Maxsurf Pro 14 Tutorial

Charles Dorger

September 27, 2009

This tutorial will introduce the Naval Architecture design software of Maxsurf. Maxsurf is also the
portal that you will use to get your design into the other Maxsurf applications. This tutorial only
includes Maxsurf Pro and not Hydromax, or Seakeeper.

This tutorial will cover the basics of Maxsurf and some other topics such as creating the lines
drawing from the model.

First lets start up Maxsurf:

Start/All Programs/Courseware Applications/ NA 470/ Maxsurf 14/ MaxsurfPro 14

Or you can simply search for Maxsurf in the Vista search bar:

Figure 1: Start Menu

Now load your maxsurf file. It should be a “.msd” file. Lets explore the interface a little bit:

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 Figure 2: Model Views

These buttons are for different views (From left to right):

1. Prospective
2. Plan
3. Profile
4. Body

When Maxsurf starts up you should see all the views, but if not you can use these buttons change
your window.

Figure 3: Rendered View

This button will render the model in the perspective view.

Figure 4: Grid Lines

These buttons will turn on the stations, buttock lines and water lines on the grid. We will discuss
the grid in a bit.

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 Figure 5: More Options

From left to Right:

1. Zoom in
2. Zoom out
3. Pan view
4. Home
5. Rotate View
6. List of Objects (useful, if you need to delete anything from Maxsurf)

I believe that covers the immediate useful shortcuts. Lets now check the units and such. First go
to Data/ Vessel Type. Be sure that Monohull is selected. Now go to the Data menu:

Figure 6: Data Menu

First lets click on Units:

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 Figure 7: Unit Window

Change the selection to fit your design needs. In this example, everything will be done in metric
units. Now for Data/ Frame of Reference:

Figure 8: Frame of Reference Window

We are setting up the grid for the hydrostatics that we will calculate in a minute. First make
sure the Vertical Datum (vertical zero point) is on Baseline. Now change your waterline if needed.
In the Longitudinal Datum (longitudinal zero point) be sure to have the Forward Perpendicular
selected. If you changed the water line, be sure to then select the “set to DWL” buttons. You will
see the profile view picture change. For now I am going to leave these settings alone.

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Now lets perform some hydrostatics. Go to Data/ Calculate Hydrostatics:

Figure 9: Data Menu

You should see this window appear:

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 Figure 10: Hydrostatics Window

Now, enter a VCG if you have one and select recalculate. If you don?t have a VCG be sure to ignore
the Gravity dependent terms (ie. GMt). This is a good way to verify that Maxsurf is reading your
hull correctly.

Nota Bene
You can highlight all the rows and copy them into excel.

Now, lets transform our model into a different size. Go to Data/Parametric Transformation.

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 Figure 11: Data Menu

You should see this window:

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 Figure 12: Parametric Transformation Window

Here you can apply your results from your regression analysis. Be sure to have the items selected
that you want to change (block coefficient, B, L, T, etc). After you have input your new values be
sure hit the search button.

It will take a few minutes, but you will see the profile picture change and reflect your changes.

Nota Bene
Be careful if there are multiple surfaces. The transform function might do something strange.

In Maxsurf there is an easy way to create the inner hull. Go to Surfaces/Duplicate Surfaces:

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 Figure 13: Surfaces Menu

You should see this menu:

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 Figure 14: Duplicate Surface Window

Be sure to select what you want to duplicate, in this case Hull. Now change your spacing. Be sure
to use negative numbers for the Longitudinal and Transverse spacing in order for the inner hull to
fit inside the outer hull. I would suggest leaving the vertical distance at 0 and moving the inner
hull manually in Rhino.

Nota Bene
You can also make the inner hull in Rhino if you wish. Or, make a more standard rectangular
inner bottom in Rhino.

Now, for the final topic of the tutorial: making the lines drawing. It is best NOT to have the
duplicate hull when making the lines drawing. First we will want to make the grid. Go to Data/
Design Grid.

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 Figure 15: Data Menu

You should see this menu:

Figure 16: Grid Window

Here you can change the stations, buttocks and waterlines. You can add or remove stations and
space them according to your preference. The station spacing window looks like this:

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 Figure 17: Station Spacing Window

As you see, you can space the stations in different ways. After you set up the grid say OK. You
can turn on the waterline, station and buttock lines through the buttons mentioned earlier:

Figure 18: Grid Lines

You can change the views and see the lines on your hull:

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 Figure 19: Grid Lines

Now, a cool feature of Maxsurf is that it will allow you to export these lines to AutoCAD. Go to
File/Export/ DXF and IGES.

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 Figure 20: File Menu

You will see this menu:

Figure 21: Data Export Window

You can change the precision and geometry type for cleaner curves when they are imported into
AutoCAD.

You will want to export all three views as DXF files. You can open these in AutoCAD and develop
your lines. In addition, when they are imported into AutoCAD, the lines are all labeled to make
the lines process simpler.

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Nota Bene

You can also make lines in Rhino using the Contour command, but you will have to sort through
the all the curves when they are imported into AutoCAD.

Congrats, you can now use Maxsurf Pro 14!

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