Radar Mast & Final Assembly of Yacht

YACHT ASSEMBLY

SURFACE MODELLING OF SUNSEEKER PREDATOR YACHT USING SOLIDWORKS

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to get a detailed understanding of Surface Modelling using SOLIDWORKS. This project includes designing and modelling each component of the yacht followed by assembly. Rendering of final assembly using PHOTO VIEW 360 and SOLIDWORKS VISUALIZE.

INTRODUCTION

What is Surface Modelling?

Surface Modelling is the method of showing or presenting solid objects. The process requires you to convert between different 3D modelling types, such as converting the 3D object to show procedural surfaces, validate imperfections, and apply smoothness. While more complex than Wireframe Modelling, Surface Modelling is easier to achieve than Solid Modelling.

In this project, Sunseeker Predator Yacht is selected as a base model to get an understanding of Surface Modelling and Solid Modelling. Each Component of the yacht was designed, modelled and rendered using SOLIDWORKS. All modelled parts are assembled by applying proper and auto-fixed. Final model rendered using PHOTO VIEW 360 and SOLIDWORKS VISUALIZE to realistic view.

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

BASIC OF SOLIDWORKS

TERMINOLOGY

The following terms are used in Solidworks for all parts and assemblies.

• Plane: It is used for creating a 2D sketch. It can be created in multiple directions to draw sketches for complex views.
• Origin: It is a zero point in the coordinate system. It helps to fully constrain the model or sketch.
• Axis: It is a reference entity with multiple uses in features like revolve, plane, pattern.
• Face: It is a boundary of a solid body or surface. It can be used to draw sketches on it.
• Edge: It is the line where two or more faces or surfaces are joined.
• Vertex: It is an endpoint of line or edge.

TYPES OF TOOLS AND COMMANDS

SKETCH: It is the basis for 3D modelling. It can create any default plane/new created plane/faces of feature/surfaces. A sketch can be created in 2D and 3D space.

SKETCH COMMANDS:

Smart Dimension: It is used to apply different dimensions like length, angle, and diameter to geometry entities.

Line: It is used to create a straight line with two endpoints. There are three options available Centreline, Midpoint and Line.

Circle: It is used to create a circle by two methods i.e. Perimeter Circle and Centre Point Circle

Arc: It is used to create an arc by method Centre Point Arc, Tangent Arc and Three-Point Arc

Spline: It is a curve that passes through a point specified by the user. Spline has been provided with a handle to operate the shape required.

Fillet: It is used to apply fillet at the intersection of drawn entities.

Trim Entities: It is used to remove an unnecessary portion of geometry

Convert Entities: It is used to copy entities from different sketches. Also, it enables to copy edges of the model to active sketch.

Offset Entities: It is used to copy an entity at a specified distance from the original entity.

Sketch Picture: It is used to insert a background image as a blueprint for a guide.

FEATURES: It is used to create a solid shape from one sketch. Different types of design and shapes can be achieved by using feature tools.

FEATURES COMMANDS:

Extruded: Extrude add or remove material by extruding one or more profiles. You can create extrude boss/bases, extrude cuts, or extrude surfaces. The extrude feature can be a solid, a thin feature, or a surface.

Revolved: Revolves add or remove material by revolving one or more profiles around a centerline. You can create revolved boss/bases, revolved cuts, or revolved surfaces. The revolving feature can be a solid, a thin feature, or a surface.

Swept Boss/Base: It sweeps a closed sketch along a closed or open path to creating a solid feature.

Lofted Boss/Base: It enables the addition of material between two or more profiles to create a solid feature.

Fillet: It creates a rounded internal or external face along one or more edges on a solid feature or surface feature.

Chamfer: It creates bevelled features on selected edges, faces or a vertex.

The pattern repeats the selected features in an array based on a seed feature. You can create a linear pattern, a circular pattern, a curve driven pattern, a fill pattern, or use sketch points or table coordinates to create the pattern.

Reference Geometry: It helps to add a new plane, axis, coordinate system for modelling.

Curve: It enables to creation projected curve, a split line, composite curve, helix and spiral.

Shell: It hollows out a part, leaves open the faces you select, and creates thin-walled features on the remaining faces. It creates a closed hollow object with thin-walled when select solid object.

