Is 3-D Product Modeling Practical For Small U.S. Shipyards?
Over the past 30 years, computer-aided ship design and construction has progressed from mainframe computers to PCs, from independent programs to fully integrated programs, and from large shipyards to all sizes of shipyards. More to the point, key advances during the past several years have made 3-D product modeling a tool that can significantly improve small yard efficiency, quality, and profit. However, 3-D product modeling can do these things only if implemented in a planned and well thought-out manner, tailored to the specific yard. 3-D product modeling, when combined with other innovations such as NC production equipment and the workstation approach to production…
ShipConstructor to Support STEP Import and Export
Albacore Research Ltd. (ARL), the creator of the 3D product modeling software ShipConstructor™ and Industrial Planning Technology, Inc. (IPT) are cooperating on the development of a translator that will enable ShipConstructor to import and export STEP files containing pipe, HVAC, and equipment data. This technology will significantly enhance ShipConstructor’s interoperability in large shipyard environments, allow organizations to more easily access legacy data, and simplify the long term storage and retrieval of archival product model data throughout the entire product lifecycle. IPT is developing the translators using the all-new ShipConstructor Application Programming Interface (API) creating intelligent distributed system objects directly in the ShipConstructor Product Model Database.
