Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Parametric Design and Gridding Through Relational Geometry

["Rob Carlson" <rob.carlson@verizon.net>]

>From the website:

"NURBS, Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines, are mathematical representations of
3-D geometry that can accurately describe any shape from a simple 2-D line,
circle, arc, or spline curve to the most complex 3-D organic free-form
surface or solid."

You can download a fully functional version of Rhinoceros for evaluation.
They use to offer student/hobbyists a licence for US$195.  The software
allows you to also calculate the surface area of an object that you have
created.  The neat [part with these programs that if you make adjustments to
your dimension than it's just a mouse button away from calculating the
surface area, volumes, and moment arms.

I have a version of AutoCAD but quite frankly I can't seem to figure it out!

Check out the following link:

  www.rhino3d.com/gallery/water/olympic.htm

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael B. Holt" <mholt@richmond.edu>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2001 9:20 AM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Re: Parametric Design and Gridding Through
Relational Geometry


> Rob Carlson wrote:
> >
> > I've been recently looking at a related 3D modeling software based on
NURBs.
>
> What's an NURB?
>
> > Check out  www.rhino3D.com  there is a few examples of some subs that
were
> > modeled using this software.  One thing that I found neat was the
ability to
> > calculate the momemt of a solid and the volume of a volume that you
modeled;
> > both features reduce the amount of math that needs to be done for
bouyancy
> > and stability computations.
>
> How much might this cost?
>
> I'm working on programs that calculate surface area and volume,
> but they will demand that the user have a very clear idea of the
> dimension of the boat.  Looking at the CAD stuff, I see that my
> ideas are pretty much already available, but I still think these
> programs will have value because they provide a quick estimation
> of size and power requirements.
>
> Seen anything out there that does the numbers for fin shapes and
> sizes?
>
>
>
> Mike