenses from the network lock.
Network lock Check this option if you also want to search for licenses on the network lock.
Network Settings Displays the Network License Settings dialog . Search for lock will search the network for
ShipConstructor network locks. If you network is large you may want to limit the search to a single IP address of the
computer that has the network lock attached to it.
Module The available module name on the lock.
Parts The number of parts relating to that module in the ShipConstructor Manager database.
Level The level of license for the module available on the lock. ShipConstructor modules can be purchased in
levels 1 through 5 and unlimited.
For Structure, Nest and Automatic Nest the number of parts per level is 500. This means level 3 allows
you to work on projects with a maximum of 1500 structural parts.
For Pipe the number of parts per level is 250. This means level 3 allows you to work on projects with a
maximum of 750 structural parts.
For Outfit the number of parts per level is 50. This means level 3 allows you to work on projects with a
For Strategy and Rebis the number of parts are not applicable.
Lic Left. The number of licenses left on the lock. This number will always be 1 for local locks, or 0 if the locks
does is not licensed for a specific module. On a network lock there may be any number of licenses for a specific
module available.
Lic Total The total number of license the lock is licensed for.
Lock Info General information about the lock.
License The name of the lock. Usually the company the lock is licensed for.
Lock Expiry date The date when the lock expires.
Days Left - How many days until the lock expires.
Show this window during Project Register Turn this option off, if you always check out the same licenses
or only use a local lock. Use the menu item ShipConstructor / License to display this dialog.
ShipConstructor now knows all drawings that belonging to the unit and you can access them using the Navigator tabs.
Open
Opens the 3D unit drawing of the registered unit.
Reload DB
Reloads the settings from the ShipConstructor database. Use this function whenever you change any of the setting in
Manager. The Manager settings are changed using the dialog below.
Registered Unit
This section in the dialog tells you which project and unit you are currently logged. Being logged into a unit required
ShipConstructor to link to a ShipConstructor database. In general this database is the same folder as all the units. However,
you could make different arrangements. If you move the project from one location to another ShipConstructor could be
unable to find the right database. In this case, you have to find the ShipConstructor database manually.
1.
Click the
2.
Use the standard file dialog to locate the desired ShipConstructor database.
button.
2D Group tab
The 2D group tab gives access to all 2D group drawings belonging to the registered unit. This tab contains a tree control on
the left and several buttons on the right, and a drawing preview window.
Tree control
The tree control displays the names of all 2D group drawings. The drawings are organized according to their logical function
within the unit, such as frames, longitudinal bulkheads, and decks. Double-click on a name to open the drawing - or highlight the name of the drawing you want to work on and then click a button on the right for the desired function.
Open
Opens the selected planar group drawing.
New
Menu:
Planar Group / New
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCmakegrp
Navigator:
2D Group tab
Note: See also the chapter about creating new projects near the end of the manual for more information.
You have to be in the unit drawing to use this function. Creates a 2D planar group drawing from the selected entities.
ShipConstructor performs a series of tests to ensure that the selected entities conform to the rules of a planar group:
ShipConstructor checks if the selected entity or entities are planar.
If more than one entity was selected then ShipConstructor makes sure that they are all in one plane.
ShipConstructor determines automatically if the group orientation is that of a deck, a frame, a longitudinal bulkhead, or
if the group is arbitrarily oriented. An arbitrarily oriented group could be a canted frame, a girder not parallel to
centerline or a sloping deck plate.
Consider the sections shown in the CAD drawing below. You can find the same drawing in the Demo project installation
folder; the same folder that the database file DEMO.MDB is located. It has the name U12Sections.DWG.
The sections are the same sections that have been used to create the partially finished Demo tutorial product model. They
consist of several frame, deck and longitudinal bulkhead sections generated by ShipCAM. The frame sections are special as
we used the Cutout Insertion module of ShipCAM to locate, size and insert the cutouts and profile cross-sections
automatically. The other special section is the one for the margin plate, as it is a doubly skewed section.
Practice: To follow along you might want to open the drawing U12sections.DWG with the sections and use
ShipConstructor to start a brand new project.
The general steps are:

1.
Start the New Planar Group command.
10 ShipConstructor Menu
2.
Select Objects.
3.
Select the entities that you want to create the group drawing from. These are generally sections cut through hull surfaces,
such as frames, deck, girders. Press ENTER. You have to select entities that are in the same plane to make one single
planar group drawing at a time. For example you might select one of the deck sections to set up a deck planar group
drawing. For a frame you have to select the actual frame section and all the profile cross -section belonging to that frame.
4.
The next dialog is displayed.
5.
The function has already checked if the entities selected will create a deck, frame, girder, or are otherwise oriented. Enter
the thickness throw and thickness.
6.
Click OK to create the group drawing.
Name: The file name is suggested by using the layer name of the first of the selected entities. ShipCAM and some other hull
fairing programs can place the entities they export to CAD on specifically named layers. Preferably the layers indicate the
name of a group, as for example FR_110.
Thickness Throw: Select the thickness direction with the radio buttons. Enter the thickness. Within the group drawing you
can later use any plate stock with any thickness and throw direction. The thickness entered here is mainly used when
calculating intersections between groups, such as frames with decks.
Using existing 2D drawings in ShipConstructor

In some cases you might not just have simple sections cut through a hull surface, but you have 2D design drawings with
typical frames, decks and so on. It is easy to use and implement them into a 3D ShipConstructor model. For instance, say you
want to use a 2D frame drawing in ShipConstructor.
1.
Make a copy of the 2D frame drawing.
2.
In the copy erase all entities you might not want. There might be several frames in the same drawing.
3.
Make sure that the origin of the frame is at 0,0. This should be in world co-ordinate system. Move the frame entities if it
is not the case.
4.
We assume that you have a project with a unit already. If not make a new project and create a unit with an empty
drawing.
5.
Open the Unit drawing. This drawing might be of a completely new project with nothing in it or it might already have
several planar group drawings.
6.
In the unit drawing make sure the WORLD UCS is active.
7.
Draw a line at the location of the frame. For example if the frame is at 50.2m draw a line giving the values manually as
50200,0,0 to say 50200,5000,0. Remember ShipConstructor drawings are in mm or inches.
8.
Use the New Planar Group function.
9.
Select the line at 50200.
11
10. It is not obvious to ShipConstructor that the line is a frame. The line could be part of a deck or a frame. In the dialog
select Frame and click OK.
11. Enter a name for the frame, set the throw and thickness. Click OK to create the group drawing.
12. Open the 2D Group drawing. It contains just a single line.
13. Type DDINSERT at the command line.
14. Insert the frame drawing you prepared at the origin 0,0,0 by Specify Parameters on Screen and check the Explode
option.
15. The 2D frame drawing is now inserted in 3D space at the correct location, ready for detailing. You just have a little bit of
clean up to do.
16. Move all entities to the _PRD production layer.
17. The drawing you brought in might have had defined several new layers in this planar group drawing. We do not need
them any more. PURGE all unused layers but make sure to keep _REV and _SLD.
Properties
You have to be in the unit drawing to use this function. Displays the Edit Group Properties dialog of the highlighted group.
You can change the properties with this dialog. ShipConstructor will change the properties in the unit drawing and also in the
planar group drawing. Make sure the planar group drawing you are changing is not currently open by someone else.
Mirror
Mirrors the currently highlighted planar group drawing. The function creates all required UCSs automatically in the 3D unit
drawing as well as in the newly created mirrored 2D group drawing.
Use this function for longitudinal girders or any canted planar groups. Any parts defined in the group will be undefined in the
mirrored group drawing, but keeping the entities intact. Re-define any parts in the new group drawing.
Unlink
Unlinks (deletes) the currently highlighted planar group drawing. This includes deleting the drawing and removing it from
the 3D unit drawing. You can choose to keep the entities from the group drawing in the 3D unit drawing, or have
ShipConstructor delete them.
Activate UCS
This function is only active in the 3D unit drawing. It activates the UCS of the highlighted 2D Group. Each 2D Group has 2
UCSs associated with it, the construction and thickness throw UCS. Select the desired UCS in the dialog and click OK. You
can now draft in the plane of the planar group inside the 3D-unit drawing.
Nest Tab
The nest tab gives access to several nesting functions. It displays a tree dialog on the left side, a preview on the right and
several buttons.
13
Open
Lets you open a nest drawing.
New
Creates a new nest drawing. Each nest drawing can only contain nests using one type of stock. However, a nest drawing may
contain several different plate sizes including remnants.
1.
Click the New button. The New Drawing dialog is displayed.
2.
Enter a name for the new nest drawing. Click OK.
3.
The new nest drawing is opened and the New Nest dialog is displayed.
See New Nest for details on the use of the New Nest dialog.
Un-nested Parts
Use this function to see if any parts require nesting.
1.
Click the un-nested parts button. The next dialog is displayed.
2.
In the dialog select the assembly for which you want to check un-nested parts.
3.
The right pane will display any parts that require nesting.
Profile Tab
The Profile tab lets you open create, and delete profile plot drawings.
15
Open
Opens the currently highlighted profile plot drawing.
New
Creates a new profile plot drawing.
Delete
Deletes a profile plot drawing. Manager is updated to reflect that the plots for the profile contained in that drawing have been
erased.
Assembly Tab
The assembly tab lets you open an assembly drawing, create new assembly drawings, update the assembly master, and open
the assembly master drawing.
Open
Opens the currently highlighted assembly drawing or build strategy drawing.
New
Creates new assembly or build strategy drawings. Make sure to perform the following tasks before creating assembly
drawings:
Define all parts in the planar group drawings.
Perform interference checks.
Create Build Strategy drawings and check part assignment to assemblies with the Assembly Visibility function.
Creating Assembly Drawings

Follow these steps to create assembly drawings.
1.
Select ShipConstructor / Navigator or click
2.
Click the Assembly tab.
3.
Select the Assembly Folder icon.
4.
Click New.
5.
Choose Use templates and BOMs defined in Manager or choose Select a template and BOM.
6.
Click Next.
7.
In the next dialog check the box in front of DB. All sub assemblies of DB are checked as well. We will create the
assembly drawings for all these assemblies now.
8.
Click Finish.
17
Note: This operation takes some time and also uses a lot of memory. You should at least a Pentium Pro 200 with 128 MB
RAM.
One drawing is created for each assembly. Watch closely to see how the views are generated and the keywords replaced.
Creating Build Strategy Drawings

Follow these steps to create build strategy drawings.
1.
2.
3.
Click New while the build strategy root folder is selected.
4.
Choose the drawings you wish to include in this build strategy drawing and click OK. Enter a name in the New Drawing
dialog and click OK.
5.
Decide whether you want Production information as well as the solids to be displayed, when you have made your
decision ShipConstructor will create the drawing.
Update Keymap
Updates the Keymap drawing, which can be automatically XREFed into Assembly drawings to provide an overview of the
unit with respect to the assembly drawing.
Open Keymap
Opens the Keymap drawing.
Delete
Deletes an assembly or build strategy drawing.
Standard Tab
The standard tab gives access to standard drawings. Standards are used when many parts will de identical. There are two
types of standards, Structural and Outfit.
Open
Opens the highlighted standard drawing.
New
The New button will change the displayed words depending which portion of the tree you have selected, which are:
Structural Standards
Outfitting Standards
Profile Standards with
19
Cross-sections
Tight Cutouts
Non-tight Cutouts
New - Structural Standard

Creates a new Structural Standard drawing.
For details, refer to the chapter Variable Menus - Standards - Structural Standard menu later in this manual.
New - Outfit Standard

Creates a new Structural Outfit drawing.
For details, refer to the chapter Variable Menus - Standards - Outfit Standard menu later in this manual.
New - Profile Standard - Cross Section

Creates a new Cross section drawing.
For details, refer to the chapter Variable Menus - Standards - Profile Standards menu later in this manual.
New - Profile Standard - Tight Cutout

Creates a new Tight Cutout drawing.
For details, refer to the section Variable Menus - Standards - Profile Standards menu later in this manual.
New - Profile Standard - Non-tight Cutout

Creates a new Non-tight Cutout drawing.
For details, refer to the chapter Variable Menus - Standards - Profile Standards menu later in this manual.
Interference Tab
The interference tab lets you open interference drawing and create new ones.
Open
Opens the highlighted Interference drawing.
New
Create a new interference drawing. In the dialog check the drawings that you want to include.
Note: You can also include drawings that are not produced by ShipConstructor. For example you might use a third
party piping program. Make sure the pipes are solids; place the drawing into the piping directory. It will now be listed in the
dialog and can be added to the new interference drawing automatically.
Outfit Tab
The outfit tab gives access to outfit drawings. Please refer to the Outfit menu section later in this manual for details.
Open
Opens the highlighted outfit drawing.
New
Creates a new outfit drawing. You can have as many outfit drawings as you like.
21
Delete
Deletes the selected outfit drawing and removes all outfit records from the ShipConstructor database.
Piping Tab
See Piping manual.
Workshop Tab
The workshop tab gives access to workshop drawings. We do not recommend using workshop drawings for production
purposes. Use assembly drawings instead. Assembly drawings are a much better tool to relay all required information from
engineering to production.
However, you should use this feature to create traditional approval and general arrangement drawings automatically from the
3D model.
In a workshop drawing you can insert 2D group drawings side by side in a 2D fashion. See the Workshop Menu chapter
for details on how to use workshop drawings.
Open
Opens the highlighted workshop drawing.
New
Creates a new workshop drawing. You can have as many workshop drawings as you like.
Delete
Deletes the selected workshop drawing.
Template tab
Gives access to template drawings. See the Templates chapter for details on how to use this feature.
Open
Opens the highlighted template drawing.
ShipConstructor currently supports six template types. Each template type is supported by a menu. The menus are only
available while in the corresponding template drawing. Please refer to the according sections later in this manual for details.
Export Tab
The export tab converts ShipConstructor drawings to a format that standard AutoCAD can read. ShipConstructor create
several custom objects. You will get PROXY WARNING when opening a ShipConstructor drawing with standard
AutoCAD. Other programs might not work at all. Use the Export function to convert ShipConstructor custom entities to
standard AutoCAD entities. For example use this function when you want to use a virtual reality viewer, such as 3D
Studio. The export function also add additional information that is read by Rebis AutoPlant to enable automatic piping
penetrations in ShipConstructor.
New
Create a new export drawing. Checkmark the drawings you want to include in the tree dialog.
23
Project Menu
The project menu gives access to functions concerning the project.
Project - New Project

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Project / New Project
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNEWPROJECT
Changed functionality
Creates a new project. To create a new project you should have a prepared a ShipConstructor database template file with all
settings and stocks as used for this project.
ShipConstructor comes with two ready-made project template files, one with imperial sized stocks and another one with
metric sized stocks. You find the templates in the install projects folder. Within projects the folder you will find the DEMO
project folder and the PROJECT TEMPLATES folder.
You can customize the IMPERIAL and METRIC templates using Manager.
Tip: Use can base a new project also on a previous project, for example a recent vessel that uses very similar material,
settings and drawing templates, as it is for the same customer. You likely have invested many hours in tuning the templates,
and setting up standards and stocks. It is often easier and faster to remove what you dont need, than to create new ones.
To create a new project:
1.
Select ShipConstructor / Project / New Project.
2.
In general, you should create a new folder. Make sure not to create a new ShipConstructor project in the folder of
another ShipConstructor project. ShipConstructor will get confused.
3.
Use the Browse button to select the Destination Folder for the new project. ShipConstructor will create a project
folder with the name you enter in the Project name field. By default ShipConstructor will set up frame drawings to look
from forward-to-aft. If you wish to create a project that views the ship from aft look forward then check the View From
Aft box now. You cannot change this afterwards.
4.
Use the Browse button to select the Manager Template to use as the basis for this project. Remember you can use
one of the two supplied templates or any existing project. ShipConstructor will delete any project specific items in the
database, but retain templates, stocks and general settings. Click Open.
5.
Click OK to create the project. The program copies the selected ShipConstructor file and the contents of the folders:
6.
Standards
Template
The function also creates these folders in the project folder:
NestPrts - location for all individual part drawings for nesting
25
Nests - location of all nest drawing for the project
Remnants - location of the remnant drawings created from leftover of nested plates
Piping - location of piping drawings
Outfit - location of outfit group drawings
7.
The new project folder will look similar to the following:
8.
You can create a new unit at this time or later.
9.
If you choose to create a new unit the Add Unit dialog is displayed. Enter the name of the Unit. Make the unit name short
because it will be used in naming group drawings. Click OK.
10. You can choose to save the current drawing as the unit drawing. Save this drawing as the unit drawing only if the
drawing is empty or if it contains the entities that you want to use for the unit. Otherwise do not save the current drawing
as the unit drawing. In this case you have to save another drawing later in the units folder with the same name as the
unit.
11. You can immediately log on if you saved the drawing. The following dialog is displayed if Manager already contains at
least one user.
12. The next dialog is used if Manager does not have any user entries. Enter a log on name and the password.
Tip: You can locate the unit and all related files anywhere on you computer or the network. A unit can later be moved to any
other location. In general the unit will be placed in the folder of the project. However, there are cases when you want to place
it in a different location. For example you have a slow network, and you are mostly working with the files of a unit. In this
case place the unit on your local hard drive to increase speed. Later you can move the unit folder with all contents on the
network server inside the project folder.
Possible Error messages:

Mismatched versions - Each ShipConstructor release works with a specific Manager release. An error message is
displayed in the case that the version of template database file selected is not the correct version. To correct the problem, start
manager directly, log into the database to upgrade and then use Database Utilities / Update Current Database and
locate any ShipConstructor database of the correct version. See the Manager manual for more information.
Project - New Unit

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Project / New Unit
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNEWUNIT
Use this function to add a new unit to the project. You can use an empty drawing when creating a new unit, or you can have a
drawing loaded that contains the sections for the new unit. The sequence of dialogs is the same as for a new project after you
choose to add a new unit. See the previous command for details.
27
Project - Activate Manager

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Project / Activate Manager
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCACTSR
Starts the Manager module and opens the ShipConstructor database associate with the project. Use this function to switch
from ShipConstructor to Manager.
Project - Create XREF Project Drawing

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Project / Create XREF Project Drawing
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCPRJDWG
New
This function creates a structural drawing; similar to the unit drawing that contains the select group drawings as XREFs.
However, you can include all structural drawings of all units in the project to create one larger drawing with all structure in it.
Project - Lock and Unlock Files

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Project / Lock / Un-Lock Files
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCGROUPTOUNIT
Use this function to lock or unlock files. After a project or a portion of it is completed you want to lock the files to prevent
accidental changes.
Simply select the files you want to lock or unlock and click the lock symbol.
Project - Transfer Groups to Unit

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Project / Transfer Groups to Unit
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCFILELOCK
Transfers selected planar group drawings to a new unit. You have to be in the unit drawing from which you want to transfer
the planar group drawings.
Use this function if the unit size gets too large or you decided to change the unit breaks.
1.
While in the unit drawing start the Transfer Groups to Unit command.
2.
Select the planar groups you want to transfer. Press Enter.
3.
The next dialog is displayed. Select the unit you want to transfer the planar group drawings to.
4.
As ShipConstructor can not be a 100% sure where the other unit drawing currently is (it might have been moved
manually to another computer on the network), you are asked to locate the unit drawing with the standard file dialog.
29
5.
After completion the target unit drawing is opened with the transferred planar group drawings in it and a success dialog
is displayed.
View
Menu:
ShipConstructor / View
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCSELCTVW
Displays a dialog that lets you select a 3D or 2D view. The dialog has two tabs.
3D Tab:
Displays a 3D image of a ship hull. Double-click on any radio button to select a 3D view, or click a button and click OK. You
can also enter a viewpoint into the box to set any other viewpoint.
Plan View Tab:
Displays views for the current UCS and the construction UCS if in a planar group drawing. The view names depend on the
orientation of the UCS, i.e. BODY FWD TO AFT. It is the easiest way to obtain a plan view to the currently active UCS,
specifically if the UCS is canted, such as for a sloping deck.
Planar Group menu

The planar group menu offer function to create planar groups, transfer entities from the 3D unit to a planar group, set the
group visibility in the 3D unit, and to turn layers off by clicking on an entity on that layer.
Planar - New
Menu:
ShipConstructor / Planar Group / New
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCMAKEGRP
Navigator:
2D Group tab
See Navigator 2D Group tab for details on this function
Planar - Visibility
Menu:
ShipConstructor / Planar Group / Visibility
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCLYRVISBL
Navigator:
None
31
Use this function to set the visibility of planar groups in the 3D unit drawing. A 3D-unit drawing can display an
overwhelming amount of information. In many cases you want to choose to display only certain planar group to get a clear
picture of the 3D interaction of parts. This function displays a sophisticated dialog for your control.
Click on the light bulbs to switch any of the layers (PRD - production, SLD-solid, REV-revision) on or off. You can select
multiple groups at a time using the shift or ctrl keys in the standard Windows fashion. Click on a group type, such as Frame,
to select all groups belonging to that group type.
Planar - Transfer Entities to Group

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Planar Group / Transfer Entities to Group
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCTRANSFER
Navigator:
None
Use this function when you want to transfer drawing entities from the 3D unit drawing into a planar group drawing. To
transfer an entity:
1.
Start the command.
2.
Pick the entities that you want to transfer.
3.
Any entity on the planar group to which you want to transfer the entities.
4.
The name of the selected group is displayed in a dialog for confirmation.
Planar - Layer Off

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Planar Group / Layer Off
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCGRPHIDE
Navigator:
None
Use this function to switch any layer off by clicking on any entity on that layer.
Curved Group menu

Handles functions to add curved groups to the 3D unit drawing, and to insert curved plates into the group drawing. Use these
functions to add shell plating in curved and expanded form to the unit.
Curved Group - New Curved Group

