Board Foot Volume Calculator

Rhino
,
1

All -

I often need to figure out the board feet (a volume dimension used for lumber equaling 12"x12"x1"). I can do the math but when we have a lot of items it is tedious.

Is there a way to add volume calculator to the Volume command?

Screenshot 2024-10-17 101051

I figure I could also write a script to do the math but thought it would be more elegant combined with the other volume dimensions.

Thanks -

2

recommended: do a script

if you need the output in a drawing:
Textfields can do it:

%<Volume("cc03b24b-c1c1-4fa7-a86f-abc76391a46c","Inches","False") / (12*12)>% board feet

where
cc03b24b-c1c1-4fa7-a86f-abc76391a46c
is the ID / Guid of the Object to query

3

Thank you so much @Tom_P. Will implement a script, which will solve the issue for me, was thinking there could be a more global solution.

So no way to add volume units (or length units) to the main Volume command unit options?

4

Hi,
That’s a good wish item it should be placed on the wishlist.

There is a way in both Vbscript and python.
It won’t show in the main volume command so you’ll have to add your script to an icon or command alias.

Beware of unit conversion, if you work in metric you’ll have to do a conversion. For a perfect script that works in all unit templates metric etc you’ll have to convert first and search through all rhino unit types. You can also create your own unit type using the custom unit type but I don’t know how it interacts with volume I’ve only used it for length.
This is an example I use to measure in cubits.

noecho
-RunScript (
Option Explicit
Call CubitDistance
Sub CubitDistance()
	
	' Local constants
	Const MM = 2 ' millimeter unit system
	Const CB = 417 ' millimeter per cubit
	
	' Local variables
	Dim p0, p1, du, dm, p
	
	' First point
	p0 = Rhino.GetPoint("First point for cubit distance")
	If IsNull(p0) Then Exit Sub
	
	' Second point
	p1 = Rhino.GetPoint("First point for cubit distance", p0)
	If IsNull(p1) Then Exit Sub
	
	' Compute distance in current units
	du = Rhino.Distance(p0, p1)
	
	' Print distance in current units
	p = Rhino.UnitDistanceDisplayPrecision
	Call Rhino.Print("Distance = " & FormatNumber(du, p, -1) & " " & Rhino.UnitSystemName(False, False))
	
	' Convert distance to cubits
	If Rhino.UnitSystem <> MM Then
		dm = du * Rhino.UnitScale(MM) 
	Else
		dm = du
	End If
	
	' Print distance in cubits
	Call Rhino.Print("Distance = " & FormatNumber(dm / CB, p, -1) & " cubits")
	
End Sub
)

RM

5

Hi @joeperezgreen1,

I’ve logged your request.

https://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-84639

A script you can try:

VolumeBoardFeet.py (2.3 KB)

– Dale

1 Like
6

Be aware that “board feet” of planed wood is based on nominal thickness and width. Go to a lumberyard in the US and purchase a 1 inch x 12 inch pine board and it will be 3/4 inch thick and 11 1/4 inch wide. However the nominal 1 in x 12 inch dimensions will be used when calculating the number of “board feet” of the board.

For unplaned wood the actual dimensions, or at least the actual dimensions before drying, are usually used in calculating board feet.