While I am still trying to prepare an automated mechanism to help identify top missing parts based on my Most Common LEGO Parts analysis, here's an old-fashioned list of the top parts from 2023 or 2024 which aren't in LDraw yet...

Rankings are based on those sets released so far in 2023/2024 - if you bought one of every set and sorted by part and color.  (It is a weighted scoring that factors # parts, # sets, and # colors.)

RANK - Part Number & Name
3293 - LEGO PART 3277 Hair Mid Length, Parted
3448 - LEGO PART 35494 Hair Mid-Length Wavy with Center Part
3563 - LEGO PART 2149 Wave / Lightning with Axle Hole
4127 - LEGO PART 4986 Large Figure Cover 4 x 5 x 2 with Bar, 4 Studs, Ridged
4243 - LEGO PART 5065 Panel 6 x 5 x 3 1/3 Curved Top
4320 - LEGO PART 98876 Cockpit 4 x 2 x 3 with Pin Hole, and 2 Clips
4460 - LEGO PART 3486 Wheel Hard Plastic Large, D.36, with 4 Studs
4461 - LEGO PART 2144 Large Figure Weapon Sword with Axle Connector

I know they aren't wildly popular parts, but they are potential up-and-coming parts and I thought it might be a useful list for folks looking for interesting parts to add to the collection.

Sincerely,
---Tom Alphin

From discussions in the parts tracker, I learned that there are different streams of how people like parts to be authored. The streams I identified so far are:
1. Use as many primitives as possible.
2. Make sure there are no manifold issues like t-junk.
3. Accept manifold issues if this leads to fewer faces.

Those streams often contradict each other because for instance using primitives often leads to manifold issues because even the most standard primitives like the studs bring them along. Placing a stud that is open on top of a box (as done for the most standard LDraw parts like 3001.dat) produces vertexes for the stud that are not connected to any vertexes of the box at all.

As such I was wondering whether it would make sense to be able to automatically generate parts from CAD files, such that I can use the full power of the CAD system, which could make sure to produce a manifold structure. This structure can then automatically be converted and we would receive a part that has a perfect manifold structure and as such should not cause any rendering issues.

The downside of this approach is that those automatically generated parts would not use any primitives at all.

If you are interested in the approach, feel free to have a look at https://github.com/schiele/stl2ldraw, which currently is an early working prototype.

This includes an example of part 3001 in https://github.com/schiele/stl2ldraw/blo.../test.scad, which gets translated into an STL file by OpenSCAD. In the next step, the tool translates this into an LDraw dat file.

The tool currently has the following features:
- Reads binary and ascii STL files.
- Merges very close vertexes that would not produce visual differences but might cause non-manifold structures.
- Warns about incorrect normal vectors in the STL files and corrects them.
- Warns about detected non-manifold structures but does not correct them:
  - degenerated faces (faces spanning no area, meaning all points on one line)
  - open edges
  - ambiguous edges
- Merges adjacent triangles on the same plane to convex quadrilaterals.
- Generates lines for sharp edges (more than 25 degrees angle) and open edges.
- Generates optional lines for soft convex edges (less than 25 degrees angle). For concave edges, they are not generated since they would never be visible by their concave nature anyway.

I do welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Hello,
while making the stickers of the 75887 set I ran into this problem: applying a sticker to a flexible part.

I thought I'd do it like in the attached files, but I can't load part 62698k03dy0.

Is my idea wrong?
Do I call the sticker from within files 62698-f1dy0 and 62698-f2dY0 without applying it to the flexible part?

Massimo

Attached Files

  62698-f2dy0.dat (Size: 629 bytes / Downloads: 2)
  62698k03dy0.dat (Size: 514 bytes / Downloads: 2)
  62698-f1dy0.dat (Size: 574 bytes / Downloads: 2)

I'm shooting to get 2024-02 out next weekend (3/24-3/24). Get your reviews in. 

I'd really like to get all the primitive updates out with this update but, failing that, at least the rings.

If this body wear part could be modeled, I would be so grateful! 

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...conly%22:0}


  =.png (Size: 153.05 KB / Downloads: 57)

Came across these and got to point them out

Personally like that one if posible:
this one is listed on digital bricks but no 3d dat
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...3#T=C&C=69



there is more if interested:


this one is listed on digital bricks but no 3d dat
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...1#T=C&C=39

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...8#T=C&C=59

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...4#T=C&C=15

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...2#T=C&C=59

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...1#T=C&C=11

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...#T=C&C=115

Per the LDraw.org Bylaws at http://www.ldraw.org/article/268.html, Subsection
6.03(a), the 2023/2024 Steering Committee hereby calls for the community to
nominate individuals as candidates for the 2024/2025 Steering Committee[1].

Please post nominations in response to this message. Nominations will only be
recognized if they are in response to this message.

Per ss.6.03(a), you must specify the name of the person you are nominating,
along with your name. Another member of the community must second the nomination
in a reply, and the nominee must publicly accept the nomination in the same
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nominee does not accept, it will be assumed that he or she has declined, and
they will not be placed on the ballot.

Nominations will close at 11:59 PM GMT on 31 March 2024. This means that to
be listed on the ballot, a candidate must have been nominated, seconded and must
have formally stated acceptance by that time.

The Steering Committee will give sufficient notice of the election and election
procedures per ss.6.03(b).

NOTE: subsection 6.03(b) states that elections should take place before March 1.
We interpret this to mean that we will commence the election on March 1, but
since it is electronic, it will run for 2 weeks, just as last time. The exact
time and date of start and end will be announced sometime very close to (but
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Please note that due to internal processes the process of the nomination and election is one month later as stated in subsection 6.03(b) this year.
We give our very best to get back to the normal election schedule in 2025.

Again, thanks to all of you for your commitment to the goals of the
organization, and in working with us this year. Please, stay involved with
LDraw.org and keep it moving forward!

Max Martin Richter
On behalf of the LDraw.org Steering Committee

--
[1] Try not to confuse the LDraw.org Steering Committee (SteerCo) with the LDraw
Standards Board (LSB). The Steering Committee sets the course for the LDraw
Organization while the Standards Board deals with the LDraw File Format.

Comes in these colours:
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...#T=C&C=115
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/cat...3#T=C&C=11

Would be good for the part library to go with the other swords.

Might anyone have it available in obj format in addition?

I will use this thread for posts about my work on the Sesame Street minifigs. 

First of all. Does anyone own the set? And are you willing to take some photos of the inside of the heads so I can examine the molding?