Creo Automation Specialist

Role: Creo Automation Specialist

Location: Houston TX

Duration: Longterm

When it comes to ship modeling and shipbuilding within the PTC ecosystem, PTC actually addresses this through two distinct avenues depending on whether you are looking for a dedicated, Legacy/Heavy industrial shipbuilding system or using modern *Creo Parametric* with specialized extensions.

The Dedicated Tool: CADDS 5 (Shipbuilding & Design Option)

Historically and commercially, PTC s heavy-hitter for the marine industry isn't standard Creo it is *CADDS 5*.

PTC sells a specific *CADDS 5 Shipbuilding and Design Option*. It is designed specifically for massive, multi-million-part naval and commercial ships.

• Hull Modeling:* Uses complex NURBS surface design tailored for creating hull forms and fairing lines.
• Compartment & Outfitting:* Built-in tools for internal structural bulkheads, decks, and heavy outfitting.
• Piping & Structural:* Includes dedicated modules for structural steel frames and massive piping networks that cross multiple ship sections.

 

Modeling Ships Directly in Creo Parametric

If your company is standardized on standard *Creo Parametric* (formerly Pro/ENGINEER) rather than CADDS 5, you won't find a single button labeled "Ship Wizard." Instead, marine and ship design engineers assemble a specific stack of *Creo Extensions* to build a comprehensive ship modeling toolset:

• Advanced Surface Extension (ASX) / Interactive Surface Design (ISDX)
• What it does:* Essential for modeling the *hull form*.
• Marine Application:* Ships require hydrodynamic, smooth, curvature-continuous surfaces (G2/G3 continuity). ASX and Freestyle features allow you to import a lines plan, sculpt the bow and stern, and manage complex hull geometry.

Creo Advanced Assembly Extension (AAX)

• *What it does:* Controls top-down design using skeleton models.
• *Marine Application:* Essential for shipbuilding. You cannot design a ship bottom-up. AAX allows you to create a "Master Skeleton" of the ship's major bulkheads, waterlines, and frame spacing, and publish those references downstream to separate teams (e.g., structural, propulsion, electrical).

Creo Piping and Cabling Extension (PCX)

• *What it does:* Automates the routing of 3D pipes, hoses, and electrical wire harnesses.
• *Marine Application:* Ships are essentially floating cities packed with ballast systems, fuel lines, HVAC, and miles of cabling. PCX uses schematic-driven routing (tied to XML or PTC Creo Schematics) to automatically route pipes through your ship structure while checking for clearance and bend radii.

Creo Intelligent Fastener Extension (IFX) & Advanced Structural Framework

• *What it does:* Automates the creation of structural steel frames and standard bolted/welded connections.
• *Marine Application:* Speeds up the design of internal bulkheads, equipment foundations, engine beds, walkways, and ladders using standard steel profiles (I-beams, channels, angles).

Which approach fits your project?

• If you are modeling... | Recommended Setup |
• Entire Naval Vessels / Supertankers* | *PTC CADDS 5* (The industry standard for large-scale enterprise shipbuilding). |
• Yachts, Workboats, or Sub-assemblies* | *Creo Parametric* + *AAX* (Top-Down Design) + *ASX* (Hull Surfacing). |
• Marine Equipment / Offshore Machinery* | Standard *Creo Parametric* with basic structural modules.