which software will work for me?

General Discussion
1

i've been through the archives and read a lot. lot's of info. some goes right over my head.

i understand my choices are AKU, BoardCad, Shape3D, and maybe some others including some not specific to surfboards...

 

i'm just a backyarder, i don't want to have my boards cut on a machine. i really just want to use the software to design

rocker, foil, and outline and be able to see it before i cut it. which software should i use? i understand some of these programs

offer a free download version with less than the full package. that sounds good to me.

 

for instance, i just got a big block of foam. i would like to take rocker measurements off my current board, punch them into the program

and be able to see my current board's rocker and, preferebly, foil. then, i would like to print out the rocker/foil and make masonite templates

off of it and hotwire my blank. later, after surfing the finished board, maybe i want slightly less tail rocker. i'd like to be able to go back in and

alter the previous rocker/foil "file" (sorry if that's not the correct term). maybe drop the tail rocker 1/4" and print up a new rocker/foil to go and

cut out another blank...

 

also, i'd like to punch the #'s in for my outline templates and see the finished outline. then be able to tweak the #'s 'til the outline looks like the

one in my head before i go and cut it.

 

also, how do you print out the full rocker/foil template? i've read that some will print out on a bunch of pieces of paper on my home printer then,

i tape them together. i'm not really liking that idea. i've also read that i can get the full thing printed out at a print shop but that it might be expensive.

do any off the programs have a feature that will take measurements every say 6" along the curve so i can design it then go plot it on masonite

myself?

 

this may sound slow and redundant to a lot of you who have used shaping machines. but, again, i'm just hacking boards out in my backyard and

the extra time really isn't a problem.

 

thanks in advance for the help.

2

After you’ve learned one of these programs it aint no big thing to learn the others.

Pick a card.

3

  1. in S3d you change the paper size in print options

  2. you can do this manually in any of the free programs - just move where you want the measurement and read it off the cursor cross hairs.

4

I’ve been using this: http://www.atuacores.com/surfshop/infos.php?lang=1&info=16

It’s all in french though, the icons kinda give away the function though, it’ll give very detailed dimensions…in centimeters.

Works great for me, I design the shape, get the measurements, plot the points, connect the dots and cut it up.

5

Any of the programs will let you do what you are after and more. Given that they all borrow from each other you will find that when you learn one, changing to the others will be quite easy.

I havn’t used the print features in shape3D, but I expect it to be good as it’s the most professional program out there. IMO (but I’m a bit biased) the printing of the templates from boardcad is a notch better than Aku since you get an inch grid in the background with boardcad which will help when aligning the template.

Taping the sheets together is a bit of a hassle, so don’t! Draw a straight line or snap a chalk line on the template material. Use spray glue on the template material and glue on the sheets for the template by aligning the grid to the line on the template material. Do not use the edge of the paper for alignment as there is no guarantee that the paper go straight through the printer. I think this is easily the fastest way you can do it, it takes no more than 15 minutes to glue up the sheets like this and that includes watching the spray glue dry. Even if you print to bigger sheets you still have to glue it to the template material or transfer it some way. A long (6’ or 9’) sheet is IMHO harder to tack down without getting any wrinkles which may distort the template.

regards,

Håvard

6

I have been watching people struggle with printing from cad programs for the last 4 years.

It's sad and I feel bad and become sick to my stomach when I see post of fellow swaylocians gluing sheets of paper together to make a rocker stick or outline. So dishearting.

We talk about Electric Planners, and various jigs. You may disagree with me however I believe in todays modern world a printer is also a very important tool for any craftman. As a board builder and woodworker a printer to me is as important as a bandsaw or a CNC machine or Skil 100. Even if your just a Hacker having fun at least go to Kinkos and print out full templates or rockers. You can always buy a cheap printer with a Banner driver. I have a Lexmark Z611 in my shaping bay for printing rocker profiles. It prints them in banner mode so no separate sheets. If I need to cut out a blank from a block of EPS or XPS I can in about 5 minutes of the ideal or order.  With a complete print out, 3M77 and Masonite I have a full scale template ready to go. So for Rocker Profiles get a Lexmark Printer with a (BANNER FUNCTION in the driver. The Lexmark Z611 was $29.00 at Office depot. You have to find them on ebay because their discontinued. However you can find the ink cartiages at Office Depot or online. Some of the cannons have the banner function as well.

For a full outline I use my HP 44" Wide Format Printer however they cost as much as a car so just go to Kinos and take outline and put it in a PDF in full scale and print it there.

I have 5 different printers for various jobs that I need.

We need to have another printer at home for our office were we do a lot of design work.

Just bought a Lexmark X2670 and it is great.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lexmark-X2670-Printer-Copier-Scanner-1-YR-WTY-8-Rebate_W0QQitemZ220506466692QQcategoryZ178QQcmdZViewItem

I don't know why I'm sharing this? I paid way more for mine. This one I seen posted on ebay is only $32.00. Photo quality is not bad either! You can buy banner paper and just take off the tractor feed tabs. No Brainer!

 

7

Program wise:

 

Free = Board Cad may be the best bet.

I'm a Shape 3D user however don't buy it if your only doing a few boards a year. It's like a porche. Do you really need one?

Surfding

8

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9

Surfding, you are right about the printing.

 

But, in places like here (NZ), printings not cheap.

So I pretty much default to anything Haavard says, the man does know his shit. And should get a helluva lot more credit than he has!!

So +1 for printing individual pages from boardCAD, and tacking them down with a dusting of spray glue.

It is actually really accurate, and everyone’s got access to a printer somehow.

