Bricksmith 3.0 adds the following features:

• LSynth integration with real-time, drag-and-drop constraint editing for creating flexible hoses, chains, bands, etc.
  
• Curved parts are drawn with smooth shading
  
• Can change spin center to center of selection
  
• “Walk-Through” camera mode lets you view your model from the inside.
  
• Search feature to select all parts of a particular color or name
  
• Translucent parts correctly show the model behind them. (The interiors of translucent parts may not be rendered correctly.)
  
• Performance improvements for rendering models with large numbers of parts.
  
• “Insert Related” command automatically inserts selected parts that match the selection, e.g. drawers for a cupboard, tires for a wheel, window glass for a window frame.
  
• Split Step command
  

• Fixed modifier shortcuts for mouse tools not working after invoking a contextual menu on 10.8+
  

• Bricksmith comes pre-packaged with the LSynth command-line tool, the configuration files, and the unofficial parts.
  
• When you add or edit an LSynth element and constraints, Bricksmith automatically calls LSynth with just the element you are working on, parses the synthesized result, and inserts it into your model
  
• The original constraints are preserved in such a way that they are still editable. Every time you make a change, Bricksmith automatically deletes the stale synthesis and inserts a new one.
  
• When you deselect an LSynth element in Bricksmith, the constraints vanish, and all you see is the synthesized hose.
  
• If you select the hose again, it becomes translucent and the constraints are revealed again, ready for you to edit them.
  
• If you open a file with just constraints, Bricksmith automatically generates the synthesized output for you. But it's completely non-destructive; the constraints are always preserved for you to edit them later.
  

Hey,

a demo of the new game "LEGO® The Hobbit™" is available for PC. You can download it from http://videogames.lego.com/en-us/lego-th...o-download.

Rolf

I just completed and uploaded LDCad 1.3a.

It's mostly a maintenance update changes include:

• Minor bugfixes
  
• Part bin tweaks (added technic motor and mindstorms groups)
  
• New part snapping info for panels, motors and mindstorms
  
• Templates for eletric cables
  

here's a small teaser

I'm looking for a solution to generate a html parts list of a model. LDView would be perfect, if only it could generate local thumbnails... Thanks in advance for any solution

Hi everyone,

Rolf Redford has recently notified me that he's finished a code tidy up of his LdrawToObj tool.

The latest version of his code is now available under GPLv3 and is available here:
https://github.com/rredford/LdrawToObj

I haven't had a chance to try this out, but if anyone gets a chance and has any comments then please reply to this thread.

Bye for now

Reuben
[email protected]

I was wondering why are the keyword and category meta's so underused in the official library?

For example I'm trying to create a simple bin group containing all electric motors. I soon discovered this isn't as easy as you would expect. Because if you filter on 'electric' and 'motor' you end up with loads of unwanted subparts (stuff that is glued together in real life etc)

So why not add a couple of keywords to these parts indicating they are e.g. NOT standalone in reallife, or the opposite add a keyword to indicate it's a complete (uncolored) usable motor etc.

Same thing with the mind storm parts, I had to exclude:

99143.dat,11237.dat,76607c01.dat,76609.dat,99617c01.dat,99543.dat,95656.dat,99386.dat,99141c01.dat,933c01.dat,55968.dat,32109.dat,883.dat

to get a 'clean' mindstorm part listing, (this on top of the basic exclude ~prefix's filter etc).

Just venting/wondering

Hi all

I'm new in this forum, I made a new version of Peeron_toMlCad (a tool useful to simplify the initial phase of implementation, with MLCad or SR3D Builder, of existing Lego Sets), is called LdSetsConversion.

I have prepared a tutorial that explains the main features (Peeron/BrickLink sets; similar parts; Favourites in SR3D Builder!; Official, Unofficial, Peeron, BrickLink parts update etc ...).

You can find it at this address http://zaxxonit.altervista.org/ldsetsconversion.htm

Regard Michele Somma

LDraw.org, a system of free software tools for modeling Lego creations in 3D on a computer, is preparing to file a lawsuit against Bricklink Limited, for copyright violation. BrickLink.com is a venue for individuals and businesses from all around the world to buy and sell new, used and vintage LEGO. LDraw.org is furthermore sueing for trademark infringement, unfair trade practices and more, seeking damages for willful infringement.

LDraw.org, known for its parts library of over 5000 virtual representations of LEGO bricks, which is under continuous maintenance and extension by the LDraw community since 1997, might have decided not to file a legal objection to the use of images rendered from its library in the year 2000 when Bricklink started business, but the organization isn't ready to simply roll over on the intellectual property front, either.

The LDraw Steering Committee (SteerCo) decided to take legal action after Bricklink Limited rolled out new Terms of Service in September 2013. Bricklink appears to also be claiming the exclusive rights to the common naming system for LEGO pieces, through threatening legal action to competitors claiming: "you are using our unique numbering and naming systems for the LEGO pieces".

"It is evident that the online community of LEGO fans supplied much of the data and images and continue to do so to this day and that in the early days of Bricklink many names, numbering systems and even images came from co-existing sites such as LUGNET, Peeron or in our case LDraw" said Willy Tschager, member of the LDraw Steering Committee.

