Scaling the matrix

[Roland Melkert]

But if you look specifically at the scale transformation, you will see exactly what Philo said originally: the three fields along the diagonal represent the x, y, and z scale factors. (Remember that in LDraw, "up" is -Y.)

Maybe it's me but I get the feeling people are over complicating this.

The columns in the LDCad dialog indicate the direction of the part's local xyz axis' as seen from absolute space.

First column indicates the vector of the X-ax's (1,0,0 as it's non rotated).

2nd the Y-axis and 3rd the z-axis.

Normally all these vectors are normalized (length == 1.0), with any other length scaling will be applied.

You could also read it from a row's perspective to go the other way (direction of world axis' as seen from local part space)