creating seaworthy software

Autoship Systems Corporation

Suite 1451, United Kingdom Building
409 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 1T2
Tel: 1.604.254.4171
Fax:1.604.254.5171

A u t o s h i p

S y s t e m s

C o r p o r at i o n

AUTO
OSTRUCTURE Catalogue

sales@autoship.com
techsupport@autoship.com
www.autoship.com

Authorized Dealers & Agents

Australia & New Zealand
Coastdesign
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Contact: Alan Walker

Scandinavia
Coastdesign, Norway A/S
Oslo, Norway
Contact: Frode Myklebust
Tel: (+47) 22-424840
Fax: (+47) 22-424647
Email: frode@coastdesign.no

France
David Henry Architecture Navale
Goult, France
Contact: David Henry
Tel: (+33) 4-90-72-3701
Fax: (+33) 4-90-72-4355
Email: David-HENRY@wanadoo.fr

Spain and Germany

Autoship Spain - INABAL
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Contact: Gunnar Solheim
Tel: (+34) 971-718407
Fax: (+34) 971-716480
Email: autoship@inabal.es

Greece and Cyprus

D. Thomas Marine Ltd.
Piraeus, Greece
Contact: Mr. Dimitrios Thomas
Tel: (+30) 210-4618987

United Kingdom, Eire & Poland

Autoship Systems (UK)
Kilcreggan, Scotland

Email: dthomas@otenet.gr

Tel: (+44) 1436-842809

Fax: (+44) 1436-842809
Email: bill.mckinnon@autoship.co.uk

Italy and Egypt

Navalia di Stefano Thermes s.a.s
Napoly, Italy
Contact: Stefano Thermes
(+39) 081-247-2305
Fax:
Mobile: (+39) 335-621-2187
Email: navalia@synapsis.it

Venezuela
CONAVAL, C.A.
Maracaibo, Venezuela
Tel: (+58) 261-808-4584
Fax: (+58) 261-761-1759
Contact: Luis A. Castillo
Email: conaval.marine@cantv.net

Japan
Advance Craft Design
Hyogo, Japan
Contact: Hisashi Matsumoto
Tel: (+81) 792-47-2400
Fax: (+81) 792-47-2411
Email: acd@autoship.jp

Vietnam
SAMASER
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Contact: Do Binh Duong
Tel: (+84) 8-9400073
Fax: (+84) 8-9400230
Email: info@samaser.com

www.autoship.com
Autoship Systems Corporation 2007

Why go anywhere else?

The easy way to create the internal

structure of your ship

TABLE OF CONTENTS

_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________
_____

Autostructure
Overview
1
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Project Manager
3
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Bulkhead Placement & Global Layout Dialogues

4
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Main Screen
6
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Report Manager
7
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________

2D Editor
8
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Copy Panel Configuration Dialogue

9
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Panel Subdivision Dialogue & Preview

11
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Autostructure CAD Output

13
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Material Manager
14
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Bracket Design & Placement Dialogue

15
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Features List
17
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Piping Design
18
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Penetration Report
19
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________

List of Dealers

bac
ck cover

_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Autos
os
o
str
tructure
re

Internal Structural Design

Overview
Autostructure is used to create a 3D model of a vessel structure and to output the parts of that model in
CAD format. The CAD representation can be used either to prepare construction drawings or for input to
NC cutting processors. Autostructure utilizes an Autoship-generated hull and/or superstructure and can
also include the shell plate information created in Autoplate. (Autoship and Autoplate are programs
from Autoship Systems.)
Another program in the Autostructure suite, Production ManagerTM, provides nesting, part subdivision,
stock management and weld shrinkage compensation.
Every aspect of Autostructure was designed to allow parts to be created quickly and with minimal input.
While there is a general workflow, no set ways or sequences are forced upon the user, thus enabling
maximum productivity with minimum effort. Since parts can be generated rapidly, mistakes can be
quickly and easily remedied. Also, if a part is changed or moved, Autostructure can update the
surrounding structure for you, saving you time and effort.
The tools that Autostructure provides are:
!

