Workshop FAQ list

• Plate Precision Inconsistency.
• Which version of Workshop should I use?
• How do I best prepare a model for a shell expansion drawing?
• I cannot develop a triangular plate.
• How can I develop a plate that does not consist of 4 contours?
• I am getting "All four contours must lie on the same surface" error message when I try to add a plate to a surface.
• My stringers are on the wrong side (outside) of the hull surface. What have I done wrong?
• How do I export Workshop files to ShipConstructor?
• Can each of the developed plates be output in one file?
• Does Workshop develop trimmed surfaces?
• Can individual lines be exported on the developed plate?
• Stringers not displaying in rendered mode

If you open a workshop file and receive a message saying "Workshop has detected a plate precision inconsistency", the listed plates will need to be recalculated.  This recalculation is required for back compatibly issues relating to older Workshop design files created in version 12.04.

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There are two different versions of Workshop, which vary in price and capabilities, giving you a product that suits your needs and budget.

• Workshop Pro is a construction detailing and part generation system using the Maxsurf surface information for plate development; decks, frames and bulkhead definition; plate stiffening and stringer shape and cut-out generation. All part and weight calculations adapt to changes in the hull shape. The part information can be exported directly to ShipConstructor and also via DXF to other CAD/CAM systems.
• Workshop/S is a plate only version of Workshop Pro which provides plate development and compound curvature shell expansion. Although you can do shell expansions in Workshop/S, a lot of the data that you would want displayed on a shell expansion drawing (frames & stiffeners) can not be generated  in Workshop/S. It is therefore recommended to get Workshop Pro if  shell expansion drawings are required.
  

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Before conducting a shell expansion there are a few simple steps you must carry out to ensure the model is correctly prepared:

1) Turn trimming invisible on.

2) Turn off all surfaces that are not hull surfaces. 

3) Step through each of the sections in the body plan view and ensure that there is only one unambiguous continuous section (this is the same procedure as setting up a model for hydrostatic calculations in Hydromax).  If multiple closed sections occur, or there is a "spike" in the section, Workshop will not know which path to take when calculating the girth at a particular longitudinal section.

4) Make visible only the parts you wish to be included in the shell expansion drawing.

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Triangular plates can be created by adding a surface plate on a triangular surface (i.e. a surface that has one side compacted to a singularity).  Workshop will add a plate but will not be able to develop it.  This is because the development algorithm is based on quadrilateral elements.  The solution is to either:

a)  In Maxsurf make the surface a quad by moving one of the compacted control points on the null edge by a very small distance (say 0.0001m) to create a non-zero edge length.

b) In workshop add a contour (say stringer or section contour) just inside the null edge, use this contour plus the three remaining edge contours to form a 4 sided plate. 

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Workshop can only develop plates with 4 contours. It is strongly recommended to read the working with plates section of the Workshop user manual.

These section may be of interest in particular:

• Plating a whole surface
• Adding a plate 
• Developing triangular plates

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Problem: A common problem when trying to create plates on a surface is when you try to select an edge that is bonded to another surface as your plate boundary. A bonded edge belongs to both surfaces and thus you may get the error message:

Solution: Try hiding all surfaces except the one you are trying to create plates on.

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Problem: You have not set the direction of the outside arrows correctly in Maxsurf.

Concept: The outside arrow is used to indicate which side of the surface is the OUTSIDE of the ship. Since stringers are by default always on the inside of the ship, they will be placed on the opposite side as to where the outside arrow is pointing.

Solution: Make sure the outside arrow is pointing to the outside (the "wet/water side"). See the outside arrows section of the Maxsurf manual.

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Simply use the File | Export | ShipConstructor menu to export all visible parts to ShipConstructor. 

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You can export individual parts from Workshop from the parts window. File |Export and then select "Current Part Only".

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No, at the moment Workshop develops only 4 sided plates. To develop a trimmed plate, you can do two things:

1. split the plate up into several smaller panels (tip: make sure you display only the surface you are working on)
   
2. develop the entire plate and display the intersection (trimming-) lines in the part window before exporting to your production detailing software or NC-cutting machine.
   

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Any lines that you display while in the parts window (eg intersection lines, contour lines) will be included in the export.
Tip: Make sure you always calculate and export all parts on highest precision. Read the section on precision in the Workshop manual carefully before adding plates or exporting parts.

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Make sure you have assigned a shape to the stringer. Without a shape assigned to it, the stringer will not display in rendered mode.

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