ShipConstructor News - August 2009 - Formation Design Systems

In this issue:

ShipConstuctor for distributed projects
ShipConstructor R4.4 Released
SSI Grows
ShipConstructor designed LCS 2 undergoes Builder's Trials
Universal Seat Licensing
SC4D Component Model Library

ShipConstructor for distributed projects

Since the first Australian companies began using ShipConstructor in 2005, we have seen a significant increase in the number of distributed projects in which ShipConstructor is used. The nature of the distribution of work varies, often the design team is in one location and the construction team in another, but we are also seeing more distribution of design activities across multiple sites.

Most projects in Australia have the design team at a different location from the construction team and in this situation, the delivery of ShipConstructor work packages can be a good way to minimise the number of questions which come back from the yard to the design office. The inclusion of a NavisWorks model as part of each production package is the best way to convey to the construction team how each module of the vessel should be built. The free NavisWorks Freedom viewer can be a cost effective way for the yard to view the 3D models which are sent to them.

Also of benefit is the new Project Split & Merge technology in ShipConstructor 2008. This allows parts of projects to be distributed to different sites, and then merged back into the parent project as work progresses. The split and merge can be by module or by system within each module.

Bracket Insertion in R4.4 (Enlarge)

ShipConstructor R4.4 Released

SSI is continuing an extremely active development program with a number of major releases over the past 12 months. Some of the significant new capabilities that have been added include: Label Distribution Lines - a new toolset for managing automatic layout of labels on production drawings; Pipe Find and Replace – automated replacement of pipe stocks; Bracket Insertion - Automatic insertion of brackets between stiffeners and plates or other stiffeners; Enhanced Reporting – Additional reporting fields and features such as profile bends and nest part counts; Parts per level increase – a 50% increase in the maximum part count per level.

Numerous other features are planned for the coming twelve months. All of these improvements are automatically supplied to members of the Upgrades, Maintenance and Support (UM&S) program.

SSI Grows

ShipConstructor Software Inc, the Victoria, BC, Canada-based developer of ShipConstructor, continues to grow on the back of ShipConstructor's successful adoption around the world. SSI now has over 60 staff with the majority being involved in the development of new capabilities in the software.

The newest SSI staff member is John Frazier. With degrees in physics and mechanical engineering, John is also a veteran of Autodesk. As such he brings a wealth of experience in the application of Autodesk CAD products to complex engineering projects. In particular he has worked closely with a range of shipbuilding companies including Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Northrop Grumman Newport News, the US Navy, the US Coast Guard as well as assisting with CAD deployment at large engineering companies like Boeing.

LCS 2 (Enlarge)

ShipConstructor® designed LCS 2 undergoes Builder’s Trials

The U.S. Navy’s first trimaran littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) is undergoing builder’s trials to test the vessel’s engines, jet drives, communications, navigation and core mission systems. The LCS 2 is a fast, 418 ft aluminium trimaran with superior seakeeping and aviation capability as a result of its long, sleek central hull and smaller side hulls. This innovative warship was designed and built by Austal on behalf of the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship team. The LCS is the lead vessel in Austal's naval shipbuilding program and the company relied on ShipConstructor software for 3D modelling and the creation of DWG-based production packages.

Universal Seat Licencing

Managing the number of modules and the level of each module can sometimes be a tricky issue for some engineering offices. This is particularly the case for offices with a varying workload and with multi-skilled staff who move between structural and mechanical activities. ShipConstructor now offers a new alternative licencing option for these situations. The new Universal Licence provides access to every module and function ShipConstructor has to offer with one single license. Better yet, future modules of ShipConstructor®, such as Electrical and Weld Management, will be automatically provided free of charge under the subscription program.

The modular licensing system allows users to obtain the required number of disciplines from the following list: Hull, Structure, Pipe, HVAC, Equipment, HVAC, Penetrations, ProductHierarchy, ManualNest, AutomaticNest, ProfileNest, Report, and NC-Pyros – with Electrical and WeldManagement to be released later this year. But, predicting the correct number of disciplines is a difficult if not impossible task for many customers. With the Universal Seat License, customers can now choose the number of seats instead of the disciplines, which provides unsurpassed flexibility often at reduced cost.

Small design shops with staff experienced in a variety of disciplines will benefit from the Universal Seat License as much as large shipyards and design offices. In small design shops, a designer works on structure for a while, then moves to pipe, and after that to HVAC, nesting and NC code generation. The designer may need to use all modules over the life of a project but never all modules at once so the new Universal Seat License effectively provides all ShipConstructor modules at a discount.

Large shipyards and design offices also benefit from the flexibility the new licensing option offers. Throughout the production design of a single ship, the load on the various departments generally shifts from hull fairing and lofting to structural design, to pipe, HVAC, and outfit, and then to production oriented functions such as profile, plate nesting, NC code generation and production reporting. The Universal Seat License model is the answer to this challenge because though the modular system offers great value for clients with well-defined requirements, the Universal Seat model is more cost effective for those with more flexible needs.

Clients who currently own any ShipConstructor modules can trade in the combined values of their modules if switching to Universal Licenses.

For other licensing options such as Modular, Perpetual, Annual, Lease and Rent Licenses, please visit http://www.shipconstructor.com/productsandsolutions/licensing then speak us at FormSys to determine the best value for your unique requirements.

Equipment Sharing Repository on SSI Website (Enlarge)

SC4D Component Model Library

Setting up the equipment library for a ShipConstructor project can be quite time consuming in cases where manufacturers' 3D AutoCAD models are not readily available. To help ease this library setup, SSI has introduced a new equipment sharing repository on the SSI web site. The new SC4D portal lets ShipConstructor users share their own equipment models and browse through an online library of models submitted by others.

The site can be found at sc4d.shipconstructor.com