A part database with a powerful categorization system

The ability to rapidly cut parts to the shell and/or each other

Specialized dialogues for modelling pillars and deck beam and frame assemblies

Sophisticated 2D part editing

Comprehensive CAD output

Extensive reporting capabilities

A user-expandable Material library

Library of user-designed brackets

Autostructure is built on top of SQL ServerTM - Microsoft's most powerful database system. As delivered,
Autostructure can support up to five users either in a client-server or peer-to-peer network. For more
than five users, a full SQL Server system should be purchased separately.
Three examples are:
i) by actual structure i.e. ring/block/module/subassembly; or
ii) by designer: each designer could be assigned his/her own, separate assembly, which could be
further subdivided, and would be able access the other designer's work; or
iii) by material: for a repair job, the user might want to group individual parts by material type, i.e.
material/size/profile/grade. Also, for each project, Autostructure provides the user with the
ability to set up a Permissions scheme that controls which operations each designer is allowed
to perform.
Autostructure

Autostructure provides several different methods for creating parts. Each one is quick, simple and
straightforward. Autostructure also includes special tools that speed up the part-making process, such
as the ability to rapidly copy the details (stiffeners, cutouts, openings and markings) from one part to
another or to quickly subdivide a large part into the separate plates from which it would be fabricated.
Additionally, each time a part is trimmed at the hull or another part, a weld path is automatically created
along the trimmed edge. The weld paths can be used to generate weld relief cutouts on other parts and
can be included in weight and scheduling reports.
Autostructure uses AutoCAD 2000 (or later) for all 2D editing functions. Special tools allow the user to
easily attach and edit stiffeners, swiftly generate openings, stiffener cutouts and markings and also to
perform boolean operations. Of course, all the usual AutoCAD functionality is available as well.
All CAD output is transferred directly into AutoCAD. Three different formats are available:
i) a 2D array of selected part outlines with cutouts and markings, i.e. the typical information which
would be sent to an NC-cutting processor and/or nesting program;
ii) a 2D presentation of parts, such as a cross-section which would be used to prepare construction
or classification drawings; and
iii) 3D output to use for 3D drawings to show the relationships of parts or crucial construction details,
and to be used as input to other programs. Extensive control is provided for output, such as layer
creation, size and depth of cross-section and type of stiffener marking.
Autostructure can generate several different reports: weights and centres, bill of materials, weld length
and extrusion fabrication data. The output is sent to Crystal ReportsTM, which allows the presentation to
be completely customized with minimum effort. Optionally, hull plate information created in Autoplate can
be added to the Autostructure model and then included in reports. This means, for example, that a
centre of gravity report for a sub-assembly can include the weight and centre of the shell plates, thus
allowing the user to prepare a proper lifting arrangement for the structure.
Autostructure maintains a library of materials that includes material type, plate thickness, extrusions
(stiffener profiles), flat bars and finishes (for rendering purposes). As each part the user creates is
assigned properties from the library, consistency of material for all parts is guaranteed. The material
library is user-expandable and provides for easy input of new material and profiles.
There is also a library of user-designed brackets.
The ship model appearing in the following pages was created to show how some of the modelling
operations performed in Autostructure are carried out. Most pages include an indication of the time spent
performing the operation. The total number of parts created and the total time taken to create the model
is detailed near the end of the presentation.

Project Manager

Prroject
P
M nager
Ma

Project ManagerTM is a separate program that is used to

manage the project database. As indicated by the large
number of tabs, Project Manager allows many aspects of the
database to be managed from one convenient application.
One of the main functions of Project Manager is to create new
Autostructure projects. In this view, we have already selected
an Autoship project, had Project Manager set up the database,
and are now setting up the Permissions for that project. The
next step will be to establish automatic backup schedules.
Total time to create a new project: about 5 minutes.

Bulkhead Placement Dialogue

Bulk
lkhead
Placement
Pl
2
2D
Editor
Ed

The Bulkhead Placement dialogue is used to quickly establish

the locations of transverse watertight bulkheads. To provide
guidance for bulkhead placement, the dialogue can also
calculate and display floodable length curves and 1:1 lines.
In this view, we have positioned our bulkheads by clicking the
Create Bulkhead button and then at the frame locations (the
vertical dashed lines). We can compare the 1:1 lines with the
Floodable length curve and reposition the bulkhead accordingly.
When a satisfactory layout has been achieved, we'll click Make
Parts to have the program cut each bulkhead to the hull,
complete with data on bevel angles. We'll also use this
information to help produce our General Arrangement drawing.
Total time: about 5 minutes, plus the floodable length curve
calculation time, which varies with the hull form.

Global Layout Dialogue

Gllobal
G
Lay
ayout

The Global Layout dialogue was designed to allow rapid

generation of large structural parts that lie in one of the three
principal planes. In an efficient two-step process, part locations
are quickly established by indicating their position on a set of
grid lines, and then all the parts are sequentially cut in a single
operation. As each part is cut, it is automatically trimmed to the
hull and any surrounding previously cut parts. The frame grid is
set by the Autoship project, the deck and longitudinal grids are
set with the controls at right. A special magnification window (the
square overlay) is available to help choose among closely
spaced grid lines.
In this view, we've set three deck grid lines and two longitudinal
grid lines and have laid out the positions of a several longitudinal
bulkheads and double bottoms - they appear in red - and are just
about to position a tank top. The orange lines are the bulkheads
we created in the previous step, the Bulkhead Placement
dialogue. Next, we'll click Make Parts to have the parts cut. Total
time about 10 minutes.