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Curved Group / New
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSCRVPLT
Navigator:
None
Creates a new group drawing for curved shell plating. Expanded curved plates are generated using the PlateExpand module
of ShipCAM. Expanded plates are saved as DXF files. Curved plates are treated somewhat different from standard 2D group
drawings. All production data of the expanded plate is located in the X-Y plane of the World Co-ordinates system. The
group drawing is populated by importing a DXF file saved by the ShipCAM plate expand module. Make sure to use
matching versions of ShipCAM and ShipConstructor. The data written by ShipCAM may change from version to version as
we update the software and react to user requests. This might make the data incompatible with other versions of
ShipConstructor.
While in the ShipCAM Plate-Expand module consider these parameters when saving DXF files of expanded plates for use in
ShipConstructor.
Output all NC data onto the layer _PRD.
Assign the color according to the settings for outside toolpath, inside, marking and so on to minimize work later in the
ShipConstructor drawing.
Include the curved surface mesh in the DXF file. Make sure to use the mesh reduction option as AutoCAD is not
optimized for large meshes. Assign the layer _SLD for it. The mesh will take the place of a solid of regular parts. Reduce
the mesh density. AutoCAD is not optimized for displaying dense meshed.
All non-production data can be placed on other layers. However, we recommend keeping the layers to a minimum.
The function displays the dialog as shown. Enter the name for the new curved plate group. You can place more than one plate
into the group drawing.
Curved Group - Insert Curved Plates

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Curved Group / Insert Curved Plates
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSCRVPLT
33
Navigator:
None
Insert curved plates from DXF files into the group drawing and creates a part record in Manager.
1.
Open the curved Group drawing, using Navigator.
2.
Select ShipConstructor / Curved Group / Insert Curved Plates.
3.
With the dialog select the DXF file containing the expanded and curved plate. It would be best if ShipCAM PlateExpand
was set to place all expanded plates into the CrvPlt folder of the unit.
4.
The DXF file is inserted into the group drawing.
5.
The function requests he insertion position of the expanded plate. The inserted geometry consists of the 3D mesh of the
plate as well as the expanded plate and any extra information such as plate checking data and forming templates. By
default ORTHO is on, and the suggested position for the expanded plate and the additional data is exactly outboard of
the curved plate. (see figure above) Move the expanded plate to the desired location.
6.
ShipConstructor creates a part record in the database, but marks it as deactivated. You have to reactivate the part later on
when you are ready to define the part.
You might want to insert more plates before finishing each plate.
The following steps have to be carried out before activating the plate:
Make sure all entities use the right process colors.
Change the marking lines using Stiffener marking.
Add a part orientation icon and a weld shrinkage icon if desired.
35
Lastly you have to reactivate the plate parts. All records already exist in Manager, you just have to let ShipConstructor know
exactly which entities you want to use for NC-cutting.
.
1.
Select Planar / Part / Re-Activate or click
2.
The function activates the solid layer. Click on the 3D mesh of the plate.
3.
The function switches to the production layer. Select all entities that you want to use for nesting and NC-cutting. The
function cannot find a piecemark. That is Ok. Click OK to continue.
4.
The function now goes through the regular motions of re-activating the part.
5.
Select the assembly to which this plate belongs. Click OK.
6.
Select a piecemark size and position.
7.
You now have an expanded plate as part of you structural model, ready for nesting, assembly drawings, reports and so
on.
Tip: If you have many plates in your drawing, you might not know which one to pick next, as the meshes all fit together. Use
the Hide function to temporarily hide the meshes, which you have already activated.
XREF Groups
Menu:
ShipConstructor / Planar Group / XREF Groups
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCXREF2D
Navigator:
None
You can use this function in many ShipConstructor drawings. Here are the main applications:
3D Unit Drawing
You can control which drawings are loaded in the 3D unit drawing. By default all planar group drawings are loaded all the
time, while none of the other drawings, such as piping and outfitting are loaded. In the case that it takes too long to load the
unit drawing, maybe because some of the group drawings are very complex, you could choose to temporarily unload one or
more of these drawings. You can also load any piping or outfit drawing to complete the structural model to a product model.
2D Planar Group Drawing

In some cases it is helpful to be able to see other group drawings in the current drawing, and or outfit or piping drawings in
the planar group drawing to quickly check the 3D relationships between them.
Piping or outfit drawing

It would be hindering to show all structural drawings in a piping or planar group drawing. Generally you would just load a
few key structural drawings to give you the 3D reference you need to layout your piping or outfitting equipment.
1.
Select ShipConstructor / XREF Groups or click
2.
See the drawings that you want to XREF into the current drawing.
3.
Click OK.
37
Note: Be sure to remove XREFs when you have finished with them. Loading the extra drawing costs extra time. To remove
all XREFs:
4.
Start the function again.
5.
In the dialog click Uncheck ALL.
6.
Click OK. All XREFs are removed.
Piping Penetrations
These functions deal with piping penetrations through structure. See the Piping & Outfitting manual for more information
on these functions.
AutoPlant Piping Penetrations

Note: This feature can be purchased as an optional module. Piping penetrations work in conjunction with Rebis AutoPlant
only. Piping penetrations is an optional add-on module. Please contact us or your nearest dealer for pricing. You will receive
an extra manual when you purchase this add-on module.
Project - Piping Penetrations / Import from AutoPlant

Menu:
ShipConstructor / AutoPlant Piping Penetrations / Import from AutoPlant
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
_SCPIPEPENSREBIS
Imports piping penetrations from the Rebis AutoPlant system. You have to purchase from Rebis the optional module that
creates files for the piping penetration.
Using ShipConstructor Structure in conjunction with Rebis AutoPlant piping requires that you export (Navigator / Export
tab) structural parts into an export drawing. ShipConstructor attaches AutoPlant specific hidden data to each exported part
that allows AutoPlant to identify it when a penetration is marked within AutoPlant. AutoPlant then writes a file with the
penetration information and our hidden information allowing ShipConstructor to identify the part that requires the penetration
to be implemented. ShipConstructor implements all penetrations automatically as they are read from the penetration file.
Project - Piping Penetrations / List

Menu:
ShipConstructor / AutoPlant Piping Penetrations / List
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
_SCPIPEPENLISTREBIS
Project - Piping Penetrations / Check

Menu:
ShipConstructor / AutoPlant Piping Penetrations / Check
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
__SCCHECKPENSREBIS
Check Interferences
Menu:
ShipConstructor / Check Interferences
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCOPENINTDLG
New items & changed functionality

Use this function to check interferences in the interference drawing or a planar group drawing. You have to create a
new interference drawing using the Interference tab on the Navigator and open the interference drawing.
Structural interferences
1.
Select ShipConstructor / Check Interferences to check interferences.
2.
The bottom right hand side of the dialog allows you to check the types of interferences you want to display and/or check
for. Check the boxes in front of the type of interferences you want to check for.
3.
In the Interference List dialog click the Run Check button.
4.
The function first runs a quick pre-check to find any pair of solids that might intersect. This saves a lot of time, as a true
interference check on all solid pairs would take very long. ShipConstructor informs you how many interferences it will
check. A Minimum Interference Volume lets you filter out minute interferences that might be due to computer rounding
errors, or are so small that they would not be noticed during construction. The default Minimum Interference Volume
value is stored in Manager. Click OK to confirm.
39
5.
Some intentional interferences are generated to show you sample results. The data is displayed in the interference List
Dialog shown below. For each interference the part names of of both parts are listed, and the drawings are listed as well.
6.
More information about an interference can be obtained by right clicking on an Interference and selecting Solution
which brings up the following dialog. This dialog shows you the physical properties of the Interference and allows the
user to enter a suggestion solution.
7.
The data can also be made available for printing by selecting the desired Interferences to generate a report for and
pressing the report button, which displays a dialog asking the user to enter a name of the resulting text file and what
information to display.
8.
Notepad file - This form is good for printing. It allows you to check through all drawings and fix your errors.
9.
You can resize the Interference List dialog. You can also continue using AutoCAD and ShipConstructor functions
without closing it. For example, you might want to change the viewpoint while the dialog is open. You can also close the
dialog and open it again using the menu.
10. You can use the controls on the right hand side of the dialog, and those on the right click menu to check the details of the
interference problem.
11. In the dialog highlight the first interference.

12. Check the Center option.
13. Right click and select View. The command hides all solids except for the two involved in the collision and the
interference solid.
14. Click on the + plus button to zoom in, and the - minus button to zoom out.
Pipe Penetration Interferences

See the Piping & Outfitting manual.
Licensing
Menu:
ShipConstructor / Licensing
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCLICENSE
New
Use this to obtain and change licenses for individual program modules.
41
Displays the licensing dialog . The licensing has changed compared to earlier versions. ShipConstructor can now be
purchased in several different modules and several different levels. As you may have a combination of one or more local
locks on you computer, plus one or more network locks on the network, the licenses that you require can be acquired as a mix
of local and network locks.
Search Sets the options which locks to search. It may take several seconds to find licenses on a network lock.
Thus you may want to limit the search to your local lock, if that is all you need.
Automatically get all available licenses Gets all licenses from the local lock. This is a good default option,
unless you need to get some licenses from the network lock.
Network lock Check this option if you also want to search for licenses on the network lock.
Network Settings Displays the Network License Settings dialog . Search for lock will search the network for
ShipConstructor network locks. If you network is large you may want to limit the search to a single IP address of the
computer that has the network lock attached to it.
Module The available module name on the lock.
Parts The number of parts relating to that module in the ShipConstructor Manager database.
Level The level of license for the module available on the lock. ShipConstructor modules can be purchased in
levels 1 through 5 and unlimited.
For Structure, Nest and Automatic Nest the number of parts per level is 500. This means level 3 allows
you to work on projects with a maximum of 1500 structural parts.
For Pipe the number of parts per level is 250. This means level 3 allows you to work on projects with a
For Outfit the number of parts per level is 50. This means level 3 allows you to work on projects with a
For Strategy and Rebis the number of parts are not applicable.
Lic Left. The number of licenses left on the lock. This number will always be 1 for local locks, or 0 if the locks
does is not licensed for a specific module. On a network lock there may be any number of licenses for a specific
module available.
Lic Total The total number of license the lock is licensed for.
Lock Info General information about the lock.
License The name of the lock. Usually the company the lock is licensed for.
Lock Expiry date The date when the lock expires.
Days Left - How many days until the lock expires.
Show this window during Project Register Turn this option off, if you always check out the same licenses
or only use a local lock. Use the menu item ShipConstructor / License to display this dialog.
Check Menu
This menu provides function to check the unit drawing and all planar group drawings. Extensive log files report all errors.
ShipConstructor can correct most errors automatically.
Check - 3D Unit DWG

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Check / 3D Unit DWG
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCREPAIRPRJ
Navigator:
None
Checks and repairs a 3D unit drawing. Use this function also if your 3D-unit drawing is damaged or lost. In that case
create a new empty drawing, save it as the unit drawing, and then check it. ShipConstructor will completely rebuild the
3D-unit drawing from scratch.
At the end of the check you can select to view the log file and the unused geometry dialog.
The Unused geometry dialog displays all entities in the 3D-unit drawing that are not part of planar group drawings. In most
cases these are entities that have been forgotten. They should either be transferred to planar group drawings or deleted. A
planar group drawing should only contain XREFFES of 2D group drawings.
43
Check - Planar Group DWGs

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Check / Planar Group DWG
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCREPAIRPRJ
Navigator:
None
Checks and repairs all planar group drawings. ShipConstructor requires full access to all planar group drawings. Make sure
none of the drawings is in use by other users.
This function fixes many common errors.
A log file displays all corrected error.
The Unused geometry dialog displays all entities in any planar group drawing that remains unused. All entities on the
production and solid layers should be assigned to parts.
This is a very important feature! Make it a rule to move any entities not required for parts, but that you might want around for
reference to the revision layer. This way you will be sure that if a 2D group drawing checks out, that the parts that you nest
are exactly what you intended.
Closely observe the fields in the dialog for each entity. You can sort the list by any of the columns by clicking on the
column header.
Unused solids indicate that the solid is not assigned to a part yet. This can happen if two solids had been made by mistake
for one part, or just because the group drawing is still in the works.
Unused production layer entities should be assigned to parts.
Buttons
View - opens the drawing that contains the selected entity and zoom to it. The entity is automatically selected.
Zoom In - Zooms closer to the entity.
Zoom Out - Zooms out from the entity.
Add to part - Lets you pick a part and add the entity to the part. The revision log is automatically updated. Be sure to
run a check on your nests to update any changed parts.
Move - Lets you move the entity. This is important if the entity is hidden by other entities.
Erase - Erases the entity.
Hide in List - Hides the entity in the list, but leaves it unchanged in the drawing.
45
Refresh - Refreshes the list.
Check - Inactive Parts

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Check / Inactive Parts
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINACTIVEP
Navigator:
None
Use this function after running a check on all planar groups. An inactive part record can mean two things:
1.
A part has been deactivated for changes, and it was not re-activated. Go to the 2D group drawing and activate the part,
then check your nest drawings.
2.
The ShipConstructor database file contains records for parts that no longer exist. This should only happen if your
computer crashes, or the user deletes a part in a group drawing and then does not save it.
Buttons
View Drawing - Opens the drawing that is supposed to contain the part. Investigate closely any inactive parts are listed
and correct any errors.
Rebuild List - Checks the database again for in-active record for parts.
Hide Part - Hides the part in the dialog list. The drawings remain unaffected. Use this if indeed a de-activated part
exists and you will re-activate it later.
Delete Records - Use this button if you find that there is not inactive part in the planar group drawing. This record
must be left over by error.
Check List Unused Geometry

Menu:
ShipConstructor / Check / List Unused Geometry
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCUNUSEDGEO
Navigator:
None
Use this function after you have run a check on an individual group drawing or on the complete unit. For a complete
description see Check Planar Group DWGs a page earlier in this manual.
Check Nests
Menu:
ShipConstructor / Check / Nests
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCCHKNEST
Navigator:
None
Used to check the nest within a project. See the nest chapter for details on this function.
About ShipConstructor
Displays information about the ShipConstructor version you are running.
ShipConstructor version - The version number of ShipConstructor.
Manager version - The required version of Manager. Each ShipConstructor version requires a specific Manager version.
You will get en error message a time of project registration if the versions do not match.
47
Lock Information - The software is protected by an electronic lock. The licensing information of the lock is displayed.
Acquire Button - If from some reason you do not have a license checked out of a network lock, or you did not have a lock
on the computer when you started ShipConstructor which caused ShipConstructor to start in Demo mode, you can get
ShipConstructor to check for an available lock/license again.
Release Button - If you currently have a network License in use and you wish to give it back to the general license pool so
somebody else can use it, then use the release button. This will cause ShipConstructor to revert into Demo mode.
SC Structure Menu
Overview
The Planar menu provides the functions for use in the planar group drawings. These functions make it easy and fast to detail
the drawings, create solids, and create parts.
Several often-used function are also available from the toolbar.
SC Structure Menu
49
Toolpath
Menu:
SC Structure / Toolpath
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCTOOLPATH
Navigator:
None
Connects entities such as lines, arc, and polylines to closed toolpath. The function eliminates duplicate entities and corrects
small gaps. The maximum snap tolerance is set using Manager.
An error dialog is displayed if a gap is discovered.
You can choose to create end circles to make it easy to find the problem.
50 SC Structure Menu
The function is always followed by a call to Process Color. Select the process color required for the tool path, or pres
CANCEL if you do not want to set a process color.
Select Process
Menu:
SC Structure / Select Process
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCPROCESS
Navigator:
None
This function assigns a color to a toolpath. The color determines the process used later by NC-Pyros for NC post processing.
These processes are supported.
Outside Cut - The cutting tool will travel on the outside of the toolpath.
Inside Cut - The cutting tool will travel on the inside of the toolpath.
Marking - A marking tool will be used. It will travel on the toolpath.
Far Side Dashed - This option will cause the part to be mirrored during nesting, thus creating the marking on the far
side.
No Process - These entities will be ignored by NC-Pyros.
Solid Menu
This menu provides functions regarding the creation of solids for different types of shipbuilding specific parts.
Solid - New Plate

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / New Plate
SC Structure Menu
51
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCEXTDSOLID
Navigator:
None
Takes an entity on the layer _SLD with a closed tool path and creates a solid from it. If the path is not already closed, this
function will ask if you wish to have it closed. If so, the program will ask for the entities that are to be closed to be selected
and will then proceed to close the path. Otherwise the function will end.
1.
Select the toolpaths from which to create the plate solid from. A plate part can only have one outside toolpath, but may
have any number of inside toolpaths, and markings. Inside toolpaths create holes in the part. The function will abort if
entities with any other than the defined process colors color are selected.
2.
The function displays a dialog to select the stock to use for the plate part, and the throw direction of it. Use the Group
Default button to select a stock that has the same thickness as the thickness set for the 2D group drawing. The Plate
Throw Direction will also display the default throw direction set for the 2D group drawing.
3.
The solid is created using the stock settings from Manager. The color of the solid is the same as set in Manager.
Note: You can change the stock colors in Manager at any time. Make sure to run a check on all 2D group drawings. The
check function will update all solid colors to the updated color in Manager.
Solid - Stiffener Menu

Stiffeners are created from stock profiles. Manager contains a library of profiles. ShipConstructor distinguishes three
principal types of stiffeners:
Stiffeners that are straight and are attached to a plate.
Stiffeners that are straight and are not attached to a plate.
Stiffeners that are curved.
Solid - Stiffener - New

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener/ New
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCEXTDSTFNR
Navigator:
None
Straight stiffener attached to a plate

1.
We start with a simple plate part with three marking lines for the stiffeners. All stiffeners will be made from the same
profile and have the same end conditions. We can then make the stiffeners in one go.
2.
Start the New Stiffener command.
Select objects.
3.
Pick on the three stiffener marking lines.
Select plate solid:
4.
The function activates the solid layer. Pick the plate solid to which the stiffener will be attached to.
SC Structure Menu
53
5.
The function displays the Stiffener dialog.
Stock - Name of the profile in Manager. The parameters of the stock are displayed below the name.
Attach to - Select here on which side of the solid you want to attach the profile.
Toe direction - Select here the toe direction.
Endcuts - Select the endcut for the start and end.
Trim1 Trim2 - Discussed later.
Cross section preview - Displays the cross section drawing.
Lengthen Shorten - To lengthen or shorten the stiffener.
6.
Click OK when all settings are set.
7.
The stiffeners are created.
Swap endcuts/<Done>:
8.
You have the option to swap the endcuts.
Rules for stiffener start and end position

It is sometimes difficult to imagine where ShipConstructor will place the endcuts on the profile. For this reason you have the
option to swap endcuts after the stiffeners are created. ShipConstructor uses this rule to determine which side is called the
start and which one is called the end.
Imagine yourself standing in front of a workbench. The stiffener is on the workbench with the length from left to right. The
foot of the web is closer to you, and the flange is lying down toward the workbench surface. The left side of the stiffener is
the start, the other side is the end.
START
END
Another way to look at it is to look at the end of the stiffener. You are looking at the start, is the flange is to the left. You are
looking at the end if the flange is to the right.
Straight stiffener not attached to a plate

Most often you will use the kind of stiffeners for frames. Often those stiffeners also include trim angles.
Trim angles
Consider the figure below. In most cases stiffeners are cut at the end under 90 degrees to the length of the profile, not
considering any endcuts.
We will create the stiffener for the side shell in an example as shown in the figure below. The stiffener has to be miter cut at
the chine, and cut at the top, such that the end aligns with the end. We will also use a simple radius endcut at both ends.
SC Structure Menu
55
To follow along you might want to draw a similar example.

