The National Shipbuilding Research Program. Proceedings of the REAPS Technical Symposium. Paper No. 25: Special Interest Group Reports

This session centered on the current capabilities of several commercially available graphics systems in parts nesting and computer aided shipyard drafting. Three representatives of graphics system vendors participated on a panel to answer questions from the audience concerning their products' capabilities and graphics systems in general. These representatives were Dr. Robert Cowen of Computervision Corporation. Robert N. Hickox of Adage, Inc. and Lou Melancon of Auto-Trol Corporation. In addition, a representative of the italian yard italcantieri S.p.A. was on hand to relate that yard's experience in the use of Adage equipment for interactive nesting. Of interactive nesting italcantieri, in response to questions from the floor, has seen a reduction in nesting labor as a result of using their system from between 20,00 to 24,000 man-hours per year. He further stated this effort represented the production of some 2500 nest tapes. On the topic of system reliability the vendors reported uptimes for their systems in excess of 95%. The cost of these systems was also questioned. Without a clear description of the application, number of users, etc. of such a system, the vendors were able to respond only that the costs ranged from around $100,000 for a single user drafting system on up. On the topic of computer aided design systems two members of the audience reported on the Navy's development efforts in this area. Two current applications cited in the Navy are a computer aided hull lines generation system employing interactive graphics and a graphics assisted ship's arrangements program.

Published in the Proceedings of the REAPS Technical Symposium held in New Orleans, LA on 21-22 Jun 1977. Copyright, 1977, IIT Research Inst., unlimited Government rights license.