Main Screen

Main
M
i
Scr
creen

The main screen features an OpenGL viewer for graphical

representation of the model and a Browser for navigating the
assembly and part hierarchy. Either or both may be displayed
in several different configurations. The Viewer provides many
separate tools for zoom, pan, view, rotate, lighting, cut-away
and fog (the further a part is from the viewpoint, the more it is
obscured) making it easy to see the structure as you want. The
user has complete control over how the hierarchy is arranged,
thus allowing for a meaningful and job-specific system to be set
up. Autostructure's main tools are always within easy reach
along the top in the menu bar and tool bar.
In this view, the Viewer is at its default position at right, and the
Browser is on the left. In the Browser, we've selected all the
parts created thus far by clicking on the upper-most assembly,
Main. In the Viewer, we have rotated the model to look down
from above, starboard side in the forefront.

Report Manager

Rep
e ort
r
M nager
Ma

Autostructure features a separate program, Report

ManagerTM, for generating reports. Several report types,
such as Weights and Centres, Bill Of Materials and Weld
Lengths are available. The report format may be
customized using Crystal Reports. The Report Manager
uses the same Browser as Autostructure in order to allow
easy selection of the parts to be included in the report.
Reports may be printed directly and/or saved to disk.
In this view, we're looking at the last page of a weight
summary for the entire structure we've created so far.

2D Editor

2D
2
Editor
Ed

The 2D Editor is used for adding details such as cutouts,

openings, stiffeners and markings to flat parts. We've made part
editing easy by incorporating AutoCAD and adding some
special tools for working on Autostructure parts. Autostructure
maintains a user-expandable library of material and extrusions,
thus ensuring consistency of material and type for all parts.
In this view, we've brought a transverse frame into the 2D editor
and then attached horizontal stiffeners, created lightening holes
between the stiffeners and added flat bars to the edges of the
openings. Total time for this frame about 10 minutes.

Copy Panel Configuration Dialogue

Cop
opy Pa
P nel
Confi
figura
r ti
tion

To save time when making parts, we've created the Copy Panel
Configuration dialogue. This alows you to copy the details
(openings, stiffeners, cutouts and markings) from one flat part to
similar flat parts. The settings at the right provide easy control
over which details to copy.
In this view, we're copying the five openings, the five face
bars and the four stiffeners from part Tr FRM Fr 69 to part
Tr FRM Fr 70. Time to copy these details to ~40 other
frames, about 6 minutes.

Copy Panel Configuration Example

Cop
opy Pa
P nel
Confi
figura
r ti
tion

10

This view shows one of the central blocks that has been
considerably detailed. There are 89 Flat plates, 881 Extrusions,
1008 Flat Bars and 2135 welds. Total operator time to make
these transverse frames, floors, shell stiffeners, double bottom
stiffeners and bulkhead stiffeners was about four hours.

Panel Subdivision Dialogue

Panel
P
Subdi
divisio
i n

The Panel Subdivision dialogue is used to cut a large part into

the separate plates from which it will be constructed. Controls
which set the plate size, pattern and origin allow for fast
subdivision of the part. Additionally, parts can be re-submitted
to be subdivided again.

11

Subdivision Preview

Subdi
divisio
i n
Previ
Pr
view

The Subdivision Preview shows the resulting layout of

plates and lets you change the thickness of any of
them. Each plate becomes a new, separate part, and
the program also creates the welds between the plates.
Subdivision may also be made along curves which you
create in an AutoCAD editing session. Time to
subdivide one part, about 2 minutes.

12

Autostructure CAD Output

CAD
C
Outp
t ut

All Autostructure CAD output can be exported directly to

AutoCAD as drawings. Three different formats, each having
many options, are available and enable you to easily produce
drawings to your own standards. Drawings exist as 1:1 scale in
Model Space, allowing you to work easily with the parts.
In this view, we've exported two parts for NC-cutting
preparation. As the text, outlines and markings all exist on
different layers, it is a simple task to select the appropriate
entities to send to the NC processor.

13

Material Manager

Mate
M
t ri
rial
M nager
Ma

14

The material manager, which is integrated into

Autostructure, is used to create new materials, plate
types, extrusions, flat bars and finishes (finishes are
used for rendering). Autostructure is delivered with
most common materials, plate thickness and stiffener
and flat bar shapes already included in the library.
Having one common library ensures that the material
type, plate thickness and stiffener profiles used
throughout the project will be consistent.

