| rattleCAD | |
|---|---|
 rattleCAD logo | |
.png) rattleCAD 3.6.24 onWindows 10 | |
| Developer | Manfred Rosenberger |
| Initial release | 2008; 17 years ago (2008) |
| Stable release | v4.3.03 / October 9, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-10-09) |
| Repository | https://sourceforge.net/p/rattlecad |
| Written in | Tcl |
| Engine | Tk |
| Operating system | Windows,Linux,macOS |
| Platform | IA-32,x86-64 |
| Size | 26 MB |
| Available in | English |
| Type | computer-aided design |
| License | Up to v3.6.30:GNU General Public License v2; Since v4.0.0:proprietary withcommercial,freeware anddemoware editions |
| Website | rattlecad |
rattleCAD is aparametric2Dcomputer-aided design (CAD)software specific forbicycledesign,[1][2] in particular for designbicycle frame,[3][4] developed by theAustriancyclist andprogrammerManfred Rosenberger since 2008.[5] The application is written in theprogramming languageTcl using theTk-basedgraphical user interface (GUI).[6]
In 2019, after 10 years beingopen-source software,rattleCAD switched to aproprietary software development model.[7]
In 2008,Manfred Rosenberger began developingrattleCAD asopen-source software for bicycledo it yourself (DIY) makers and bike shops, hostingsource code andbinary code onSourceForge since January 2010,[8][9][10][11] as an alternative to only few existing proprietary apps in this field at the time, such asBikeCAD, one of the oldest CAD software specific for bicycle design, developed by aCanadianbicycle rentalbusinessperson and a programmerBrent Curry since 2002,[12][13][14][15][16] andLinkage, a CAD andCAE software for bicycle design andbicycle suspensionsimulation,[17][18] developed by aHungariansoftware developerGergely Kovacs.[19][20][21][22]
From 31 March to 1 April 2012, the app was exhibited at theEuropean Handmade Bicycle Exhibition (EHBE) inSchwäbisch Gmünd.[23]
On 11 April 2012, app has been presented at theBespoked 2014 (theUK handmade bicycle show) inLondon.[24]
On 8 July 2017, Rosenberger presentedrattleCAD at theEuroTcl 2017 (15th European Tcl/Tk User Meeting) inBerlin.[25][26][27]
On 7 July 2018, at theEuroTcl 2018 (16th European Tcl/Tk User Meeting) inMunich, Rosenberger presented thecad4tcl – an open-source CAD graphicslibrary for Tcl/Tk, extracted from the mainrattleCAD source.[28][29][30]
On 10 December 2018, firstrattleCAD 4.0.0 preview release has been rolled out.[31]
In January 2019,rattleCAD 3.6.30 has been released. It was the last open-source release.
In 2019, Rosenberger announced ceasing open-source development and switching to proprietary development model for the nextrattleCAD 4.x releases on the new website.[7]
rattleCAD 4.0 will not be free and open source anymore. Basically, there will be timely limited licenses for rattleCAD - a kind of user fee. This will allow me to continue to develop rattleCAD in the future. Since last autumn (2018) a lot has been done in rattleCAD.
— Manfred Rosenberger
Since then app provided viaGumroad as a limitedfreeware version[32][33][34] underdonationware payment model (later freeware version replaced with a more restricteddemoware version) and as commercial editions for private and professional use undersubscription payment model.
As of June 2023, project page on SourceForge still actively used as a discussion board by users and app developers.[35]
Despite the fact that all the old source and binary builds licensed as an open-source has been deleted from SourceForge by developer in 2019, few code snapshots of original code and a fork ofrattleCAD 3.x, hosted on GitHub,[36][37][38] and binary of the last open-sourcerattleCAD 3.6.30 and older releases, still circulated on the internet as of October 2023,[39][40][41][42] are now collected on theInternet Archive.[43]
| Design your bicycle - the rattleCAD method (3.4.01.38) | |
|---|---|
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMbzEKe4HN8 |
rattleCAD provides all the tools needed for design bicycle from preliminary design of basic geometry, adjusted to cyclist body size,[44] to producing full assembly and frame manufacturing documentation:
rattleCAD supports the next file formats:
*.rc4 –JSON-based file format for storingrattleCAD4.x bike design projects and templates.*.py,*.FCMacro) – for export FreeCAD Macro to generate 3D models inside FreeCAD.[45][46][47]| Version | Release date | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Unsupported: unk | 2008 | Initial release |
| Unsupported: 2.8 | January 2010 | development become open via SourceForge |
| Unsupported: 3.1 | September 2010 | |
| Unsupported: 3.2 | October 25, 2010 | |
| Unsupported: 3.3 | April 28, 2012 | new definition of Saddle Position, Rear Mockup |
| Unsupported: 3.4 | February 17, 2013 | add samples to rattleCAD and loop through them, demo mode (File -> Demo), rattleCAD 3D (Plugin) |
| Unsupported: 3.5 | February 24, 2018 | |
| Unsupported: 3.6 | August 14, 2018 | accordion menu, bike fitting (enter Position, import Position, import Frame), extracted libraries (cad4tcl, svgDOM)[49] |
| Supported: 4.0 | December 10, 2018 | development switched to proprietary (with Professional, Private and Demo versions), revised UI, new file format (*.rc4) |
| Supported: 4.1 | October 31, 2020 | bent tubes |
| Supported: 4.2 | June 19, 2022 | additional features to configure HeadTube, configure bent SeatStay, components separated into independent library |
| Latest version:4.3 | September 1, 2023 | |
Legend: Unsupported Supported Latest version Preview version Future version | ||
cad4tcl[50] – is an open-source graphics library for Tcl/Tk to build CAD software, developed as a part of rattleCAD. It supports importing SVG and exporting SVG, PDF and DXF files.[29]
svgDOM[51] – is an open-source SVG graphics processing and optimization library for Tcl/Tk, developed as a part of rattleCAD.[29]
Mercer designs his frames on RattleCad, an open-source software. Once the proposed design has been signed off by the customer he's ready to start.
Here is how I've build my own bicycle.
In order to design an enduro mountain bike that maximizes uphill and downhill performance, I plan to combine features from various other bicycle designs. I will use a suspension design software specifically created for mountain bikes called Linkage X3. This software will be used to create a 2D simulation of a suspension design created to have the optimal amounts of bottom out resistance, pedaling support, and small bump sensitivity.
rattleCAD is invited for a presentation at the European Handmade Bicycle Exhibition in Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany).
Friday 11th April: 16.00 - 17.00 - RattleCAD - Bicycle Design Software - In this talk rattleCAD will be presented with its main features and the parametric model based on stack and reach will be discussed against seat and toptube length.
rattleCAD is an open source CAD software that supports bicycle frame builder in building customized bicycle frames. Based on a wireframe geometry rattleCAD visualizes the new bike with all its parts and creates drawings for the workshop. rattleCAD is written in pure Tcl and is hosted on SourceForge.
rattleCAD is an open source CAD-application to design bicycle frames and used the standard tk::canvas for the rendering of the grahics. (...) In my talk I will present and discuss the package cad4tcl.[permanent dead link]
Version 3.4.00.49 has added additional Bent of ChainStay in RearMockup.
This is an oversized Frame exported from rattleCAD via the rattleCAD_3D plugin.
| Frame |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | ||
| Drivetrain | ||
| Cabling | ||
| Peripherals | ||
