Imported property table (e.g. materials)
CAFE system utilizes orthogonal or arbitrary inclined guiding planes. Orthogonal guiding planes are parallel to planes defined by pairs of coordinate axes of the coordinate system, while arbitrary guiding plane is defined by any 3 points in space. These guides are invented to aid the designer while positioning, splitting, moving or reshaping structural entities in a 3D model. Figure below shows a partial ship model with one active arbitrary inclined guiding plane displayed in transparent colour.
Arbitrary guiding plane
Guiding planes can be used to split any entity in the model. Figure below shows a symbolic split operation of the vertical surface entity by guiding plane which is perpendicular to it. Guiding plane is shown on the left side of the picture displayed in transparent colour. On the right side it can be noticed that guiding plane is deactivated and that vertical entity is split in two on the position where guiding plane was positioned.
Splitting entity by guiding plane
Besides splitting, guiding planes can be used to move or reshape entities. Figure below shows the same symbolic example as in image above, but now the upper part of the split entity is attached to the guiding plane. By moving the guiding plane, upper entity is moved along, while lower one is reshaped which in this particular example manifests as stretching.
Moving and reshaping entities by guiding plane
Magnetic surface concept enables automatic surface reshaping to fit the shape of another neighbouring surface. These entities are used when surfaces are modelled, but are not fully aligned to each other. This can be a very useful feature for entities that are connected to the shell plating, e.g. when floors aren't properly attached to outer shell due to copying the entity from another location. Figur below shows an example of snapping the floor to the outer shell. Giving the outer shell the magnetic feature and slightly moving the floor using a computer mouse will result in snapping of the floor to the outer shell. Left side of the Figigure below shows the floor unattached to the outer shell and viewed from the outside of the model. Right side of the Figure below shows the floor when it is properly snapped to the outer shell and viewed from the inside of the model.
Magnetic shell and floor snapping
Magnetic surfaces can be used to shape curves as well. By using the guiding plane with magnetic surface feature, it is easy to project the circle on the curved surface and to model the tunnel attached to the outer shell such as shown in Figure below. Procedure is principally shown in figure sequence going left to right.
Simultaneous usage of guiding planes and magnetic surface