So far I have hand-drawn all my designs. But I'd like to try using a computer program, one that will give me all the cross-sections that I want. What is the best program for me? Thanks!

Aku, and its free!

thanks! I'll check it out. Does it give you all your ribs (cross sections)?

I like RhinoCad. Could be just that I learned Rhino before I tried anything else but when I play around with BoardCad and Aku they both seem limited in what they can do. The rails and bottom contour in particular are easier for me to make smooth transitions in Rhino.

Brad Tucker
Wood Surfboard Supply

Huck,
I agree AKU is great. Jedail has written the Hollow Board Template Maker.
Check it out in the What's Available section of this forum under aps add on. It's a great
program which draws all cross sections, full template and center rib. I have found it to be very helpful.
Ray Maltby

useful trick i found was to use board cad and aku shaper as both programs can open the same file. the shaping is easier with aku but the 3d view is better with board cad, my 2 cents!

Hey huck (you tripper),
I feel this is an important enough issue to make my first post..........DON'T DO IT! Don't be seduced by the mouse! You're a surfboard builder, not a surfboard "cladder"? . I always follow your threads and what sets them apart from so many others is that your creations(as far as I can see) are truly handcrafted. You're the eccentric artisan.
Don't go to the dark side Huck. Cheers,
Geoff

hahaaha, welcome to T2S!!! Glad to see I drew you out!

I'm shocked to find anyone still cares about handcrafted creativity anymore! Just how did you get here?



BTW, I tinkered a bit with aku, but didn't get anywhere, so your wish has been fulfilled....so far LOL!

More boards coming...but sidetracked with other stuff lately, like a lot of us!!!

CAD is a tool, like all the others - you still have to hand make afterwards

AKU is great - add slices to correspond with ribs and away you go

That's true Blue, and I don't have any objection to computer drawing. But I enjoy the challenge of working out foil issues "hands-on", developing the curves and thicknesses in real time, rather than on a computer. I think it gives a better grasp of how the compound curves interact with each other.

One thing that can happen is builders get shapes from computer files, and miss out on the opportunity to design their own boards from scratch, or modify designs as they build. So wood board builders are just that, but miss the chance to become "shapers" meaning sculpting original shapes from their head. Of course, if you're designing original shapes on computer, then building them, you could make the argument that you are sculpting original shapes, so its all in the viewpoint one takes, I suppose.

Once (or IF) I shift to a more production-oriented mode, I'd like to be able to reproduce boards for multiple copies, and have records of the shape. Hence, my curiosity about shaping programs. I fooled around with aku, but haven't done much more than that, and I should probably go through the tutorial if I want to learn to use it.