CAD/CAM and CNC
Quotes are verbatim and attributed to their original authors.
Builders who move to a CNC machine mostly rely on two free, open-source tools written within this community — MonkeyCAM and SnoCAD-X — plus a CNC drag knife for cutting bases and graphics.
MonkeyCAM
MonkeyCAM was written by forum member Head Monkey and generates the G-code to machine every part of a ski or snowboard from a design specification.
From a JSON description of the board it emits programs for the base cutout; the core (top profile/taper, edge relief for the steel edges, insert holes, guide holes to flip the core, alignment marks); and matching nose and tail spacers. It is free for personal and commercial use (Apache 2.0), and now runs in the browser at monkeycam.org — "the latest version will always run for you in the cloud, for free. So no ads."
SnoCAD-X
SnoCAD-X is a Java-based design front end that pairs with MonkeyCAM (the long-term intent being for SnoCAD-X to output to MonkeyCAM's CAM back end). If it won't launch from the JAR, the usual fix is simply updating to a current Java runtime.
Drag knives for bases
To cut base material and dye-cut graphics, builders use a drag knife in the CNC. The Donek drag knife is the popular ready-made option (a freely-rotating bearing, run with the spindle free), around $229; a DIY version can be ground from a 1/8" carbide drill blank for about $12, though getting the blade to track straight is the challenge:
One practical tip from the same thread: avoid dye-cutting a black base, because the light-coloured inlay streaks once you base-grind it.