Comments on: LEGO Construction Manual

By: CastleMann

CastleMann — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:09:08 +0000

That's pretty neat. I find it very easy to make LEGO models in blender using the LDRAW -> Lightwave converter found on the ldraw website and then importing the .lwo into blender.

Good Job!

Maybe there are more blender/LEGO fans than I thought. =)

By: Gregor Lamche

Gregor Lamche — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:26:49 +0000

Or … you just take a guide and size it all by yourself with 1 blender unit = 1 cm

That leafs more control of the final brick.

My bricks a high detailed but because of the easy geometry lowres (see the studs)
I don't know about the ldraw thing, but I real thougth a days of making the 'LEGO' simbol on the studs …

Greg the Mad

By: Dimitris Christou (gr8!)

Dimitris Christou (gr8!) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:00:25 +0000

Mass Effect is amazing! Go Mako!

By: Thomas Baron

Thomas Baron — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:11:16 +0000

I used Leocad, but some easy search can brought you this link : http://www.geocities.com/zerog_studios/ldraw.html

Dimensions of Lego bricks in Blender are easy to deal with : use 1 Blender unit as base width and depth, and 1.2 Blender unit as basic height.

By: Roger Waggener

Roger Waggener — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:26:09 +0000

I had no luck with the ldraw importer, BUT I found leocad http://leocad.org/ which reads and writes the same ldraw files lcad does, but also exports to obj and 3ds.

I have only tried the 3ds but it is flawless as long as you unclick the 'image search' option and set 'size constrain' to zero.

Then when you have lego bricks in your Blender scene, scale them by 1.25 in all dimensions and they will line up perfectly on the grid.

I would also suggest converting all tris to quads for easier editing and cleanup. Many of the bricks need a little bit of work to make the geometry nicer to work on and render. A next step would be to use an edge split modifer to make the stud sides smooth while letting the non-cylindrical edges stay sharp.

I find it MUCH easier to use blender on imported bricks than trying to use the limited viewing and manipulation tools in lcad or leocad.

By: loken

loken — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:31:19 +0000

Alternatively, if anyone just wants to build some lego models, Lego's own Lego Digital Designer Program is fun and easy, though not as robust as LDraw.

http://ldd.lego.com It even lets you upload your models to their site and purchase the parts needed. Only drawback is it seems like half the parts you can build your models with you can't actually buy. But it's still fun, has nice realtime GL graphics, and lets you print a manual as to the models construction.

Is there a way to import LDraw models into Blender? Given LDraw can export to a format Povray can read, I can't imagine it'd be that difficult?

By: Thomas Baron

Thomas Baron — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:19:01 +0000

To James Hales : yes, but as there is an importer LDRAW => Blender, you can use the LDRAW model as a blueprint to model detailed Lego pieces. And it's really necessary to achieve realistic models, because LDRAW shapes are too simple : no bevels, for example.

I've done it this way to achieve the start of the #8448 I tried. I can post my base library if necessary.

By: James Hales

James Hales — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:11:39 +0000

In the past I've used MLCAD to make schematics for Lego models on the computer in 3D. It's a very good program, which is gratis but unfortunately not libre.

It is based on the LDraw models though, which are sort-of-libre, but forbid charging money for the content (and thus are not FSF-approved).

By: Jorge Antunes

Jorge Antunes — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:22:01 +0000

Hi, great tut but it also would be nice to have some tips about modeling the pieces.
Season greetings,
Jorge

By: ThomasBaron

ThomasBaron — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:14:11 +0000

Really interesting topic. I worked some times ago on a similar project, please see a related post on my website http://www.thomasbaron.net/posts/view/lego_modeling_in_blender_and_rendering_with_yafray

With simple settings, realistic renders can be achieved pretty easily. Modeling is easy for some parts, as there is plenty of repetitions, but some parts are much more difficult.