The committee set up policies on third parties capitalising on the considerable volunteer time, effort, and ingenuity represented by the part library and the LDraw System, which give the users almost total freedom in the usage of rendered images. "One thing is making cash with the efforts of others, but claiming it is yours is a total different story and we are going to demand to delete their image and text contributions to the database which have been drawn from LDraw", Tschager said.

In addition the LDraw Steering Committee is looking out for angel investors to back the lawsuit financially.
Donation can be made to Peeron.com as hosts of LDraw.org (a Paypal Donation Button can be found in the top right-hand corner of LDraw's homepage). However paying tribute to the fact that LDraw.org is a completely volunteer organization the SteerCo prefers workmanship contribution, such as part authoring, parts reviewing, writing programs or tutorials over financial return.

LDraw Content Management
On behalf of the LDraw.org Steering Committee

Would it be OK to upload DAT files for Custom elements (that may not be actual LEGO parts) to the MOC forum?

Hello to all,
I would like to suggest you the modifcation of the points of origin (or insertion) of parts with multiple horizontal floor or slope.

In Annex I report the current situation for two parts of this kind with respect to two normal parts (actual.jpg) and where it would be, for me, more convenient to move the origin point (proposal.jpg). The green points represent the points of origin of the parts, in the top you can see the list of parts (with their position) in both cases.

Currently, for parts with more coupling planes, there is chosen as the reference plane the highest plane.
For some parts of the slope, which does not expect to have pieces on himself, it is chosen as the origin the plan to which they support, while for others the highest floor, as if they were bricks of standard height.

This modification would allow you to use a simple sort function to sort the parts of a model from the bottom up, without having to re-check that the parts are in the right order for a real coupling.
I can imagine that it is a long job to find and change all the parts that require it, but then you would have the advantage of finding any alignment issues since only text files, without graphing.

At the end, I report a partial list of items that would be subject to change.

I am not aware of rules in the implementation of the parts against my proposal.

Massimo

Parts with multiple floor:
2339 - Arch 1 x 5 x 4
2399 - Wedge 3 x 4
4856 - Wedge 6 x 4 inverted
4865 - Panel 1 x 2 x 1 (both version a adn b and derivated like 4865d01, 4865d02, 4865p06 and 4865p18)
6055 - Panel wall 6 x 6 x 6 corner
6060 - Arch 1 x 6 x 3 & 1/3 with curved top
6066 - Brick 4 x 8 x 2.333 turret top
6072 - Brick 7 x 7 x 2.333 turret quarter
6081 - Brick 2 x 4 x 1 & 1/3 with curved top
6082 - Panel 4 x 10 x 6 rock rectangular
6091 - Brick 2 x 1 x 1 & 1/3 with curved top
6108 - Arch 1 x 12 x 3
6231 - Panel 1 x 1 x corner with rounded corners
13965 - Arch 1 x 3 x 3
30099 - Arch 1 x 5 x 4 inverted
30116 - Panel 14 x 14 x 2.667 quarter saucer top (and derivated like 30116ps0, 30116p6u and 30116p6v)
30117 - Panel 10 x 10 x 2.333 quarter saucer top (and derivated like 30117p6u and 30117p6v)
30201 - Panel 10 x 10 x 2.333 corner base
30272 - Arch 2 x 12 x 6 with grooves
30274 - Brick 2 x 3 x 3 with lion's head carving and cutout
30413 - Panel 1 x 4 x 1 with rounded corners
30613 - Arch 3 x 6 x 5
41761 - Wedge 6 x 8 x 2 triple inverted
42021 - Wedge 6 x 8 x 2 triple inverted (and derivated like 42021d01)
43713 - Wedge 6 x 4 tripple curved inverted
48490 - Panel wall 3 x 8 x 6
50373 - Wedge 3 x 4 with stud notches
76768 - Zrch 1 x 5 x 4 with reinforced tip
87611 - Plane bottom 6 x 10 x 1
87615 - Plane top 6 x 10 x 1
87616 - Plane rear 6 x 10 x 4
88292 - Arch 1 x 3 x 2
93095 - Panel 1 x 2 x 1 with thin central divider and rounded corners
91501 - Panel 2 x 2 x 1 corner with rounded corners

Parts slope
2875 - Slope brick 45 2 x 6 x 0.667
3299 - Slope brick 33 2 x 4 double
3300 - Slope brick 33 2 x 2 double
4515 - Slope brick 10 6 x 8 (and derivated like 4515p02 and 4515p03)
4854 - Slope brick 45 4 x 4 double inverted with open center
4871 - Slope brick 45 4 x 2 double inverted with open center
6191 - Brick 1 x 4 x 1 & 1/3 with curved top
6192 - Brick 2 x 4 with curved top
11477 - Slope brick curved 2 x 1
15068 - Slope brick curved 2 x 2 x 0.667 (and derivated like 15068p01)
52501 - Slope bricj 45 6 x 1 double inverted with open center
54200 - Slope brick 31 1 x 1 x 0.667
61068 - Slope brick curved 2 x 4 without underside studs (and derivated like 61068p01)
72454 - Slope brick 45 4 x 4 double inverted with center holes
85984 - Slope brick 31 1 x 2 x 0.667
88930 - Sloep brick curved 2 x 4 with underside studs (and derivated like 88930p01)
93273 - Slope brick curved 4 x 1 double (and derivated like 93273pk0)

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