Originally posted by butters:
hi, i'm planning with a friend on building a small boat (steel).
so far i found one 3d designing called touchCAD, wich supports "image unfolding". this is a must for us.
are there other 3d modelings programs wich have this capability?
As far as i know it is the only program that does this regardless of platform, at least if you also intend to generate full scale images. The unfolding features also goes far beyond image unfolding. It comes with very extensive parametric features, it supports stretch unfold calculations, etc. It also supports seam allowances (overlaps), automatic coordinate measurements, panel numbering, alignment marks, etc, all very useful for production of fabric based objects. It is therefore often used by sailmakers as it enables them to produce other fabric based objects than sails. The latest version of TouchCAD also supports 3D import from Sails Science Sailmaker to utilize TouchCAD's image unfolding abilities to generate full-scale, full color, pre-painted graphics on sails.
TouchCAD is currently the only real hull fairing program available for OSX, with built in marine calculation features (displacement, center of gravity and buoyancy, wetted surface, length-width-depth in the waterline, prismatic and block coefficients, etc.). TouchCAD also supports dynamic cross sectioning, an absolute must for serious hull fairing to provide the highly accurate shape control requited for boat design. TouchCAD is also a much more powerful modeler than the typical dedicated hull fairing programs on the market where you mostly just design the hull instead of as in TouchCAD, where all major panels can be modeled.
For those interested, the TouchCAD web site provides a demo movie showing how to model a sailboat hull, deck, transom, marine calculations, deck, cabin, some interior elements, etc. Despite the tutorial character of the movie, all this done in just 16 minutes!
More info at
www.touchcad.com
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