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Show HN: I created a tool to design and create foamcore inserts for boardgames
As a holiday project to test out spec first development using Codex CLI, I ended up creating https://boxinsertdesigner.com/ https://boxinsertdesigner.com/
It lets you design a box insert in 2D and spits out a cutting list.
I'm looking for feedback, bugs, feature ideas etc and figured this would be a good place to find it :)
- sokoloff 9mo agoA sample (or a small portfolio of sample) images would help people grasp what this does. Or a sample project. (It’s not like it’s super-complicated, but people like pictures.)
- hamburglar 9mo agoDefinitely needs a landing page with samples because I can’t figure out what this is and I’m on a phone and really the only information I’m presented with is that it kinda doesn’t work on a phone.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoIt should hopefully work better on a phone/tablet now. I'm planning on adding a video soo showing how to use the app and what it does... but you can check out https://www.reddit.com/r/boxinsertdesigner/ https://www.reddit.com/r/boxinsertdesigner/ for examples
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoyep, agree
- stavros 9mo agoThis looks nice! Why don't the dividers snap to the closest edge automatically? Feels like that's a lot of manual labor that could just be done automatically. Is there a way to output an SVG? I'd love to send this to my laser or CNC cutter and have it cut automatically.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoIt does snap but it was a bit iffy. I have improved it so give it a try. Re SVG export it is on the list.
- duttish 9mo agoYou could let people post public inserts for specific games, start building up a library.
- RyanOD 9mo agoYes to this. Why should more than one person create a layout for Risk, for example? Start storing these in a library, bearing in mind that most games have multiple releases with their own specs. Think of a site like Thingiverse.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoInteresting idea. Definitely something I could add.
- traverseda 9mo agoLots of suggestions already, my only suggestion is that it would be nice if this could generate tabs and slots. I'm more likely to laser cut or 3D print inserts, so a tab and slot would make assembly easier. Well that and to generate STL files for 3D printing.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoYeah... I had that tabs/slots and STL on my list but lot priority
- throwoutway 9mo agoI didn't know what foamcore inserts were until now, bu tthis is useful. I have lots of broken boardgame boxes
- dbrother 9mo agoSame here, its pretty cool!
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoWelcome to a whole new obsession!
- awithrow 9mo agoIt'd be great to have some preset box sizes for some common games and maybe some pre-done layouts. Now that I'm thinking about it, some game elements would be handy to build around, ie a deck of cards or similar.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoNice idea. Will add it to the list
- gwynforthewyn 9mo agoThat site's so damn responsive! What are you using to build it?
- wenngle 9mo agoNot OP, but the design screams Bootstrap, and it looks like Bootstrap 5 is bundled in their CSS.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoYep it is Bootstrap. Well bootstrap-react to be more precise.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoThe site was actually built as an experiment on "spec first" coding with AI agents... in this case using Codex CLI. Underlying tech is Typescript, React, Zustard (for state), Bootstrap (for layout/components) and Konva JS (for 2D canvas) and vite for building/bundling. Deployed to AWS S3 bucket fronted by AWS cloud front using Github actions.
- sejje 9mo agoI can't find a photo of what it does. I'm on mobile so I can't use it according to your popup. Your subreddit also doesn't include even one photo or screenshot. I would expect to see both for this product. Is it useful? I don't even know what it does yet.
- kwanbix 9mo agoWas thinking exactly the same.
- deleted 9mo ago[deleted]
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoI'll hopefully get a video up soon
- sfRattan 9mo agoVery neat tool! I've looked into cutting foam for board game storage, but I don't love the 5mm or so thickness. For games with lots of different little bits and pieces, the many walls to divide many containers add up and take a surprising amount of space inside the game's box. Short of 3D printing storage solutions, I've found an online tuck-box generator for decks of cards of any size that looks neat, and another site with advice for assembling them: Tuckbox Generator: https://www.cpforbes.net/tuckbox/tuckbox.cgi https://www.cpforbes.net/tuckbox/tuckbox.cgi Tuckbox Assembly Advice: https://www.ee0r.com/boxes/index.html https://www.ee0r.com/boxes/index.html
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoYeah, foam core is easy to work with but a bit thick. The tool does let you set the thickness in the project properties so you may be have some luck setting it to be thinner.
- abrookewood 9mo agoYou really need some samples, examples or visual on the home page.
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoI'm planning on adding a video.
- hn92726819 9mo agoFor anyone (like me) wondering what this is. Foamcore is foam with paper on each end (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foamcore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foamcore) Looks like people use it to organize board games: https://www.orderofgamers.com/abomination-foamcore-v1/ https://www.orderofgamers.com/abomination-foamcore-v1/
- sejje 9mo agoWhy did you abandon your own thread, OP?
- Rabidgremlin 8mo agoeek, I forgot I had posted here and got distracted with the holidays.... will start to respond now..