1.
Start the New Stiffener function.
Select lines or 2D polylines to extrude stiffener along:
2.
Select the side shell line. Press ENTER.
Select plate solid:
3.
Press ENTER without selecting anything. This tells the ShipConstructor that this stiffener does not attach to a plate.
4.
In the stiffener dialog set the following options.
Stock - Select a profile of your choice.
Web direction - Select starboard.
Toe direction - Your choice.
End cut - Your choice.
Trim1 - From the drop down list select Deck. Click Pick and select the deck line.
Trim2 - From the drop down select Custom.
Locate first point in plane:
5.
Click one endpoint on the miter line.
Locate second point in plane:
6.
Click the other endpoint on the miter line.
Locate third point in plane or ENTER for perpendicular to UCS:
7.
Press ENTER to cut perpendicular to the frame plane.
The result of the operation is shown in the figure above.
The production report for the same stiffener is show above.
Endcuts - Both endcuts are listed by their names, one for the start and one for the end.
Assembly - For each stiffener the assembly that it goes into is listed. The report can be sorted by assembly, making
just-in-time production feasible.
Part name - The name of the stiffener.
Length - The longest length of the stiffener when square cut before trimming.
Trim Angles - Angles of cut at the end of the stiffener. Negative angles are cut towards the center of the stiffener when
measuring the length at the foot of the web. Positive angles are cut towards the center of the stiffener when measuring
the length at the top of the web.
SC Structure Menu
57
Lengthen Shorten
Lengthen or shorten lets you make the stiffener profile longer or shorter than the actual extrusion line. A typical application is
the connection of the longitudinal stiffeners with flatbars in the floor of U12. Consider the figure below. The cross sections of
the longitudinal profiles have been connected with straight lines. The flatbars to be extruded along these lines have to overlap
the longitudinal profiles by 50 mm. Instead of extending the lines manually, just set the lengthen option to 50 for start and
end.
In other cases you might stay away from the end of the extrusion line. Just insert a negative value to create a stiffener that is
shorter by the given amount.
Curved stiffeners
Curved stiffeners are created along a curved path. In general you will use these on shell or deck plating. These stiffeners are
not attached to a solid. The function works in general the same as for straight stiffeners not attached to a plate solid.
You will find an example in the tutorial section of this manual.
Note: Inverse bending curves are currently calculated by ShipCAM. We are planning to provide this capability in the
future in ShipConstructor.
Solid - Stiffener - Stiffener

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener/ Edit
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCFLANGE
Navigator:
None
This function allows you to change the properties of one or several stiffeners. The dialog is the same as for creating new
stiffeners.
Object Property Manager for Stiffeners & Faceplates

Menu:
Right-click / Properties
Toolbar button: None

Command line:
None
Navigator:
None
By selecting Properties from the right-click menu while you have a Stiffener or Faceplate selected, you can bring up the
AutoCAD Object Property Manager (OPM). All AutoCAD entities can have some of their properties edited from the OPM,
and ShipConstructors intelligent entities are no exception. Numerous properties including endcuts, stock, toe direction and
web direction can all be changed here instead of using the ShipConstructor Edit functions.
SC Structure Menu
59
Solid - Stiffener New Twisted

Twisted Stiffeners twist about their foot point. These types of stiffeners cannot currently be defined in the same manner as
regular stiffeners. New to ShipConstructor 2000 is the ability to import ShipCAM .str (stringers) files into a drawing as a
new object, the Twisted Stiffener. These Twisted Stiffeners can be used in part creation as you would use a normal stiffener;
they contribute weight and CG information to the project and can be included in the Stiffener plots.
Solid - Stiffener New Twisted

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / New Twisted

Command line:
SCCREATETWIST
Navigator:
None
This function allows you insert a new Twisted Stiffener into the current drawing. The drawing has to be a group drawing.
You can add the twisted stiffeners to an existing frame, deck, or girder drawing. However, it is recommended that you create
a new drawing specifically for the twisted stiffeners. The most convenient way is to create a fake deck drawing. Do so by:
opening the 3D unit drawing,
activating the WCS,
drawing a line (any line),
making a new deck group drawing and naming it something like TWS_STIF.
You prepare the stiffener files in the ShipCAM LoftSpace program module. You have to generate stiffener marks on frames
and then save these as stringer surfaces. Normally this would be done on frames only. However, this will result in stiffeners
that are straight between frames. This is fine as long as there is little longitudinal change between frames. You should cut
sections closer than the frames spacing in areas of the hull with large changes., and use these to create the stringer surfaces.
1.
Open the twisted stiffener group drawing or any group drawing you wish to add the stiffeners to.
2.
Select SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / New Twisted.
3.
Use the open dialog to search for a stringer file to be used to create the twisted stiffener. The stringer file selected will be
treated as the stiffeners Web, the Flange (or Toe) direction will be set during the stiffener editing.
4.
The edit twisted stiffener dialog allows you to specify a unit conversion (in case the ShipCAM files were generated in
different units), the toe direction, the stock and the endcuts (if any). The twisted stiffeners can use any stock or endcuts
defined for regular stiffeners.
SC Structure Menu
61
5.
The Twisted stiffener looks vary similar to a normal stiffener, however you will notice that the Twisted stiffener displays
an S and an E at the start and the end respectively. This is to aid in the easy identification of the ends when adding
endcuts.
Note: The AutoCAD solid engine is not capable of displaying complex twisted stiffeners. Until that is the case,
ShipConstructor displays stiffeners using our own surface technology. However, endcuts cannot be displayed correctly.
However, internally the stiffener knows which endcuts are used, and this will be report in the profile reports and in the
profile plots.
Solid - Stiffener Edit Twisted

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Edit Twisted

Command line:
SCEDITTWIST
Navigator:
None
This function allows you edit an existing Twisted Stiffener.

1.
Select SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Edit Twisted.
2.
Select the Twisted Stiffeners you wish to edit.
3.
Change the twisted stiffeners properties.
Solid - Stiffener - Insert Cutout

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Insert Cutout
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCCHGSTF
Navigator:
None
This function allows you to insert cutouts into stiffeners. The cutouts can either be the ones defined for other stiffeners or for
example drain holes. In this example we will insert a drain hole ellipse and a cut out for another stiffener passing through the
stiffener.
To be able to follow along with this example open a frame drawing and find an empty area. Draw a horizontal line about
2500mm long. Draw three vertical lines to locate the cutouts on. Two of them trim to the extrusion line, the other one 75 mm
away from the extrusion line.
Inserting a lightning hole

1.
Extrude a stiffener along the extrusion line using the same settings as below.
SC Structure Menu
63
2.
Select SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Insert Cutout or click
3.
Click on the stiffener.
4.
In the dialog, select the cutout as shown. Click OK.
Choose Cutout Insert Point<Mirror>:
5.
Select the endpoint of one of the short location lines where it intersects with the stiffener foot. A complex command line
is displayed. The figure below shows an explanation of the options on an inclined stiffener. ortho - only vertical and
horizontal positions are allowed, tangent - only positions tangential to the stiffener are allowed, perpendicular - only
positions perpendicular are allowed, custom - any rotation is allowed, back - back to the previous command line,
which allows you to pick a new position, offset - the cutout will be offset by the value from the picked point, mirror mirrors the cutout.
Angle<(Or)tho/(T)angent/(P)erpendicular/(C)ustom/Back/Offset/Mirror>:
6.
Type O for Offset and press ENTER.
Command: Enter Cutout Offset: 75
7.
Enter 75 and press ENTER.
8.
Select and orientation you desire and click the left mouse button. Press ENTER. The cutout is inserted as shown.
Inserting a stiffener cutout

1.
Select SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Insert Cutout or click
2.
3.
In the dialog, select the cutout as shown. Click OK.
4.
Select one of the other location lines. Select perpendicular and click the left mouse button. Result below.
Practice: Try out some of the other options as well.

Practice: Try the same on a slanted stiffener.
Practice: Try the same on a curve stiffener.
Solid - Stiffener Insert Weld Seam Reliefs

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Insert Weld Seam Reliefs

Command line:
SCINSERTWELDSEAMRELIEFS
Navigator:
None
This function inserts reliefs for weld seams into stiffeners.

1.
Select SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Insert Weld Seam Reliefs.
Select stiffeners to insert reliefs:
2.
Select the stiffeners into which to insert reliefs. Press Enter.
SC Structure Menu
65
Specify or select start point:
3.
Select the start point of the weld seam line. This has to be a straight line. If using a curved weld seam, then pick only on
stiffener at a time, and use the OSNAP NEAREST and pick a point close to the point where the weld seam intersects the
stiffener. Press ENTER.
Specify or select end point:
4.
Select the end point of the weld seam. This has to be a straight line. If using a curved weld seam, then pick only on
stiffener at a time, and use the OSNAP NEAREST and pick a point close to the point where the weld seam intersects the
stiffener. Press ENTER.
5.
Select the weld seam cutout from the dialog.
Solid - Stiffener - Edit Cutouts

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Edit Cutouts
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCEDCUTOUT
Navigator:
None
1.
This function allows you edit the cutouts within a stiffener.
2.
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Edit Cutouts or click
3.
Click on the stiffener. The dialog is displayed. It lists all cutouts with their properties.
4.
Double click on one of the cutouts or right-click and select properties. A dialog that lets you change the properties is
displayed.
5.
You can now change any of the parameters of the cutout, including the cutout itself. You can also delete the cutout.
Solid - Stiffener - Remove Cutouts - New

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Remove Cutouts

Command line:
SCDELCUTOUT
Navigator:
None
This function allows you edit the cutouts within a stiffener.

1.
Select SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener/ Remove Cutouts.
2.
3.
Click near the cutout you want to remove. The cutout is removed.
Solid - Stiffener - Extract Polyline - New

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Stiffener / Remove Cutouts

Command line:
SCPOLYFROMSTF
Navigator:
None
This function extracts the polyline from which the stiffener was originally created.
Solid - Faceplate Menu

Faceplates are made from flat bar stock set up in the Manager library, and are flatbars welded to plates to reinforce them.
They are defined using the edge of a plate part.
SC Structure Menu
67
Preparation
Faceplates are created from a closed or open polyline.
The polyline is the edge of a plate part.
The plate part must exist before you can create a faceplate for it.
If the polyline is closed you can create an open or closed faceplate.
You need to know where the start and endpoint of the flat bar profile will be. In many cases you will need to draw help lines
that indicate the start and end points.
Solid - Faceplate - New

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Faceplate / New
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCFACEPLATE
Navigator:
None
1.
Select Solid / Faceplate / New.
Select Line, Arc, or Polyline for Faceplate creation:
2.
Select the toolpath of the plate edge along which to run the faceplate.
Select solid:
3.
Select the plate solid to which the faceplate will attach.
4.
A dialog to select the stock and set parameters is displayed. Select the options as shown.
These are the options that you can set with the dialog.
Stock - Lets you select the flatbar stock that you want to use for the faceplate. The detail data of the stock is
displayed, such as color, width, and thickness.
Plate Data - Displays the thickness and throw direction of the plate solid you picked. This is for confirmation only.
Endcuts - Select the endcut type if any.
Path - You can choose to create an open or closed faceplate.
Make start and end symbols - If checked the function will place a triangle at the start of the faceplate and a
hook at the end. Both point towards the other end of the faceplate. Manager creates production information that
allows a worker or automatic bending machine to bend the faceplate without a drawing. During assembly the
faceplate has to be inserted in the proper direction to fit. The figure below shows an open faceplate with start and
end symbols, and the report data for it.
Position - Gives you options on how to locate the flatbar on the edge of the plate part.
5.
Click OK to continue.
6.
If you chose to make a closed faceplate:
Select the start point of the faceplate.
7.
Click on the desired start point location on the path.
Select a point to indicate direction.
8.
The function sets OSNAP NEAR. Click in the direction on the path into which you want the faceplate to proceed. Since
it will be a closed faceplate, the start and end will be at the same position. However, the bending process needs to know
which is start and which is the end.
SC Structure Menu
69
Pick Face Plate Thickness direction.
9.
Pick on the side of the path to which the faceplate solid will throw.
10. If you chose an open faceplate.

Select the start point of the faceplate
11. Click on the desired start point location on the path.

Select the end point of the faceplate
12. Click on the desired end point location on the path.

Select segment for faceplate:
13. The function set OSNAP NEAR. The function breaks the closed path into two segments, which are displayed in two
different colors. Pick the segment for the faceplate.
Pick Face Plate Thickness direction.
14. Pick on the side of the path to which the faceplate solid will throw.
Solid - Faceplate - Edit Faceplate

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Faceplate / Edit Faceplate
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCFACEPLATE
Navigator:
None
This function edits the faceplate data. You can change any of the parameters shown in the dialog.
Solid - Flange Plate

Menu:
SC Structure / Solid / Flange Plate
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCFLANGE
Navigator:
None
This function flanges a plate. Define the flanging parameters in Manager. Each flange type has a name and several
parameters. These are:
First & Second Relief Radius - Size of a radius inserted at the ends of the flange.
First & Second Snip Angle - Angle of snipe on both ends of the flange.
Fold Line Correction - During expansion the web will stretch. To correct this the fold line will be moved closer to the
foot of the web. In practice you will use the plate thickness (value 1.0) up to a plate thickness of 20mm (about inch). If
in doubt make a flange test. Cut a square piece of plate from several plate thicknesses. Measure the length of the pieces.
Flange each piece and add up the sizes of the web and the flange, subtract twice the plate thickness. Compare the values
with the original length. Make adjustments if required.
Flange Correction - In principal the same as the fold line correction.
Size - Size of the flange.
To create a flange you must have a plate solid and the outside toolpath that created the solid.
1.
Start the flange command.
Select polyline segment to flange:
2.
Click on the outside toolpath on the segment that you want to flange. The flanging function breaks out of the polyline the
straight line segment that you picked on.
Select the direction of the flange:
3.
Click in the direction of the expanded flange.
SC Structure Menu
71
4.
The flange dialog is displayed. Set your parameters. Click OK.
5.
You have to identify the first and second ends of the fold line if the parameters are different for both ends of the flange.
Just click on the end points.
6.
In the dialog select your preferences.
Flange Text - The text that the function places at the center of the flange line.
Text Size - Size of the text.
Symbol Size - Near both ends of the fold line will be two diamond shaped symbols. This is the size of the
diamonds.
Shorten Fold Line By - If checked the fold line will be shortened by the value on both ends.
7.
Click OK to continue.
8.
Next, select the direction of the flange solid.
9.
The flange is created.
10. You have to do some clean up work on the end of the flange on the production layer. Trim and connect the lines to a
toolpath again.
Part Menu
This menu gives access to the many functions concerning parts. Parts are represented as blocks in ShipConstructor drawings.
Several part functions are available from the toolbars.

Edit Part
Reactivate Part
Deactivate Part
Undefine Part
Define Part
All parts consist of production and solid information:
Production - All production information is blocked together to an AutoCAD block. It consists of all AutoCAD
entities, required to produce the part with NC cutting and to enable workers to produce or assemble it. In general you
will find:
o
One outside toolpath - Used to cut the part out of plate stock.
None or many inside toolpaths - Used to cut holes into the part.
None or many marking lines or marking text - Used to generate markings on the plate part, generally
produced by a marking head on the NC machine.
None or many No Process entities - Used for human use only. These will be ignored by automatic cutting
equipment.
Solid - The solids are used for visualization, interference checking and calculation of weight, volume, surface
and CG position. Older versions of ShipConstructor used standard ACIS solids. Albacore is using a new and exciting
technology called custom objects. You will find that if you do an AutoCAD LIST on a stiffener, it is an
ARLSTIFFENER. Custom parts allow us to provide much better functionality to you. For example, the Edit Stiffener
SC Structure Menu
73
function, and the trim angles have only been possible with the introduction of the ARLSTIFFENER custom object. We
are currently working on cutouts in stiffeners, which are only possible using our custom objects.
ARLSTIFFENER
Layer: _SLD
Space: Model space

Color: 1 (red) Linetype: CONTINUOUS
Handle = 3D1C
Part Name: U12LBHC-S99
Start: 73920.0
10304.0
2168.0
End:
10518.7
3261.0
73920.0
Stock: BF160X09
Web Direction: Starboard
Toe Direction: Aft
Left
Endcut: RAD25
Right Endcut: RAD25

Left
Trim Angle: Web: -29.9 Flange: 0.0
Right Trim Angle: Web: -11.1 Flange: 0.0

Open
Constant width
0.0000
at point X=10304.0 Y=2168.0 Z=
0.0
at point X=10518.7 Y=3261.0 Z=
0.0
area
0.0000
There are three different types of structural parts:
Plate Part - Made from plate stock. The plate stock can be flanged or flat. The production layer contains all entities to
produce the plate part.
Stiffener Part - Made from profile or flatbar stock. The production layer contains only the piecemark.
Faceplate part - Made from flatbar stock. The production layer contains all entities to produce the plate part.
Part - Define
Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Define
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCCRPART
Navigator:
None
This function defines a part from the solid, or ARL custom object, and the production information. The pertinent part data is
added to Manager.
Defining a Plate Part

The following are the steps when creating a plate part.
1.
Start the Define Part function.
2.
The function activates the solid layer.
Select solid:
3.
Select the plate solid for the new part.
4.
The function activates the production layer.
Select production objects for part:
5.
Select all entities required for production. This includes one and only one outside toolpath, any inside
toolpaths, any markings and any no process colors. You will get an error message if you selected more than
one outside toolpath or any entity with an undefined color.
6.
Correct any problems there might be.
7.
The part dialog is displayed.
8.
Most data is filled in automatically. Just a few items remain to be set by you. Automatically inserted items include:
Part name base - The base of the part name is automatically generated using the settings in Manager.
o
From drawing name - The base is the name of the current drawing.
Last Created - Use the last part name.
Custom - Lets you specify a custom part name using any assembly level. The part name base is created from the
assembly the part is assigned to.
SC Structure Menu
75
Part name extension - This is the second part of the part name. This portion is created according to the settings in
Manager.
Part Side in Part Name - Adds a P, C, S, or PS to the end of the part name extension. It is inserted in the grayed third
box of the part name, and cannot be changed. It changes if you select a different part side. For example change for P to
PS.
Part Type in Part Name - Start the extension with a character depending on the part type; P for plate part, S for a
stiffener, F for a faceplate.
Assembly - Assigns the part to a specific assembly. The assembly structure is set up in Manager. The part can also be
assigned in Manager to any assembly structure without opening the drawing. Check the Show parts option to show all
parts in the Assembly tree. This option is off by default, because on a large project it could slow down the dialog display
significantly.
Type - Part type, Plate, Profile or Flatbar, are the stock types. This field cannot be changed.
Stock - The name of stock used for the part. The stock can only be changed if: 1. - the stock is a plate stock; 2. - there
are two plate stocks with the same thickness, but they differ in the quality of the material.
Material - Material used. This field can not be changed.
Paint - Any paint process listed in the paint table. The paint table can be modified in Manager.
LCG, TCG, VCG - Position of the center of gravity obtained from the solid. The CG position is accurate to several
decimal places for any type of part, simple or complex.
Weight - Weight of the part. The weight is accurate to several decimal places for any type of part, simple or complex.
Length - Length of outside and inside cutting paths combined.
Descriptions - Any description you like. Descriptions are listed in the structural report.
9.
Mark far side - Check this option if you want to mark the far side of a plate part. This option is automatically checked
if the marking entities are all set to far side, indicated by a dashed line style. The far side indicator is added to a marking
entity by checking the FAR Side option in the Process dialog. The far side option if also added to any flanging entity if
required and the option Flange side determines marking side in Manager.
Part Side - The side the part is on - port, starboard, center or port and starboard for mirror parts. The initial setting
is determined from the value of the TCG position. A positive value will select the P option, a negative value will
select the S option, a value of 0 or very close to 0 will select the C option. If your last part was a PS part then you
will be asked if the new part shall also be a PS part.
Thickness Throw - Shows the throw direction of the plate part.
Click OK when done. The part Annotation dialog is displayed. Here you control the appearance of the piecemark for the
part. Set the piecemark text size, leader line and OSNAP options. Click OK when done.
Some settings are also controlled with Manager.
Marking - If checked the piecemarks will be created in marking color.
SC Structure Menu
77
No Process - If checked the piecemarks will be created in no process color.
Std Part as no Process - If checked standard parts, such as brackets, will have the piecemarks created using the
no process color.
Text Size - The default text size used in the annotation dialog.
Bubble - If checked a bubble will be created around the piecemark.
Select position of piece-mark.
10. Click for the position of the piecemark. The piecemark should be completely contained inside the outside toolpath of the
plate part.
11. You can select to move the piecemark using the next dialog, Use this if the position is not satisfactory.
Defining a stiffener or faceplate part

There are a few differences when creating a stiffener or faceplate part.
No production entities - There are no production entities to select. After picking the solid the Part dialog will
immediately display.
Length - The length is the length of the faceplate or stiffener. The neutral axis is used when curved parts are involved.
Endcuts - Lists the endcuts used for the part.
The piecemark for plate parts and stiffener parts is always in No Process color.
Part - List
Menu:
SC Structure / Part / List
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCDATALST
Navigator:
None
Lists the main properties of all parts in the current 2D group or nest drawing in a list dialog. Sort by any column, ascending
or descending, by clicking on the column header.
Right-click on a part to display a menu.
SC Structure Menu
79
Menu functions are:
Zoom To - Zooms to the part.
View in Nest - Opens the nest drawing where this part is nested. Menu item changes View in Group if in a nest
drawing.
Properties - Displays the part properties for editing.
Add Objects - Lets you add entities to the part. See later in this part of the chapter.
New - Define a new part. See later in this part of the chapter.
Deactivate - To deactivate a part. See later in this part of the chapter.
Reactivate - To reactivate a part. See later in this part of the chapter.
Undefine - To undefine a part. See later in this part of the chapter.
Warning: It can take some time to display the dialog if you have a slow server, a slow network, a slow computer or a very
large Manager file. Use MS Access Tools / Database Utilities / Compact Database to reduce the database overhead. This
makes the database file smaller and improves performance. If still too slow, consider upgrading the weakest link in your
computer setup. All menu functions in the dialogs menu are also available directly from the standard menu, which works a
lot faster, but is not quite as convenient.
Part - Add Objects

SC Structure / Part / Add Objects
Menu:

Command line:
SCADDPEN
Navigator:
None
Adds objects to existing parts. You can select one or more parts to which you can add objects to. For each part you will be
asked which objects you want to add. You can only add objects to a plate part. You can only add production entities to a part.
1.
Start the Add Objects function.
Select parts:
2.
Select one or more parts.
Select objects to add to U12F112-P01P
3.
Select the objects you want to add to the part.
You cannot add outside tool paths, or illegal colored objects.
Marking, no process and inside cut are legal process colors.
You will get a warning if the part is already nested. If you change a nested part, you should run a check on the
nest(s). The check will identify all changed parts and allows you to re-nest them automatically.
If any of the entities is an inside cut, the plate part solid will be modified to reflect the hole.
Part Insert Scallop

Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Insert Scallop

Command line:
SCADDSCALLOPTOPLATE
Navigator:
None
Inserts scallops into an existing plate part. The scallops are semi-circles. You can insert multiple scallops at the same time.
This function is useful for weld reliefs.
1.
Select SC Structure / Part / Insert Scallop.
Default scallop radius = 25.00 mm

Input scallop radius:
2.
Enter the desired scallop radius. Press ENTER.
Select plate:
3.
Click on the plate part to add the scallops to.
Select points to add scallop at:
4.
Select where scallop(s) should be entered. You have to pick on the tool path. The scallops are entered,
Part - Mirror
Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Mirror Part

Command line:
SCMRRPART
Navigator:
None
Mirrors one or more parts about the centerline. Each part automatically receives a new part name. You have the option to
swap text strings in the mirrored parts, as indicated in the dialog below.
Important: Do not use the AutoCAD mirror command for mirroring parts! This will not work as expected.
Part - Undefine
Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Undefine also AutoCAD ERASE
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCRMVPRT
Navigator:
None
Un-defines a part. You can select one or more parts at the same time. This requires deleting the part record from Manager.
You can choose to keep the AutoCAD entities. In this case the part block is exploded and the piecemark is removed. All
other production entities and the solid entity are kept.
SC Structure Menu
81
Note: A warning will be displayed is a part is already nested. The part will be removed from the nest drawing if you proceed.
Tip: You can also use the standard AutoCAD ERASE or EXPLODE commands. ShipConstructor intercepts them and
performs all required operations in Manager.
Note: You can use the AutoCAD UNDO to undo the un-defining of parts. For this reason the part record in Manager is
marked as erases, but the data is kept, until you leave the drawing. At this point the part record is irreversibly removed from
Manager. You will see the erased part record, until final removal in Manager. See figure below.
Part - Edit Properties

Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Edit Properties
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCDATAPCK
Navigator:
None
Edits the part data of a part. You can select more than one part. The parts will be edited in sequence one at a time. See Define
part for a detailed discussion of the items in the part data dialog.
Part - Deactivate
Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Deactivate
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCDEACTPRT
Navigator:
None
Deactivates a part. Marks a part as deactivated in Manager. This function leaves the piecemark. Only the colors of it are
changed and the bubble is hatched. This allows you to re-nest the part at the same location as before. Use this function when
you need to remove entities from the part, or make significant changes to it.
Use reactivate part to reactivate a deactivated part.
Part - Reactivate
Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Reactivate
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCACTSAP
Navigator:
None
Reactivates a deactivated part. The function prompts you to select the solid first, then the production entities. Make sure you
include the hatched piecemark.
Part - Piecemark
Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Piecemark

Command line:
SCMARKMDFY
Navigator:
None
Edits the piecemark. You can change the location and the size of the piecemark. This function uses the same dialogs and
steps as when defining a part.
Note: The piecemark insertion point is used as the insertion location in the nest drawing. If a part is already nested, then you
should run a nest check, and re-nest all parts that have changed. Make sure to check all part with changed piecemarks, as their
position will have shifted, and might interfere with parts next to it.
Part - Mark With OOP Text

Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Mark With OOP Text
SC Structure Menu
83
Command line:
SCNAMEDU
Navigator:
None
1.
Creates a text string in the current UCS with the name of a part that you pick.
2.
Make sure you are in the UCS in which you want the text to appear.
3.
Start the function.
Select out of plane part:
4.
Select the out of plane part.
Select position of part name:
5.
Select a position for the text.
<Rotation angle>/Reference:
6.
Rotate the text until in the desired orientation.
7.
The text is created in the marking color.
Part Mirror text Marking

Menu:
SC Structure / Part / Mirror Text Marking

Command line:
SCMRTEXT
Navigator:
None
Makes a copy of the piecemark text of a part (without the bubble) and mirrors is about center line. Use this function for
example if you have a transverse bulkhead with stiffeners attached to it. You only defined the port side stiffeners and
dedicated them as P/S parts. Now you would like to mark your plate with stiffener piece marks also on the starboard side.
Simple select the stiffener piece marks after starting this function.
Insert Standard Part

Menu:
SC Structure / Insert Standard
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCINSERTSTD
Navigator:
None
Inserts a previously defined standard part. See the Standard menu near the end of the reference section for details on how to
create standards.
1.
Make sure that you are in the UCS you want the part located in.
2.
Start the function.
Select the insertion point of the part:
3.
Select the insertion point. The part will be inserted with the origin in the standard drawing at the picked position.
Rotate standard part:
4.
Rotate the part using the mouse.
Mirror Part? Yes/<No>
5.
Select Yes if the part has to be mirrored.
Detailing Menu
The detailing menu provides several functions used during the detailing of parts. Most of the functions automate processes
that are specific to shipbuilding.
The menu is accompanied by a toolbar fly-out.
SC Structure Menu
85
Detailing - Break Intersection

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Break Intersection
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCBRKINT
Navigator:
None
Breaks a line, polyline or arc by finding the intersection of the entity with another entity. Use this function when a long entity
has to be broken. Consider a simple example. A large bulkhead is made up of several plates. Each plate has to be defined by a
closed outside toolpath. At each seam intersection with an edge the edge has to be split into two entities, each for the toolpath
of one plate. See figure.
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Break Intersection or click

out.
in the
Select entity to break:
2.
Select the entity to break.
Select the breaking point:
3.
Pick the intersection point. The object snap is set to automatically to INTERSECTION.
4.
The entity is split and both parts are redrawn in different colors.
fly-
Note: If the entity to be broken is a polyline, it is possible that AutoCAD selects one of the polyline vertices instead of the
intersection. ShipConstructor will display a warning dialog. You can accept the breaking point. Zoom in or Cancel. Accept
the breaking point only if you know that the break is on a polyline vertex. Otherwise zoom in and try again. The function will
zoom to the original zoom stage, even if you do several zoom-ins.
Detailing - Break Distance

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Break Distance
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCBRKDST
Navigator:
None
This function only works for straight lines. All other entities will be rejected. Breaks the selected line based on distance
from the end of the line.
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Break Distance or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
Select a line entity to break:
2.
Select the entity.
Select the end to break from:
3.
The OSNAP is set to END. Pick the end from which you want to specify a distance.
4.
Dialog requests the distance from the selected end. Enter the distance and click OK. The Line is split and both parts are
redrawn in different colors.
Detailing - 3D to 2D Poly
Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / 3D to 2D Polyline
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCCONV
Navigator:
None
Converts a 3D entity into a 2D entity on the XY plane of the current UCS. Use this function for example if a polyline is
slightly out of plane, or if you defined entities on the thickness throw UCS and want them now in the construction UCS.
SC Structure Menu
87
Select SC Structure / Detailing / 3D to 2D Polyline or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
Select the entities to convert.
Detailing - Mark Group with drawings

SC Structure / Detailing / Mark Group with Drawings
Menu:
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCMARK
Navigator:
None
Marks the current group drawing with lines where other group drawings intersect. Consider a frame, which is intersected by
decks and girders. ShipConstructor calculates all intersection lines between the frame and any of the decks and girders by
calculating the true intersection of two planes in 3D space. One of the planes is defined by the currently active UCS in the
frame drawing, the other planes are the construction UCS and thickness throw UCS planes in the other group drawings.
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Mark Group with DWGs or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
2.
The Mark Group Intersections dialog is displayed. Select the groups that you want to mark onto the current drawing.
Available Planar Groups - The list on the left of the dialog shows all planar groups that intersect the frame. You
can select the groups that you want to mark. By default all planar groups are selected.
Throw Symbols - Check this option to create a throw symbol as shown in the figure below. The symbol indicates
the throw direction from the marking lines. The small vertical lines on the side of the symbol indicate the thickness
of the intersecting group. This value is corrected for the intersection angle in case of a skewed (non-perpendicular)
intersection. The size box allows you to set the height to the top of the symbol.
Throw Symbol
Marking Line
Throw Lines - Checking this option creates a thickness line as shown in the next figure.
Thickness Line
Group Text - Checking this option creates a text, to label the line with the name of the group. The size box is the
size of the text that will be created. You also have the option to Strip unit prefix.
Unit prefix removed
Unit prefix not removed
3.
Once all values are entered in the dialog as shown, click OK. The markings are created as shown in the next figure. All
lines are 10% longer than the current extents of the drawing. You will have to trim the lines later to their appropriate
sizes using standard AutoCAD trimming.
Detailing - Thickness Throw Lines

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Thickness Throw Lines
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCTTLINES
Navigator:
None
Converts simple marking lines into user definable dashed lines with optional thickness throw indicators. Make sure the lines
have the desired process color for marking or no processing before you start this function.
SC Structure Menu
89
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Thickness Throw Lines or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
2.
Select the lines to convert to marking throw lines.
3.
The dialog below is displayed. It has the following options.
Shorten by - Shortens the selected lines on both ends by the specified amount.
Throw line size - Size of the throw indicator. At the moment this is a short line at the end of the marking line.
Angle - Angle of the throw line indicator to the marking line.
Partial Marking - If checked the selected line(s) are broken down into segments. The segmentation is controlled
by two parameters:
Mark Length - The length of the short segments.
Spacing - The size of the spacing between any two segments.
Save Throw Line Styles - This new version allows you to save different throw line styles and recall them as
required. This is particularly useful when marking expanded shell plating, which may contain many different
marking lines crossing each other, such as; frame lines, deck lines, roll lines, sight lines and more. Using different
settings for mark length and spacing simplifies identification of the lines. Select the name of the Throw Line Style to
use to load the settings.
Save button - Save the current settings to the current or a new throw line style. In the dialog enter a new name if
you want to create a new style. Leave the name if you just want to save the settings for the current style.
Delete button - Deletes the currently selected throw line style.
4.
Click OK to use the select throw line style.
5.
If the throw line size is not zero, than you have to pick in the direction to which you want the throw indicator to point,
otherwise ShipConstructor has all required information and converts the selected lines using the settings. Shown below
are two different partial marking options with and without throw indicators.
Detailing - Insert Stiffener Cutout

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Insert Stiffener Cutout
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCINSCUTOUT
Navigator:
None
Inserts cutout and profiles into the drawing. The cutouts and profiles are set up in Manager.
Manager Profile Library

The Manager file contains pre-defined stock profiles. You can also create your own profiles. ShipConstructor is delivered
with two ready-made templates with many pre-defined profiles, flatbars and plates. One of the templates is for metric
dimensions, the other for imperial dimensions.
Creating your own profile stock

A profile stock is a record in the ShipConstructor database file. However, Manager cannot store CAD geometry. The
geometry of the profile and the cutout is defined in AutoCAD drawings. The drawings are linked to the Manager record. The
dialog below shows the data required in Manager to set up a profile in the library. Beside just entering information such as
Name, Mfg. No and so on we also need AutoCAD drawings for the Cross Section shape of the profile, the non-tight cutout,
and the tight cutout.
SC Structure Menu
91
Use the Navigator Standard tab to create required drawings for the profile library.
Profile Cross section drawing

Create a new drawing using the Navigator as shown above. Look up the profile cross-section parameter in the suppliers
catalog. The profile must be a 2D polyline, and closed. This has to be the only entity in the drawing. Make sure the foot point
of the profile is at 0,0 in WCS.
Tight cutout and non-tight cutout drawing

Create a new drawing using the Navigator. The cutout must be an open 2D polyline. This has to be the only entity in the
drawing. Make sure the 0,0 point of the cut coincides with origin of the associated profile.
Creating a new profile library entry

The new profile library entry is created using Manager.
1.
Start Manager.
2.
Select Libraries / Stocks.
3.
Select the type of new stock you wish to create; i.e. Flatbar, Angle, Tee.
4.
Click New Stock.
5.
In the dialog type a Name.
6.
Select a profile Type from the drop down menu. The options are:
7.
Enter a manufacturer number. Optional.
8.
Select a material from the drop down list.
9.
Click on the Browse button beside the XSection DWG field. Select the AutoCAD drawing with the newly created
profile.
10. You can also link a tight and non-tight cutout to the same profile. This is optional.
11. Here are detailed descriptions of the items in the Profile & Plates Library dialog.
Type of Stock - Plate, Flatbar, Angle, Tee.
SC Structure Menu
93
Manufacturer. - The manufacturer number field is optional. You can enter your internal manufacturer or stock
number here. It can later be listed in Bills of Materials.
Color - This is the color that the solid will use when you create a stiffener with this profile. Selecting colors
carefully can help you detect incorrect stock selection in a group or unit drawing before production packages are
issued.
Description - Enter any description for the stock.
Web Neutral axis - The distance of the neutral bending axis from the foot point of the profile.
Flange Neutral Axis - Distance of the neutral bending axis form the foot point.
Web Thickness - Thickness of the web. Used in profile plot to generate the hidden line indicating the web.
Flange Thickness - Thickness of the web. Used in profile plot to generate the hidden line indicating the flange.
XSectionDWG - This contains the name of an AutoCAD drawing. The drawing contains the cross section of the
profile, as found in the suppliers catalog. The cross section is a single closed polyline. The profile cross-section
files are stored in the standards/profile folder.
Tight Cutout / Non-Tight Cutout - These fields are optional. They point to drawings containing the appropriate
cutouts for the profile. The cutouts are open polylines. They are located in the standards/cutout folder.
Cutout and profile insertion

1.
Mark the location where you want to insert the profile and cutout.
2.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Insert Stiffener cutouts or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
3.
From the list select the profile. Check the items that you want inserted. Click OK.
4.
Insert the profile cutout at the marked position of the vertical line and the tanktop.
5.
Rotate the profile to the desired location.
Detailing - Insert Stiffener Cutouts from Group

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Insert Stiffener Cutouts from Group
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCGROUPCUTS
Navigator:
None
This function can now trim the cutouts to the toolpath. IMPORTANT: Make sure that there is no ambiguity, such as the
molded line an the line representing the thickness of the plate intersection with the plane you are working on.
Inserts cutout and profiles into the drawing from Stiffeners, Faceplates and Twisted Stiffeners in other group drawings. See
Detailing - Insert Stiffener Cutout for a description of what cutouts are and how to define them. ShipConstructor checks
all the Stiffeners, Faceplates and Twisted Stiffeners in the group drawing chosen by the user to see if they intersect with the
current UCS (most often this is the Construction UCS). If any intersections are found ShipConstructor will insert the cutout
for that profile (tight or non-tight) in the correct location scaling it to account for the angle at which the profile intersects the
plane.
Stiffener Cutout Insertion from Group
1.
Select SC Structure/Detailing/Insert Stiffener Cutouts from Group or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
SC Structure Menu
95
2.
From the list select the drawings you wish to have cutouts inserted from (note: ShipConstructor only allows you to chose
from a list of Groups intersect the current Group drawing). Check which items you want inserted and click OK when
done.
3.
ShipConstructor has inserted cutouts for all the Tank Top stiffeners and trimmed them to the tanktop line. However in
this case we only want the ones on the Port side cutouts. Use the AutoCAD erase command to remove all the Starboard
cutouts. The cutouts are now ready to be used in the creation of parts.
Detailing - Reference Lines - NEW

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Reference Lines
Command line: SCREFERENCELINE
Navigator:
None
Creates frame, buttock and water lines for reference use. This function will create regular AutoCAD lines spanning the
extents of the drawing marking frame, buttock and water line location locations projected onto the current UCS.
1. Select SC Structure / Detailing / Reference Lines.
2.
The Reference lines dialog shows you what lines will be inserted (and allows you to pick what types you wish to insert).
Not all types of reference lines will be able to be inserted; for example, if the current UCS is parallel to the frames then it
wont be possible to insert any frame lines. The Planes Check boxes allow you to determine what types you will insert.
Additionally you can decide to have ShipConstructor display the reference line names by checking Show Text.
3.
The reference lines displayed in the dialog are loaded from the Access Database, if you wish to add, remove or change
them then press the Edit button to bring up the Edit Locations dialog, as shown below. Use the toolbar to edit the
locations.
Delete All Locations
Add Location before selected
Name Locations
Add Location at end

Delete Location
Space Locations
4.
Change the locations to suit your needs.
5.
Use the Name Location function to name the locations. Highlight the location at which you want to start naming.
6.
Then click the Name Locations button.
7.
Click OK to name the locations from the current position downwards.
SC Structure Menu
97
8.
You can repeat the same procedure from a new location on. For example you might have halve frame spacing and full
frame spacing changing at frame 9. Highlight Frame 0 and do a frame location naming with half frame spacings for the
name. Then click on Frame 9 and repeat with full frame spacing.
9.
Click OK to save the changes in the Database.
10. Next select the Reference lines you wish to insert.
11. Click OK to generate the Reference Lines.
Detailing Replicate Entities to Other Groups

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Replicate Entities to Other Groups
Command line: SCDUP
Navigator:
None
Replicate geometry from the current group drawing to other group drawings that are parallel to the current one. For example,
you can replicate from a frame to other frames, but not to a deck group. Use this function if significant geometry is identical
between several groups. Design the portions that are identical and then replicate to other groups.
For example, for a frame the geometry portion below could be identical for many frames. Only the outside shell plating
would change slightly from frame to frame.
New - You can now replicate parts as well. ShipConstructor allows now for identical parts to have the same names.
ShipConstructor uses an internal identifier to distinguish between two parts with the same name. As a bonus, ShipConstructor
tracks identical parts. Should you try to change a part for which identical exist, then ShipConstructor offers to update the
other parts as well or make the current one unique, if it is the only one that changes.
1.
Select SC Structure / Replicate Entities to Other Groups.
2.
At the prompt, select the entities or parts that are identical in the other groups.
3.
In the dialog select the group to which you want to replicate. Only groups parallel to the current one will be displayed. A
dialog will inform you when the copying is finished.
4.
New Option - To Other Units. Now you can even replicate to other units.
5.
This option displays a dialog with all eligible groups in other units. Select the groups and ShipConstructor will transfer
the entities or identical parts and make all required entries in Manager.
Now it is very easy to manage a long parallel mid-body that consist of several construction units in a short time.
Detailing Move Entities to Other Groups

Menu:
Command line:
Navigator:
SC Structure / Detailing / Move Entities to Other Groups

SCDUP
None
SC Structure Menu
99
Moves entities plain geometry or ShipConstructor parts- to other group drawings. This function does not change the plane
the entities are in; unlike the function Replicate Entities to Other Groups.
Detailing - Scallop
SC Structure / Detailing / Scallop
Menu:
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCRFILLET
Navigator:
None
Creates a scallop, also called mouse or rat hole, at the intersection of two entities. The figure below shows two scallops.
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Scallop or click
Current radius = 30.000 mm

Radius/Lines/<Intersection>:
Option: R - Radius:
o
Check the command line for the current radius. Press R if you want to change it.
Scallop radius:
Enter a new radius. Press ENTER.
Option: I - Intersection:
1.
Press I.
Pick corner to scallop:
2.
Pick an intersection for the scallop. The OSNAP is automatically set to INTERSECTION.
3.
Pick direction of scallop. For two lines intersecting as a cross you have 4 possibilities for a scallop.
4.
The scallop is created.
Option: L - Lines:
Pick First Object:
1.
Pick one of the lines.
Pick Second Object:
2.
Pick the other line.
Pick direction of scallop.
3.
The scallop is created.
Detailing - Fillet
SC Structure / Detailing / Fillet
Menu:
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCFILLET
Navigator:
None
Acts in a similar manner to the AutoCAD fillet however it provides filleting between two polylines.
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Fillet or click
Option: R - Radius: Check the command line for the current radius. Press R if you want to change it and hit
ENTER, then enter the new radius hitting ENTER when finished.
2.
Select the first segment/entity to fillet.
3.
Select the second segment/entity to fillet.
4.
Detailing - Remove vertices below tolerance.
Detailing Orthographic Projection

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Orthographic Projection

Command line:
SCPROJ
Navigator:
None
Projects lines simulate circle using many short line segments, explode poly lines from one UCS onto another UCS. This
function is usually used to find the shape on structure on one of the major planes (frame, deck, longitudinal bulkhead) on a
skewed plane. The lines are projected either along the X, Y, or Z axis.
SC Structure Menu 101
Detailing - Remove Vertices below Tolerance

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Remove Vertices below Tolerance

Command line:
SCBELOWTOL
Navigator:
None
Removes vertices that are within the given tolerance to a straight line on a polyline. There are several reasons why you want
to reduce the number of vertices on polylines:
Display speed - Many vertices mean lots of items to display. Display speed is specifically of interest when considering
solids.
Computing speed - Interferences will run significantly faster with less complex solids.
File size - ACIS solids use enormous amounts of disk space.
NC machine limitations - Many cutting machines will move erratically or start-stop at each little segment if they are
too small.
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Remove Vertices below Tolerance.
Select polylines
2.
Select the polyline you want to work on. Press ENTER.
3.
Tolerance: <1.0> 3
4.
Enter a tolerance.
The example shows two identical frame sections. The upper section has a tolerance of 1mm, the lower one has a tolerance of
3mm. About 0.5mm (1/32) appears to be a good compromise between speed and accuracy.
Detailing - Convert Ellipse or Spline to Polyline

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Convert Ellipse to Polyline

Command line:
SCCONVELLPSE
Navigator:
None
Converts an ellipse to a polyline. NC-cutting machines do not understand ellipses. They have to be converted to a polyline
instead. The function use the cordal tolerance value set in Manager. You can change the value on the command line. Good
values are about 0.5mm for metric and 1/32 for imperial.
NOTE: In ShipConstructor2000 this function has been upgraded to convert Splines as well.
Detailing - Insert Orientation Icon

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Insert Orientation Icon
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCORNTICON
Navigator:
None
1.
Inserts an orientation icon from a template drawing. The keywords in the template drawing are replaced with the words
in the setup of the icon. All icon entities are assigned the marking color. Use the Navigator Template Tab to access
and customize the orientation icon. See the appropriate section the Variable Menus section near the end of this manual
for details.
2.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Insert Orientation Icon or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
Location of Orientation Icon:
3.
Pick a location. Make sure that the location is on the same side of the center line as the final location of the icon. At this
point the direction of the arrows, and the text for the keywords are determined, depending on the half-breadth location of
the pick point.
Second point of displacement:
4.
The function places the icon and starts a move command. Pick the final location.
Detailing - Insert Weld-Shrinkage Icon

