Workshop-ShipConstructor

Workshop has a build in export function for ShipConstructor structure files. This export function has some special features:
Exporting 3D drawings relative to the zero point as specified in Workshop. Always exporting in mm or inches depending on whether the units are metric or imperial. ShipConstructor always expects the files it imports to be in mm or inches, and this now means that the default import options can always be used in when importing the files in ShipConstructor. Files in ShipConstructor format

Workshop Model

ShipConstructor model

Exporting a Workshop model and starting a new project in ShipConstructor with Workshop geometry consists of the following steps:
Creating a new project in ShipConstructor Exporting the Workshop structure Importing into ShipConstructor

Creating a new project in ShipConstructor

Launch ShipConstructor In AutoCAD ShipConstructor | Project | NewProject

Enter the new project details Name, location, template and frame viewing direction:

A new database is created Create a new unit, for this simple vessel there will be just one unit.

Logon to SQL database:

Grab all the licenses:

Give the new unit a name, use leading zeros if needed:

Exporting the Workshop structure

Switch back to Workshop and load your model:

Use Windows Explorer to create a MSWorkshop folder in the ShipConstructor project directory:

Switch Precision to highest from the data menu in Workshop. Export the ShipConstructor files from Workshop

You should now have several files (if you clicked OK to all the parts of the model):
One file containing all the decks; One file containing all the frames; Three files per plate a DXF file and then two mesh files (one is the 3D shape and the other is the expanded plate; the DXF file contains both expanded and 3D shapes in the same file on separate layers); One file per stringer.

Note: Switching the precision to highest will make sure all exported polylines are exported with greatest accuracy.

Importing into ShipConstructor

You are now ready to load the files into ShipConstructor and start adding the parts to the ShipConstructor database. There is no particular order in which Workshop geometry should be imported, but in this tutorial well follow the following steps:
Importing frames Importing Decks Importing Stringers Importing Plates

Importing frames
In the Unit drawing in AutoCAD import the frames use the SCIN command or select ShipCAM (read: Workshop) from the SC Utilities menu:

Find the MSWorkshop folder and select the frames file:

Important!! Workshop export functions have been customised especially for ShipConstructor. Leave all the settings at their defaults.

Note: The export from Workshop will always be in mm or inches, depending on whether you have metric or imperial units set. Make sure you set the ShipCAM Units to mm or inches.

You should now have all the frames:

Creating Planar groups

We now have to put each frame into its own planar group. Do this by looking at the model either from the side or top, to facilitate selecting the frames individually. Drag a box around one of the frames:

Select ShipConstructor | Planar Group | New

Enter the frame details (for some reason the default thickness came up in inches, even though the imperial template was used).

The lines in the new group should now be shown in red:

Continue for all the other frames You should now be able to see all the frames in the Navigator, as you open each one, the previews will become available.

Importing Decks
Decks are imported in exactly the same way:

Importing Stringers
Stringers require a different method of importing:
Create curved group drawing

Open the unit drawing.

With the unit drawing open, select ShipConstructor | Curved Group | New

Give the group a suitable name:

Now go back to the Navigator and open the new curved group (which will be empty):

Import Stiffener

We can now import the Workshop stringers using the SC Structure | Stiffener | New Twisted command:

Now select all the Workshop stringer files that you exported from Workshop:

You can now select the properties for each stringer, or for all the stringers:

No unit conversion is required because Workshop will automatically export in mm or inches depending on whether the units were metric or imperial The stringers should now all be read in, check by doing a zoom extents and possibly changing the viewing orientation:

You can view the stringers in relation to the frames by using the Xref command

Importing Plates
To add the plates, go back to the unit drawing (using the Navigator):

As for the stringers, create a new curved group:

Open this group with the Navigator, then insert the plate(s)

then insert the plate(s)

Select the Workshop plate DXF file that you generated with the ShipConstructor export from Workshop.

At the prompt, hit return:

complete the plate options:

click OK at the warning:s

Zoom extents to view the plate. If both production layer and solid layers are turned on, you will see the expanded plate, with any construction lines that were exported in Workshop (in this case the stringer paths) and also a mesh representation of the 3D plate shape:

Repeat the procedure of creating a new curved group and importing the plate for all remaining plates. You should now have the complete drawings in ShipConstructor. Note that at this point you only have the geometry information; no parts have been added to the ShipConstructor parts database. To create the parts and put them into the database, you must go into each structural drawing, define the tool paths and solids and then generate the individual parts have fun!