Mirror: It is a very useful command which helps to completely mirror faces, solid bodies, features about plane or face. A bunch of command work get a mirror in one command. It fast modelling process.

Dome: It creates a dome shape on selected faces of the solid feature.

Combine: It allows to combine two or more solid bodies to get one solid body.

Delete/Keep Body: This feature allows to delete or keep selected bodies.

Save Bodies: This feature allows to save bodies from the part file as a new part file.

SURFACES: Surfaces are a type of geometry that can be used to create solid features. It represents a skin object which means no thickness object. It is used to get surfaces from two or more sketches. There are different types of complex and curvature solid model can be achieved by closed-loop surfaces by using different tools.

SURFACES COMMANDS:

Swept Surface: It sweeps profile along an open or closed path to create a surface feature.

Lofted Surface: It creates a lofted surface between two or more profiles or sketches by specifying the start and end constraints along guide curves to control the path shape

Boundary Surface: The boundary surface feature lets us create surfaces that can be tangent or curvature continuous in both directions (all sides of the surface). In most cases, this delivers a higher quality result than the loft tool.

Extruded Surface: Extrudes a sketch or selected sketch contours to create a surface feature in one or two directions.

Revolved Surface: Revolves a sketch or selected sketch contours around an axis to create a surface feature.

Filled Surface: Patches a surface within a boundary defined by edges, sketches, or curves. We can use constraint curves to fill surfaces and adjust resolution control to improve surface finish.

Ruled Surface: Inserts ruled surfaces in a specified direction from edges. Tangent to the surface, Normal to the surface, tapered to vector, perpendicular to vector or sweep can be selected. We can also trim and knit the surfaces and remove any connecting surfaces.

Trim Surface: It trims the surfaces where a surface intersects with another surface, a plane or a sketch

Knit Surface: It combines two or more adjacent, non-intersecting surfaces into a single surface body. The surfaces must joint at an edge. If the resulting knit surface encloses a volume, we can create a solid body from the Property Manager

Move/copy surface: Moves or copy surfaces about a plane or a sketch.

Offset Surface: Offsets surfaces using one or more contiguous faces. This tool helps us to create an offset surface with gaps.

Extend Surface: Extends one or more edges or faces on a surface, based on end conditions and extension type.

Mirror surface: A mirror feature is a copy of a selected feature, mirrored about a plane or planar face. A mirror sketches entity is a copy of a selected sketch entity that is mirrored about a centreline. If the original feature or sketch is modified, the mirrored copy is updated to reflect the change.

Thicken: Creates a solid feature by thickening one or more adjacent surfaces

DESCRIPTION

While designing, first we have to identify the component or sub-assembly of the Yacht to get the final model assembly. Splitting component of a model before designing provides the scope of improvement and avoid lengthy modelling.

BLUEPRINT SETUP

It is used as a guide for sketching and designing models. Before modelling each part, a blueprint setup is to be done in a part file. Sketch image of the yacht is to be added to the different planes as per view. It helps to draw and design models easily.

COMPONENTS OF YACHT

1. RADAR
2. PROPELLER
3. HULL
4. GARAGE DOOR
5. FRONT SEAT
6. MIDDLE SEAT
7. REAR SEAT
8. SUPERSTRUCTURE
9. RADAR MAST

• RADAR: Radaris a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain.

Command Used

1. Line, Circle, Text. Point
2. Extrude Boss/Base
3. Extrude Cut
4. Fillet
5. Mirror
6. Split Line

Modelling Procedure

• The part has symmetric geometry, so first, create a symmetric portion.
• Base feature (parent) created by drawing sketch and extruded boss feature
• Additional features (child) added like cap and bolting by using extruded boss and extruded cut.
• The Radar has a circular slot underneath which was created using the extruded cut. This is very important while assembly to mate the part properly
• Fillet is applied to the edges of the body and finally, save the model by applying appearance.

• PROPELLER: A propeller is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral, that, when rotated, performs an action that is similar to Archimedes' screw. It transforms rotational power into linear thrust by acting upon a working fluid, such as water or air. The rotational motion of the blades is converted into thrust by creating a pressure difference between the two surfaces. A given mass of working fluid is accelerated in one direction and the craft moves in the opposite direction.