Menu:
SC Structure / Detailing / Insert Weld Shrinkage Icon
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCSTRICN
Navigator:
None
Inserts a weld shrinkage icon. A weld shrinkage icon lets you define two independent shrinkage directions and shrinkage
values for a part. ShipConstructor use the information supplied by the icon to oversize the part during nesting.
Weld shrinkage has only been considered by very few yard in the past. For one, it was quite difficult to resize the part for
nesting. ShipConstructor does it automatically for you now. On the other hand the amount of shrinkage to use is not clear as
there have not been very many studies yet. Also, weld shrinkage depends very much on many variables, such as ambient
temperature, temperature of the plate, type of welding, and day of the week. Some yards have found that weld shrinkage is
not reproducible.
Some yards work with estimated absolute values; for example 1mm (1/25) for each continuous weld. Other yards work with
percentage values of 0.5% of the size of the part.
Use the Navigator Template Tab to access and customize the weld shrinkage icon. See the appropriate section the
Variable Menus section near the end of this manual for details.
1.
Select SC Structure / Detailing / Insert Weld Shrinkage Icon or click
in the detailing
fly-out.
2.
In the dialog enter the required values. Click OK.
3.
Click the location for the icon on the plate part. The icon is inserted as shown.
4.
Rotate the icon to the desired position. The direction of the two axes has to be perpendicular to the weld directions. This
example here could be for a plate part with 12 stiffeners running perpendicular to the direction of the axis labeled
12.00(abs) and 4 stiffeners running perpendicular to the axis labeled 4.00(abs).
5.
Later include the icon when defining the plate part.
Activate UCS
Menu:
SC Structure / Activate UCS
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCUCSLIST
Navigator:
None
Activates a UCS or create new ones.
The left side of the dialog displays all available UCSs. Below that listed are the currently active UCS and its origin position.
The right side displays the thickness and throw direction of the current group drawing.
New Out of Plane - Creates a UCS that is out of plane of the current UCS. You will mostly use this to place brackets or
similar on parts that are in the construction UCS. For example, on the aft bulkhead in the tutorial, there are numerous
standard brackets. Each one of those brackets is on an out of plane UCS. You should have entities at the location where you
want to create the out of plane UCS. These are usually marking lines, where the bracket attaches.
1.
Click The New Out of Plane button.
Select origin:
2.
Click the origin point. OSNAP END is automatically set.
Select point on axis:
3.
Select a point along one axis of the UCS. OSNAP END and NEAR are automatically set.
Locate third point in plane or ENTER for perpendicular to UCS:
4.
Press ENTER for a UCS perpendicular to the current one, or click on a third point for a skewed UCS.
5.
The new UCS is created and named.
New parallel button - Creates a new UCS that is parallel to the current one.
5.
Click the New Parallel button.
Select the new origin:
6.
Click on the new origin point.
7.
A new UCS is created at the new location, and named automatically.
Activate from Object - Activates a UCS from a selected object. The function distinguishes several different entity types
and calculates the UCS for them differently.
Standard AutoCAD entities - ShipConstructor determines the UCS the entity was created in.
ACIS solids - For plate solids ShipConstructor finds the construction or thickness UCS.
ShipConstructor parts - ShipConstructor determines the UCS the entity was created in.
ARLSTIFFENER - ShipConstructor displays the dialog below, and allows you to select one of three UCS's
associated with a stiffener.
Activate button - Activates the UCS highlighted in the list.
Snap
Menu:
Tools / Drafting Settings - ShipConstructor Snap
Toolbar button:
Command line:
None
Navigator:
None
Updated
Brings up the AutoCAD Drafting settings dialog with the ShipConstructor Snap tab selected. ShipConstructor provides
several useful drafting settings to simplify working in 3 dimensions.
This dialog is also available through Tools / Drafting Settings.
Project into UCS - causes the point you pick to be projected into the current UCS, you can choose whether it projects
it perpendicularly to the plane (orthogonal), along the WCS X-axis (Longitude), WCS Y-axis (Transverse) or WCS Zaxis (Vertical).
Absolute Ortho - acts like regular AutoCAD Ortho except that it always aligns with respect to the world coordinate
system (WCS), not the user coordinate system (UCS).
Snap to Free Pipe Ends When modeling piping in 3D it is occasionally very helpful to switch all other OSNAPS
off and only use the Snap to Free Pipe Ends OSNAP to avoid snapping to unwanted items.
Check Group DWG

Menu:
SC Structure / Check Group DWG

Command line:
SCFIXPART
Navigator:
None
Checks the current group drawing for errors and unused geometry. When detailing is finished, all entities on the production
layer should be in part blocks. Any lines, arcs or text would indicate a problem. All entities on the solid layer should be
assigned to parts. The figure below lists all types of errors the function detects.
The Unused Geometry List dialog lists all unused entities in a convenient list style. For each entity it lists the Drawing
(this function can also be run from the 3D unit drawing, on all groups at the same time), Entity type, Color, Length and
Layer. As always, you can sort by any column simply by clicking on the column header.
View - Zooms to the selected entity.
Zoom In - Zooms closer to the entity.
Zoom out - Zooms further out.
Add to part - Lets you pick a part to which you can add the entity. Use this if the entity was supposed to be added to a
part but got left out by mistake.
Move - Starts the move command on the entity. Use this if the entity is hidden behind another entity.
Erase - Erases the entity.
Hide in List - Removes the entity from the list, but does not erase it from the drawing.
Refresh - Refreshes the list from the current drawing only.
List Unused Geometry

Menu:
SC Structure / List Unused Geometry

Command line:
SCUNUSEDGEO
Navigator:
None
Displays the same Unused Geometry dialog, which is discussed in detail in Check Current Group DWG just before this item.
Hide Objects
Menu:
SC Structure / Hide
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCHIDE
Navigator:
None
Hides the entities selected. Use this function if you want to temporarily hide one or more entities. Quite often it is difficult to
pick certain items with too many entities near by. Use this function to make things easier for you.
The function does not place entities on a hidden layer or similar. It simply sets a flag of the entity so that AutoCAD will not
draw it.
Un-Hide Objects
Menu:
SC Structure / Un-Hide
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCUNHIDE
Navigator:
None
Un-hides entities previously hidden. The un-hide function un-hides the entities in reverse order of hiding. If you hid entities
using several hide commands, then you require one un-hide for each hide.
Unhide All Objects

SC Structure / Unhide All
Menu:

Command line:
SCUNHIDEALL
Navigator:
None
Un-hides all entities hidden with the Hide function.
Utilities Menu
Utilities - Create Bevel Text

Utilities - Layer
This menu gives access to the layer control functions.
The same functions are supported by a fly-out toolbar.

Copy to layer
Layer Off
Activate to layer
Move to layer
Utilities - Layer - Activate

Menu:
SC Structure / Utilities / Layer / Activate
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCACTLAYER
Navigator:
None
Activates a layer. A selection box with all available layers is displayed and the desired layer can then be selected from the
list. All other layers will be switched off so that only the selected layer will be turned on.
Utilities - Layer - Deactivate

Menu:
SC Structure / Utilities / Layer / Deactivate
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCDELAYER
Navigator:
None
Deactivates the layer picked from the list in the dialog. This will not affect any other layers.
Utilities - Layer - Copy Geometry to

Menu:
SC Structure / Utilities / Layer / Copy Geometry to
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCCOPYGEO
Navigator:
None
Make another copy of the geometry. Leaves the original entities untouched..
1.
Start the function.
Select entities to copy to a new layer
2.
Select the entities to copy. Press ENTER when done.
3.
Select the desired layer from the dialog. Click OK.
Utilities - Layer - Move Geometry to

Menu:
SC Structure / Utilities / Layer / Move Geometry to
Toolbar button:
Command line:
SCMOVEGEO
Navigator:
None
Moves selected geometry from one layer to another. The original entities are erased.
1.
Start the function.
Select entities to move to a new layer
2.
Select the entities to copy. Press ENTER when done.
Utilities Create Quality Matrix

Menu:
SC Structure / Utilities / Create Quality Matrix

Command line:
SCQUALMTX
Navigator:
None
The quality is a very powerful tool to get the quality of your ships under control. Using this function it is very easy to add a
quality control matrix to any drawing, including assembly drawings. You can use this function in any type of
ShipConstructor drawing. However, the most common use is within an assembly drawing. This is how to create a quality
control matrix.
Make sure to be in model space with the main viewport active.
Select a UCS that will display the markers in a convenient direct. If you are measuring in one single plane, then the UCS
should be in that plane. Use Activate UCS / From Object
the UCS to be in the plane of the frame.
and click on one of the two large plate parts. This sets
Select SC Structure / Utilities / Quality Control Matrix.
In the next dialog set the parameters similar to the ones shown. The options Points in 3D and Points in 2D require
explaining. In our example we want to check the size of the panels. However, it is cumbersome picking always say the
forward side of the plate solid, as we would have to zoom in very closely. Setting the option Points in 2D will ignore all
Z co-ordinates after the first point has been picked. Thus only distance in the UCS will be considered.
Pick the points you want to check. Pick points on one plate part to get the quality control matrix for that panel. In our
example we inserted two matrices, one for the port and one for the starboard panel. The dimensions are the same, but we
wanted to have the opportunity to enter the actually built values into the drawing. For example we can start statistical analysis
of our weld shrinkage and any fit up problems that might be reported later on in assembly. It might be that the two panels
shrank very dissimilar due to welding variations.
Utilities - Show extended data

Menu:
SC Structure / Utilities / Show Extended Data

Command line:
SCXDATA
Navigator:
None
Shows the extended data attached to any entity. This function is mainly used to track down problems. Most ShipConstructor
solids have extended data attached.
The figure below shows the extended data of an ARLSTIFFENER.
The figure below shows the extended data of a ShipConstructor plate part solid.
Variable Menus
Overview
ShipConstructor displays two permanent menus in the AutoCAD menu bar, ShipConstructor and SC Structure. All other
menus are visible only when they are required. These are:
SCAssembly
- When in an assembly drawing.
SCNesting
- When in a nest drawing.
SC Outfit
- When in an outfit drawing.
SCStandard Part
- When in a standard part drawing.
SCOutfit Standard
- When in an outfit standard drawing.
SCAssembly Template
- When in an assembly template drawing.
SCNest Template
- When in a nest template drawing.
SCOrient Icon
- When in an orientation icon template drawing.
SCStiffener Plots
- When in a stiffener plot template drawing.
SCWorkshop
- When in a workshop drawing.
Variable Menus 115
Overview
New
The Build Strategy menu is only available when in a build strategy drawing.
Build strategy drawings are made by combining all relevant structural, outfitting and piping drawings into one large drawing.
In most cases only the solids are used in the build strategy drawing. The drawing is then used to setup and check the build
strategy. This is achieved by making a certain assembly stage visible and then checking that all required parts are in that build
stage. The user can change the parts involved in a build stage simply by dragging them to another build stage.
Terminology
People in different areas or industries have different understanding about the meaning of specific word when it comes to
build strategies or assemblies.
PWBS Product Work Breakdown Structure - A structural system describing the logical sequence in which parts a put
together to form a project. This can also be used in exchange with the term Build Strategy. Build Strategy often has times
of execution associated with a specific structural stage.
Assembly Level - A generic term to describe the hierarchical system, which will be used to create the build strategy.
These are for example from bottom (smallest assembly to largest assembly) PART->PANEL->ASSEMBLY->UNIT>PROJECT. Do not confuse this with the generic term assembly, which can be used to describe any item of several parts. For
example, if you say the assembly XYZ; this could be a panel, or unit, or else.
Assembly Item - Individually named Build Strategy items of any level. For example you might have three Units called
U01, U02, U03, or several PANELS, called DoubleBottom, AftBulkhead, TankTop and so on.
PROJECT Level - Is the top level within a project. It can only contain one item, which has the name of the project.
ShipConstructor creates this level and the project item automatically when starting a new project.
UNIT Level - ShipConstructor works in UNITS when it comes to structural modeling. You register a UNIT and work on a
unit at a time. This level is predefined when starting a new project. Every project has to have at least one UNIT. The UNIT
items are automatically created when you add a UNIT to a project.
SPOOL Level - This level is automatically generated by ShipConstructor. This level is reserve for pipes. SPOOLS can be
assigned to any other.
SC Build Strategy Menu 117
Most common production process uses assembly levels similar to these four:
PROJECT - Top most level.
UNIT - Several units within a ship or offshore structure. A small project could consist of only one unit (hull plus wheel
house) or many units.
3DASSEMBLY - Often just called ASSEMBLY. In general 3DASSEMBLIES are put together from several panels plus
individual parts. Within a unit one would typically have assemblies like the double bottom, a wing tank or similar.
PANEL - Panels may be flat or curved and traditionally consist of one of more plate parts plus several stiffeners.
Feel free to add more assembly levels to the project if you need them. Often the final assembly is carried out using many
STAGES that usually combine 3DASSEMBLIES and PANELS. In some cases there are as many as 20 STAGES between
the 3DASSEMBLY and the UNIT.
Creating Build Strategy Drawings

Follow these steps to create build strategy drawings.
1.
2.
3.
Highlight the BuildStrategy folder.
118 SC Build Strategy Menu
4.
Click the New Build Strat. button.
5.
Choose the drawings you wish to include in this build strategy drawing and click OK. Enter a name in the New Drawing
dialog and click OK.
6.
Decide whether you want Production information as well as the solids to be displayed, when you have made your
decision ShipConstructor will create the drawing. This applies only to structural and outfit parts. Both of these part types
consist of the production layer information, for example the cutting path for plate solids, and solid information. In most
cases, it is sufficient to use only the solids.
Develop Build Strategy

Menu:
SCBuild Strategy / Develop Build Strategy
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCBUILDSTRATEGY
Navigator:
None
Changing the logical build sequence

Once in a build strategy drawing, you can use this function to develop your build strategy for this unit. The function displays
Build Strategy dialog with the build strategy tree.
1.
Create a build strategy drawing if you do not have one yet.
2.
Open the build strategy drawing.
3.
Set up a 3D view point that suits your requirements.
4.
Select SC Build Strategy / Develop Build Strategy or click the Build Strategy
5.
In the Build Strategy dialog click the light bulb off in front of the project level at the very top. The drawing in the
background will be blank now.
6.
Click the light bulb on in front of DB the double bottom. The parts and assemblies in the double bottom will be
displayed.
7.
You can now select parts or two ways:
button.
One - Pick parts in the drawing and their respective names will be highlighted in the Build Strategy tree control.
Two - Pick the parts within the tree control itself. You can also pick complete assemblies in the tree control.
8.
Drag the parts and or assemblies to any assembly you like to change the build strategy.
Note: Both the drawing and the build strategy control are active at the same time. This requires some getting used to, as
selecting in the drawing will pick entities in the tree control and vice versa. You can use other functions while the build
strategy control is running, such as the orbit command to change you viewpoint, or you can change to a shaded or hidden
mode.
IMPORTANT: You cannot UNDO a build strategy assignment.
Assign To Assemblies
This is another way to assign only parts to assemblies. You cannot assign assemblies to other assemblies. This function has
been kept, since many users have been accustomed to it.
1.
In the Build Strategy dialog use the light bulbs to make the parts you want to assign visible.
2.
Click the Assign To Assemblies button.
Command: _SCASSIGNPART Select Part(s) to assign to an assembly

Select Objects:
3.
In the main drawing window select the parts you want to assign to a different assembly, then press ENTER.
4.
The Assign Parts to Assembly dialog is displayed.
5.
Select the assembly you want to assign to and click OK.
Levels
Assembly levels have been explained at the beginning of this chapter. This button displays the dialog tha allows you to
customize the assembly levels to suit your particular job and manufacturing process.
1.
In the Build Strategy dialog click Levels.
2.
The Assembly Levels dialog or PWBS dialog display the levels of assembly that are currently defined. ShipConstructor
defines three levels of assembly that cannot be changed. These are - PROJECT, UNIT, SPOOL. The PROJECT level
is the highest level and will always contain all parts within the project. No part can reside outside of the project. The
UNIT level consists of all parts within a unit. You cannot assign any part within any structural drawing registered to unit
to any other unit. The SPOOL level is reserved for pipes. Spool may be assigned to any structural assembly. Add new
levels or move the levels up or down. You can RENAME an assembly level by clicking on it a second time. Remember,
you cannot rename ShipConstructor forced levels such as PROJECT, UNIT and SPOOL.
3.
Click OK.
SC Assembly Menu
Overview
This menu is only available when in an assembly drawing. It provides access to the CAD-Links assembly functions. The
general procedure for creating assembly drawings involves:
Setting up assembly templates if not done so yet. See later in this chapter under templates.
Creating individual assembly drawings.
Annotating assembly drawings.
Plotting assembly drawings.
This set of menus is also supported by a number of toolbar buttons.

Build Strategy
Annotate Part Flyout
Annotate Endcuts
Flip UCS
Move UCS
Orientation Icon
SC Assembly Menu 123
Annotate Part
Quick Annotate
Copy Annotation
The new Navigator now takes over some of the functionality formerly accessed through menus.
Navigator - Assembly Tab

Navigator - Update Keymap
Menu:
None
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
None
Navigator:
Assembly / Update Keymap
Creates a keymap drawing from the 3D-unit drawing for use in an assembly drawing when you want to show the assembly is
located in the Unit.
Navigator - Open Keymap

Menu:
None
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
None
Navigator:
Assembly / Open Keymap
Opens the keymap drawing.
124 SC Assembly Menu
Navigator - Open Assembly

Menu:
None
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
None
Navigator:
Assembly / Open
Opens assembly drawings.

1.
Highlight the assembly drawing to open in the tree dialog.
2.
Click Open.
Navigator - New Assembly

Menu:
None
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
None
Navigator:
Assembly / New
Create new assembly drawings.

1.
Click New.
2.
In the dialog select one of the two options. Click Next.
3.
In the Create Assembly Drawings dialog select the assemblies for which you want to create assembly drawings.
4.
Click Finish.
Note: This operation takes some time and uses a great amount of memory. For large projects you should have at least 128
MB RAM and a Pentium II 400. You might need to select a small number of drawings each time if your computer cannot
produce all of them at the same time.
One drawing is created for each assembly. Watch closely to see how the views are generated and the keywords replaced.
Assembly Visibility
Menu:
SC Build Strategy / Assembly Visibility
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCASSEMBVIS
Navigator:
None
See the SC Build Strategy chapter for this function.
Assembly Update Parts

Menu:
SC Assembly / Update Parts
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCUPDATEASSDWG
Navigator:
None
Use this function to update an assembly drawing after changes to the structural model have been made. You might have one
last piping penetration added to a part in the structural model. Instead of starting the assembly drawing from scratch you can
simply update the parts and keywords. This is especially useful if a lot of time and effort has been used to annotate the
drawing.
The function displays a dialog with several options as shown in the dialog above. All annotations remain untouched. A log
file id displayed later to report any problems.
Annotation Sub-Menu
Annotation - Create
New Options
Annotations now provide two new options on the Annotation dialog:
Style - Lets you select the text style to use.
Orient to View Direction - The labels will always look at you, no matter what viewpoint you choose.
Smart Labels
The annotation of assembly drawings has been improved. All annotations are now carried out using our newly designed
Smart Labels. Smart Labels simplify and speed up annotating assembly drawings tremendously. Smart Labels also provide
a function unique to ShipConstructor - they can be set to always look at you, even if you change your view position.
The properties of the Smart Labels can be changed using the AutoCAD Property Manager. The properties specific to our
custom annotations are listed under the Label Properties section (see figure) in the AutoCAD properties dialog. You can also
change the bubble style using the properties and use grip points to change the position and rotation of the annotation.
There are now two distinctly different ways to annotate the assembly drawings. You might know the first one from the
previous version of ShipConstructor; this one places the annotations in a specific UCS. For this type of annotation you first
set a UCS and then annotate the parts. The second type of annotation is new. This new type does not require you to set up a
UCS. The annotation will always be facing towards the viewer. You can even dynamically rotate the drawing, while
watching all annotations automatically rotating to face you at all times.
Menu:
SC Assembly / Annotation / Create
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCASSPIECELONG
Navigator:
None
Creates an annotation. The function displays the Annotation dialog that allows you to control how the annotation is created.
Remember that you have two general options now, one where the piecemark is created on the current UCS and another where
it will look at you.
1.
Start the command.
2.
Click the part to annotate.
3.
Select the options from the dialog as explained below.
4.
Click OK.
5.
Pick the locations and direction for the leader line(s) and the piecemark.
6.
Repeat for all other parts.
Note: By default the picked part is highlighted in the assembly tree. The part name is by default the annotation text. You
may click on any assembly level above the part to change the annotation text.
Test - By default the part you picked on, you can no choose to pick on any assembly in the tree dialog on the right to
replace the text or type any text you like.
Add P/S - Adds a -P for parts on the port side, and an -S extension for parts on the starboard side. This applies only
if a part is designated as P/S in Manager.
Size - The size of the annotation text.
Standard - The text style to use.
Use parts pick-point as location - Uses the pick point as the location for the assembly. Saves one extra pick.
Rotate manually - Allows you to rotate the annotation text manually.
Angle - The text angle if Rotate Manually is OFF.
Orient to View Direction - Check this option to have the annotation look at you no matter what viewpoint you
choose.
Create - Creates a leader line if checked.
Segments - Number of segments in the leader line.
Leader lines same length - Makes all leader lines the same length.
Length - Length of the leader line(s).
Last Segment inline with text - Check this option to create a short piece of leader line in line with the text
Osnap Settings - The Osnap to use for the annotation or leader line location.
Annotation - Quick
Menu:
SC Assembly / Annotation / Quick
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCASSPIECE
Navigator:
None
Creates an annotation for the picked part without displaying the dialog. It uses the same settings as those used in the last use
of Assembly / Annotation / Create.
Annotation - Copy
Menu:
SC Assembly / Annotation / Copy
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCCOPYPIECEM
Navigator:
None
Copies annotations. The text of the annotation is replaced with the name of the newly-picked part. To copy an annotation:
1.
Start the copy annotation command.
2.
Click on an annotation to copy.
3.
Select a base point for the copy command.
4.
Click on a new part to annotate.
5.
Select the position for the new annotation. The annotation is created in the same manner, except the text is replaced with
the name of the new part.
6.
The function remains active until aborted.
Annotation - Erase Duplicate piece marks

Menu:
SC Assembly / Annotation / Mark Endcuts
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCERASEDUPNAME
Navigator:
None.
Erases duplicate piece marks inside of plate parts on the production layer.
Annotation - Mark Endcuts

Menu:
SC Assembly / Annotation / Mark Endcuts
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCASSECMARK
Navigator:
None.
Annotates the endcut of a stiffener.

