Fingerboard Mold Pro

A professional parametric workbench for FreeCAD, designed to generate high-precision molds for fingerboarding (miniature skateboarding).

It allows makers to generate organic, customizable 3D-printable molds used to press and shape wooden veneers into finished fingerboard decks.

🚀 Key Features

• Loft & Bezier Engine: Generates organic shapes and fluid transitions (no simple geometric arcs).
• Fully Parametric: Every dimension (wheelbase, kick height, concave depth) is adjustable in real-time.
• Full Layout: Automatically generates 4 objects in the scene (Deck, Male Mold, Female Mold, Template) positioned for an immediate overview.
• Presets System: Save your best shapes as JSON presets and reload them instantly.
• Batch Export: Automatically exports all necessary STL files (Male, Female, Template) with a single click.

v1.2 Update: New Geometry Engine

• True Radius Kicks: The kick geometry is now calculated using a precise radius derived from the Transition Length. No more "wavy" splines; kicks are crisp and defined.
• Tub Concave: Added TubWidth parameter to create a flat central section with curved sides (modern street shape).
• Side Printing Prep: Added AddFillet (Bool). Set to False to remove the base fillet, making it easier to print the mold on its side without supports.
• Fix: Fixed center "belly" issue in the concave profile.

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📦 Installation

Since this workbench is not yet available in the official Addon Manager registry, please install it manually:

1. Download this repository as a ZIP file and extract it.

2. Locate your FreeCAD Addon folder:

   • Open FreeCAD and launch the Addon Manager
   • Ensure your Addon Manager is up to date.
   • Click on the "Open Addon Folder" option:

3. Copy the extracted FingerboardMoldPro folder into that directory you just opened.

4. Restart FreeCAD to load the new workbench.

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📖 User Guide

1. Core Concept: The "Master" and the "Slaves"

When you create a new mold, 4 objects will appear in the project tree:

1. Board_Preview (THE MASTER): This is the finished deck in the center. This is the ONLY object you need to modify. It holds all the parameters (dimensions, angles, etc.).
2. Male_Mold: The positive mold block (blue).
3. Female_Mold: The negative mold block (red).
4. Shaper_Template: The cutting guide (green transparent).

⚠️ Important: The Male, Female, and Template objects are linked to the Master. If you want to change the length or wheelbase, always modify Board_Preview only. The others will update automatically.

2. Step-by-Step Workflow

1. Select the Workbench: Choose "Fingerboard Mold Pro" from the dropdown menu.
2. Create: Click the New Mold icon (Yellow Deck icon). The 4 objects will appear in the 3D view, spaced apart to avoid overlapping.
3. Edit Parameters:
   • Select the Board_Preview object in the tree.
   • Go to the Data tab in the Property View (bottom left).
   • Change values (e.g., Wheelbase, NoseAngle, etc.) and press Enter.
   • You will see all 4 objects update simultaneously with the new measurements.
4. Visualization:
   • There is no need to switch views or toggle visibility: you always have a full overview of how the Male and Female molds fit the deck geometry.

3. Using Presets

Don't want to re-enter your numbers every time?

• Save: Select the Master (Board_Preview), click the Save Preset icon (Floppy disk), and give it a name.
• Load: Select the Master. In the Data Tab, find the Preset dropdown and select your saved preset.

4. Exporting for 3D Printing (STL)

1. Select the Board_Preview object.
2. Click the Export Batch STL icon (Green arrow).
3. Choose a destination folder.
4. The script will automatically generate individual files for printing:
   • YourBoardName_Male_Mold.stl
   • YourBoardName_Female_Mold.stl
   • YourBoardName_Shaper_Template.stl

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🎛️ Parameters Glossary (Data Tab)

Board Geometry

• BoardWidth: The maximum width of the deck.
• Wheelbase: Distance between truck holes (inner to inner).
• ConcaveDrop: Depth of the concave in mm.
• ConcaveLength: Length of the flat section of the concave.

Kicks (Nose & Tail)

• NoseAngle / TailAngle: The kick angle in degrees.
• NoseLength / TailLength: Length from the outer truck holes to the tip.
• TransitionLength: Distance used to blend the flat part into the kick.

Shaper

• NoseShape / TailShape: Pre-defined shapes (Popsicle, Boxy, etc.).
• TaperStart: Point where the width starts to narrow towards the tip.
• Flatness: Shape of the tip (0 = Pointy, 100 = Square).

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License

This workbench is licensed under the LGPLv2.1 (same as FreeCAD).

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Warning:

Using this software may cause an uncontrollable urge to sand tiny pieces of wood at 3 AM.