Hi all,


Tiny ball joints. by Genghis Don, on Flickr

I'm so excited about the new ball and socket parts I made them for LDraw today so LDraw users can started with them early.


Ball and socket by gambort, on Flickr

Tim

Attached Files

  PlateS.dat (Size: 635 bytes / Downloads: 5)
  PlateSB.dat (Size: 734 bytes / Downloads: 3)
  PlateSS.dat (Size: 974 bytes / Downloads: 5)
  ball1.dat (Size: 356 bytes / Downloads: 11)
  sock1.dat (Size: 4.13 KB / Downloads: 16)

So, as I was finishing up my work on 14413.dat (4 x 4 faceted brick), I decided to compare it with other parts with 45 degree angled sides to see how the castlated sections on the bottoms (e.g. stud holes). I started off comparing it with other facets and as I expected, they were the same (not really a surprise since my part was based off these parts).

Then, I decided to compare it to the 3x3 Brick w/o Corner (30505). Things were slighly different, but just noticably. Next I looked at plates (3x3, 4x4 6x6, 8x8, 10x10 w/o Corners). With the exception of the 4x4 (which I'll explain in a second), these were all different, with a slightly wider gap. Upon further inspection, these used a primitive called ribt45, which, as far as I can tell, is the only primitive out there related to 45 degree angled parts. Now, the 4x4 was the exception, as it was entirely hand-drawn (it used absolutely no primitives) and had castlations like the faceted parts. Now, as far as I can tell, those parts using the ribt45 subpart (which are slightly wider) provide better clearance for the stud than the hand-drawn ones, which typically just nip the stud (but only when really zoomed in).

Oh, and regarding 30505, I eventually discovered that it was a combination of the faceted style on one side and ribt45 on the other. It was definately the oddball and the only part like this out there.

Confused yet? There's more. I then looked at 43708 (Slope Brick 18 4x4 Corner), which, mind you, is an absolute masterpiece of a part (I looked through a good portion of it... wow!). It's castlations are even farther apart than those using ribt45 (although, in my opinion, a little too far apart).

Then I looked at 87421 (Panel 3 x 3 x 6 Wall Corner without Bottom Indentations), which is different still from everything else, but closest to 43708 (but just ever so slighly narrower). Oh, and this is different from the previous version of this part (2345 - Panel 3 x 3 x 6 Wall Corner), which is like the parts that use ribt45 (except it doesn't use ribt45).

So yeah, I'd like to adhere to the "standard", but from what I can tell, there isn't any. The ribt45 seems like a great start for creation a standard, but that part is only useful for plates, and even there only when it's shaped like a "T". I'd be willing to take on the job of working on a lot of these parts if we could create and agree on some sort of standard for this. Now, I suppose there's the real possibility that these parts really ARE different in real life, but I tend to doubt it, since these differents are quite small (they're really only noticable when zoomed in really close). I don't know, maybe I'm just being anal. But isn't that one of the main requirements for being a part author/reviewer?

The 2013-01 LDraw Parts Update has been now been released. This update includes 539 new files in the core library, including 327 new parts and 78 new primitives. The update includes a mixture of older parts and newly issued parts.

Thanks are due to the small community of experienced and most welcome new part authors who created or corrected parts for this release. The reviewers have also played an important role to make this release happen. Of note is the inclusion of an updated version of the last remaining "non-redistributable" part, so the current library is fully covered by the Contributor Agreement and available for redistribution.

You can preview the new parts in 2013-01 and download the update by going to the Latest Parts page.

Many of the 99 certified files remaining on the LDraw Parts Tracker were held back from this update in keeping with our normal practice of not releasing new primitives or subparts until they are needed for an official part file. However, no new "Physical colour" parts are included in this update as there are plans to move these to a separate section of the LDraw file structure, to more closely fit with the "DesignID" vs. "ItemID" concept.

Has someone made the stand part for the Lego mini figures series's? If not I would really appreciate it if someone would. It would help me tremendously.
Thank you

So, I was browsing the new parts on BrickLink, and noticed there was a new part: 14413, a 4 x 4 faceted brick. Both the 3 x 3 version and 5 x 5 versions were available, so I started with the 5 x 5 and modified it down to a 4 x 4 (ended up not being as easy as I thought, but I learned quite a bit), then moved everything so that the origin would be correct.

However, when I went to submit it, it said I didn't have permissions, so I figured I'd post it here. Let me know what you think (but be gentle, this is my first part ).

Attached Files

  14413.dat (Size: 6.86 KB / Downloads: 0)

Just curious. The last update was last year, and I thought the general idea was to do it about twice a year. I'd even started working on updating the Tire names so they could be included.

Just thought I'd ask (and perhaps provide a gentle reminder).

We have this design 30239, but 10884, which appeared in recent years, is missing.

They could be aliased with the "needs work" statement. They differ on the clip shape ahd thickness.

Sometimes when I am making instructions for a very large model in Lpub, I want to zoom in on only a portion of the assembly image to show where new parts go. I can use ASSEM MODEL_SCALE to make the assembly bigger, and I can use ASSEM PLACEMENT to shift the position on page, but LPub truncates the image at the edge of where the page would be if the model was centered (see linked image). Is there any way around this?

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/blakbi.../truck.jpg

Hi, i don't know if it's the right place to ask, but.. can anybody point me to some specifications for the file format of LDD (Lego digital designer)? I know some of you are able to extract geometry and other informations, but i was unable to find some semi-complete specifications (just bit and pieces here and there).

thanks

Is it possible convert models from Traveller's Tales games and to include these parts in tracker?