1.
Set up a suitable UCS.
2.
Start the function.
3.
Pick the stiffener to annotate.
4.
The dialog is, in principle, the same as the one used for part annotation. Only the assembly tree is inactive, and the
endcut name instead of the part name is displayed.
5.
Pick the location of the leader line(s) and text.
Insert Keywords
Menu:
SC Assembly / Insert Keyword
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSERTKEYW
Navigator:
None
Allows you to insert keywords into the assembly drawing. In general all keywords are inserted in the assembly master. You
would use this function if one or just a few assembly drawings are to display some special data that other assembly drawings
do not display. See the Templates - Assembly chapter later in this manual for details on inserting keywords.
Icons menu
Allows you to insert several icons into assembly drawings.
Icons - Orientation
Menu:
SC Assembly / Icons / Orientation
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCASSORIENT
Navigator:
None
Inserts an orientation icon into the drawing.
1.
Start the function.
2.
Select the type of icon you want. The Scale is the length of the direction arrows. Click OK.
3.
Pick a location for the icon.
Inserts Icons - User Icon

Menu:
SC Assembly / Icons / User
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSERTUI
Navigator:
None
Inserts a user icon in the assembly drawing. Use this function to insert weld symbols and similar icons. The user icons are
regular drawings, located in the standards/user icon folder.
Icons - CG Point
Menu:
SC Assembly / Icons / CG Point
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCCGPOINT
Navigator:
None
Inserts a point at the CG position.
Flip UCS
Menu:
SC Assembly / Flip UCS
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCFLIPUCS
Navigator:
None
Flips the X-axis of the current UCS. Use this function if the annotation text is displayed in mirror writing to your viewpoint.
Re-create the annotation.
Move UCS
Menu:
SC Assembly / Move UCS
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCMOVEUCS
Navigator:
None
Moves the UCS to the newly-picked location. Use this function if you want to add text or any other entity on a different level
than the current UCS.
Set Viewport Keymap

Menu:
SC Assembly / Set Viewport Keymap
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCKEYVPORT
Navigator:
None
Sets a viewport in the floating model space to display the keymap. See the Template Assembly chapter later in this manual
for details on this function.
SC Profile Plots
Overview
The SC Profiles menu is only available when in a profile plot drawing.

The stiffener plot functions handle the creation, manipulation and plotting of stiffener plots, simplifying this task
significantly. Many companies do not even consider generating these plots because the effort involved in generating them.
ShipConstructor makes it economical to provide fully detailed plots for each stiffener.
Stiffener plots are generated automatically by using the assembly structure of the vessel to group and select the stiffeners. As
usual, user configurable templates are used to simplify customization of the look and feel of the plots. In fact, a two level
template system plus additional options give you powerful control over the stiffener plots. There is one template for the large
plot sheet and sub templates for each stiffener. Each large sheet can contain several smaller individual stiffener plots. Any
number of large sheets can be within a single drawing. It is advisable to give some thought to how you want to organize your
stiffener plots.
SC Profile Plots 135
For example, you could have one drawing for each major assembly. Within the drawing you create the plots for all stiffeners
in that assembly. You can then group the stiffener types in rows of plots and sheets within the drawing.
Navigator - Profile Plots

You use the Navigator - Profile Plots to create new profile plot drawings. Use the steps below:
1.
2.
Select the Stiffener Tab and click New.
3.
Create a new drawing with the name DB. Click OK.
4.
A new, empty drawing is created.
Setting a base dimension style

ShipConstructor will create new dimension styles inside the profile plots drawing based on anyone of the existing styles.
Sometimes more than one dimension style is created, as ShipConstructor scales the profiles to match the existing templates.
Thus the scaling factor has to be considered when dimensioning to get the correct dimensions. As an example we show how
to set the dimension style Standard to fit the requirements.
136 SC Profile Plots
1.
Start the dimension style dialog and make sure that Standard is the current dimension style.
2.
Click the Modify button.
3.
Select the Lines and Arrows tab. Set all values to fit your requirements. Most sizes depend on the size of your plot
template. In most cases the sizes should be around 1-3mm or 1/32-1/8. In this case most settings are 1mm in size.
4.
Select the Text tab. Set all values to fit your requirements. Most sizes depend on the size of your plot template. In most
cases the sizes should be around 1-3mm or 1/32-1/8. In this case the text height is 1.5mm.
5.
Select the Primary Units tab. Set the units as desired.
6.
Click the OK button.
SC Profile Plots - Insert Profile Plots

Menu:
SC Profile Plots / Insert Profile Plots
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSERTSTIFFENERS
Navigator:
None
In this example we create profile plots for the curved stiffeners in the MDK assembly. These profiles look like the brown one
shown in the next figure. These are curved BF240x12 profiles with endcuts on both ends.
1.
Select SC Profiles / Create Profile Plots. The following dialog is displayed.
2.
Click the Filter button, and set the options as shown. This will limit the display of the Profile Plot Setup to curved
profiles and angles only. BF240x12 are setup as angles in the profile library.
3.
Click the check box in front of MDK and un-check the box in front of DKP.
4.
Click OK to create the profile plots
SC Profile Plots - Options

Menu:
SC Profile Plots / Options
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCSTIFFPLOTOPT
Navigator:
None
The options menu item lets you modify various settings to configure the profile plots to you requirements.
1.
Select SC Profile plots / Options or click the options button in the Profile Plot Setup dialog.
Plot Template - The large template drawing is set up to hold the individual SubPlots. In our case one template will
hold two SubPlots. See figure. Customize this template to fit your needs.
SubPlot - A template designed to display one profile and all the related data. Customize this template to fit your needs.
Dimension Style - Sets up specific parameters for the dimensions.
Style to Copy - Every time you add plots to a drawing, ShipConstructor has to create a dimension style depending
on how the profiles will fit inside the templates (a scaling factor for example). In general you will first adjust a
dimension style of your choice and then tell ShipConstructor to use the settings of that style as a basis for the new
style.
Dimension Text Size - Sets the text size independent of the dimension style selected.
Dimension Spacing - Sets the spacing of the dimension form the object.
Forming Offsets - Settings that control the options for the offsets for curved profiles.
o
Bend from Start - Sets the start of the profile horizontal and lets the profile curve up or down from there. This can
result in a very tall plot.
Bend at Best Point - This will rotate the profile such that it will fit into a rectangle of minimum height.
SC Profile Plots - Zoom

Menu:
SC Profile Plots / Zoom
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCZOOMTOPLOT
Navigator:
None
Displays a dialog to zoom to individual plots. This function provides an easy means to find the proverbial needle in the
haystack.
1.
Select SC Profile / Zoom.
2.
In the dialog click the plot or sub plot to zoom to and OK.
SC Profile Plots - Print Plots

Menu:
SC Profile Plots / Print Plots
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCSUBPLOTPRINT
Navigator:
None
This function allows you to print all or selected plots to a printer.
1.
2.
Select SC Profile Plots / Print Plots.
Allow Master Plot Printing - Check this option if you want to print the large plot sheets as well as the sub plot
sheets.
Only Master Plots - Check this option if you do not want to print the sub sheets.
Plot Style - Select a pre defined plot style.
Select the plots you wish to print and click OK.
SC Profile Plots - Check Profile Drawings

Menu:
SC Profile Plots / Check Profile Drawings
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCCHECKPLOTS
Navigator:
None
This function provides checking and error correction. It determines if the drawings and plotted profiles registered in the
Manager database correlate with the actually existing drawings and profile plots within each drawing. For example someone
may have delete a profile plot drawing not using ShipConstructor. The check function will find this and make the profiles
originally inside of that drawing available for re-plotting.
It is good practice to run this function on a periodic basis to ensure data integrity.
1.
Select SC Profile Plots / Check Profile Plots.
Selected Plots - Lets you select the plots within this drawing.
Current Drawing only - Checks all plots within this drawing.
All Stiffener Drawings - Checks all plots in all profile plot drawings.
Remove unused Dimension Styles - Removes dimension styles not used anymore; you may have deleted
specific plots.
SC Nesting Menu
Overview
The nesting menu and the Navigator Nesting tab provide access to all nesting functions. The nesting menu is available when
in a nest drawing. Use the Navigator to open and create nest drawings.
SC Nesting Menu 145
Nesting Preparation
Manager Nesting Settings
All nesting settings are stored in Manager. Ensure to check all settings before starting nesting.
Stock independent nest settings

Project / Settings / Nesting Tab
Nesting colors - During detailing outside cut, inside cut, marking and no-process entities were given specific colors.
You can insert any number of parts into a nest drawing and decide during the nesting process which plate the part will
finally be nested on. Only then will the part be assigned to a specific plate. In the meantime the part is un-assigned. The
unassigned state is represented by a different coloring scheme. When a part is initially inserted into a nest drawing the
colors indicating the NC-process are changed to the Nesting colors. Once the part is assigned to the final plate the colors
are changed back.
146 SC Nesting Menu
Nest Name Prefix - The prefix that ShipConstructor will generate automatically for creating nest names.
Stock dependent nest settings

Libraries / Stock / Plates
All settings are per stock. This enables different settings for each stock type. For example you can set a different cutting
machine for each material. All steel up to a certain thickness might be cut with a plasma burner, above that thickness all steel
is to be cut with another Oxy-fuel cutter, while all aluminum and non-metal material is to be cut with a high-speed router.
The settings are:
Cut Feed - The feed rate for cutting. Either in mm/min or inches/min.
Bridge Width - Size of bridges. ShipConstructor can bridge parts to keep them together, to minimize piercing, and
avoid the loss of small parts into the cutting bed.
Pierce time - Time it takes to pierce a hole. This is used by NC-Pyros to estimate actual processing time.
Plate margin - Distance that ShipConstructor will leave between parts and the plate edge.
Part Gap - Distance that ShipConstructor will leave between 2 parts.
NCMachine - The NC-cutting machine to use. NC-Pyros, our NC-cutting software stores all settings for each machine
in Manager under that same name. This ensures that NC-Pyros will automatically generate the code for the correct
machine.
Machine dependent nest settings

Libraries / NC Machines
SC Nesting Menu 147
Mark Feed - Feed rate during marking.
Fast Feed - Fast travel feed rate.
Organizing Nesting
All structural work is carried out on a construction unit basis. However, nesting cannot always be carried out on a unit-byunit basis. You might be building more than one unit in at a time. Nesting just one unit could also create too much unused
plate space. The unused space can be treated as a remnant or drop. A remnant is the unused portion of a stock plate.
ShipConstructor manages remnants for you.
Nesting Terminology
Nest drawing
A nest drawing contains one or more nests of the same stock, but may have different plate sizes including
remnants. Many companies decide to use the stock name as the drawing name. Often the unit to which most or all of the
parts on the nest belong is integrated as well into the drawing name. For example: U12PL10.DWG contains parts for U12 on
PL10 stock plate.
Nests
Each nest drawing can have one or more nests. New nests are always based on a template. The nest consists of the actual
nest plate, an automatically generated BOM, header fields with automatically updated pertinent information, such as
plate size, material, utilization, cutting time estimate and more.
Nest templates
The first figure in the chapter shows a finished nest drawing. The border of the nest, the text and the BOM are all created
automatically by ShipConstructor. In order to accomplish this task a template is used for the nest when it is initially created.
The templates are regular AutoCAD drawings. ShipConstructor comes with a ready-made nest template. You can customize
the nest template to suit your needs. We will now look at the supplied template.
1.
2.
Select Nest / Nest01. This is the ready-made template drawing. Click Open.
148 SC Nesting Menu
. Select the Template tab.
3.
The nest template drawing is opened as shown. Compare the large figure at the beginning of this chapter.
The border of the template is a key element in the nest and should not be deleted. ShipConstructor uses it to determine
which elements belong to this nest; this is important when you have many nests in the same drawing. The top of the drawing
has entries prepared for the project name, the nest name and more. To the right of each field name is a KEYWORD, for
example <PROJECT>. Each keyword is inside of < >. Keywords are later automatically replaced by actual data. You
can move keywords around, change size or color, or delete them if you do not require the information.
At the bottom left you will find the keyword <NSTINSERTSTOCK>. The stock plate will be inserted at this position. The
aspect ratio of the nest template has been set to utilize an 11 by 17 or A3 sheet well when plotted on the sheet in landscape
mode. ShipConstructor provides an automatic plotting function that allows you to plot many nests with one command.
Nesting Toolbar
The nesting toolbar provides access to the most commonly-used nesting functions. We will discuss the use of all of the
functions in this chapter.
Insert Parts
Snap & Gap
Slide
Align
Move & Rotate
Assign to Nest
Nest Layers
SC Nesting Menu 149
Navigator Nest Tab

The nest tab gives access to several nesting functions. It displays a tree dialog on the left side, a preview on the right and
several buttons.
Open
Opens the nest drawing selected in the tree dialog.
New
Creates a new nest drawing. Each nest drawing can only contain a nest using one type of stock. However, nests can use
different plate sizes.
1.
Click the New button. The New Drawing dialog is displayed.
2.
Enter a name for the new nest drawing. Click OK.
3.
The new nest drawing is opened and the New Nest dialog is displayed.
150 SC Nesting Menu
See New Nest for details on the use of the New Nest dialog.
Un-nested Parts
Use this function to see if any parts require nesting.
1.
Click the un-nested parts button. The next dialog is displayed.
2.
In the dialog, select the assembly for which you want to check un-nested parts.
3.
The right pane will display any parts that require nesting.
Nesting - Nest Drawing Sub-Menu

The nest menu provides function to create and modify individual nests within a nest drawing.
SC Nesting Menu 151
Nest - New
Menu:
SC Nesting / Nest / New
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCSTCKPLT
Navigator:
None
Inserts a new nest into a nest drawing. Nests are based on a nest template. The template contains keywords. Some of the
keywords are replaced with ShipConstructor database data during insertion of a nest, others are replaced at a later stage.
1.
Start the function.
2.
The New Nest dialog is displayed.
3.
Nest Plates - Displays the names of nest plates already in this nest drawing.
4.
Stock Templates - Displays the available templates. Select the one required.
5.
Plate Name - The function automatically uses the next available number for the nest name. The type of name prefix
can be set in Manager in User settings on the nesting tab.
152 SC Nesting Menu
6.
Plate Stock - The plate stock is fixed, unless you are inserting the first nest into the drawing.
7.
Size - Displays the available stock sizes. Select the one required.
8.
Remnants - Lists all available remnants of the same stock. Use the Create Previews button to create previews for each
remnant. You can use a remnant instead of a new stock plate for a nest.
9.
Click OK.
10. Pick a location for the new nest.
Nest - Delete
Menu:
SC Nesting / Nest / Delete
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCDELSTCKPLT
Navigator:
None
Deletes a nest. Pick the nest you want to delete. You can pick on the nest border or the actual plate to select the nest. Any part
assigned to the delete nest will be updated in Manager. The color of each of these parts will change to the unassigned nesting
colors.
Nest - Rename
Menu:
SC Nesting / Nest / Rename
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCRENNEST
Navigator:
None
Renames the selected nest.
Nest - Find
Menu:
SC Nesting / Nest / Find
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCFINDNEST
Navigator:
None
Allows the user to zoom to any nest in the project.
SC Nesting Menu 153
Nest - Change Stock Plate

Menu:
SC Nesting / Nest / Change Stock Plate
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCCNGSTOCK
Navigator:
None
Changes the stock plate used for the nest. You can only change the stock size, or change between using a full stock plate or a
remnant. You cannot change the stock thickness, or quality of material.
Nest - Plot
Menu:
SC Nesting / Nest / Plot
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCPLOTNESTS
Navigator:
None
Plots nests. You can select nests from the list or pick them in the drawing. All selected nests will be plotted to the default
printer using the default settings.
154 SC Nesting Menu
Do a manual plot first to check all plotting parameters for the nest.
The function will automatically set the plotted area to the outside border of the nest to plot. One plot will be created for each
nest.
Remnant Sub-Menu
To create and delete remnants. Remnants are unused portions of a nest plate. In most cases you can use remnants later on in a
project. ShipConstructor allows you to create a nest from a full size nest plate or a remnant nest plate.
New
Menu:
SC Nesting / Remnant / New
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNSTNEWRMNT
Navigator:
None
Creates a new remnant.

To create a new remnant you first need to draw the border of it first. Draw a closed polyline for the remnant outline. Make
sure the to use close for the last leg of the polyline. See the fat polyline in the next figure.
SC Nesting Menu 155
1.
Select SC Nesting / Remnant / New. Click on the remnant polyline.
2.
ShipConstructor now needs to know which portion of the remnant will be used to cut off the remnant from the nest
plate. This portion has to be exported to NC-Pyros as a cut line. NC-Pyros will then instruct the cutting machine to cut
the remnant off the plate. You have to pick the start and end point of the cut line.
Select remnant cut line start point:
3.
Select where the remnant edge meets the outside of the full plate.
Select remnant cut line start end:
4.
Select the other point where the remnant edge meets the outside of the full plate.
Select cut line to use (Red/Blue):
5.
The new remnant dialog requests the remnant name. A name for the mirrored remnant must be separately given when the
plate is a like/mirror cut. The two remnants may later be used for a like/mirror nest again or individually for like nests
only. Click OK.
6.
Select the keywords to use for the remnant marking and set the text size in the next dialog. Click OK.
7.
Select the position and orientation for the remnant text.
8.
The remnant is now hatched.
It is now possible to use the remnant for a new nest.
156 SC Nesting Menu
Delete
Menu:
SC Nesting / Remnant / Delete
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNSTDELRMNT
Navigator:
None
Deletes a new remnant. Pick on the remnant to delete. You can also use the standard AutoCAD erase command.
Part Sub-Menu
The part menu handles all functions regarding the nesting of individual parts.
Nesting parts onto nests involves these principal steps:
Insert the parts into the nest drawing. The parts are presented the largest first. Just place the part in an organized
manner in the drawing.
Nest parts to make best use of nest plate and consider production requirements, such as:
o
like and mirror cut;
sequence of production, keep parts needed at the same time on the same nest;
plate heat distortion.
Assign the parts to the nest.
Check the nest drawings for errors and un-nested parts, This function also updates the BOMs and finds parts that
have changed since being nested.
Export the nests to NC-Pyros.
Create NC code.
Update Nest BOMs to reflect NC-Pyros data in the header.
Plot the nests.
Create nest reports.
Combine nest reports, with plots and NC-tapes.
Send to production.
SC Nesting Menu 157
Insert (ShipConstructor)
SC Nesting / Part / Insert
Menu:
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCPRTDWGNEST
Navigator:
None
ShipConstructor provides a sophisticated nest dialog that allows you to set several criteria to only nest the parts that you need
now.
1.
Select SC Nesting / Part / Insert, or click the Insert Parts
2.
The Nesting Filter dialog is displayed.
button.
The left side of the dialog displays the assembly tree with all parts that match the filter setting. The assembly tree
makes it easy to nest by construction unit or any other assembly. Click the check box that is in front of the U12
name and all sub-assemblies and parts.
The bottom of the dialog confirms the number of parts selected for nesting.
Nesting options allows you to choose between ShipConstructor nesting and AutoNest. Using AutoNest will be
described later.
The top right displays the stock properties used in this nest drawing. In this case we are using PL10 stock.
On the right side of the dialog are the controls for the filter function. Only parts that match the selected options will
be available for nesting. In this case we have the following settings:
Same as stock plate - Only parts made from PL10 stock can be nested. Un-check this only if you want to crossnest. That is, you want to nest, for example, 8mm brackets onto 10mm stock.
Not nested - If un-checked the filter will also display parts that are already nested for reference.
Paint - If checked it allows you to select a paint option. For example you might have some primed plate and only
want to nest parts on these that are to be cut from primed plate.
158 SC Nesting Menu
Side - You can select the side of the vessel the parts are on. In our case we want to nest only PS designated parts.
This allows us to do Like & Mirror cutting. A Like & Mirror plate will only be processed once, but cut twice. Many
cutting machines can do this at the same time, reducing processing time by half.
3.
Set the options.
4.
Select the parts to nest. Click OK.
Note 1: The general procedure for inserting parts into a nest drawing is as follows:
Parts are inserted at the mouse position, automatically rotated to the smallest horizontal rectangle, with the
move command active.
Move the mouse to move the part.
You can change the rotation using the function keys F5 and F6. Use the + plus and - minus keys to increase or
decrease the rotation steps.
Be sure to set the OSNAP OFF and ORTHO OFF. Otherwise you might not see the part at all.
Note 2: The largest part is inserted first, the smallest one last.
5.
The first part is displayed at the mouse position. ShipConstructor automatically rotates the part to the best horizontal
position. The command prompt reads:
Inserting U12F112-P04: (1 of 12)

Rotate F5/F6, Increment +/- <15>
6.
Place the parts in a somewhat organized fashion in the nest drawing for later nesting for example as shown in the figure.
Insert (AutoNest)
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Insert
SC Nesting Menu 159
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCPRTDWGNEST
Navigator:
None
If you have AutoNest, or have purchase a version along with ShipConstructor then you can use the AutoNest to automatically
nest parts.
1.
Select SC Nesting / Part / Insert, or click the Insert Parts
2.
The Nesting Filter dialog is displayed.
3.
This time select the AutoNest option at the bottom before continuing on.
4.
Set the desired options (see Part-Insert / ShipConstructor above for a complete description of the options).
5.
Select the parts to nest and click OK.
6.
If some very complex parts have been selected with more than 799 vertexes then ShipConstructor will automatically
reduce the parts vertexes to 799 for the purposes of AutoNest calculations. The actual part will remain unchanged when
it is inserted into the nest drawing. The reason for this is that AutoNest has vertex limit of 800, which is sufficient for
most parts, but some may require reducing. In this case the above dialog will come up warning you that some of the
parts have been reduced and give you 3 options.
button.
Nest All - Continue with the nesting process nesting all the parts.
160 SC Nesting Menu
UnReduced - Nest only those parts that didnt need reducing.
Cancel - Cancel the nesting operation.
At the bottom of the dialog is a check box, which allows you to specify that you want to automatically run the nest
overlap check function when the autonesting is complete.
7.
Next ShipConstructor will want to know how many and what sizes of plates you will wish to use. The next dialog shows
you all the sizes available for the current plate thickness and allows you to enter priority you wish to give each plate size
(lower is a higher priority) and how many of each plate size you wish to make available for the nesting process. When
AutoNest runs of the highest priority plate size it will begin nesting on the next highest priority plate size. When you
have configured the plates and priorities to your liking click OK.
8.
Due to the fact that AutoNest is a third party program to which ShipConstructor sends a request that it nest the requested
parts on a plates of the requested size, ShipConstructor then has to wait while AutoNest completes its nesting. An
AutoNest Progress bar will display the progress of the nesting operation; once AutoNest is finished ShipConstructor will
resume.
SC Nesting Menu 161
9.
Next the stock plate section dialog pops up so you can choose the template you wish to be used with the newly nested
plates. Choose a template and click OK to continue.
10. Next the insertion options dialog will come up letting you control how the nests are inserted.
11. Insert manually - You choose the position of all the nest plates one at a time.
12. Tile horizontally - You will pick the location of the first nest and all subsequent nests will be tiled horizontally.
13. Tile vertically - You will pick the location of the first nest and all subsequent nests will be tiled horizontally.
14. New row/column with each plate size - Whether or not to start a new row/column for each plate size.
15. Limit of nests per row/column - If checked the number in the box will be the maximum number of nests it will use
in a row/column before starting a new one.
16. Spacing - How much to separate the nests by when automatically tiling them.
162 SC Nesting Menu
17. If you are tiling choose the position of the first nest, if you are inserting manually then you will be prompted to pick the
insert point for each nest.
Re-insert
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Reinsert
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNSTUPPRT
Navigator:
None
Reinserts the selected parts using the latest change state. Run the check function before using this function. The check
function isolates all parts that require re-nesting.
Un-Nest
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Unnest
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCRMVPARTPICK
Navigator:
None
Un-nests the selected parts. The parts are removed from the nest drawing. Manager is automatically updated.
Slide Along
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Slide Along
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCALGNPRTS
Navigator:
None
The slide function allows you to slide one part along the plate edge or any number of other parts. On the part to slide you
have to select two points. The first point is the slide point the second point indicates a tangent direction. The tangent
direction will be aligned with the outside of the other part or the plate edge. A ghost image is displayed around the sliding
part to indicate the gap.
SC Nesting Menu 163
Slide point
Tangent point
Part to slide
along
Part to slide
We want to slide the margin bracket shown in the figure into the gap between the two parts shown. The upper edge will be
sliding along the upper part.
1.
Move one margin bracket into a position similar to the one shown in the figure above.
2.
Click the Slide
button.
Select part to slide:
3.
Click on the margin bracket.
Select slide point:
4.
Select the slide point, a point on the upper edge of the margin bracket. OSNAP END and NEAR are on.
Select tangent point:
5.
Select a tangent point to the right on the same upper edge of the margin bracket.
Select part(s) to slide along:
6.
Select the parts above and below the margin bracket.
7.
Move the mouse. The bracket part will follow the mouse pointer. The margin bracket will rotate such that it will be
tangential to the part that it is sliding along. The part automatically keeps the distance set in Manager from the nearest
part. The ghost line around the part indicates the new position.
8.
The prompt displays:
F5 - toggle orient mode; F6 - Rotate 180 deg.:

