Building with Virtual LEGO: Getting Started with LEGO Digital Designer, LDraw, and Mecabricks

John Baichtal has written or edited over a dozen books, including the award-winning Cult of Lego (2011 No Starch Press), LEGO hacker bible Make: LEGO and Arduino Projects (2012 Maker Media) with Adam Wolf and Matthew Beckler, Robot Builder (Que 2014), Maker Pro (Maker Media 2014), and Hacking Your LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Kit (Que 2015). John lives in Minneapolis with his wife and three children.

• 1 Building with Virtual LEGOWhat’s Virtual Building All About?Virtual BuildingRobust Brick PalettesPhysicsSharingIs Virtual Building for You?Reasons to Build VirtuallyReasons Why Not to Build VirtuallyOverview of Virtual Building OptionsLEGO Digital DesignerLDrawMecabricksSummary2 Gallery of Cool LDD ModelsKeytarGreat Temple of OdanA Gentleman’s TankDeath Angel MechaChocolate Milk MakerA15 CometAlien vs. Predator DioramaPentagonFord PintoRobot ChassisPumpkin FactoryAntarxaSummary3 Choosing Between Software OptionsGeneral Editor LimitationsSystem RequirementsLEGO Digital DesignerLDrawMecabricksEase of InstallationLDDLDrawMecabricksBrick PalettesLDDLDrawMecabricksMaximum Build SizeCommunityLDDLDrawMecabricksSummary4 Installation and Overview of LDD and LDrawDownloading LEGO Digital DesignerDownload the LDD ApplicationChoose Your PlatformDownloading LDD for PCDownloading LDD for MacDownloading LDrawChoose Your PackageQuick-Install OptionDownloading LDCad for WindowsDownloading LDCad for LinuxDownloading Bricksmith for MacLegacy LDraw SoftwareBricksmithLDCadMLCadLDDSummary5 Brick PalettesLEGO Digital Designer (LDD)Identifying an ElementExploring the PalettesClassic BricksRound BricksMiscellaneous BricksTechnic BricksSlope BricksControl Panel BricksAdditional Slope BricksArch BricksRectangular PlatesCircular and Triangular PlatesMiscellaneous PlatesWindscreensArchitectural ElementsWheelsMindstorms and TechnicTechnic BeamsThin Technic BeamsPegs and AxlesGearsCar PartsFlex ElementsStreet PlatesHero Factory Body PartsHero Factory AccessoriesOutdoor FurnishingsVehicle PartsBoat PartsTrain PartsMechanical PartsMinifig Torsos and LegsMinifig HeadsMinifig HairMinifig HatsAlternate Figure PartsMinifig Torso PartsMinifig AccessoriesFoodAnimalsMecabricksFinding the Right BrickThe PalettesAnimals and Accessories for AnimalsBeams (Six)Bricks (Nine)ConnectorsConstractionCranes and ScaffoldingDecoration ElementsDoors and WindowsElectric PartsFences and LaddersFood StuffFunctionnal Elements (Two)InteriorMinifigs (Nine)PlantsPlates (Six)Rubbers and StringsSigns and FlagsStickersSupportTextilesTransportation (Four Subcategories)TubesTyres and Rims (Three Subcategories)Various PartsWheel BasedWheel BasesWindscreens and CockpitsLDrawUnusual ElementsSummary6 Building with LEGO Digital DesignerExploring the ApplicationChoose the ThemeThe Three ModesMenusPreferencesShow Information FieldShow Tool TipsEnable Sounds in the Application“Keys for Turning” Shown Along with CursorRepeat Inserting Selected BricksShow/Hide Brick CountInvert Camera X-AxisInvert Camera Y-AxisHigh-Quality Rendering of Bricks Placed in a SceneHigh-Quality Rendering of Bricks in the Brick PaletteAdvanced ShadingCompatibility ModeReset PreferencesFileEditToolboxViewHelpChecking Out the WorkspaceNavigating in the WorkspaceCamera ControlsUsing the Mouse to Move the CameraZoomingReset ViewPanningHiding the Palettes and Camera ControlBuilding BasicsFinding an ElementAdding, Moving, and Placing an ElementColorizing and Decorating an ElementAttaching Two PartsAttaching Multiple PartsThe Physics of LDDInteracting with the GridAdvanced Building TechniquesTemplatesGroupsBending and FlexingSummary7 Building with LDrawLDraw Editor General FeaturesLDraw LibraryColor SelectorMultiple ViewsPrecise PlacementSubmodels and StepsComplexityBuilding with BricksmithThe Top MenusThe WorkspaceBuilding with LDCadScripting and Animation in LDCadSummary8 Building with MecabricksNavigating MecabricksThe Home PageThe WorkshopThe LibraryPartsForumBuilding in MecabricksSet the Grid and GroundCamera ControlAdding New BricksCloningRotation and TranslationGroupingHingesFlexingSnapInteracting with Other PlatformsSaving to Mecabricks’ LibraryImportingExportingSummary9 Building InstructionsCreating Instructions in LDDAutogenerating LDD InstructionsDisadvantages of the SystemStepsMake a Web PageDifferences Between the Two VersionsParts ListPrinting InstructionsLPub: Building Instructions for LDrawAdvantages of LPubDisadvantages of LPubDownload LPubManually Generating InstructionsGenerate Step ImagesWork in Google SlidesSummary10 CommunityWebsitesPeeronBricklinkLego.comBrickJournalSoftwareViewersCreating New Parts for LDraw.DAT: The LDraw File FormatSubfilesExample .DAT FileModify a PartGet Certified3D Printing PartsSummaryIndex