Bracket Design Dialogue

Bra
r ck
cket
Des
e ig
ign

The Bracket Design dialogue provides an easy approach to

designing even quite complex brackets, with or without edge
and face stiffeners. The resulting designs are stored in the
bracket library.

15

Bracket Placement Dialogue

Bra
r ck
cket
Placement
Pl

16

In the Bracket Placement dialogue you select a connection case

(lower left) and the program performs a search for locations
where brackets should be placed. You then move through the
list of potential connection locations, select templates
appropriate to each and apply them. The templates are loaded
from the bracket library.

Key Feature
r s
!
!
!

!
!
!
!
!

!
!
!
!

!
!
!
!
!
!

!
!
!

!
!
!

!
!

A tree-view/list-view browser provides a user interface to the database.

Bulkhead layout with or without internally calculated floodable lengths curves.
A global layout module in which sheet parts parallel to the principle planes are created, with automatic
trimming to adjacent parts.
Parametric design of transverse deck beam and frame, complete with edge stiffeners and brackets, in
one operation.
Flat parts can be edited. This is done by using AutoCAD, accessed from within Autostructure. Parts
geometry is transferred programmatically to and from AutoCAD. A custom toolbar provides access to
functions specialized to part editing.
Extrusions can have parametrically specified end shapes.
Pillar creation dialogue.
Bracket library and bracket designer. Standard and custom brackets.
Other side parts can be created by reflecting existing parts across the centre line.
Interference with flat parts and extrusions can be detected and displayed in dialogues. The user may
then choose corrective action.
Details, including openings, marks and stiffeners, can be easily copied from one part to other similar
parts and their mirrors by a mouse click.
Part properties editor providing detection of part invalidations.
Autoplate projects can be incorporated into the Autostructure database.
Inverse bending curves for extrusions running along a curved path.

Importation of penetration reports from Bentley Systems' AutoPLANT piping design program,
display of the data and production of a report of Autostructure user actions.
Flexible scheduled backup of database.
3-tier database system based on SQL Server
A viewer based on OpenGL provides visualization.
Part creation dialogue for single or multiple parts in any plane, trimmed to selected parts.
A parametric web frame design option is provided in the global layout module.
When cut to a shell, the bevel angle at which each boundary segment meets the shell is retained and
can be exported.
Within the editor face stiffeners and edge stiffeners can be created and located.
Dialogue for creating multiple stiffeners on panels.
New materials, sheet types, extrusions, flat bars and finishes can be created. Extrusion cross section
editing is supported.
Automatic search for bracket locations and semi-automatic bracket placement
Stiffeners can be created along curves embedded in the shell surfaces.
Welds are automatically generated where parts are cut to the shell and other parts, and along
extrusion paths.
Large parts can be subdivided to the size of available stock. Marks and stiffener information are
copied to each new part. The division can be along user-edited marks or on a grid.
Regeneration of invalidated parts.
Parts may be exported directly into AutoCAD for drawing preparation, nesting and NC cutting, or
other purposes. Three export types are supported: 2d parts, 2d assembly and 3d.
The separate Report Manager program provides four report types. New report types are
easily added.
Archiving of complete projects for exchange and long-term storage.
17

Piping Design
ASC has an agreement with Bentley Systems Incorporated to support the use of their AutoPLANT
piping design system in connection with Autostructure models. Both companies have done software
development to support this connection, resulting in a semi-automatic data exchange between the
two programs.
As presently implemented, the system conforms to what we expect to be common shipyard practice:
piping designers do not make changes to structure, they request changes which are then reviewed and
acted upon by structural designers.

The Design Cycle

!

A structural design is produced in Autostructure.

All or part of the model is exported to AutoCAD as 3d objects. Each part carries xref data including its
name and ID.

The model is saved as a DWG file from AutoCAD.

The piping designer loads the DWG file and uses that as an environment for containing
piping equipment.
"

"

The user is prompted to select the penetrating pipe.

"

The user is prompted to toggle an end of the pipe.

"

The program draws the new component

"

At the end of the design session the piping designer accesses a menu item to cause a
penetration report file to be written.

The file, with extension .PEN, contains ASCII text, one line for each penetration request.

The Autostructure File menu has a command "Import" which has one submenu command "Rebis
Penetration File". Selecting this brings up a file open dialogue in which user selects the
penetration file.

18

When the piping designer encounters a need for a pipe to pass through a structural member,
he invokes a Rebis menu which brings up a dialogue with a list of sleeve options. The user
makes a choice.