<Tangent mode>
9.
Press function key F6, if the part is on the wrong side of the part to slide along (sliding inside the other part instead of
along the outside). This will toggle the side the part is on. Next figure.
164 SC Nesting Menu
The slide function supports three slide modes. Press the function key F5 to activate these modes:
Tangent mode - In this mode the sliding part will be aligned tangentially on the part sliding along.
Two-point mode - The two selected points on the sliding part will be on the outside or inside toolpath of the part
sliding along. This mode is valuable when placing smaller parts inside of holes.
No rotate mode - The rotation of the part does not change the direction as it slides along. Practice all three modes.
Press the F5 key to toggle the mode. Move the mouse to see the effect of the three different modes.
10. Make sure you are in the tangent mode. Press F5 if not until the command line displays tangent mode.
11. Move the mouse. Watch the ghost of the sliding part as you slide it. Achieve a position as shown in the next figure and
click the mouse to place the part here. Make sure that the ghost outline does not intersect with the part on the other side.
Move / Rotate
Menu:
Nesting / Part / Move & Rotate
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCMOVEGHOST
Navigator:
None
Moves and rotates parts. In some cases it is the easiest to move and rotate the part around until it fits an empty space.
In this example we now fit one of the margin brackets into the empty space shown in the figure.
1.
Click the Move & Rotate
2.
Click on a margin bracket.
3.
Select a base point anywhere inside the margin bracket.
button.
SC Nesting Menu 165
4.
Move the bracket with the mouse.
Rotate F5/F6, Increment +/- < 5>
5.
You can use the F5 & F6 function keys to rotate the part. Each press of the function key rotates the part by the angle
indicated in brackets <5> on the command line. Use the + plus and - minus keys to increase or decrease the
increments.
6.
Obtain a position similar to that shown in the next figure.
Rotate Shortest Dim

Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Rotate Shortest Dimension
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCROTPART
Navigator:
None
Rotates the part such that it fits into the smallest horizontal or vertical rectangle.
Consider the bracket part shown.
1.
Start the command.
2.
Pick the part.
3.
Press H for horizontal. The part is rotated as shown in the figure.
166 SC Nesting Menu
4.
Start the command again.
5.
Pick the same part.
6.
Press V for vertical. The vertical dimension is minimized. See figure.
List
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / List
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCDATALST
Navigator:
None
Displays a list of all parts. See SC Structure Group/ Part / List for an explanation on the use of this function.
The right click menu provides some of the functions available in the Nest / Part menu.
Snap
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Snap
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCSNAPPART
Navigator:
None
The snap function allows simple part placement against the edge of the plate or another part. In a second step the function
spaces the part using the Gap between parts or Plate edge margin settings set in Manager.
Consider the example below. The closest to the bottom of the plate edge has to be aligned and spaces to the plates edge.
SC Nesting Menu 167
1.
Click the Snap
button.
Select part(s):
2.
Select lower deck beam part. Press ENTER to finish selecting part. You could also use this function to SNAP several
parts at once.
Snap point:
3.
At this point ShipConstructor activates OSNAP CENTER, INTERSECTION, and END. Move the mouse over the
lower left scallop of the part. Make sure the CENTER snap tip is on (indicated by a circle). If you have problems,
click the CENTER OSNAP button to force a CENTER snap only. Click to select the center of the scallop. The prompt
displays:
Snap to:
4.
Select the lower left corner of the plate. The part snaps to the plate corner.
Click direction:
5.
The function expects you to pick in the approximate direction to where you want to offset the part from the snap point. In
our case we want to move it by the value to the right and up. The function will snap the closest 45 degrees direction that
you pick. Click approximately 45 degrees to the right and up.
6.
The part moves by the value set in Manager to the right and up. This keeps the part the perfect distance from the plate
edge. See figure.
Align with H or V
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Align with H or V
168 SC Nesting Menu
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCALIGNPART
Navigator:
None
This function aligns one side of a part with the horizontal or vertical axis.
In this example we want to align the upper edge of the bracket to a horizontal position. See figure.
1.
Click the Align
button. The prompt displays:
Select part(s):
2.
Select the part.
Select alignment point:
3.
Click anywhere on the upper edge of the part. OSNAP NEAREST and END are automatically on.
Select align direction point:
4.
Click any other point on the same edge of the same part. The two points indicate the direction that we want to align
with the vertical or horizontal axis.
Rotate part:
5.
ORTHO is now on. Move the mouse until the part is rotated horizontally.
List Un-Nested Parts - New

Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / List Un-Nested Parts
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCUNNESTED
Navigator:
None
Lists all parts that are un-nested for a specified assembly. The assembly can be the complete ship or just a single panel. Use
this function to ensure that all parts for a specific assembly will by ready in time for production.
1.
Select SC Nesting / Part / List Un-Nested Parts.
2.
The following dialog is displayed.
SC Nesting Menu 169
3.
In the dialog click the assembly for which you want to check. This can be the whole ship or just a small assembly.
ShipConstructor quickly checks Manager and lists all parts in that assembly that remain un-nested the list is grouped by
stock type. Thus you know exactly in what drawings you have to nest more parts.
Assign to Nest
Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Assign to Nest
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCASNPART
Navigator:
None
Assigns one or many parts to a nest.

All parts have to be manually assigned to a specific nest. This records the parts in Manager. After nesting parts neatly onto
the plate you assign the parts. You might have noticed that the parts have different colors from when they where initially
designed. ShipConstructor changed the colors to indicate to us that they are not yet assigned. To assign parts to a nest:
1.
Select Nest / Part / Assign to Nest, or click the Assign to Nest
button.
Select nest and parts:
2.
Using the window or crossing selection to select the nest and the parts for that nest. It does not matter if you pick any
other entities. ShipConstructor will only consider parts and nest plates.
3.
The color of all parts changes to the originally set colors for outside, inside, marking and no process.
Un-Assign from Nest

Menu:
SC Nesting / Part / Un-assign from Nest
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCUNASNPART
Navigator:
None
170 SC Nesting Menu
Un-assigns parts from the nest. The parts remain in the nest drawing. The colors of the parts are changed, to indicate that the
parts are no longer assigned.
Layers Sub-Menu
This menu controls the visibility of the nesting specific layers.
Visibility
Menu:
SC Nesting / Layer / Visibility
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCSELAYERVIS
Navigator:
None
Controls the visibility of the nesting layers. Select the layers that you want to display or hide from the dialog.
Nest Layer - The layers upon which the nested parts, and nests reside on.
Revision Layer - Layer onto which parts are moved if they have been revised since nesting. The Check function performs
this task.
NC-Pyros layers - After NC-processing you can insert the NC cutting path, as created by NC-Pyros, into the nest drawing.
This overlays the nested parts and the NC cutting path for checking.
Activate All
Menu:
SC Nesting / Layer / Activate All
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCACTALL
Navigator:
None
Activates all layers in the nest drawing.
Flip NC-Pyros
Menu:
SC Nesting / Layer / Flip NC-Pyros
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCFLIPNCP
Navigator:
None
Flips between the nesting and NC-Pyros layers. You can flip back and forth. Use this to investigate specific areas of the NC
path if problems occur.
SC Nesting Menu 171
Insert Keywords
Menu:
SC Nesting / Insert Keywords
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSERTKEYW
Navigator:
None
Inserts keywords into a specific nest. Make sure you place keyword only inside of the nest outside borders. ShipConstructor
determines to which nest a keyword belongs by testing in which border it falls. In general you should insert the keywords in
the nest template to be used in every nest. Use this function in a nest drawing only if a specific nest requires a specific
keyword that the other nests do not require. See the chapter Templates - Nest for details.
Auto Label from BOM Index

New
Menu:
SC Nesting / Auto Label from BOM Index
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
_SCAUTOLABEL
Navigator:
None
Automatically inserts label numbers on each nested part that correspond with the numbers in the BOM. The label properties
dialog lets you customize the properties of the labels.
172 SC Nesting Menu
Label properties
New
Menu:
SC Nesting / Auto Label from BOM Index
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCLABELPROP
Navigator:
None
The label properties dialog lets you customize the properties of the labels. You can select all entities in the drawing.
ShipConstructor will automatically ignore all entities that are not labels.
Check Nests and BOM

Menu:
SC Nesting / Check Nests and BOM
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCCHKNEST
Navigator:
None
Checks a nest drawing for errors and updates the BOMs.
SC Nesting Menu 173
See the tutorial for a detailed discussion on this function.
Update Nests and BOM

Menu:
SC Nesting / Update Nests and BOM
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNSTMPFINSHP
Navigator:
None
Updates the nesting keywords and the BOMs for the selected nests without performing extensive checks as Check Nests and
BOM does.
See the tutorial for a discussion on this function.
Check for Overlap - New

Menu:
SC Nesting / Check for Overlap
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCCHKNSTOVERLAP
Navigator:
None
Checks if any of the nested parts overlap each other, are too close to each other or are too close to the edge of the plate. The
required gap between parts is set in Manager for each stock.
1.
Select SC Nesting / Check all Nests for Overlap. A double progress indicator displays how far the program has
checked. It will take about one minute to check the nests.
2.
The problems in the nest file will be listed in the dialog shown below.
3.
This dialog lists each pair of problem parts and the type of problem or status. There are five different Status levels the
two parts can have.
Hard - The boundaries of these two parts actually intersect.
174 SC Nesting Menu
4.
Soft - These two parts dont intersect but they are closer together than the desired Plate Gap set for this plate stock
in Manager.
Inside - One of these parts is completely inside of the other part.
Fixed - The detected problem has been fixed.
Ignored - User specifies that they want to ignore this problem.
There are a couple of options available by right clicking a selected overlap.
Zoom to Part - Zooms to the part currently under the cursor.
Zoom to Collision - Zooms to the collision of the two parts.
Check Collision - Checks the currently selected Collision to see if the problems have been fixed. Note: if you
have moved these parts around it may detect new problems with other parts, they will then be added to the bottom of
the list.
Ignore - Tells ShipConstructor that you wish to ignore this problem.
For more information, see the Tutorial Section.
NC-Pyros Sub-Menu
Provides functions to export nests to NC-Pyros and import cutting paths from NC-Pyros.
Export to NC-Pyros
Menu:
SC Nesting / Export to NC-Pyros
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCEXPRTSTK
Navigator:
None
The final nesting step is to export to NC-Pyros for NC-Processing. NC-Pyros can not read AutoCAD drawings directly. The
drawing file must be converted to a DXF file format. Blocks have to be exploded as well. ShipConstructor provides a
function to perform all this automatically. At the same time Manager is updated to log the export time.
1.
Select SC Nesting / NC-Pyros Export.
2.
In the dialog highlight the plates you want to export. Click OK.
SC Nesting Menu 175
Show only nests from current drawing - If not checked all nests in Manager will be listed. The function will
open all drawings and export the nests that have been selected from that drawing.
Changed since last Export - If checked will only list nests that have been changed since last exporting to NCPyros.
3.
Click the Options button.
4.
The program exports all nests with all parts inside the plate border to an individual drawing.
5.
Processes, By Color, By Layer - NC-Pyros can process by color or layer. Colors or layers can be used to
distinguish between outside, inside, marking, no process, inset, and plate entities.
Shift Plate to Origin - Check this option if you want to move the lower left edge of the nest plate to 0,0 in the
exported drawing. NC-Pyros can do this for you automatically. Other nesting software might not be able to do that.
Explode Polylines - For NC software that can not read polylines.
Objects
o
Only Parts and plate stock - Exports only the nested part, plus the plate edge.
All inside border - Export every entity that is inside the nest template border.
Click OK when all settings are selected.
Import from NC-Pyros

Menu:
SC Nesting / Import from NC-Pyros
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSTPYRO
Navigator:
None
Imports DXF files created by NC-Pyros, containing cutting paths for the NC-cutting machine. Use this function to overlay
the nested parts with the actual cutting path.
1.
Start the function.
2.
In the dialog select the nests to import.
3.
Click OK.
176 SC Nesting Menu
4.
The function imports the DXF files into temporary drawings, since AutoCAD 14 can not import a DXF file into an
existing drawing anymore. This might take a while.
5.
The NC-paths are then laid over the nests. ShipConstructor automatically moves the paths to the right position to achieve
a perfect match.
The figure below shows the result of this function.
Bridge Sub Menu

The bridge sub menu allows insertion and deletion of bridges.
Bridge - Insert Bridge

Menu:
SC Nesting / Bridge / Insert Bridge
Toolbar:
Command line:
SCMKBRIDGE
Navigator:
None
ShipConstructor now supports bridging. A bridge connects two parts together and makes one out of them for the purpose of
NC-cutting only. There are several reasons why you might want to bridge parts together:
Reduce piercing - for each part a hole has to be pierce into the plate at the start of cutting. This costs time, especially for
thick material and it can also wear out the cutting tool.
Lost parts - small parts may fall through the grid the plate rests on and never be found again.
Minimize warping - small slender parts may warp while being cut. Bridges help maintain the shape.
Keep all parts together for transport.
ShipConstructor bridges are intelligent! We implemented bridges as custom objects. This means that they are displayed only
as place holders. The actual toolpath will only get changed when exporting to NC-Pyros. Thus the parts in the nest drawing
remain unchanged even after inserting bridges. This allows parts for example to be updated in the nest drawing after bridges
have been inserted. For example this might happen when piping penetrations are added to parts. Should a parts outside get
changed then the conversion function will report an error when converting the bridge.
The figure below shows a somewhat extreme bridge before and after the custom entity bridge has been integrated into the
toolpath during export to NC-Pyros.
SC Nesting Menu 177
Note: In general two parts will only e connected by one bridge. However, there might be cases where two or more bridges
between two parts are required. This will create toolpaths of the outside of the parts which have to be treated as if they where
holes. ShipConstructor is smart enough to detect this and perform the required layer or color changes. The next figure shows
two parts joined by two bridges. The resulting hole has been detected by ShipConstructor and colored blue.
Inserting bridges.
1.
From the nesting toolbar select the Golden Gate Bridge icon
2.
The OSNAP is automatically set to NEAREST.
3.
Select a position on a part for the start of the bridge.
4.
The OSNAP is now set to PERPENDICULAR.
5.
Select a position on the other part for the end of the bridge.
6.
The bridge is drawn.
ShipConstructor performs several checks to ensure that the bridges can be implemented and also make sense. You might
encounter dialogs such as these:
178 SC Nesting Menu
Select Zoom in and try again.
The parts are too far apart to be bridged.
The bridge would violate a condition. For example this might happen if one end of the bridge is too close to a sharp corner of
one of the parts.
Bridge - Delete All

Menu:
SC Nesting / Bridge / Delete All
Command line:
SCDELBRIDGES
Navigator:
None
Deletes all bridges in a nest drawing.
SC Nesting Menu 179
SC Standards Menu
Overview
ShipConstructor implements several types of standards. These include:
Structural
Outfitting
Profiles
Standards are accessed using the Navigator. While in a standard drawing special menus are displayed applying to the specific
standard only.
SC Standards Menu 181
Structural Standards
Structural standards are usually brackets or similar items. Implementing them as structural standards saves time when using
them in the structural modeling and enables ShipConstructor to list them separately in the bill-of-materials. Often standard
brackets are NC-cut using fixed routines at the NC-cutting machine. For example standard brackets could be cut using
multiple torches reducing NC burning time many fold.
Use the Navigator to Open, create a New, or delete a standard drawing.
New Structural Standard creates a new standard drawing. Make sure to use a name that is not too long. AutoCAD14 has a
limit of 30 characters for symbols. You will later insert the standard into a group drawing, which in turn is inserted into a 3D
unit drawing. If the combination of the names of all of these exceeds 30 characters, then AutoCAD will not be able to display
the bracket. Many ShipConstructor or AutoCAD functions could fail then.
While in a standard drawing a special Standard Part menu is displayed. It gives access to the function designed to create and
manage standard structural parts.
Standard Part - New

Menu:
SC Standard Part / New
Command line:
SCCRPART
Navigator:
None
Creates a new standard part.
182 SC Standards Menu
The figure above displays a typical bracket. Observe the point at the lower left of the bracket. This is the origin (0,0) in the
structural standard drawing. The bracket will be inserted with the origin at the cursor position. You will generally choose a
location as the origin that is important for the placement of the structural standard. For example if the bracket would always
overlap 25mm onto stiffeners, then you could choose a location 25 mm into the bracket as the origin location.
Note: Do not actually insert a point at the origin.
All other rules of creating a regular plate part apply when creating a standard part.
Observe that the regular part dialog is used to display the properties of the standard part. Only most of the fields are grayed,
as they cannot be changed or do not apply. For example you will get a chance to assign the assembly when actually inserting
the structural standard into the 3D model.
Standard Part - Rename

Menu:
SC Standard Part / Rename
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCSTDPROP
Navigator:
None
Renames a standard part. Type the new name in the dialog. The part and the drawing are renamed. ShipConstructor checks
that the new name is unique before renaming the part.
Note: You cannot rename a standard part that is in use already.
Standard Part - Un-Define

Menu:
SC Standard / Un-Define
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCUNDEFINESTDPART
Navigator:
None
Un-defines a standard part. The standard drawing remains. Use the Navigator to delete the drawing if desired.
Note: You cannot un-define a standard part that is in use already.
Outfitting Standards
See the Piping & Outfitting manual for details on Outfitting standards.
Profile Standards
There is no specific menu associated with creating standard profile. All profile standard drawings are accessed using the
Navigator. The Profile Standard drawings are connected with stock library entries in Manager to build a profile library for
you project. A profile stock consists of:
Profile Cross Section Drawing - A drawing that defines the shape of the profile. You obtain the shape information
from the suppliers catalog.
Tight Cutout Drawing - A drawing containing the shape of the watertight cutout.
Non-Tight Cutout Drawing - A drawing containing the shape of the non-tight cutout.
A record in manager - This record lists all non-graphical information and contains links to the cross section and
cutout drawings. ShipConstructor can now use this bundled information to create stiffeners automatically.
Manager Profile & Plate Library

The Manager file contains pre-defined stock profiles. You can also create your own profiles. CAD-Link is delivered with
two ready-made templates with many pre-defined profiles, flatbars and plates. One of the templates is for metric dimensions,
the other for imperial dimensions. You access the profile & plate library using the the following dialog.
Creating your own profile stock

A profile stock is a record in the Manager database file. However, Manager cannot store CAD geometry. The geometry of the
profile and the cutout are defined in AutoCAD drawings. The drawings are linked to the Manager record. The dialog below
shows the data required in Manager to set up a profile in the library. Beside just entering information such as Name, Mfg. No
and so on we also need AutoCAD drawings for the Cross Section shape of the profile, the non-tight cutout, and the tight
cutout.
Use the Navigator Standard tab to create required drawings for the profile library.
Profile Cross section drawing

Create a new drawing using the Navigator as shown above. Look up the profile cross-section parameter in the suppliers
catalog. The profile must be a 2D polyline, and closed. This has to be the only entity in the drawing. Make sure the foot point
of the profile is at 0,0 in WCS.
Tight cutout and non-tight cutout drawing

Create a new drawing using the Navigator. The cutout must be an open 2D polyline. This has to be the only entity in the
drawing. Make sure the 0,0 point of the cut coincides with origin of the associated profile.
Creating a new profile library entry