Commands Used

1. Line, Circle, Spline
2. Revolve
3. Extrude Cut
4. Reference Geometry – Plane
5. Loft
6. Fillet
7. Circular Pattern

Modelling Procedure

• Base feature (Parent) created by drawing sketch and revolved boss
• Create a plan sketch for the blade. One blade of propeller created by lofted boss feature.
• Fillet added to blade outside edges and joint edges.
• Remove material from propeller shaft for mating by cut extrude feature.
• Use circular pattern to pattern blade of the propeller by selecting blade as a feature and direction as edge or face of the shaft.
• Apply the appearance and save the model

• HULL: A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. The hull may open at the top (such as a dinghy) or be fully or partially covered with a deck. Atop the deck may be a deckhouse and other superstructures, such as a funnel, derrick, or mast. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.

Command Used

Sketch Command used: Line, Circle, Spline, Rectangle, Ellipse, Straight Slot, Arc, Convert and Offset Entities, Trim Entities and 3D sketch.

Features Command used: Extruded Boss, Revolved Boss, Swept Boss, Extruded Cut, Fillet, Chamfer, Linear Pattern, Circular Pattern, Shell, Mirror, Split, Delete/Keep Body and Save Bodies.

Surfaces Command used: Extrude Surface, Revolved Surface, Swept Surface, Lofted Surface, Boundary Surface, Filled Surface, Offset Surface, Ruled Surface, Delete Face, Extend Surface, Trim Surface, Knit Surface, Thicken

Reference Geometry: Plane

Curve: Split Line, Project Curve, Composite Curve, Helix and Spiral

Modelling Procedure

• First, open the blueprint setup file and save it by the name Hull.
• The Hull of the yacht looks symmetric in geometry. It provides flexibility to create a haft model then mirror it about the plane or middle face of the yacht.
• Main Body: Draw sketches to create two 3D curves by using the project curve option
• Create three outer surfaces of the hull using Loft Surface, Extrude Surface and trim unnecessary portions using Trim Surface. Combine three surface created surfaces by using Knit Surface.
• Fill the surface on the top side and right side to make a closed model using Fill Surface with edges of outside surfaces.
• Knit all surfaces to combine and select create solid to form a solid model.
• Use the shell to make a deck for other components
• Windows: Use reference sketch, extruded cut, plane, swept boss, Fillet.
• Stair: Extrude cut, extruded boss, fillet
• Railing: Plane, reference sketch, project curve, swept boss, delete a face, fillet
• Garage: Extruded cut, extruded boss, fillet, Save Bodies.
• Propeller Assembly: Revolved boss, extruded boss and cut, linear pattern, chamfer, fillet.
• Some additional features were added to the hull to get a good appearance.
• After modelling the half portion of the hull, mirror it along a midplane or middle face of the hull.
• Create a surface by using the offset surface on the deck and hide it. This surface will use for modelling Superstructure, Front Seat, Middle Seat and Rear Seat.
• Apply decal to floor, stair. Apply appearance to model and save it.

• GARAGE DOOR: A garage door is a large door on a garage that opens either manually or by an electric motor (a garage door opener). Garage doors are frequently large enough to accommodate automobiles and other vehicles.

Command Used

1. Extruded Boss
2. Extruded Cut
3. Shell
4. Plane
5. Mirror
6. Fillet
7. Text

Modelling Procedure

• The garage door needs to be model in an imported model from the hull by cut extrude feature to get identical dimensions and proper fitting.
• The door is also an asymmetric body. So, first model half portion and then mirror it about the plane.
• The shell feature is used to thin the thickness of the door.
• Cut extrude is use to add the cut hole for mating in assembly.
• Fillet added to get a smooth appearance.
• Apply the appearance and save the model.

