https://forums.ldraw.org/ Thu, 12 Nov 2026 02:20:28 +0000 MyBB https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29692.html Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:23:13 +0000 Antonio Cortés Carrillo]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29692.html
Some of you may remember Buf3D, the Android viewer that Steffen found back in 2013. I'm Antonio, its developer. It has changed a lot since then, and the wishes from that old thread (step support and working offline) are finally in, so here is an update.

It reads LDraw files (DAT, LDR, MPD, L3B) as well as LXF/LXFML.

What it does with LDraw models:
- Step-by-step building: a parts list for each step with colour swatches and your progress in each batch, and a small window showing the next part to place. The current part is highlighted on the model.
- Missing parts are listed in the step instead of disappearing silently.
- Real-time shadows with a sun you can move, ambient occlusion and accurate edge lines. Dark parts keep their shape thanks to a rim light.
- The parts library can be downloaded or installed from your own ldraw ZIP, so it works offline.
- Huge models stay smooth on modest phones: it uses a multiresolution format (Progressive Fans) that adjusts detail in real time, so files with millions of triangles stay interactive.
- Export to OBJ, STL, 3DS, LWO, OFF, POV-Ray and an HTML parts list.

There is now a free version, Buf3D Lite, with every feature and a selection of models from the catalogue (official sets from OMR and others). Your own LDraw files need the full version, Buf3D+.

Buf3D Lite (free): https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...miento2026
Buf3D+: https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...miento2026
Website and video: https://buf3d.cimplus.es/

Feedback is very welcome, especially files that load wrong or parts that render badly. Thanks to everyone who maintains the library: none of this would exist without it.]]>
Some of you may remember Buf3D, the Android viewer that Steffen found back in 2013. I'm Antonio, its developer. It has changed a lot since then, and the wishes from that old thread (step support and working offline) are finally in, so here is an update.

It reads LDraw files (DAT, LDR, MPD, L3B) as well as LXF/LXFML.

What it does with LDraw models:
- Step-by-step building: a parts list for each step with colour swatches and your progress in each batch, and a small window showing the next part to place. The current part is highlighted on the model.
- Missing parts are listed in the step instead of disappearing silently.
- Real-time shadows with a sun you can move, ambient occlusion and accurate edge lines. Dark parts keep their shape thanks to a rim light.
- The parts library can be downloaded or installed from your own ldraw ZIP, so it works offline.
- Huge models stay smooth on modest phones: it uses a multiresolution format (Progressive Fans) that adjusts detail in real time, so files with millions of triangles stay interactive.
- Export to OBJ, STL, 3DS, LWO, OFF, POV-Ray and an HTML parts list.

There is now a free version, Buf3D Lite, with every feature and a selection of models from the catalogue (official sets from OMR and others). Your own LDraw files need the full version, Buf3D+.

Buf3D Lite (free): https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...miento2026
Buf3D+: https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...miento2026
Website and video: https://buf3d.cimplus.es/

Feedback is very welcome, especially files that load wrong or parts that render badly. Thanks to everyone who maintains the library: none of this would exist without it.]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29689.html Sat, 31 Oct 2026 17:53:03 +0000 huangke]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29689.html I’ve been working on EasyCraft, and I wanted to share what building with virtual bricks in VR feels like.
Instead of placing parts with a mouse and keyboard, you can pick up a brick with a motion controller, turn it in your hand, and place it where it connects to the model.

The most interesting part for me is the sense of scale. Being able to look at a model from different positions while building gives a more immediate feel for its size and proportions. In some ways, it feels closer to handling physical bricks, while keeping the convenience of digital building.

For those interested in compatibility, it supports LDR import and export and uses the LDraw parts library. It also supports collaborative multiplayer building. Most features are free to use, and there is no charge for building, regardless of the size of your model. A small fee is only required for publishing creations or using multiplayer collaboration.









I’d be interested to hear whether anyone else here has tried building in VR. What did you find worked better—or worse—than using a desktop editor?

You can find the application here:
[Steam store link]]]> I’ve been working on EasyCraft, and I wanted to share what building with virtual bricks in VR feels like.
Instead of placing parts with a mouse and keyboard, you can pick up a brick with a motion controller, turn it in your hand, and place it where it connects to the model.

The most interesting part for me is the sense of scale. Being able to look at a model from different positions while building gives a more immediate feel for its size and proportions. In some ways, it feels closer to handling physical bricks, while keeping the convenience of digital building.

For those interested in compatibility, it supports LDR import and export and uses the LDraw parts library. It also supports collaborative multiplayer building. Most features are free to use, and there is no charge for building, regardless of the size of your model. A small fee is only required for publishing creations or using multiplayer collaboration.









I’d be interested to hear whether anyone else here has tried building in VR. What did you find worked better—or worse—than using a desktop editor?

You can find the application here:
[Steam store link]]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29685.html Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:23:02 +0000 Hageta]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29685.html Get this Release.

New in this release:
This release updates some colours from LDraw Update 2026-10 and it is now possible to apply a colors with the new ldraw_colour module.

Full Changelog: 0.3.2...0.4.0.]]> Get this Release.

