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LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
- app4soft 9y agoStarting from 2017 developers changed numbering of LeoCAD, so now (after 0.83.x version) it look like YY.MM - 17.07. This is second release in 2017, and must say that LeoCAD grow up - "Parts" toolbar has so many modes for preview LDraw parts (starting from 17.02). And for now models in main window could be displayed with shadows and blinks (starting from 17.07) - just go to menu "View -> Preferences... -> Rendering" and switch on "Enable lightning". If you has any issues post them in tracker[0]. LeoCAD has very simple to understand & use UI, so kids could use it after one hour learning using Basic Tutorial[1]. Don't forget read the docs about Texture Mapping[2] and Meta Commands[3] tags (could be stored inside .mpd/.ldr/*.dat), that give you additional features on customizing your LEGO model. Fresh 'nightly' builds of LeoCAD for many Linux-based distros placed on OBS[4]. Also on this OBS you could find builds for Lpub3D, Lpub, LDglite, LDView and LDraw library. Call for Developers: if You know C/C++ & Qt, please, help make this program better! Help us solve unclosed issues or propose any ideas on how to improve LeoCAD! ;-) [0] https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues [1] http://www.leocad.org/docs/tutorial1.html http://www.leocad.org/docs/tutorial1.html [2] http://www.leocad.org/docs/texmap.html http://www.leocad.org/docs/texmap.html [3] http://www.leocad.org/docs/meta.html http://www.leocad.org/docs/meta.html [4] http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pbartfai/ http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pbartfai/
- app4soft 9y agoAlso in LeoCAD 17.07 added option "Import LEGO Digital Designer", so now you could import LXF-files ;-)
- bhouston 9y agoHow does this compare to Mecabricks online? https://www.mecabricks.com/ https://www.mecabricks.com/ And the new tool from Stud.io from Bricklink? https://studio.bricklink.com/v2/build/studio.page https://studio.bricklink.com/v2/build/studio.page
- app4soft 9y agoLeoCAD is fully free & open-source crossplatformed standalone software that could run on older PC too. Now availiable for Linux/Mac/iOS/Windows; port for Android also in plans: https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues/65 https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues/65 Mecabricks is cloud-based online, so it require Internet connection and, I think, modern PC with WebGL support. License is EULA-like(?) and its track user (users are kids). Not good for security reasons, and not availiable in offline. Stud.io is only for Mac/Windows, and its licensed as EULA-like(?). Not good for Linux users. Here is comparsion of LeoCAD with some other LEGO CAD's (November 2015) http://jasonmcreynolds.com/?p=507 http://jasonmcreynolds.com/?p=507 Think, need create comparsion on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_LEGO_CAD_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_LEGO_CAD_softwar...
- bonzini 9y agoStud.io and LDD both run well under Wine. However it's good to have an alternative tool that is open source. Stud.io uses the LDraw part database, the same as LeoCAD. There's also blueprint, a tool to design LEGO instructions. It's not open source due to the author's legal concerns about publishing an open source library to read LEGO's own part database. It's a pity because it is a great tool, with a very good UI. LDraw files (.ldr) support instructions, but the user interface is a bit harder to use compared to the more specialized one in blueprint.
- Camille77 9y agoI basically get paid in the range of $9000-$11000 a month from working online at home. Anyone prepared to work basic freelance jobs for few h a day from your living room and earn decent paycheck for doing it... ------------>http://ow.ly/P0wk30aVXfN http://ow.ly/P0wk30aVXfN
- gedrap 9y agoNice feature of stud.io is that it shows prices of all bricks, so you can cost-optimize your model in case you decide to build it.
- Hydraulix989 9y agoThe one I've been familiar with (since the early 2000s, really) is LDraw: http://www.ldraw.org/ http://www.ldraw.org/ These guys take Lego SERIOUSLY.
- app4soft 9y agoYeah! LeoCAD use LDraw library compiled in binary form ("library.bin") for faster interaction with it, but also could use LDraw in original 'textual' form directly. Also, LeoCAD always included in "All-In-One-Installer" (aka AIOI) for Windows, produced by LDraw team. http://www.ldraw.org/news/37/15/LDraw-All-In-One-Installer-2016-01-now-available.html http://www.ldraw.org/news/37/15/LDraw-All-In-One-Installer-2... AIOI include one more CAD - LDCad (also availiable for Linux), that could be in some way powerfull (allow scripting, etc.), but LDCad is only freware proprietary software. I tried both (LDCad & LeoCAD.) on xUbuntu 16.04LTS (64bit) on 10-year old notebook (Samsung R58P - RAM 2Gb, CPU 1.7 GHz, intagrated GPU ATI 1250 Express 256Mb). For me (from point for teaching kids 6-14 year olf), LeoCAD much easier and faster.. LDCad has much harder to understand UI and settings dialogs, that not all kids could undetstand.
- santaclaus 9y agoWow super cool! They should have a hot swappable rendering backend so we can get globally illuminated PBR renders out. Given the limited materials that Lego bricks are made out of, getting sensible default materials and automated lighting would be hella easy.
- app4soft 9y ago> Given the limited materials that Lego bricks are made out of, getting sensible default materials and automated lighting would be hella easy. So, don't wast time and give us your pull request! ;-) https://github.com/leozide/leocad/pulls https://github.com/leozide/leocad/pulls Other option is use Blender with "ImportLDraw" addon for import and render models produced with LeoCAD https://github.com/TobyLobster/ImportLDraw https://github.com/TobyLobster/ImportLDraw Combination of LeoCAD for modelling & Blender (Cycles Render) for rendering - really COOL thing!
- Allyssa99 9y agoas Mary responded I'm amazed that anyone able to get paid $4246 in one month on the > internet . go now............. http://ow.ly/P0wk30aVXfN http://ow.ly/P0wk30aVXfN
- bonzini 9y agoThere are tools to convert LDraw models to povray source.
- app4soft 9y agoYeah, LeoCAD could export to PovRay scene format ;-)
- King-Aaron 9y agoWell, that's my productivity done for the rest of the day
- app4soft 9y agoSo, if you has some free time, then create model of some LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 Core sets robots in LeoCAD http://robotsquare.com/2013/10/01/education-ev3-45544-instruction/ http://robotsquare.com/2013/10/01/education-ev3-45544-instru... For example, try make "Educator Vehicle" http://robotsquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/45544_educator.pdf http://robotsquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/45544_educ... Here is videotutorial for making it in LeoCAD (only modeling, not programming or emulating) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t81g9hbKG5A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t81g9hbKG5A ;-)
- Impossible 9y agoIf I had side project time I'd really like to make a good VR lego CAD program. I have seen a couple of demos and prototypes and lego has a daydream app, but all of it seems limited and unpolished compared to LDD, LeoCAD etc.
- app4soft 9y agoHm, you give me an idea: what if add "Fly Navigation" and "Walk Navigation" to LeoCAD main window, similar how it's work in Blender?... https://docs.blender.org/manual/de/dev/editors/3dview/navigate/walk_fly.html https://docs.blender.org/manual/de/dev/editors/3dview/naviga... This feature request must be on isues tracker!
- Ashlynn99 9y agoour co worker's sister in law makes 64 an hour on the internet. she has been fired from a job for 6 months but last month her paycheck was 19332 only working from home 4 hours every day. check out this http://jar.ma/24RmAN http://jar.ma/24RmAN
- narrowtux 9y agoI just got a VR and I'd pay for this!
- mch82 9y agoCool concept! Sent over a couple pull requests for the docs intended to be helpful, but okay to ignore.
- app4soft 9y agoAbout LICENSE issue - here it is https://github.com/leozide/leocad/blob/master/docs/COPYING.txt https://github.com/leozide/leocad/blob/master/docs/COPYING.t... P.S.: I'm not an owner of LeoCAD, so little wait before owner will review your isuues & pull requests (think in one-two days he will reply on Github)
- Ashtyn77 9y agomy roomate's mom makes 84 every hour at home. she's been unemployed for 7 months.. last month her payment was 17908 just working on the internet a few hours each day... go here to this site .... http://bit.ly/2coUNgf http://bit.ly/2coUNgf
- jve 9y agoI'm wondering about the legal side of this. Is it OK from LEGO side to have stuff like this and other similar tools? And what if when you start printing stuff like that?
- kuschku 9y agoLEGO’s patents expired a while ago, and competitors such as KREO have replicated the shapes and some of the models already. That said, no one is going to print LEGO – actual LEGO is a lot more robust and stable than anything you could print yourself.
- jve 9y agoOh, I see. But replicating the existing plastic cube was not what I actually thought. I thought: what if I print/manufacture lego mega blocks from whatever material.
- pbhjpbhj 9y agoYou can't make "Lego bricks" as Lego is the trademark giving the origin of specific bricks but you can make near identical (missing the wording "Lego") bricks if you wish. If you do it at home and completely without any commercial aspect [giving them away can be commercial, so you have to take great pains to avoid being commercial] then you can make identical ones AFAICT. This isn't legal advice of course.
- amelius 9y agoDon't they have design-patents on the newer bricks?
- cyphar 9y agoI believe the tolerances on Lego for it to be "just right" are fairly narrow, and most 3D printers aren't precise enough (but I could be mistaken). It is likely that Lego has patents on parts of their brick design, so you could be in a fairly bad legal minefield if Lego decides to sue you. Also I'm not sure that describing your project as "a tool for designing Lego" is a good idea.
- boobsbr 9y agoWow, that brings some memories. I spent quite a while playing with it in the early 2000's.
- StavrosK 9y agoThis is fantastic, I remember using Ldraw to create a 3D model from the LEGO blueprint when I was younger. It's great for testing out designs if you don't have the parts, and I remember that the software could print whole step-by-step blueprint books for you.
- app4soft 9y ago> and I remember that the software could print whole step-by-step blueprint books for you. Here it is - LDPub3D (fork of LDPub) https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d Some libs and binaries https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d_linux_3rdparty https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d_linux_3rdparty https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d_macos_3rdparty https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d_macos_3rdparty https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d_windows_3rdparty https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3d_windows_3rdparty Also here is upcoming new release https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3dnext https://github.com/trevorsandy/lpub3dnext 'Nightly' builds are here for many Linux distros http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pbartfai/ http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pbartfai/
- Genesis88 9y agojust as Alexander replied I am in shock that anybody able to get paid $8538 in 4 weeks on the > computer . read review............. http://bit.do/dnRs5 http://bit.do/dnRs5
- reitanqild 9y agoFor some reason github shows me a 404 when I try to see the full README.
- app4soft 9y ago> For some reason github shows me a 404 when I try to see the full README. README.txt placed in /docs/, not in root folder, so USE THIS LINK https://github.com/leozide/leocad/blob/master/docs/README.txt https://github.com/leozide/leocad/blob/master/docs/README.tx...
- CharlesDodgson 9y agoI wonder is it possible to create something here and drop it in an AR environment.
- CharlesDodgson 9y agoby here i mean in LeoCAD
- sleepychu 9y agoSure, why not you just need to translate the format into something your AR set understands. Would be a neat project! If your post is <1hr old you can edit it for little clarifications like this :-)
- CharlesDodgson 9y agoThanks for the pointer :)
- w0utert 9y agoVery cool, I've actally thought at making something like this using the OpenCASCADE CAD kernel at some point (I'm familiar with that because we are using it at work). Does LeoCAD itself have built-in capabilities to create the Lego's, using a CAD kernel? Or are they pre-modeled in an external tool? Typical Lego bricks are simple enough to build using basic Boolean geometric operations, so with just a few simple rules the application could define a vast library of bricks to use for building. I tried to figure this out by looking at the source code, but couldn't find it, so maybe one of the authors can comment on this? Where is the brick data coming from?
- app4soft 9y agoOpenCASCAD is too complex for such tasks.
- erwoe 9y agoDoes LeoCAD implement flexible items that can be bent, such as the Space Needle stems (https://shop.lego.com/en-US/Seattle-Space-Needle-21003 https://shop.lego.com/en-US/Seattle-Space-Needle-21003)?
- app4soft 9y agoAsk it on Github https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues
- Sknowman 9y agoLego had its own digital designer, I remember playing around with it a really long time ago, seems its still around. http://ldd.lego.com/en-us/ http://ldd.lego.com/en-us/
- amelius 9y agoInteresting. I wonder why it hasn't been more popular. Also, it would be nice if you could order the bricks for a design by a simple order process.
- jayrhynas 9y agoYou used to be able to, it even came in a custom box, but it looks like they discontinued it. http://ldd.lego.com/en-us/subpages/designbyme http://ldd.lego.com/en-us/subpages/designbyme
- yellowapple 9y agoLeoCAD seems to have a Linux version (whereas Lego's own designer does not). For me, that'd be a compelling reason to use the former instead of the latter.
- AlphaWeaver 9y agoIt's terrible.
- bonzini 9y agoIt's actually all but terrible. The constraint engine is better than all of LeoCAD, stud.io or mecabricks. The only issue is that the database of parts is starting to be outdated, and the database of parts that actually exist even more so.
- tgb 9y agoHonest question: why do they need a constraint engine? Can't everything be done in exact integer multiples of the smallest brick size?
- floor_ 9y agoI remember reading a mulitplayer Lego game dev talk about how her team spent most of their time creating algorithms to detect penis shaped block sets for censorship reasons.
- mschaef 9y agoSounds difficult to achieve. I attended University of Texas at Austin, and the campus has a central tower that my psychology professor used as an example of something phallic. The dividing line would have to be rather precise not to exclude too much.
- edraferi 9y agoIf I remember the original article correctly, it WAS too hard. It proved impossible to prevent offensive shapes from sneaking in. It actually killed the game. When Minecraft came along a few years later, they avoided the problem by making users host the servers. This shifted liability away from the central developer and put the onus on the player community to sort themselves out.
- pbhjpbhj 9y ago>This shifted liability // If I user makes a suggestive shape out of lego blocks inside a 3D game, what liability is there? Much less surely than any of the text chat you get on virtually any online game?? Does/had Minecraft ever had a major problem with what one might term "phallo-philes"?
- Impossible 9y agoThat was Megan Fox (https://mobile.twitter.com/glassbottommeg/status/604407061380640768?lang=en https://mobile.twitter.com/glassbottommeg/status/60440706138...), she had a good series of tweets about lego universe.
- kuon 9y agoLDCad[1] is the only one that won't lag with big models. The UI is a bit weird, but it works very well. I tried LeoCAD, but it was either lagging or crashing with 1000+ pieces. [1] http://www.melkert.net/LDCad http://www.melkert.net/LDCad
- app4soft 9y agoLDCad is proprietary freeware program and require modern PC with good GPU. Tried it on 10 year laptop with integrated ATI RS600 - its has many issues and lag during modelling. Also UI not very simple. In same time LeoCAD work on this laptop very well. Think, for those who want more features than LeoCAD has must try LDCad. LDCad is mostly for advanced users, for learninig and creating not too big models LeoCAD is the choice.
- kuon 9y agoYeah, LeoCAD has much nicer UI. I should have added that on my Geforce 1080 GPU it was smoother with big models. I hope LeoCAD will become more robust with bigger models, having an open source solution is really a big plus.
- yann63 9y agoIs there a software to "manage" a library of LEGO parts, which would then tell me what I can build? And is there a software to easily feed/initiate this library? Maybe with something as simple as taking a photo of spread parts on the ground. Am I dreaming?
- technomalogical 9y agohttps://rebrickable.com/ https://rebrickable.com/ It seems to be mostly geared towards sets, so if you don't know the sets you have it may be more difficult (impossible?) to use.
- app4soft 9y agoWatch this two tutorials! [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JzknmjYOcE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JzknmjYOcE [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FNUxEfvd48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FNUxEfvd48
- yodon 9y agoI recall that one of the LeoCAD-style brick based editors had an option to remove all the top and bottom connection features for export to .OBJ or similar, simplifying the shapes to boxes but reducing the poly count enormously. Was that something LeoCAD could do or would I need to use a different tool for that? (This wasn't a general purpose hidden surface removal, it was just removing all of the parts of the bricks associated with ensuring physical connections)
- yodon 9y agoTo answer my own question: the program was LdrDat2Obj[0] and it had an option to ignore stud.dat references inside brick definitions when exporting designs to .obj (you'll still be carrying all the weight of the unseen internal connection shapes but it still represents a pretty huge poly savings to exclude the top studs on export) [0]http://www.pearse.co.uk/lego/links/ldrdat2dxf/ http://www.pearse.co.uk/lego/links/ldrdat2dxf/
- Raphmedia 9y agoWhat is the output? Could you build 3D models with "virtual legos" and 3D print them easily?
- yodon 9y agoIn principle, yes, in practice, no. The tolerances and surface quality achievable are far below what you require and expect when connecting or even just holding or looking at Legos. As ubiquitous as Legos are, they're among the highest tolerance, highest quality rigid plastic parts you're likely to encounter.
- Raphmedia 9y agoWhat about printing an entire model and not the pieces? In other words, could I "build" models with that software without any knowledge of 3D modeling and use those models to 3D print?
- app4soft 9y agoPrint model consisted from many parts (bricks) directly is little complex task. Think, you need export model from LeoCAD in some 3D mesh (obj, stl or 3ds) and then need make some optimization (remove hidden faces, etc.) But there is "ImportLDraw" addon for Blender, so its better create feature request to its developers https://github.com/TobyLobster/ImportLDraw https://github.com/TobyLobster/ImportLDraw
- pbhjpbhj 9y agoFWIW version 0.83.1 (October 2016) is available in Ubuntu repos.
- app4soft 9y agoYeah, this issue on repositary[0] system for distributing apps. [0] https://repology.org/metapackage/leocad/versions https://repology.org/metapackage/leocad/versions Anyway, you could get latest builds from OBS[1] [1] https://software.opensuse.org/package/leocad https://software.opensuse.org/package/leocad