• FRONT SEAT: Front Seat is located at the front end of Hull which is usually used for seating and to enjoy the scenery

Command Used

1. Swept Surface
2. Loft Surface
3. Filled Surface
4. Extrude Surface
5. Trim Surface
6. Knit Surface
7. Revolved Boss
8. Extruded Cut
9. Fillet and Chamfer
10. Mirror
11. Dome

Modelling Procedure

• Open the blueprint setup file and save it by the name Front Seat.
• Insert the Hull part by selecting the surface bodies.
• Create Swept Surface by creating a sketch on Deck face by drawing a spline & another sketch on a created plane by drawing a line.
• Draw two lines and connect with previously created surface sweep and Extrude the surface.
• Trim the Extra surface and fill the gap portion with a Filled Surface.
• Draw few sketches accordingly to trim extra surfaces.
• Create Surface loft using the above two sketches.
• Trim the Extra surfaces & Knit them together.
• Draw lines accordingly to create the seat and revolve it about 10 degrees.
• Apply Fillets and mirror the bodies.
• Finally, Apply Dome to seats & give the appearance.

• MIDDLE SEAT: Middle seat is situated at the tail side of the superstructure for seating.

Command Used

1. Extrudes Boss
2. Extrude Cut
3. Mirror
4. Chamfer
5. Fillet

Modelling Procedure

• Open the blueprint setup file and save it by the name Front Seat.
• Insert the Hull part by selecting the surface bodies.
• The middle seat looks like an asymmetric model. So, it can be created with half body and then apply mirror feature.
• Draw L shape sketch on the deck surface and extrude it to get the bottom structure of the seat.
• Create a rectangle sketch on a new plane for the seat and extrude it.
• Create back support by using extrude feature
• Apply Fillets and mirror the bodies.
• Create a sketch for the table base at front of the seat. Sketch the face feature to get table support and extrude it. Then sketch the table plate and extrude it.
• Finally, apply appearance.

• REAR SEAT: Rear seat is situated at the tail side of the hull.

Command Used

1. 3D Sketch
2. Reference Plane
3. Swept Surface
4. Loft Surface
5. Offset Surface
6. Extend Surface
7. Extrude Surface
8. Trim Surface
9. Knit Surface
10. Extrude Boss
11. Revolved Boss
12. Extruded Cut
13. Fillet and Chamfer
14. Mirror
15. Swept Boss

Modelling Procedure

• Open the blueprint setup file and save it by the name Front Seat.
• Insert the Hull part by selecting the surface bodies.
• The main body of the Rear Seat is modelled using Swept Surface, Off-set Surface and the remaining portion is trimmed using the Trim Surface tool.
• By using the Reference Plane, the Seats are created with the help of Lofted Surface, Surface Trim and Extended Surface.
• The Flag Post is created using Revolved Boss/Base and the Flag was created by drawing the required 3D sketch and then the 3D sketches lofted to form the Flag.
• The Tail Lamps were created by using Extruded Boss/Base, Fillets and Mirror tool.
• The Steel Gates for Stairs was designed by using the reference plane and the Swept Surface.
• To remove the gaps the all the Surfaces must be Knitted together using Knit Surface.
• The required fillets and chamfer were applied before mirroring the second half using the Mirror tool and after the mirroring fillet was applied to the remaining.
• Finally, save the part by adding appropriate appearances.

• SUPERSTRUCTURE: A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. It is an extended construction of any building or platform that rises above the rest of the building or platform distinctly.

Command Used

1. 3D Sketch
2. Reference Plane
3. Swept Surface
4. Loft Surface
5. Offset Surface
6. Extend Surface
7. Extrude Surface
8. Trim Surface
9. Knit Surface
10. Extrude Boss
11. Revolved Boss
12. Extruded Cut
13. Fillet and Chamfer
14. Mirror
15. Swept Boss

Modelling Procedure

• Open the blueprint setup file and save it by the name Front Seat.
• Insert the Hull part by selecting the surface bodies.
• The side surface of the superstructure is created by using extruded surface, lofted surface, filled surface, trim surface and knit surface.
• The front side of the superstructure was designed to have four rest beds which were created using extruded boss/base, fillets and dome.
• The front edge of the superstructure was provided with a water feature which was created using extruded boss/base, extruded cut, and filled with a water appearance.
• The windshield was created by extruded cut and the wipers were created by using 3d sketch and reference plane with the help of swept boss/base.
• The portholes for the superstructure were created by using extruded surface, trim surface and extend surface.
• the ruled surface used to fill the left-out edges.
• The back doors of the superstructure were created using extruded cut, fillets and a reference plane.
• Then all the surfaces generated were knitted together to form a solid body.
• The superstructure consists of two surface bodies and five solid bodies.
• One of the surfaces was the deck surface the other one was used to place the radar mast so it was renamed as radar mast reference surface.
• Then the other half model mirrored and the applied fillets
• Apply the appearances and finally save the part.

