[HN Gopher] Show HN: I created a tool to design and create foamc...
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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/  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 :)
        
       Author : Rabidgremlin
       Score  : 44 points
       Date   : 2025-12-28 01:00 UTC (4 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (boxinsertdesigner.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (boxinsertdesigner.com)
        
       | sokoloff wrote:
       | A 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 wrote:
         | Definitely 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.
        
       | stavros wrote:
       | This 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.
        
       | duttish wrote:
       | You could let people post public inserts for specific games,
       | start building up a library.
        
         | RyanOD wrote:
         | Yes 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.
        
       | traverseda wrote:
       | Lots 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.
        
       | throwoutway wrote:
       | I didn't know what foamcore inserts were until now, bu tthis is
       | useful. I have lots of broken boardgame boxes
        
         | dbrother wrote:
         | Same here, its pretty cool!
        
       | awithrow wrote:
       | It'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.
        
       | gwynforthewyn wrote:
       | That site's so damn responsive! What are you using to build it?
        
         | wenngle wrote:
         | Not OP, but the design screams Bootstrap, and it looks like
         | Bootstrap 5 is bundled in their CSS.
        
       | sejje wrote:
       | I 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 wrote:
         | Was thinking exactly the same.
        
       | sfRattan wrote:
       | Very 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
       | 
       | Tuckbox Assembly Advice: https://www.ee0r.com/boxes/index.html
        
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       (page generated 2026-01-01 23:01 UTC)