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.
• SideLocks System (New in v1.3): Integrated pentagonal guides allowing molds to be printed vertically without supports.
• Concave Styles: Choose between "Organic" (Classic Wavy) or "Flat" (Modern Tub/Pocket) geometry.
• Batch Export: Automatically exports all necessary STL files (Male, Female, Template) with a single click.

v1.3 Release Notes: The "Vertical" Update

New: SideLocks System: Added SideLocks (Bool). When enabled, it generates pentagonal guide rails on the sides of the mold. This allows you to print the Male and Female parts standing vertically on the print bed without any supports, ensuring the smoothest possible surface finish on the pressing face.

New: Concave Styles: Added ConcaveStyle parameter. - Organic: The classic continuous curve (Wavy). - Flat: A modern "Tub" or "Pocket" concave with a flat central section and steep walls.

Improved: The AddFillet logic is now fully compatible with SideLocks.

Fix: Resolved topological issues in the "Belly" section of the loft.

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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).
3. Edit Parameters:
   • Select the Board_Preview object in the tree.
   • Go to the Data tab in the Property View.
   • Change values (e.g., Wheelbase, NoseAngle) and press Enter.
4. Visualize & Export:
   • Use the Batch Export STL icon (Green arrow) to generate files for your 3D printer.

💡 Pro Tip: The Vertical Printing Strategy (The "Side-Print" Method)

To get the smoothest possible surface on your mold (the curved part touching the veneer), you should print the molds standing on their side.

1. Enable SideLocks: This places the alignment keys on the Nose and Tail ends of the mold, keeping the long sides free of obstructions.
2. Disable AddFillet: Set to False to remove the rounded bottom edge, creating a sharp 90° corner for stable adhesion.
3. Flatten the Sides: Set MoldBaseWidth equal to MoldCoreWidth.
   • Why? If the Base is wider than the Core, you have a "step" on the side. By making them equal (e.g., both 45mm), you create a perfectly flush, flat side wall that sits solidly on the printer bed.
4. Slicer Orientation: Rotate the object 90° so it stands on this flat long edge.
   • Result: Zero supports needed, and layer lines run along the length of the kick for a superior finish.

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🎛️ Parameters Glossary (Data Tab)

1. Mold Structure & Printing

These parameters control the physical block of the mold, not the shape of the deck.

• SideLocks (Bool)
• Function: If True, generates pentagonal rails on the sides of the Male/Female parts.
• Usage: Enables Vertical Printing. The locks align the two halves perfectly, allowing the pressing surface to be printed vertically for maximum smoothness without supports.
• MoldBaseHeight
• Function: Thickness of the base plate (the part that touches the clamp/press).
• Limits: Max 20.0mm.
• MoldCornerRadius
• Function: Aesthetic radius on the vertical corners of the mold block.
• Limits: Min 0.1mm - Max 5.0mm.
• AddFillet (Bool)
• Function: Adds a rounded fillet at the base of the mold structure for reinforcement.
• Recommendation: Keep True for strength. Set to False ONLY if printing horizontally without SideLocks (to get a flat bottom).

2. Board Geometry (The Core)

Dimensions defining the main body of the fingerboard.

• BoardWidth
• Function: The maximum width of the deck (usually at the widest point).
• Limits: Min 29.0mm. Cannot exceed MoldCoreWidth (default 45mm).
• Wheelbase
• Function: Distance between the inner truck holes. This is the primary driver for the mold's length.
• Limits: Min 30.0mm - Max 50.0mm.
• ConcaveDrop
• Function: The depth of the concave (height difference between the center and the edge).
• Limits: Max 3.4mm (Values higher than this cause veneer cracking).
• ConcaveLength
• Function: The length of the central section where the concave profile is applied.
• Limits: Cannot exceed the Wheelbase.
• ConcaveStyle
• Organic: Generates a continuous, smooth curve from edge to edge (Classic style).
• Flat: Generates a "Tub" or "Pocket" concave with a completely flat center and steep curved walls (Modern street style).
• TubWidth
• Function: Defines the width of the flat central strip.
• Condition: Active ONLY if ConcaveStyle is set to "Flat".
• Limits: Max is BoardWidth - 2mm.

3. Kicks (Nose & Tail)

Parameters controlling the bends at the tips.

• NoseAngle / TailAngle
• Function: The steepness of the kicks in degrees.
• Limits: Max 45°.
• NoseLength / TailLength
• Function: Total length of the kick measured from the outer truck holes to the tip.
• Limits: Min 5.0mm - Max 23.0mm.
• TransitionLength
• Function: The horizontal distance used to blend the flat wheelbase into the angled kick.
• Physics: This mathematically defines the Radius of the kick bend.
• Larger Value = Mellow, large radius curve.
• Smaller Value = Sharp, tight kink.
• Limits: Min 0.1mm - Max 10.0mm (or limited by available Kick Length).

4. Shaper Template (Cutout Guide)

Parameters for the green transparent object used to trace the outline.

• NoseShape / TailShape
• Function: Selects a pre-defined tip shape (Popsicle, Boxy, Spade, etc.) from the library.
• NoseTaperStart / TailTaperStart
• Function: The distance from the tip where the board starts to narrow (taper).
• Usage: Lower values make the board parallel for longer (wider nose/tail).
• NoseFlatness / TailFlatness
• Function: Controls the curvature of the very tip.
• Values:
• 0%: Perfectly Pointy.
• 100%: Perfectly Square (Boxy).
• 50-70%: Standard Popsicle shape.

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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.