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ENGINEERING CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND PROMOTION SERVICES--------
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| DRAFTING AND LOFTING - DIRECT CONTRACT
SERVICES |
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 Drafting = Developing
flat drawings of individual parts or overall conceptual designs
for engineering or for CNC cutting and fitting of parts
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- Lofting
= Giving the flat parts three dimensional density and erecting
them into a virtual model to promote the idea and/or to test
form, fit, and function
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A
Brief History
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- At the outset of this business we began
generating 2D plan views for our customers. One of our first
MARINE drafting projects was to draw the 65' outriggers for 105'
Gulf Trawlers being built by Kennedy Ship and Repair. Since then
we've developed many drawings ranging from individual components
to entire vessels and lofing facility plans from 2D prints to
3D animations.
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- Anyone who has tried this knows the difficulty
in getting a vector file from AutoCAD® into a raster imaging program. It took a while
to figure it out but we did. By producing digital paintings using
our AutoCAD® drawings as a template we were able to provided
a more realistic view based on insuring that the height and width
ratios remained equal so that when built, it would look like
what the CAD drawings represented.
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 As
we began to offer more digital paintings the result was an amazing
increase in interest, but we were still no better off than with
a hand painted illustration.
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- We could only provide one view at a time
and any significant change at the conceptual level meant that
we had to start over if we wanted to keep the drawings and digital
image as true-to-life representations. We needed something better.
However, we didn't need one so complex as to develop the entire
ship construction plans and finite analysis information. We leave
that to the engineers and naval architects. We wanted to deliver
a realistic view, but only if it could be built as we show it
and only if we could continue to capitalize on the work after
the project was underway.
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- Because we wanted our work to cross-platform
with that of engineering we needed to loft 2D plans in a way
to formulate a more realistic view without losing our ability
to send them back to the NA for engineering. This led us to search
for a program that was compatible with AutoCAD® and although we
had improved on the ability to generate 3D AutoCAD® (even
within it's limited abilities) the program also proved that it
was simply not suited for rendering and animation. Besides, we
wanted to follow every project through to maintain a documented
history ranging from the first concept renderings on to a video
production years later.
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- Behind the scenes we began to see a trend
in 3D at the industry market level and at the software level.
We Beta tested a number of programs which eventually led us to
a set of what have become Autodesk products. VIZ and 3DMAX.
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- We can import or export AutoCAD® and other
formats. Everything is dimensioned according to the AutoCAD architecture.
There is no need to produce and track dozens of different drawings
during the conceptualization stage so the process can move much
faster through those first level planning stages.
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- If we need to know what our client thinks,
we simply position the virtual camera and snap a few pictures
for e-mailing. The process offers faster feedback from the client
and that, in turn, helps reduce overall cost of conceptualization.
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- Using 3D lofted files to develop the plans
or from the original CAD drawing we've sent our data to the CNC
programmer for waterjet, flame, laser, machining, and etching,
therefore, we've proven that we can use our lofted images
as the framework for importation into CNC programs.
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- Paper to Electronic Digital Files
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This helm chair is just one example of converting
paper plans to digital format for an object that will be used
in the completed model.
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At the Pacific Marine Expo our client pointed out
this specific chair (Left) as being the one he wanted at his
helm but with a gray Velour material and sans the arm rest controls.
Using pictures taken at the show and a brochure with dimensions
we made this 3D model of the helm chair (Right).
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- Our dedication to acquiring actual, real
world dimensions means that the mounting bolt pattern, height,
width, and capable functions are directly correlated to the real
world object and can be placed directly into the 3D lofted model
of his vessel. We can view it from different angles, make sure
it fits and functions correctly, and if the owner doesn't like
it, we can change it. Color, texture, position..., or the whole
chair.
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- A NOTE TO OEM COMPONENT SUPPLIERS
- We understand the sensitivity of releasing OEM product drawings.
Please be assured that our purpose is to insure accuracy in design,
form, fit, and function on behalf of our clients. We do not resale
nor purvey your drawings outside of the immediate design team
or unless we have your specific written permission.
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- ©
1997-2007 c.r. watson - all rights reserved
- The
use of any trademarks, trademarked names, and/or copyrighted
information is
- stated
as a fact of record and is not intended to imply endorsement
of any kind.
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