Which Version of Maxsurf Should I Use
Maxsurf is available in four different versions, each providing a different number of surfaces. Design files are compatible between all versions of the program. This allows you to upgrade from one version to another at any time. There are also different versions of Hydromax and Workshop.
The following description will help you choose which version is most appropriate for you to use.
Maxsurf Pro is a professional level system used by most serious commercial designers. It allows you to use an unlimited number of surfaces which makes it easy to model complex, complete models, including any type of hull shape with any type of superstructure and an unlimited number of appendages. The unlimited number of surfaces are also useful if you want to make serious use of Maxsurf's trimming capability. This lets you add additional surfaces to your model to trim out complex surface edges on other surfaces. Maxsurf Pro also has a parametric transformation function which is not available in the other versions.
Maxsurf Plus is a mid range system used mostly by yacht designers and designers of simpler hard chined craft, where there is a requirement to model limited superstructure or appendages. It allows up to six surfaces to be used in one design. Examples of Maxsurf Plus usage would include a yacht with hull, keel, bulb, rudder, transom and deck surfaces; a pleasure boat with lower hull, chine, upper hull, deck, windscreen and transom surfaces.
Maxsurf/T allows three NURB surfaces in a design and consequently can be used to model fairly simple designs. The additional surfaces make hard chined craft easier to model than with Maxsurf/S as the chine can be modelled using surface edges rather than condensed rows of control points within a hull surface. Alternatively three surfaces could be used to model a hull, keel and rudder for a yacht or similar design.
Maxsurf Academic is a three surface version of Maxsurf, available only to full time students of an appropriate marine studies course. Please visit the Maxsurf Academic web site for more information - http://msacademic.formsys.com
Hydromax Ultimate is most capable version of Hydromax. It has all of the features of Hydromax Pro and in addition has probabilistic damage stability and support for analysis on multi-core processors.
Hydromax Pro is a full featured Hydrostatics program with a comprehensive range of analysis functions including upright hydrostatics, large angle stability, equilibrium calculations, grounding, analysis in waves, limiting KG, longitudinal strength, tank calibrations and stability criteria.
Hydromax/S is a limited version of Hydromax containing just the intact hydrostatics and stability functions. It does not include damage, downflooding, criteria, tank calibration or strength functions.
Workshop is the full featured version of the program containing all plate, stringer, frame and deck functions.
Workshop/P is limited version of Workshop which just provides plate development and expansion capabilities.