Credit to Paul Cannon for the tip about cutting round the templates with a japanese pull-saw, thats more valuable than I realised.

 

Haavard, i’ve got a bit of feedback for ya, your new creation is awesome!

10

So I pretty much default to anything Haavard says, the man does know his shit. And should get a helluva lot more credit than he has!!

He does deserve lot of credit. I never said anything negative about Haavard and have nothing but respect for him and his knowalge. I was talking about a cheap printer that you folks in NZ can have that will do the job without glue page by page. I was speaking as someone who builds things and how a printer is a tool like any thing else. The lastest Lexmark Printer I bought was $80.00 I saw the same one for $32.00.

So +1 for printing individual pages from boardCAD, and tacking them down with a dusting of spray glue.

What's so wrong with printing a complete rocker without indivisual pages? I'm sure Haavard can make Board CAD do the same as Shape 3D? It's pretty easy!

Credit to Paul Cannon for the tip about cutting round the templates with a japanese pull-saw, thats more valuable than I realised. Paul Cannon (Silly) is amazing I agree. Japanese tools in general are great and agree with Paul that a pull saw is a must. My intention was only to emphasize an easier way to print for low cost. Yes as a board builder and woodworker I hate ineffiency in any craft. Glue pieces of paper together is a waste of time to me.

 

Haavard: You know my logic. You have the best free Board CAD program out there for sure. Just make it easier for these guy to build there boards and think "BANNER FUNCTION". So many cheap printer in every country on this planet. It will take you 20 minutes to write that in!

KKSurf: It's seems I pushed a button with you? It's all good if you don't want answers?  When I seen the orginal comment:

also, how do you print out the full rocker/foil template? i've read that some will print out on a bunch of pieces of paper on my home printer then,

i tape them together. i'm not really liking that idea. i've also read that i can get the full thing printed out at a print shop but that it might be expensive.

I just couldn't take it!

Surfding

11

Oh no you got me completely wrong, sorry for the confusion man!! No buttons pushed here, just that internet mis-communication vibe goin on :slight_smile:

As I mentioned, the way you detailed is ideal. I just can’t find a cheap printer here… i’l look again tho.

Was just trying to give some credit to Haavard, as I feel it’s deserved.

So if people don’t have access to a banner printer, individual sheets is next best.

 

Paul and I unfortunately haven’t chatted about board building for a while, but when something he put me on to comes up i’ll always give him credit. Those saws are super cool and I heard it from him.

Sorry to come across as being contradictory to your post, was just giving another (ultra cheap) point of view :) 

 

 

12

KKSurf:

Yes it's the internet and if you were close by I would just buy you a printer. New Zealand is closer to Asia than we are here in Californa. There no way you don't have a printer of some sort with a Banner Function? I've worked in many countries and some Banana Republics and I always have found what I needed. My father's company just bought a factory in New Zealand and from what I hear it's a pretty awesome country. You guy's are well educated over there and quite civilized. I hope to visit someday and check out your part of the world.

Kind regards,

Surfding

13

I remember you posting a reference to the Lexmark model on another thread a while ago, I did some research and couldn’t find one easily. I called the Cannon printers division here, they don’t offer one. I’m sure there is one, just gotta get off my arse more than I have and find it :slight_smile:

 

Yeah we are quite civilised, despite just recently having lost our tails and descended from the trees. LOL. Just kiddin.

Come on down man, there’s plenty of people to look after you and your crew.

 

Kit

 

14

Without getting to technical, there seem to be some issues with printing and paper size in java. For some reason standard A4 and A3 seem to work fine, but custom page sizes in PDF printer drivers and such does not work which may be the issue with banner printers as well. Really, there should be no problem printing to a banner printer with BoardCAD. That said, I don’t see the big advantage of banner printing if you glue the template print to the template material sheet by sheet with spray glue. But I will have a look at it again (Even though I’ve already spent considerably more time trying to figure this out than 20 minutes…). Just need to buy my wife a new laptop so I can have my good old one to myself…

15

Haavard: My 20 minute comment is a left handed compliment. lol

The banner driver in (some) of the Lexmark and Cannon Printers is pretty good and reduces all the cut and paste.

I guess I need to take some photo's and show how easy this all really is?

When we were working in DOS pre-windows banner was a pretty common function.

Lucky for us some of the software engineers that design printer drivers have put back his function in some printers.

I stand corrected on the PDF comment. 

You would have to export your outline and save it in (*.ai Format) Adobe Illustrator before going to a print house like a KINKO'S.

 

 

Surfding

16

If anyone needs help translating/using this program, don’t hesitate to ask me, I speak french and english (and I wrote that program).

17

Got any suggestions for a banner printer for half templates of boards over 23 3/8" wide? (greater than 297mm, A4)

18

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=printer&category=office&orderflow=1&a1=Brand&v1=Designjet&product_code=Q6719A%23B1K&catLevel=2

 

Or convert you template to (*.ai) then have it printed out at KinKos.

This is the printer I have for outlines. check link!

19

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=printer&category=office&orderflow=1&a1=Brand&v1=Designjet&product_code=Q6719A%23B1K&catLevel=2

 

Or convert you template to (*.ai) then have it printed out at KinKos.

This is the printer I have for outlines. check link!

20

Keep looking - you’ll find one.  It took me a bunch of calls before I found a sensible plan printer who would do it for me from .pdf for $10 Australian.  I guess it’s all about how far you are from the big smoke in NZ.  Hell, mate send me the file and I’ll get it printed and mail it to you if it’s a big issue.

Red