Luxury yacht builder Southampton Yacht Service is moving into the digital age to help increase productivity, driving the company forward. To do this, the company is using a digital measuring device, a Proliner made by Prodim in The Netherlands, to produce 3D CAD drawings of any shape - replacing the need for traditional templates - incorporating 3D CAD software with their Homag Optimat BHP200 3-axis machining centre.

The Proliner, for use with any CAD package, significantly reduces the time needed to calculate shapes and saves on material wastage and misfits. It does this by taking 3D measurements, marking relevant points with a special pointer. The digital template drawing it creates can then be viewed immediately on-screen. By providing a direct link to common CAD systems, via a DXF file, the measurement outlines are quickly translated into a scale drawing.

Proliner delivers precise measurements, accurate to +/- 0.3mm, of straight, curved and shaped sections, however complex. At only 420 x 420 x 250 mm and only 10kg, transportation is easy.



The device can measure up to 7 metres in any direction, giving 14 metres coverage at a time. Larger measurements are made by combining digital drawings in a simple 'leap frog' process.

Drawings of curved or bent shapes can be sent to Proliner's unique Unfold user-friendly software, which 'flattens' the file prior to cutting on a CNC machine. Its first task at Southampton Yacht Service was to measure 100mm wide sections for the soles (cabin flooring) for a refit of the 34m classic yacht Merrymaid, built in 1904.

As the Proliner was being used for the first time it was decided to make MDF templates on this occasion to ensure the measurements were correct, so as to minimise any unnecessary wastage of the expensive 14mm thick Teak panels chosen to replace the original soles.

The measurements were saved on a memory stick and put into the 3D CAD software, then edited as necessary, with the final measurements put on a memory stick and given to the CNC machining centre's operator. Despite the complexity of many of the shapes used in the soles, the Prolinercut the time of existing template methods by 50 per cent.

Proliner will eventually be used throughout the boat yard to measure all of the shapes that need reproducing, including bulkheads, galley worktops, certain areas of the decking, plus joinery work for panels, doors and aperture sizes and in the GRP workshop.

Southampton Yacht Services' head of design, Wayne Huntley, commented: "The Proliner is accurate, easy to use and will replace the laborious method of measuring out and making templates. It will be a big advantage when working inside cabins as no space will be taken up with the storage of templates."

To fine tune their product, Prodim has already introduced a new pointer which can be used to measure much finer detail, such as architectural mouldings and carvings. The tip has a width of only 1mm, compared to the standard pointer's diameter of 5mm.




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