The new profile library entry is created using Manager.
1.
Start Manager.
2.
Select the Libraries / Stocks.
3.
In the dialog click New Stock.
4.
Click New Stock.
5.
In the dialog type a Name.
6.
Select a profile type from the drop down menu. The options are:
7.
Enter a manufacturer number. Optional.
8.
Select a material from the drop down list.
9.
Click on the Browse button beside the XSection DWG field. Select the AutoCAD drawing with the newly created
profile.
You can also link a tight and non-tight cutout to the same profile. This is optional.
Here are detailed descriptions of the items in the Profile & Plates Library dialog.
Type of stock - Plate, Flatbar, Angle, Tee.
Mfg. No. - The manufacturer number field is optional. You can enter your internal manufacturer or stock number here.
It can later be listed in Bills of Materials.
Color - This is the color that the solid will use when you create a stiffener with this profile. Selecting colors carefully
can help you detect incorrect stock selection in a group or unit drawing before production packages are issued.
X-Section drawing - This contains the name of an AutoCAD drawing. The drawing contains the cross section of the
profile, as found in the suppliers catalog. The cross section is a single closed polyline. The profile cross-section files are
stored in the standards/profile folder.
Tight Cutout / Non-Tight Cutout - These fields are optional. They point to drawings containing the appropriate
cutouts for the profile. The cutouts are open polylines. They are located in the standards/cutout folder.
Length & Quantity - Not implemented yet. This is a list of the available lengths for the profile. It will be used for
linear nesting.
Parts using stock - This list shows all parts that use the highlighted stock. This is useful if you want to find parts
based on a certain stock that is not available because of supply problems, and you therefore have to redesign the parts
using a different stock.
Templates
Overview
Templates are a very important part of ShipConstructor, and are essential in making ShipConstructor very powerful and
customizable. All templates drawings are created and accessed using the Navigator. Templates are used to modify the look
of you drawings and plots. ShipConstructor implements advanced features that go beyond simple title blocks commonly
used. ShipConstructor implements sophisticated keywords, which are placeholders for computed data or data from the
Manager database. In some templates you can also set up several viewports that allow you to view the same entities from
different viewpoints and showing or hiding different layers.
Once a template is configured, ShipConstructor will automatically use it and perform all required tasks to fill in the computed
or database data.
ShipConstructor provides templates for the following drawings:
Templates 189
Assembly - For 3D assembly drawings.
Nest - For nesting drawings.
Orientation Icon - For inserting orientation icons into planar group drawings.
User Icon - You can create any number of drawings that can be easily called upon to be inserted as blocks into any
drawing. For example use these to set up you weld icons.
Stiffener - For profile plot drawings.
Weld Shrinkage Icon - Inserted as a block into planar group drawings on plate parts to allow the parts to be sized for
weld shrinkage compensation.
190 Templates
SC Assembly Template
Overview
ShipConstructor comes with two prepared assembly template drawings; one for 3D structural assemblies and one for 3D
spool drawings. You can use this one as is, modify it, or create new ones.
Assembly Template menu

While in an assembly template the Assembly Template menu is displayed to the right of all other menus.
Investigating the supplied template

To investigate the supplied assembly template:
1.
Make sure you are registered to a project.
2.
3.
Click the Template tab. Select Assembly / Assembly ISO1.DWG. The template drawing opens.
4.
Make sure you are in paper space.
SC Assembly Template 191
1
2
5.
There are 3 viewports in the template, as indicated by the numbers in the figure. The large viewport is used for the
actual assembly, while viewports 2 and 3 are used for the keymap. The keymap shows where in the unit this assembly is
located. In the Keymap the unit will be displayed as a wire frame model, while the assembly will be displayed as a solid
model.
Zoom to the text in the upper center of the drawing. You find several keywords here. These will be automatically
replaced by ShipConstructor.
6.
Pan to the right to find the keyword <BOM> for the Bill of Material.
7.
Pan down the right border of the template drawing. Here you find more keywords.
8.
At the bottom right hand corner are the two small viewports for the keymap.
Creating an Assembly or Spool Drawing Template

The following steps will create an assembly template from scratch:
1.
Start the Navigator and click the Template tab.
192 SC Assembly Template
2.
Click the Assembly folder icon.
3.
Click the New Assembly button.
4.
Enter a name for the new drawing.
5.
Activate paper space.
6.
Insert your company title block, or create one.
7.
Set up as many viewport as you require.
8.
Move and size each viewport individually.
SC Assembly Template - Set Viewport Keymap

Menu:
SC Assembly Template / Set Viewport Keymap
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCKEYVPORT
Navigator:
None
You can assign any viewport to be a keymap viewport or a normal viewport. In the keymap viewport ShipConstructor
displays the assembly parts as solids, and the rest of the unit in wire-frame mode. Hiding the lines on this viewport generally
allows the assembly to stand out visibly. A normal viewport displays the assembly parts as solids only. This is the viewport
where you will annotate parts.
1.
Activate paper space.
2.
Click in the viewport you want to set.
3.
Select SC Assembly Template / Set Viewport Keymap.
4.
The currently active viewport is set to be keymap or normal.
SC Assembly Template - Insert Keywords

Menu:
SC Assembly Template / Insert Keywords
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCINSERTKEYW
Navigator:
None
Keywords are inserted into the paper space. To insert anyone of the keywords:
1.
Activate Paper Space.
2.
Select SC Assembly Template / Insert Keywords.
3.
In the dialog select the keyword to insert, and set the text options. Click OK.
Select position of keyword:
4.
Pick the position of the keyword.
5.
The keyword is created as regular text. You can use any AutoCAD command to change the appearance of the text, such
as size, rotation, color or font.
Assigning Assembly Templates

Each template and BOM can be assigned individually to a specific assembly level. Using this option lets you automate the
creation of assembly drawings. ShipConstructor will look up the assignment options for each assembly level and use the
settings during the creation of each assembly drawing
You assign the templates and BOMs using Manager.
1.
Start Manager.
2.
Select Bill Of Materials/ Assign Assemblies.
3.
Assign an Assembly Template and a Bill Of Material to each Assembly Level.
194 SC Assembly Template
4.
Click Close.
SC Nest Template
Overview
Nest templates are used when creating nest drawings. Keywords are also used extensively in nest templates. Any keyword is
replaced with actual values from Manager.
ShipConstructor comes with one ready-made nest template. You can have as many as you like. It consists of a drawing
frame. Within the frame are keywords. Keywords are always enclosed in angle brackets <>.
The Nest Template menu is only available while in a nest template drawing.
SC Nest Template - Define Border

Menu:
SC Nest Template / Define Border
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNESTEMPLT
Navigator:
None
Each nest template has to have one border. The border is a closed polyline, usually a rectangle. ShipConstructor uses this
border to test which parts and other entities, such as the BOM part of a specific nest. Use the Define Border menu to turn a
closed polyline into a border. ShipConstructor uses the border to know which keywords belong to a specific nest.
SC Nest Template - Define Border

Menu:
SC Nest Template / Define Border
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCNESTEMPLT
Navigator:
None
Select Insert Keywords to insert nest keywords into the template.
SC Nest Template 197
In the dialog select the desired keyword, set the text size and text angle. Insert the keyword at the desired location. You can
change any of the properties of the keyword, such as size, rotation, text style, or color. ShipConstructor will use the same
properties for the actual value.
Important: Every nest template has to have a keyword for the insertion of the nest plate. Without this keyword
ShipConstructor does not know where to place the nest plate and nesting will fail. The keyword is <NESTINSERTSTOCK>.
The lower left corner of the nest stock plate or remnant will be located at the insertion position of the keyword.
198 SC Nest Template
Overview
This menu appears only when in an Orientation icon template drawing. Use the Navigator to open the orientation icon
drawing.
The orientation icon is used to identify on plate parts the orientations within the ship hull. This simplifies assembly and
avoids costly mistakes. An example of an orientation icon is given below.
SC Orientation Icon - Setup

Menu:
SC Orientation Icon / Setup

Command line:
SCORIENTICON
Navigator:
None
SC Orientation Icon Menu 199
It sets up parameters that control the appearance of the user orientation icon. Open the direction icon drawing with Navigator.
ShipConstructor comes with one ready-made orientation icon drawing. You can have as many as you wish. The Orientation
Icon menu is only available while in an Orientation Icon template.
You can change the look of the orientation icon to meet your demands.
Setup
Use the setup to control how ShipConstructor replaces the keywords in the template when placing the icon into a group
drawing. For each principle direction there are two keywords. You can choose to use one set or both. The wording for
forward aft and so on is customizable and can be done in any language.
200 SC Orientation Icon Menu
User Icon
Overview
There is no menu associated with this type of drawing template.
User icons can be used in assembly drawings. Each user icon is located in a separate drawing. You can draw any type of icon,
for example weld symbols. Later you can call up these icons for insertion during the annotation of assembly drawings.
User Icon 201
SC Profile Plots Template
Overview
This menu is only available when in a profile plot template drawing.
Use the navigator to create and access stiffener templates. These templates are used when creating profile plots. Two
different template types are required:
Stiffener Template Plot - This is a large template, which will contain several sub-sheets, a bill of material and a
drawing header.
Stiffener Template Sub-Plot - Several of these smaller templates will fit onto a large plot. Within the template the
automatically fully annotated stiffener plot will reside.
SC Profile Plots Template 203
SC Profile Plot Template - Plot - Define Border

Menu:
SC Profile Plot Template / Plot / Define Border

Command line:
SCADDBORDERXDATA
Navigator:
None
The stiffener template plot, as shown below consists of:
Plot border - A rectangle marking the outside border. Draw a rectangle for this and then use the menu to mark it for
ShipConstructor.
Plot area - A rectangle confining the area in which the sub-plots can be located automatically by ShipConstructor.
Draw a rectangle for this and then use the menu to mark it for ShipConstructor.
ShipConstructor uses the border to identify which actual plots and keywords belong to each plot.
1.
Draw a rectangle around your title block.
2.
Select SC Profile Template / Plot / Define Border.
3.
Click the rectangle.
204 SC Profile Plots Template
SC Profile Plot Template - Plot - Define Border

Menu:
SC Profile Plot Template / Plot / Define Area

Command line:
SCADDAREAXDATA
Navigator:
None
Plot border - A rectangle marking the outside border. Draw a rectangle for this and then use the menu to mark it for
ShipConstructor.
Plot area - A rectangle confining the area in which the sub-plots can be located automatically by ShipConstructor.
Draw a rectangle for this and then use the menu to mark it for ShipConstructor.
ShipConstructor uses the border to identify which actual plots and keywords belong to each plot.
1.
Draw a rectangle inside you title block defining the area that you want to use for the individual profile plots.
2.
Select SC Profile Template / Plot / Define Area.
3.
SC Profile Plot / Sub Plot / Define Sub Border

Menu:
SC Profile Plot Template / Sub Plot / Define Sub Border

Command line:
SCADDAREAXDATA
Navigator:
None
Sub Plot Border - A rectangle marking the outside border. ShipConstructor uses this rectangle to identify which items
belong to a specific sub plot.
Keywords - The keywords define at what position specific items shall be placed.
1.
Draw a rectangle enclosing all items in the sub plot.
2.
Select SC Profile Plot Template / Sub Plot / Define Sub Border.
3.
206 SC Profile Plots Template
SC Profile Plot / Insert Keywords

Menu:
SC Profile Plot Template / Insert Keywords

Command line:
SCINSERTKEYW
Navigator:
None
Inserts keywords into the profile sub plot drawing. On keyword is of specific importance. It is the <WEB_POSTION>
keyword. The extents of the web position keyword determines the area that the profile can use when plotted when viewd in
web view.
Weld Shrinkage Icon
Overview
There is no menu associated with this type of drawing template.
The weld shrinkage icon drawings are created and accessed using the Navigator.
The weld shrinkage icon consists of direction indicators, such as the simple two lines shown in the example below. More
complex direction indicators could be made. On each of the direction indicator you need a keyword, as shown in the
example. The keywords are later replaced with actual weld shrinkage values.
Feel free to modify the look of this drawing or create a new one. Make sure to use the two keywords as indicated in the
screen shot below.
Weld Shrinkage Icon 209
210 Weld Shrinkage Icon
SC Workshop Menu
Overview
Workshop drawings represent a 2D view of the 3D structural model. One common use is for general arrangement
drawings and classification drawings. Several of our customers have used ShipConstructor successfully for the creation
of initial design drawings and classification submittal drawings.
Note: We do not recommend using workshop drawings for production. You should use 3D assembly drawings instead.
Workshop drawings are an outdated means of providing information to the yard. You may want to use them for approval
drawings.
This sub-menu provides functions for workshop drawings. You can also automatically insert planar group drawings and
parts into workshop drawings.
Insert Group
Menu:
SC Workshop / Insert Group
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCGRPWSLIST
Navigator:
None
Inserts a 2D planar group into a workshop drawing.
SC Workshop Menu 211
1.
Start the function.
2.
Select any number of group drawings in the tree dialog. Click OK.
3.
A 2D-group drawing is inserted and the move command is started.
4.
Move the group drawing to the desired location.
5.
Repeat until done.
Note: The 2D Group drawings are inserted as XREFS. Anytime a group drawing changes, the Workshop drawing is
updated.
Insert Part
Menu:
SC Workshop / Insert Part
Toolbar:
None
Command line:
SCPRTWKSHP
Navigator:
None
Inserts a part into a workshop drawing.

Note: Parts are inserted as external references. They will be automatically updated when changed. Parts only consist of
the production layer entities. The solid layer is missing, as it is not contained in the nest preparation drawings.
212 SC Workshop Menu
SC Workshop Menu 213
bridge 147, 17779

Build Strategy 12, 1719, 11718, 11921, 127
Index
CG 60, 73, 76, 132

CG Point 132
CG position 132
Change Stock Plate 154
Check Current Group 108
Check Nests and BOM 17374
Construction Unit 148, 158
Convert Ellipse to Polyline 102
copy 11, 84, 11011, 130, 141
Copy Annotation 130
cross-section 9294, 186, 188
Curved Group 3334
Curved stiffener 58, 138
Cut Feed 147
cut line 156
Cutout 10, 20, 6367, 9195, 18485, 18788
cutouts 10, 20, 63, 6667, 74, 91, 9496, 188
3D to 2D 8788
3D to 2D Polyline 8788
2
2D group 5, 910, 1213, 22, 31, 33, 43, 4546, 52, 79,
212
A
Activate All 171
Activate UCS 13, 104, 112
Add Objects 80
Align 16869
Annotation 7778, 12731, 133, 201
ARLSTIFFENER 7374, 106, 113
Assembly 12, 5, 1519, 22, 36, 57, 69, 7576, 11112,
115, 11718, 12033, 13536, 138, 151, 158,
16970, 183, 190, 19194, 199, 201, 211
Assembly drawings 5, 1617, 19, 22, 36, 123, 12526,
128, 131, 190, 194, 201
Assembly Level 117, 122, 129, 194
Assembly Levels 118, 121
Assembly Master 16, 131
assembly tab 1618, 118, 124
assembly template 115, 19194
Assembly Templates 12, 123, 194
Assembly Tree 76, 129, 131, 158
Assign 33, 12122, 157, 170, 183, 19394
AutoNest 15861
AutoPlant 23, 3839
B
Bevel Text 109
Bill of Materials 194
BOM 17, 148, 157, 17274, 192, 194, 197
Break Distance 87
Break Intersection 86
Database 4, 6, 810, 22, 2425, 2728, 35, 42, 46, 80,

91, 9798, 143, 152, 185, 189
Deactivate 80, 82, 110
Define Part 74, 82
Delete Nest 153
E
Edit Cutouts 66
Edit Properties 82
Edit Stiffener 73
Endcut 5455, 69, 74, 130
Export 5, 11, 23, 38, 157, 175, 177
export to NC-Pyros 175
Extended Data 11213
Extract Polyline 67
F
Face Plate 70
Faceplate 59, 6770, 74, 76, 7879
far side 51, 77
Fast Feed 148
flange 55, 61, 7072, 74, 77, 94
Flange Plate 70
flat bar 6768
Flip UCS 133
H
Hide 37, 4546, 1089, 171
Index 215
I
Import 38, 60, 175, 176
inactive 46, 131
Inactive Parts 46
Insert Bridge 177
Insert Group 211
Insert Keywords 131, 172, 194, 197, 207
Insert Orientation Icon 103
Insert Part 212
Insert Standard 84
Insert Stiffener 91, 9495
Insert Stiffener Cutout 91, 95
Inserting Parts 159
interference 3, 5, 17, 2021, 3941, 73
interference tab 20, 39
Inverse bending 58
K
keymap 19, 124, 133, 19294
Keywords 18, 103, 127, 131, 149, 152, 156, 172, 174,
189, 192, 194, 197, 200, 2047, 209
L
library 52, 67, 9193, 139, 18488
M
margin plate 10
Mark Endcuts 130
mark far side 77
Mark Feed 148
Mark Group 88
Mark Group Intersections 88
Mark Group with Drawings 88
Master 16, 131, 143
Material 94, 182, 188, 194
matrix 11112
Mirror 13, 64, 77, 81, 8485, 133, 15657, 159
Mirror Part 81, 85
Model Space 74, 112, 133
Move & Rotate 165
move and rotate 165
Move UCS 133
N
Navigator 5, 50, 118, 124, 136, 145, 181, 189, 191, 197,
199, 203, 209, 211
NC-cutting machine 147, 176, 182
NC-Pyros 12, 51, 147, 156, 157, 171, 17577
nest check 83
Nest Name Prefix 147
Nest Reports 157
216 Index
nest tab 13, 150

Nest Template 115, 14849, 152, 172, 176, 19798
Nest templates 12, 148, 197
Nesting 12, 5, 13, 15, 25, 36, 51, 103, 14546, 148
63, 16579, 188, 190, 198
Nesting colors 146, 153
Nesting Preparation 146
nesting settings 146
Nesting Terminology 148
nesting toolbar 149, 178
neutral axis 79, 94
new assembly 1617, 125, 193
new nest 1415, 15053, 156
New Plate 51
New Project 1011, 2427, 117
New Stiffener 53, 56
New Stock 92, 153, 187
New Unit 2627, 29
O
OOP 83
OOP Text 83
Orientation Icon 1, 35, 103, 115, 131, 190, 199200
Outfit 5, 8, 1921, 26, 37, 43, 115, 119
Outfit Standard 20, 115
outfit tab 21
Outfitting 1, 19, 37, 41, 117, 181, 184
Overlap 58, 161, 174, 183
P
Paint 76, 158
paperspace 191, 19394
part definition 2
Part detailing 2
Part Gap 147
part list dialog 4
part orientation icon 35
penetrations 23, 38, 177
Piecemark 36, 74, 7779, 8184, 128
Pierce time 147
Piping 1, 5, 2123, 26, 3738, 41, 107, 117, 127, 177,
184
Piping Penetrations 23, 38
piping tab 22
planar group drawing 1013, 31, 32, 3739, 43, 4546
Plate margin 147
Plate parts 36, 79, 112, 118, 130, 190, 199
plate solid 5253, 56, 58, 6869, 71, 74, 112
Plate Solids 105, 119
plate stock 11, 7374, 76, 153, 175, 176
Plot 5, 1516, 94, 115, 13537, 139, 14144, 149, 154
55, 157, 190, 2037
Plotting Assembly Drawings 123
Process 51, 7879, 89
Product Work Breakdown Structure 117

Profile Cross section 92, 184, 186
Profile Library 9192, 139, 184, 18687
profile plot 5, 1516, 94, 13544, 139, 141, 14344,
190, 2037
profile plots 1, 62, 13544, 203, 205
PROJECT LEVEL 117, 12021
PWBS 117, 121
Q
Quality Control Matrix 11112
Quality Matrix 111
Quick 4, 39, 129
R
Reactivate 3536, 80, 83
Rebis 8, 23, 38, 43
Reference Lines 9698
Register Unit 6
Reinsert 163
Remnant 26, 148, 15356, 198
Remnants 14, 26, 148, 153, 15556
Remove Cutouts 67
Remove Vertices below Tolerance 1012
Rename 122, 153, 184
Replicate 9899
Replicate to other Groups 98
Reports 36, 62, 157
Rotate Shortest Dimension 166
S
Scallop 80, 100, 168
Select Process 51
Show Extended Data 112
skewed 10, 88, 101, 105
SLD 12, 32, 33, 52, 74
Slide Along 16364
slide function 16365
Snap 50, 86, 1067, 167
snap function 167
SPOOL Level 118, 122
STAGES 118
standard part 84, 115, 18284
standards 12, 5, 1920, 25, 85, 94, 132, 18182, 184,
188
Stiffener Cutouts 95
stiffener plot 115, 135, 203
Stiffener Plots 60, 135
Stock Sizes 153
Stocks 11, 14, 52, 54, 56, 59, 61, 67, 69, 7374, 76, 91
93, 14650, 15254, 158, 162, 170, 174, 176,
18488, 198
Structural Standards 19, 182
T
Template 5, 17, 2225, 27, 1034, 115, 133, 13537,
141, 14849, 152, 162, 172, 176, 189, 19194,
197201, 2037, 209
thickness throw 11, 13, 77, 87, 89
Thickness Throw Lines 89
throw line 90
throw symbol 88
tolerance 50, 1012
toolpath 33, 5052, 68, 7173, 74, 78, 86, 95, 165, 177
U
UCS 11, 13, 31, 57, 8485, 87, 9597, 101, 1046, 112,
128, 130, 133
Un-assign 170
Undefine 8081
Un-Hide 108
Unhide All 109
unit 3, 56, 813, 19, 2628, 29, 3134, 37, 43, 46, 61,
89, 94, 108, 117, 12021, 124, 148, 158, 182, 188,
19293
UNIT Level 117, 122
Unnest 163
Unused Geometry 43, 4546, 1078
Update Nests 174
Update Parts 127
User Icon 132, 190, 201
V
viewport 112, 133, 19294
Visibility 17, 31, 127, 171
W
Weld 2, 35, 6566, 81, 103, 112, 132, 190, 201, 209
Weld Shrinkage 2, 1034, 190, 209
Weld Shrinkage Icon 1034, 209
workshop 1, 5, 22, 115, 21112
workshop tab 22
X
XREF 19, 28, 37
Xref Groups 37
Index 217

Structure and Nesting

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ShipConstructor

By ARL - Albacore Research Ltd.

Albacore Research Ltd. License Agreement

4196 Kashtan Place

Structural interferences ..............................................................................................39

Check Group DWG................................................................................................................107

SC Build Strategy Menu

SC Profile Plots - Zoom .........................................................................................................142

Bridge - Insert Bridge ..............................................................................................177

SC Orientation Icon Menu

SC Profile Plots Template

Weld Shrinkage Icon