Some feature requests

[imbehind]

Hi!

Great program.

Done some hull modifications (bulb) and offset table generation, so here are some features requests I would like to see:

1. Hiding Orca3D control points. (Select and Hide some of them to avoid clutter and to concetrate on part modified)

Nice for local editing. Used it together with cage edit.

2. Table of offsets

For boundary lines such as deckline, transom etc i don't like the way they are generated.

Would like to see option for generating each curve independently in its own table with columns:

X,Y,Z, Curve intersected (Name), Knuckle? (yes/no).

I would like to see in the table intersections with all selected curves.

3. I need inflection lines if possible on the surfaces for fairing.

4. Couldn't find explicit way to define midship (For lines plan)

Cheers!

[Admin]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

1. Have you tried the clippingplane command? That might provide the de-cluttering that you're looking for.
2. I'm not really clear on what you're looking for here; could you email an example to support@orca3d.com?
3. If you're looking for surface hollows, Rhino's curvature analysis can show that. If it's inflections on a waterline, for example, again Rhino can display curvature quills which clearly show inflections. I may be misunderstanding your question; again, can you give more information in an email?
4. That is a good suggestion, and we will add it to the "wish list."

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Bruce Hays

[imbehind]

1. I will try. Thanks!

2. Here's example

Deck1            
No.   X   Y   Z   TYPE
1   2,988   0,000   4,600   Kn
2   2,988   2,772   4,600   Kn
3   3,368   3,200   4,600   Bt
4   4,000   3,754   4,600   St
5   5,163   4,447   4,600   Kn
6   6,000   4,471   4,600   St

3. Rhino's curvature graph is ok for curves, but for surfaces i would like to see inflection curves plotted on surface itself. (Curves are passing trough points of inflection on the surface)

I'll post more if i get the chance to work with your great software in the future. (The time is scarce these days)

BTW: We had similar SW in development for 5 years. It was pain in the ass to do. Hope you will get yours to full production soon!

( http://www.conmar.hr/eng/products/veristarstability.html or check the product site at http://www.veristar.com )

 

[Admin]

We have participated in software development with BV in the past as well, in the area of structural finite element analysis. Thanks for your good wishes regarding the software development. It is challenging, but also rewarding when customers are productive with it.

The offset table function in Orca3D has been written in the RhinoScript language, and we will provide source code to any customer that requests it. Perhaps you could modify it to create the output that you're looking for. Am I correct that you're looking for each coordinate where a waterline (in this example) crosses any other curve in the model?

[imbehind]

We have participated in software development with BV in the past as well, in the area of structural finite element analysis.

I hear that the Veristar Hull is popular with its users so congrats. Our software is in developement still (modules), but initial user reports are positive. We hope it will stay that way in the future also.

Thanks for your good wishes regarding the software development. It is challenging, but also rewarding when customers are productive with it.

Your'e welcome.

The offset table function in Orca3D has been written in the RhinoScript language, and we will provide source code to any customer that requests it. Perhaps you could modify it to create the output that you're looking for.

I need to say say here that your script is the best (and only working) offsets generating script so far for rhino. I haven't used rhinoscript before but would appreciate the script source to play with. Thanks! If you would, please send it to k o l j a (a t) c o n m a r . h r

Am I correct that you're looking for each coordinate where a waterline (in this example) crosses any other curve in the model?

Yes, you are right, i need more detailed data regarding discontinuities and general boundary curves.

BTW, i used rhino because i had to modify hull and produce offsets table and lines plan for the m/y we are currently designing.

See screenshot.

Best regards!

[ndar]

The offset table you show looks very similar to that used by the Dutch program PIAS.  Orca3D produces a PIAS export file, have you seen it ?

nick

[Admin]

Nick:

That's a good point. Although Orca's PIAS export is not perfect (it doesn't include the knuckle indicator yet, it just says "unknown"), the format is very similary.

To use the PIAS export, select Export Curves under the Hull Design menu.

Bruce

[imbehind]

I don't know how to produce PIAS file.

[Admin]

From Orca's Hull Design menu, select Export Curves. After selecting the curves, the Export Curves dialog will be shown. At the bottom of the dialog, under Save As Type, select PIAS.

[imbehind]

Oh , i didn't see your previous message...

I produced .ias file, but cannot make sense of it right away. (I could of course, but then, it is easier to copy paste in offset excel file and edit manualy)

Hmmmm....?

Here's sample:

Code:

        51
    47,000
5
     0,746      5,150          0
     0,525      5,041          0
     0,358      4,980          0
     0,184      4,940          0
     0,000      4,923          0
    46,000
6
     1,414      5,150          0
     0,529      4,427          0
     0,405      4,353          0
     0,279      4,296          0
     0,145      4,258          0
     0,000      4,241          0
    45,000
28
     0,000      2,111          0
     0,109      2,101          0
     0,162      2,090          0
     0,213      2,074          0
     0,262      2,052          0
     0,309      2,024          0
     0,353      1,990          0
     0,393      1,950          0
     0,426      1,905          0
     0,452      1,858          0
     0,473      1,807          0
     0,488      1,755          0
     0,497      1,700          0
     0,500      1,646          0
...

[Admin]

The format of the PIAS file is as follows:
  Number of stations
Then, for each station:
  Station coordinate (X value in this case)
  Number of points on the station
  Y, Z, Breakpoint indicator
Next station

It may be that the PIAS file is not what you need. The other option is IDF, which is available from the same Export Curves menu. It includes all curves, and is basically self-documenting. The format is also documented in the Help guide, in the Export Curves section of the Hull Design chapter. It doesn't have breakpoint indicators, but it does have X,Y,Z for each curve.

[imbehind]

Yes idf is better. Thanks.

Idf is the format you are talking about, not pias.

Code:

$CURVE
Curve 0
waterline
12
40,4999495331089, 3,41114367979363, 5, Unknown
45,5488367280402, 1,45106315618187, 5, Unknown
46,0729484534123, 1,1959780691886, 5, Unknown
46,4706249141705, 0,955865815087049, 5, Unknown
46,6548267940233, 0,816305032730907, 5, Unknown
46,8232046827465, 0,657591963796518, 5, Unknown
46,9398519431651, 0,514000431786521, 5, Unknown
47,0311418243721, 0,35742841961964, 5, Unknown
47,0656451201674, 0,273857315730414, 5, Unknown
47,0918499180352, 0,186540190505624, 5, Unknown
47,1091031669338, 0,0953100768464874, 5, Unknown
47,1167518158218, 7,65422378582979E-09, 5, Unknown
$CURVE