If you use your CAD system in 3D, you can use the DXF or IGES methods to save the lines from the Maxsurf design as three-dimensional lines rather than just 2D. This allows you to do things like interior space planning in three dimensions. Choose the 3D IGES or 3D DXF file format as required.

Maxsurf exports 3D poly-line and surface data so that it will be correctly interpreted by a cad system which has the following right-handed co-ordinate system: x-axis, positive along the forward longitudinal axis of the vessel; y-axis, positive along the port transverse axis of the vessel; and z-axis, positive along the upward vertical axis. This means that the y-ordinates will be the negative of the Maxsurf “Offset” values since, in Maxsurf, “Offsets” are measured transversely, but positive to starboard.

Maxsurf supports the 3DLine and 3DPolyline entities. Each contour from Maxsurf will be saved as a 3D polyline in the DXF file.

Maxsurf supports IGES entity number 106. Each contour from Maxsurf is saved as a linear path of copious data, with x, y and z coordinates.