New in this release:
This release updates some colours from LDraw Update 2026-10 and it is now possible to apply a colors with the new ldraw_colour module.

Full Changelog: 0.3.2...0.4.0.]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29667.html Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:38:15 +0000 Fernando Cabiedes]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29667.html And i'm finally getting somewhere!



Not all connectors work but i'm quite happy so far:


And instructions generation is also there:


If someone wants to try it out, it is available on https://github.com/tetreum/brickcraft
(windows only for now)
The game can be played both single/multiplayer and also has mods support (via Lua).

Big part of this progress has been thanks to LDraw:
- Most pieces come from the library
- Creations are exported in LDraw format
- Pre-Made items like beds are created ingame and exported with an optimized mesh+LDraw file, which means that when used in another build, they get added as submodel on export while being performant ingame.]]> And i'm finally getting somewhere!



Not all connectors work but i'm quite happy so far:


And instructions generation is also there:


If someone wants to try it out, it is available on https://github.com/tetreum/brickcraft
(windows only for now)
The game can be played both single/multiplayer and also has mods support (via Lua).

Big part of this progress has been thanks to LDraw:
- Most pieces come from the library
- Creations are exported in LDraw format
- Pre-Made items like beds are created ingame and exported with an optimized mesh+LDraw file, which means that when used in another build, they get added as submodel on export while being performant ingame.]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29507.html Tue, 12 May 2026 07:54:37 +0000 Simone]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29507.html I have a flexible hose already placed in my model, complete with bends and curves. I've also built a small ring-shaped assembly (grouped as a sub-model) that is sized to fit snugly around the hose — for simplicity, let's say I could reduce it to a single Technic Brick 2×1 with Hole (3700).

What I'd like to achieve is essentially an array along a curve: repeat that brick or sub-model N times at regular intervals along the hose, so that each instance follows the hose's orientation at its respective position — i.e., it inherits the local rotation of the hose segment it sits on.
Think of it like cable clamps or spacer rings distributed evenly along a hydraulic line or wiring harness.

Does LDCad have any built-in feature that allows this, or is it achievable through a Lua script?

Any pointers — tools, scripts, workflows, or even manual tricks — would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!]]> I have a flexible hose already placed in my model, complete with bends and curves. I've also built a small ring-shaped assembly (grouped as a sub-model) that is sized to fit snugly around the hose — for simplicity, let's say I could reduce it to a single Technic Brick 2×1 with Hole (3700).

What I'd like to achieve is essentially an array along a curve: repeat that brick or sub-model N times at regular intervals along the hose, so that each instance follows the hose's orientation at its respective position — i.e., it inherits the local rotation of the hose segment it sits on.
Think of it like cable clamps or spacer rings distributed evenly along a hydraulic line or wiring harness.

Does LDCad have any built-in feature that allows this, or is it achievable through a Lua script?

Any pointers — tools, scripts, workflows, or even manual tricks — would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29504.html Thu, 07 May 2026 09:47:52 +0000 Manfred Schaefer]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29504.html
Is the MLCad.ini file still being updated? If so, where can I find the latest version?
The latest version I found was the one from 2025/6 on Willy Tschager's website.

Best regards,

Manfred

Edit:
Sorry, wrong forum. Please move it to LDraw Editors and Viewers.]]>
Is the MLCad.ini file still being updated? If so, where can I find the latest version?
The latest version I found was the one from 2025/6 on Willy Tschager's website.

Best regards,

Manfred

Edit:
Sorry, wrong forum. Please move it to LDraw Editors and Viewers.]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29496.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:29:42 +0000 Hageta]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29496.html Get this Release.

New in this release:
This release updates some colours from LDraw Update 2026-04.

Full Changelog: 0.3.1...0.3.2.]]> Get this Release.

New in this release:
This release updates some colours from LDraw Update 2026-04.

Full Changelog: 0.3.1...0.3.2.]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29464.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:21:03 +0000 alphonse]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29464.html
I'm trying to code my own Lego building engine, and I need to parse .conn and .col files of the parts in order to reproduce the brick snaping feature.
Do you guys know if there is some documentation about how to read .conn and .col files ?

I found this discussion that helped me but it misses some points https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-28521-po...l#pid59984
I also found another discussion about .col files, but same issue, it is not complete :/

Ideally, I would like to be able to scan a .mpd file and get all the available positions for a chosen brick.

Thank you,

Alf]]>
I'm trying to code my own Lego building engine, and I need to parse .conn and .col files of the parts in order to reproduce the brick snaping feature.
Do you guys know if there is some documentation about how to read .conn and .col files ?

I found this discussion that helped me but it misses some points https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-28521-po...l#pid59984
I also found another discussion about .col files, but same issue, it is not complete :/

Ideally, I would like to be able to scan a .mpd file and get all the available positions for a chosen brick.

Thank you,

Alf]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29440.html Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:08:55 +0000 Roland Melkert]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29440.html
This version fixes three bugs:

- Part snapping not working when using an unpacked library.
- Potential crash during part editing combined with include meta's.
- Potential dead lock (program hangs) during mass file close.

It also includes the latest shadow library as found on github.

As always you can get the latest version at:
https://www.melkert.net/LDCad/download]]>
This version fixes three bugs:

- Part snapping not working when using an unpacked library.
- Potential crash during part editing combined with include meta's.
- Potential dead lock (program hangs) during mass file close.

It also includes the latest shadow library as found on github.

As always you can get the latest version at:
https://www.melkert.net/LDCad/download]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29423.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:05:22 +0000 Nicolas19]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29423.html
With version v1.7 beta 2a, I no longer have the automatic part snapping feature.
Is there a specific configuration for this new version ?

Thank you]]>
With version v1.7 beta 2a, I no longer have the automatic part snapping feature.
Is there a specific configuration for this new version ?

Thank you]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29417.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Carlos Antelo]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29417.html

I've just released a first version of an open source web app for viewing LDraw models both on Virtual Reality and web browser, see below for links.

I've developed this in less than a week, using AI (Claude Sonnet 4.6 mostly) for creating a single (big!) web page that works in "web mode" as a visualizer for LDraw models, and also works in VR (Virtual Reality)/MR (Mixed Reality) mode to virtually inspect LDraw models using a VR headset.

Model descriptions and categories are not accurate, I've used an AI vision model for this (qwen2.5vl:3b), to describe image renderings of the models, and it makes quite some mistakes.

For VR/MR, I've tested this with my Meta Quest 3 headset only.

You can give it a try at: https://anteloc.github.io/modelscope-xr.html
Demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhGm3KRSl7s
Source code: https://github.com/anteloc/ldraw-lib

Any feedback is welcome, this is still a first release and there are quite some things to fix, but I think this is good enough already to play around 

Cheers!

  fire-plane-xr-mini.png (Size: 305.92 KB / Downloads: 121)

  modelscope-main.png (Size: 298.79 KB / Downloads: 4)

  modelscope-gallery.png (Size: 238.58 KB / Downloads: 2) ]]>

I've just released a first version of an open source web app for viewing LDraw models both on Virtual Reality and web browser, see below for links.

I've developed this in less than a week, using AI (Claude Sonnet 4.6 mostly) for creating a single (big!) web page that works in "web mode" as a visualizer for LDraw models, and also works in VR (Virtual Reality)/MR (Mixed Reality) mode to virtually inspect LDraw models using a VR headset.

Model descriptions and categories are not accurate, I've used an AI vision model for this (qwen2.5vl:3b), to describe image renderings of the models, and it makes quite some mistakes.

For VR/MR, I've tested this with my Meta Quest 3 headset only.

You can give it a try at: https://anteloc.github.io/modelscope-xr.html
Demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhGm3KRSl7s
Source code: https://github.com/anteloc/ldraw-lib

Any feedback is welcome, this is still a first release and there are quite some things to fix, but I think this is good enough already to play around 

Cheers!

  fire-plane-xr-mini.png (Size: 305.92 KB / Downloads: 121)

  modelscope-main.png (Size: 298.79 KB / Downloads: 4)

  modelscope-gallery.png (Size: 238.58 KB / Downloads: 2) ]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29405.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 04:03:44 +0000 Travis Cobbs]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29405.html
You can download this release from the LDView Downloads Page.

You can see the Change History here.]]>
You can download this release from the LDView Downloads Page.

You can see the Change History here.]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29403.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:16:31 +0000 Gerald Lasser]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29403.html
This is with a file of 25.000 parts, many of them technic beams. I first thohought that the increased accuracy of the npegholes contributed to this effect, but now I found the real reason.

I use a number fo subfiles in this MPD and whenever I switch to the MPD view, because I need a file or want to select one and I stayed there, the framerate was very sluggish.

switching back ti a "normal" parts bin e.g.used parts or "brick"increased the frame rate massively.


Are you rendering the content of the small tiles inthe MPD view kind of real time? would there be a way to avoid this behaviour?

thansk

Gerald]]>
This is with a file of 25.000 parts, many of them technic beams. I first thohought that the increased accuracy of the npegholes contributed to this effect, but now I found the real reason.

I use a number fo subfiles in this MPD and whenever I switch to the MPD view, because I need a file or want to select one and I stayed there, the framerate was very sluggish.

switching back ti a "normal" parts bin e.g.used parts or "brick"increased the frame rate massively.


Are you rendering the content of the small tiles inthe MPD view kind of real time? would there be a way to avoid this behaviour?

thansk

Gerald]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29402.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 20:13:42 +0000 Roland Melkert]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29402.html
This version will fix that and a couple of other minor issues reported so far.

No new features though.

[attachment=13584]

As always you can get the latest version at:
https://www.melkert.net/LDCad/download]]>
This version will fix that and a couple of other minor issues reported so far.

No new features though.

[attachment=13584]

As always you can get the latest version at:
https://www.melkert.net/LDCad/download]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29361.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:46:50 +0000 Hageta]]> https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-29361.html Get this Release.

New in this release:
This release adds the colour additions and changes from LDraw Update 2026-01.

Full Changelog: 0.3...0.3.1.]]> Get this Release.

New in this release:
This release adds the colour additions and changes from LDraw Update 2026-01.

Full Changelog: 0.3...0.3.1.]]>