Working on a longboard for my wife, and I’m wondering if anybody can/will help me out with getting an outline template generated? I have a board file that I made in the free version of shape3d, but that version won’t allow me to export or print a full size template (same for Aku).
Would someone be willing to take my .s3dx file, and send me a full size outline as a .pdf (and maybe a .dwg)? It would be greatly appreciated!
I don’t need/want any of the profile or rail stuff, just the outline.
I know it is not what you want to hear but this is the way I do it.
Once I have an outline I like in Shape3D, I use the grid (every inch) and write down the apex numbers at every inch along the stringer on a paper.
I then use masonite and put the numbers on it, cut the outline, smooth it, re-check the numbers, and then I have my template…
It doesn’t take long to do this.
If you only want to build one board with this outline, just do it directly on the blank instead of using masonite, double check numbers for symmetry, cut the outline, smooth it, triple check the numbers after the smoothing part, then proceed with shaping.
Without going on and on: either use the latest BoardCAD and gain free export and plotting OR use the plan plot from Shape3D and do it by hand. Anything else is just more chasing around (tracing screen dumps, converting PDF’s, taping 18 sheets together, redrawing into CAD…) unless you have another reason to get the design back into CAD.
I would do the layout by hand on a roll of paper first. The plot from Shape3D looks like a good start, it seems like a good amount of dims to fair a curve on paper with a batten. Stand on the paper and look at the design, hang it on the wall and look, make sure all is well before proceeding. Once a mistake is cut into a blank it’s more difficult to fix.
BTW, this is going to be a 14’ touring style board, strictly for lakes. Not much surf in Denver.
I know how to manually plot things out, but it is time consuming and I’m trying to save some where I can. I have access to a 36" wide plotter, but need to supply the .pdf. I’ll also prob build multiple boards from this one, so I’d like to build a good, re-useable template first.
I’m still in mostly the planning and acquisition(materials) phase, and trying to get things ready to start building.
Thanks for the clarifications Brian. I’d probably try a 7 foot spin template on a 14 foot project. Enclosing a pic of a spin template (laser-geeked at work) and an 11 foot layout made from it, my ninth and current board project. After the pic I got some welcomed advice and pulled in the nose and tail. Edits were made on the paper. I cut it out with scissors and used it as a half template.
If you have not been: The Shape Shack might be a place for more specific SUP info/someone with the software.
Free Shape3D X > open design > Plan button > Fullscale menu > (select option) > Print>
I messed around with a 8" x 4" design over coffee this morning to plot full size on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Everything plotted fine. Projected is 1:1 and Developed is slightly larger, seems to match measuring over a curve. If you scale down a board to try this you may need to save and reload or restart the program to get the full scale views to work without ‘ghosting’ the original board.
I used to print to a pdf “printer” and take the pdf file to a copy shop and get full size prints made. Cutepdf is one of the printers you can install that should work. You have to set up a custom paper size in the pdf printer long enough otherwise you end up with a lot of little pages.
