Announcing BoardCAD v1.0

The team behind BoardCAD is proud to announce a new release of the BoardCAD software.

BoardCAD is a free, open source CAD-program for surfboards. With the release of version 1.0, modeling has become even easier than before. The new user interface lets the shaper design rocker, outline, and thickness of the board using 2D curves, while still having the possibility to directly edit the generated 3D surfaces as in previous releases. The result is a user-friendly system without any limitations on the design. BoardCAD can read files from Aps3000, Akushaper, Shape3D and Surfcad and exports to STEP, DXF, and STL. Since BoardCAD is written in Java it works on any platform like Windows, Linux, and Mac OS.

Some new features:

  • Editing by rotating and extending/retracting tangents using hotkeys
  • Setting the control point to an exact position
  • Selecting and moving multiple points
  • Undo/Redo functionality
  • Configurable colors and line thickness
  • Conversion from a Bezier based board to a Nurbs based board
For an introduction see http://boardcad.org/....php/Getting_started

BoardCAD is available from the boardcad.org website. See install instructions at the bottom of the page.

Thanks to the beta testers. I hope you enjoy this new version and find it useful.

regards,

Håvard

It’s THE BEST board-drawing program

I like the other one’s 3D view better kinda, but for everything else, BoardCAD rules.

Very cool – I can’t believe I haven’t seen this before. Great stuff, Haavard!

Hi Haavard,

Program looks pretty sweet… some very cool features I had wished to see in APS/AKU. I really appreciate the free tools to work with as well!!!

Questions (possibly dumb):

If I open a .brd file in BC (just to view- no changes), will it modify the original file in any way?

If I modify it in BC, save it as a .brd, then HULA the file (this machine still uses APS) would that increase the chance of issues when cutting or corruption of the file?

Thanks!

I can’t even get the program to work on OS X 10.4. Am I missing something?

I’m using OS X 10.5 Leopard, and can’t get it to work either.

I tried upgrading my version of Java through software update. Didn’t make any difference. All of Sun’s (Java) links seem to point back to Apple as well.

Quote:

I can’t even get the program to work on OS X 10.4. Am I missing something? Make something idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.

deanbo, No offense but I had to laugh at how your post looks next to your tag line. :slight_smile:

I just tried it on my other computer running Ubuntu Linux. It didn’t work from there either.

I might have to change my tag line before I embarrass myself. Sounds like I need to try this program on Windows as well.

thanks haarvaad the program is the best of all

without a doubt

to the guys that cant run it cuz they dont have windows

suck the pus

This works on OS 10.4!

J2SE 5.0

Doesn’t for me.

Try downloading Apples java update…

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/javaformacosx104release6.html

Only works on Tiger.

Until Apple releases their Leopard version the folks running 10.5 are SOL.

Works on my Vista box. Love the fact you can export flawless STL files and open them in my favorite 3d app.

Very Cool!!

Already have. Didn’t work. So much for Apple supporting Java straight out of the box.

Opening a file in BoardCAD will not in any way affect the content of the file. BoardCAD loads Akushaper format but saves in the older Aps3000 format, you don’t need to ‘hula’. While I cannot guarantee that the files are 100% compatible, we’ve made an effort to make sure the files work with Aps3000, AkuShaper and Shape3D. Backing up your files is as always a good idea.

We’re using Java 6 for some of the features in BoardCAD. For some reason Apple is quite slow in updating Java for Mac OS X. A developer preview is available from http://developer.apple.com/java/download/ (you need to register) or use the http://landonf.bikemonkey.org/static/soylatte/ port. Unfortunately I don’t have a Mac so I’m unable to test this, however we’ve had several beta testers use BoardCAD with an earlier pre-release of the Apple developer solution. I hope that Apple will release Java 6 soon so it will run seamless, if not we need to find another solution. Stripping some features and making a specific Mac version to make it run with the Java version that comes with OS X is one solution.

For Ubuntu you need to make sure that a version of Java 6 (or later) is installed and set as default. Check out https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Java

works on my dual intel imac at home… not on my macbook pro 1.83… same java. different graphics cards. mac and java are at loggerheads with updates while mac is working on thier own java replacement to come in future… you need to play with your java preferences after you download from apple developer site the beta java updates… some older macs you just wont get it to go… great program. almost finished have trouble with mac/java printing too… oh well lucky i have vmware and a couple old windows crapboxes to use too…

have had to play with my java preferences each beta release on my macs as its not easy to stop mac updating your java back to thier reccomendations

could alway use an old 80 dollar windows lappy just for boardfiles aneway eh dave

shit thisprogram rocks

mhwa ha ha ha ibeen beta testin

Looks like Apple once again is abandoning support for their own hardware thats still in use by plenty of folks. The first Intel Macs where 32 bit machines and most of them are less than 2 years old.

Haavard,

Absolutely loving the program and the support that goes with it.

For free!?! For the love!

Boardcad is the best for backyard shapers.

All the best features from every program incorporated

If any financial support is needed…

You have got my vote.

Wouter