Setting up

This was my job which I was assigned for and it is crucial to get it perfect. I will explain the steps we took for setting up the frames for the hull and the deck.

1.       Space:

·         we needed to find a space in the workshop to set up the frames and make sure we had enough room to work in and that it wouldn’t be in the way of machines or hazards.

·         The floor we build on needs to be clean and tidy

2.       Grid line:

·         We drew a gridline on the floor with a permanent marker  that represents the centerline, station lines and a line to where the girders will be attached to the floor with ‘no more nails’ for which the frames will stand on

·         The centerline and station lines need to be perfectly square and parallel

·         We drew the centerline and station lines on the girders with a straight edge or string

3.       Cross spalls:

·         We made neat and replicated cross spalls to attach to the girders on the station lines where the CNC cut frames will be attached and screwed into.

4.       Frames:

·         All  the frames are MDF and cut out using a CNC machine and finished with a hand router . some of the frames are one piece and most of them are two halves.

·         The halves are joined with a block called a ‘gusset’ to make sure the frame halves are held firmly together with screws and PVA glue. We sanded the area where the PVA was applied before joining the pieces.

·         A square jig  was built to ensure the frames are held together firmly when joining.

·         The joined frames are attached and screwed to the cross spalls measured from the centerline and station lines.

·         A batten runs across the frames to keep them plum temporarily before they are braced firmly to the floor to ensure they don’t move at all.

·         Frames are braced  once leveled and plum with fore and afters and braced on port and starboard

5.       Theodolite and leveling:

·         Theodolite is set up and the sight is leveled.

·         Story rods are placed on the waterline apex of the frames and cramped into place.

·         Wedges are placed underneath the frames to lift frames till they are perfectly level with the theodolite sight.

·         If all frames are leveled and plum they need to be screwed and braced firmly to the floor

The hull frames is a female mould and the deck is a male mould. Non of the frames are beveled. The hull frames have no planking deduction and the deck frames have planking deduction. The hull and deck frames are set up in the same way

Here are some photos we took of the process: