I just downloaded BoardCAD V1.1a and was playing around with it, a vast improvement on the old one. The print Spin Template was a cool function I thought and there’s some cool stuff there for the compsand, HWS and timber guys.
This gets technical but…
My Question to anyone who knows this program and maybe the Sandwich guys is when you go to **File > Print > Sandwich > Print Profile Template **is this profile the deck curve and the bottom rail curve? I ask this because I assume you guys add your concaves in under vacuume with the contour mat?
I do not currently make sandwich boards, I have a little profiler and sometimes make new curves off BoardCAD. When you go File > Print Profile this is the rocker along the stringer so I then add my concaves when making the new curve which will be carved out with the planner after profiling the blank.
Does this Sandwich function **File > Print > Sandwich > Print Profile Template print the bottom rail rockerand I would theirfore not have to add in the concaves myself afterwards?There is an option before you print it to select the skin thickness, for my case I would go 0’'.
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Yeah Greg if you download that link BoardCAD v 1.1 alpha then extract that zip file (my nerd vocabulary coming out in force!) you can run it offline. Cool program. I just bought a Dot matrix printer for $30 second hand, office liquidated stuff, so I’m on fire with templates, continuous paper…yee har!!
Do you mind telling what OS are you using & did you have any problems with printer drivers, etc? is this /dot matrix/old tech still supported by new OS’s?
I’m not taking credit, Surfding surgested it ages ago, sticking sheets of paper together is a f@rk up, your better off taking the measurements off Boardcad then using your rocker stick/flexible batton to draw a curve.
The machine I got is an **Epson FX 890 Dot Matrix Printer **I bought it on impulse due to the price. I’m running windows XP. The drivers for it came off Epsons website, it has a usb port…it’s not really that old. Takes 10’’ wide paper so I guess I can print outlines up to 20’'.
Hey Bud they still make these machines new cause they’re used to print letter heads, lables, data stuff…I think? Surely US Ebay would have something good on there. Ask Surfding what machine he has.
I bought one of those Dust Deputy cyclones too yesterday cause my shop vac overflowed from me not emptying it again. Works awesome. So I just did all my xmas shopping…for me.
I use the printer foir making rocker sticks. aNY LEXMARK printer with a Banner Fuction on the printer driver will work. I bought a Dot Matrix printer years ago for $360.00 to make rocker sticks however it will only do banner in DOS mode. In Windows it will not work. If you have a driver for it send it to me or let me know were to download it? I have an extra LEXMARK Printer laying around you can have it. However it was cheaper to buy a new one because the ink is cheaper for the newer units. For full scale outlines I use my 3200 Z HP 44 Wide Format Printer. Kind of Expensive.
HP Designjet Z3200 44" Photo Printer
good for complete full scale templates
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HP part: Q6719A#B1K
UPC: 8 84420 40338 8
Lexmark Z2420 (cheap to operater) I use computer paper and tear off the tabs.
Part #:13L0700 good for rocker templates
Sorry if I can't be of anymore help down in Mexico.
I just tried to download for Mac and the Java 3D appears not to be written for Mac. The online ver has not been good on my Mac. I thought it might work better as a resident program. oh well. Spin templates were looking good there for a while.
I'm running Ubuntu 10 on my laptop. The stable version works, but I can't run the latested alpha build.
I really like using BoardCAD after I get it up and running. The whole Sun Java Web Start thing seems a little clunky. I'm no web expert, but it seems like BoardCad would be a perfect application to run on Google App Engine (GAE). GAE uses Java, so it might not be too difficult to port it over. I'm still trying to figure out GAE myself. Its going kind of slow, since I don't know Python or Java. I'm still stuck in the year 2000 with my Perl scripts.
I’ve always done templates by hand… I really like the idea of those full scale printer thingy’s…
Marsh… In response to your sandwich questions at the top of the page post…
I’m probably one of the minority of sandwich builders that does not use a contour pad…
If I’m building a board that has single, double, or multiple concaves and V, I laminate a thicker 4lb. core-cell (A400) skin to the bottom, and shape in the concaves by hand as you would normally…
I find forming in bottom contours into HD foam skins result in a softened, less defined bottom shape… It works fine, but not if you want crisp lines…
I normally use a 6mm (1/4") bottom skin if I’m shaping in distinct 1/8"+ deep concaves… 9mm.(3/8") if they’re crazy concaves… 3mm.(1/8") core cell is the normal skin thickness for soft shallow concaves and flats…
Contour pads have to be located under the blank correctly…
You have to ask yourself… "Do I want to shape and construct a contour pad for each and every one of my constantly changing designs??? Hell, you’d be spending more time building relief pads than boards…
Bear in mind ; My designs are meant for more pounding, so a thicker skin is not so bad…
Most of you know I’m a shape 3D user (Design, CNC, SCAN, EXPORT) You can’t get a more complete version. I like the ideal behind making spin templates. I wil speak to them about adding that feature. Very good idea. I usually make them manually. However RHINO 3D is another software we use that you can customize various functions. I’d like to get a off line program of Board Cad and play with it. Haavard has come along way with it. Pretty nice of him to offer it for free.
If you (or anyone else) can use 9-1/2" x 11" fan-fold, continuous, 18 lb wt, edge perforated printer paper (e.g for rocker templates), I have an unopened box of 3000 sheets (after separation from continuous) for free – but you have to pick it up (Location: Encinitas).