Autostructure brings up a dialogue which displays the penetration requests:

Rebis Penetration Report

Penetr
P
trati
tion
Rep
e ort
r

The buttons at the bottom left are used to cycle through the list of
penetration requests. Data from the current request are displayed
in the two top right frames.
!

For each request the structural designer selects a response in

the form of one of the option buttons in the Action frame. When
the choice is made, the user clicks the Execute button.

If cutting is selected, the program produces the hole in the

Autostructure part. If reinforcing is requested the flat bar
dialogue appears, the user makes a selection and the program
generates an edge stiffener for the penetration opening. If the
choice is Mark and Edit, the program puts a mark on the part
and brings up AutoCAD with the part displayed.

Whatever choice the user makes appears as text in the

comment box. The contents of this box can be edited and
augmented as the user sees fit. In the case of request rejection,
the user should provide an explanation.

When the penetrations have been processed, the operator

clicks the Save Responses button; a file open dialogue appears
and a second text file is written. This file contains a record of the
operator responses.

The decision file is passed back to the piping designer; the

AutoPLANT program does not read the file.
19

Notes
1

1.

Autostructure, Production ManagerTM, Report ManagerTM and Project ManagerTM are are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Autoship Systems Corporation.
Autoship slogans and logos are trademarks of Autoship Systems Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows and SQLTM Server are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
Crystal ReportsTM is a registered trademark of Crystal Decisions, Inc.
AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.
AutoPLANT Piping is a registered trademark of Bentley Systems, Incorporated

20

TABLE OF CONTENTS

_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________
_____

Autostructure
Overview
1
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Project Manager
3
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Bulkhead Placement & Global Layout Dialogues

4
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Main Screen
6
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Report Manager
7
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________

2D Editor
8
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Copy Panel Configuration Dialogue

9
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Panel Subdivision Dialogue & Preview

11
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Autostructure CAD Output

13
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Material Manager
14
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Bracket Design & Placement Dialogue

15
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Features List
17
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Piping Design
18
_______________________________________________________________________
_________

Piping Design
19
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________

List of Dealers

bac
ck cover

_______________________________________________________________________
_________

creating seaworthy software

Autoship Systems Corporation
Suite 1451, United Kingdom Building
409 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 1T2
Tel: 1.604.254.4171
Fax:1.604.254.5171

A u t o s h i p

S y s t e m s

C o r p o r at i o n

AUTO
OSTRUCTURE Catalogue

sales@autoship.com
techsupport@autoship.com
www.autoship.com

Authorized Dealers & Agents

Australia & New Zealand
Coastdesign
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Contact: Alan Walker

Scandinavia
Coastdesign, Norway A/S
Oslo, Norway
Contact: Frode Myklebust
Tel: (+47) 22-424840
Fax: (+47) 22-424647
Email: frode@coastdesign.no

France
David Henry Architecture Navale
Goult, France
Contact: David Henry
Tel: (+33) 4-90-72-3701
Fax: (+33) 4-90-72-4355
Email: David-HENRY@wanadoo.fr

Spain and Germany

Autoship Spain - INABAL
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Contact: Gunnar Solheim
Tel: (+34) 971-718407
Fax: (+34) 971-716480
Email: autoship@inabal.es

Greece and Cyprus

D. Thomas Marine Ltd.
Piraeus, Greece
Contact: Mr. Dimitrios Thomas
Tel: (+30) 210-4618987

United Kingdom, Eire & Poland

Autoship Systems (UK)
Kilcreggan, Scotland

Email: dthomas@otenet.gr

Tel: (+44) 1436-842809

Fax: (+44) 1436-842809
Email: bill.mckinnon@autoship.co.uk

Italy and Egypt

Navalia di Stefano Thermes s.a.s
Napoly, Italy
Contact: Stefano Thermes
(+39) 081-247-2305
Fax:
Mobile: (+39) 335-621-2187
Email: navalia@synapsis.it

Venezuela
CONAVAL, C.A.
Maracaibo, Venezuela
Tel: (+58) 261-808-4584
Fax: (+58) 261-761-1759
Contact: Luis A. Castillo
Email: conaval.marine@cantv.net

Japan
Advance Craft Design
Hyogo, Japan
Contact: Hisashi Matsumoto
Tel: (+81) 792-47-2400
Fax: (+81) 792-47-2411
Email: acd@autoship.jp

Vietnam
SAMASER
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Contact: Do Binh Duong
Tel: (+84) 8-9400073
Fax: (+84) 8-9400230
Email: info@samaser.com

www.autoship.com
Autoship Systems Corporation 2007

Why go anywhere else?

The easy way to create the internal

structure of your ship