The Spanish company SENER has recently launched the new CAD/CAM marine system FORAN release V60R3.0, with new developments in all disciplines that considerably improve performance during the ship design process.
Asynchronous replication
The V60R3.0 release allows the asynchronous replication of the FORAN database, complementing the synchronous replication available in previous versions. Asynchronous replication generates better remote performance as data modifications are applied immediately but transmission is delayed depending on the refresh policy, which is configurable. A simple conflict management procedure has been introduced.
More than one slave server can be added to a replication group and mixed synchronization modes are allowed. Other improvements have been added to facilitate the FORAN database administration (module FDBA).
Welding
With the aim of providing the software with features to manage the welding process, some improvements have been introduced to allow the definition of the welding procedures, including attributes and the automatic calculation of welding lines.
In FORAN, welding calculation is derived from the concept of contact between parts, either from a geometrical or a topological point of view. Welding procedures will be assigned to the different contact types in the build strategy, and it will be possible to obtain reports classified by welding procedures and interim products. The module FDESIGN takes advantage of the welding definition, as welding information will be represented in drawings including welding length, labels and symbols.
Naval architecture and general arrangement
The new FORAN release V60R3.0 includes the stability criteria MARPOL 23, the Rule 8 (probabilistic method for passenger ships) and the Bureau Veritas stability criteria.
SENER continues to develop the new module for the general arrangement, which will be available in the next version, as well as the module which will integrate all the naval architecture modules with important improvements in all areas.
Structure
FORAN V60R3.0 has new functionalities regarding the ship structure definition, while the visualisation and performance has been considerably improved.
The possibility to define holes in the profile web by using data coming from a penetration is one of the new options available for shell, decks and internal structure profiles. Another important improvement is to assign bevels in profile web end-cuts. Regarding plates, new capabilities to facilitate the definition and the automatic positioning of brackets have been incorporated into the new release.
Another interesting capability of this release is the possibility of importing 2D plate parts in DXF format within the module for definition of the hull structure (FHULL).
Outfitting
FDEFIN, a new module integrating all the outfitting standard management tasks, completely replaces the modules DEFIN (definition of basic tables, materials, norms, classes, etc.) and FMODEL (definition of equipment 3D models). Additionally, all the existing functionalities existing in the module FPIPE for the definition of HVAC components and the management of the auxiliary structures and supports libraries have been implemented in the new FDEFIN module. The new module has eliminated some important restrictions of the DEFIN module and has renewed and incorporated some other functionalities with a modern user interface.
The new release improves the connectivity between equipment and pipelines by adding more intelligence to the connections and providing a set of new commands to facilitate the modification of the layout of the equipment and piping elements, while maintaining the connectivity.
Drafting
Due to the importance of the drawing generation during the ship design process, SENER continuously incorporates new features while at the same time improving the performance.
One of the developments to be highlighted is the new auxiliary program (FDREGEN) that gives information about the drawings produced with the module FDESIGN that need regeneration. This auxiliary program informs the users of the FDESIGN drawings that need updating against the FORAN database. Depending on the type of drawing, the program uses a specific procedure to identify the drawings and items that must be regenerated. This new feature, in addition to the new configuration options in the templates, considerably improves the FORAN drafting capabilities compared to previous releases.
A new command has also been incorporated to allow reading of 3D scene files generated by other FORAN modules (FPIPE, FCABLE and FCM). The shell and decks drawings generation has been improved, with new functionalities such as the possibility of filtering the generated entities by a geometric box. The hull structure interim product drawings allow obtaining dimension values considering shrinkage, and incorporate new symbolic texts such as the painting area of a part or of all parts of an interim product.
Electrical
New features for cable routeing in FORAN benefit the ship electrical design, including a new rule to allow different separations between cable segregation groups or the ability to modify part of the route of a cable. In addition, the cableway routeing has been improved with the possibility to assign standard sizes, a fill rule for nodal network segments and new facilities for the creation of curved electrical segments.
Conclusion
Constantly aware of the importance of continuing to update and improve FORAN capabilities, SENER launches the new FORAN release V60R3.0, with important developments that allow complete ship design in a collaborative and integrated environment. As a consequence, SENER, with a clearly defined strategy focused on innovation and customer requirements, is always looking ahead to situate FORAN as the reference in the marine CAD/CAM sector, both in naval and commercial areas using state-of-the-art technologies.