• RADAR MAST: A mast is a pole that rises vertically from a ship and supports the sails. The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall spar, or arrangement of spars, erected more or less vertically on the centre-line of a ship or boat. Its purposes include carrying sails, spars, and derricks, and giving necessary height to a navigation light, loo-out position, signal yard, control position, radio aerial, or signal lamp. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of the ship. Nearly all sailing masts are guyed.

Command Used

1. Extrude Boss
2. Revolved Boss
3. Swept Boss
4. Mirror
5. Chamfer and Fillet
6. Plane
7. Shell
8. Project Curve

Modelling Procedure

• Open the blueprint setup file and save it by the name Front Seat.
• Insert the Superstructure part by selecting the surface bodies option.
• Create a sketch on the surface of the radar mast by drawing a horizontal line from the surface and apply fillets to the outer and inner edges.
• Draw 4 splines and a line as per Blueprint and extrude it on the created plane.
• For Radar Indicators - Sketch the top face of the previous extrude using a line and 3-point arc., revolve it. Draw a circle on the extruded face and extrude it and apply fillets.
• Antenna: Create a Sketch on Extrude1 face by drawing a circle and extrude it. Draw one more circle on the extruded face and extrude it. Create one more extrude on the previous extrude face by drawing a circle.
• Create a sweep by sketching on a created plane using a spline and a circle on a 3D sketch.
• The mirror above sweep across Plane 2 and connect them by drawing three circles on a sweep and extrude them.
• Create a Projected curve as per requirement by drawing sketches on respective Plans.
• Create a Sweep by drawing a circle at the edge of the projected curve.
• Horn: Draw a few lines and splines as per the blueprint. Use revolved boss and apply dome to one end and shell to another end.
• Mirror Everything except Horn across Mid Plane.
• Horn Support: Draw a straight slot on extruding 1 face and extrude up to the horn face.
• Create a Plane using the above the extruded right face and offset it. Mirror the Horn and its support across the created plane.
• Finally apply the appearance to Radar Mast, Antenna, Horn & Indicators.

ASSEMBLY

All parts of the yacht have been modelled. Hull is the main structure of a yacht. Some parts are modelled using some references from Hull. So, because of references, there is no need to add mating relations to these parts. It will be automatically fixed with Hull.

But some parts are individually modelled. So, there should be proper mating relations as per their characteristics.

Mates Used

1. Coincident: This mate use to aligned objects at the same positions.
2. Concentric: This mate allows to aligned objects radially.
3. Distance: Distance mate use to aligned objects at some distance.

Assembly Procedure

• To start assembly, open a new assembly file.
• Insert Hull Part and click ok. It gets automatically fixed in assembly with the plane.
• Then insert Superstructure, Front Seat, Middle Seat accordingly.
• Insert Radar Mast and click ok. It gets automatically fixed with Superstructure.
• Insert Rear Seat and click anywhere in the space to add relation manually. Use Distance mates to fix the rear seat at the backside of the deck surface.
• Insert Garage Door and apply concentric mate with garage hall support shaft.
• Insert propeller and apply concentric mate with transmission shaft.
• Insert Radar and apply concentric mate with radar mast shaft.
• Insert Pre-modelled American Chopper assembly and apply coincident mate with the midplane of the hull.

SOME VIEWS OF YACHT ASSEMBLY

RENDERING

• Rendering is the process of creating a realistic image model in a real-world environment.
• Rendering can be done in two ways in Solidworks.
• Photoview 360
• Solidworks Visualize

Following are images of rendering in Solidworks Visualize.

Conclusion

• Part modelling of American chopper using Surface Modelling tools in Solidworks
• Understanding of features and flexibility of modelling in Solidworks
• Part is assembled to get complete assembly in Solidworks
• The realistic image generates in Photoview 360 and Solidworks Visualize

RADAR MAST

FRONT VIEW

TOP VIEW

SIDE VIEW

ISOMETRIC VIEW

FEATURE TREE