LDraw All-In-One-Installer 2022-01 now available

@technicbasics said:
"Stud.io use the library from ldraw!"

So are all these parts already in studio? I've occasionally imported a part from LDD that isn't in studio yet.

@Bricklestick LDraw is 3rd party. I've never used it, but from what I've seen, it seems like it's much more complex than Stud.io but allows more precise placement of bricks.

@Andhe Stud.io has been using the LDraw library, although some new parts introduced in the past year I believe they must have modeled and added themselves. Since this update just came out it might take some time for Stud.io to import everything in.

@dtemme said:
"Ah, this was my first CAD program I used when I was a kid. I make several animations using ldview because I didn't have the patience to do them in pov-ray. Now I use SolidWorks at work every day with assemblies that have hundreds of thousands of parts, so that ended up being quite the formative experience."

Lmao Ive been using Inventor for my College Dual Credit Class And Stud.io Is still harder to use.

Hi all,

Sorry for being dense, but I've re-read the article a few times and I'm still not sure. Is this software people use for designing MOC models digitally rather than from physical bricks?

Thanks!

Having to install a bunch of different files was one of LDraw’s drawbacks for me imo, I probably won’t know how to use if even if I got this package but I’d get closer, if nothing else.

@Andhe said:
" @technicbasics said:
"Stud.io use the library from ldraw!"

So are all these parts already in studio? I've occasionally imported a part from LDD that isn't in studio yet. "

No....First after the parts appear on ldraw.org, they are gradually updated in Stud.io.
Therefore LDraw with LDCad and LPup3D is my first choice.

@Trigger_ said:
"Having to install a bunch of different files was one of LDraw’s drawbacks for me imo, I probably won’t know how to use if even if I got this package but I’d get closer, if nothing else."

AIOI contains all the programs and files you need. One installation is enough.

@Rob42 said:
"LDraw, for when other Lego building programs are just too convenient for your tastes. "

....for my taste LDraw is the Ferrari and everything else is just a Dacia for quick and dirty. ;-)

@ComfySofa said:
"Hi all,

Sorry for being dense, but I've re-read the article a few times and I'm still not sure. Is this software people use for designing MOC models digitally rather than from physical bricks?

Thanks!"

Yes... so is it.

@technicbasics said:
" @Trigger_ said:
"Having to install a bunch of different files was one of LDraw’s drawbacks for me imo, I probably won’t know how to use if even if I got this package but I’d get closer, if nothing else."

AIOI contains all the programs and files you need. One installation is enough."

That was my point, the All-in-One Installer fixes that issue.

@technicbasics said:
" @ComfySofa said:
"Hi all,

Sorry for being dense, but I've re-read the article a few times and I'm still not sure. Is this software people use for designing MOC models digitally rather than from physical bricks?

Thanks!"

Yes... so is it."

Cheers! Just three hours left for the download now :)

Question. Does Stud.io use LDraw Parts Library?

@Bricklestick:
It is, but LDraw was the first. An independent (still) fan-generated program that ran in DOS, it has been expanded on with several graphical user interfaces, and the library continues to be expanded by volunteers. New parts started getting official geometry direct from The LEGO Group, but there are many older parts (particularly those that were exclusive to themes like Bionicle and Hero Factory) that have no official files to work from. Additionally, there are tons of legacy printed parts and minifig hair, headgear, and accessories that have yet to be added.

@Retroblox77:
That’s surprising. I don’t think LDD would have even happened if it weren’t for LDraw. I’m not positive on the timing, but I think LDD was released only after they’d agreed to make official new part data available to LDraw.org for use in adding new parts to the library.

@Rob42:
Each new program has a different interface. If you’re happy with how the program you’re using works, and you’ve learned a lot of tricks to manipulate parts, switching programs just sets you back to square one. Besides, there isn’t a single program of this style that I haven’t heard or seen people complain about because things don’t work precisely the way they require, in particular the auto-connect feature (or lack thereof). In some cases, people may have had bad experiences with early versions, and want nothing to do with the program even though improvements may have addressed the issues that originally drove them away. All three programs have issues representing various non-traditional construction techniques, so many people use a combination of at least two different programs to get around the various shortcomings of each one.

@Iceranger22:
Programming. Some people actually like to model things purely for aesthetics, even if it requires cheats that won’t work on a physical model. The chair looks like it has two. The obvious one is that the post for the backrest can’t attach to the side of the seat cushion, but I don’t think that 2x2 round tile can attach to the base either. The lamp has a robot claw clipped on the end of the bar, and at an angle. Even if you could get it to hold that position, I don’t think it would stay that way for long. The desk surface is all trans-clear tiles, some of which don’t look like they have anything to attach to. And of course, the spray of bricks looks too small to even be Modulex.

Anyways, Bricklink and LDraw.org both have several LDraw-created graphics, and the intent was probably more about making as many graphics that incorporated LEGO parts than making sure they could be built in real life.

@goldenguy880:
I have exclusively used MLCad for about two decades. With no part interactions, it really does allow you to put any part anywhere. Getting it precisely where you want is fairly easy, once you realize you can simply change the increments for movement to tiny decimals. Getting precisely the rotation is a lot more challenging. I designed Starro the Conqueror in LDraw:

https://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=6640652

The central hub uses five pairs of Mixel joints to simulate the use of click-hinges while allowing 72° angles (click hinges skip from 67.5° to 90°). Each arm has five Mixel joints running down the core. I used bars to create perpendicular rotation axes in each Mixel joint, so that’s 55 rotation points just to take a flat design stage with all five arms parallel to each other and fold everything up. Then I had to add at least one more to rotate the entire thing into the classic comic book cover pose. However, the pose I created in MLCad looks nearly identical to the pose I can achieve with the real thing.

I once designed a spider mech that used click-hinges for the leg joints, and I was trying to incrementally rotate, then move each segment of leg until it looked like it lined up with the next section. After nearly completing the digital model, I realized I was putting too much effort into it, and started figuring out how to add rotation points. There’s an official part file for a rotation point, but I still prefer the use of 3L/4L bars.

One thing I learned new with Starro is that it’s not always easy to reset your build to a point where you can change things around. After one long session of cleaning up the legs, I started saving two files. One was the pre-fold design, and the other was the folded model. If I ever need to change anything besides the color of the folded design, I’ll just archive the old model, pull up the pre-fold, make adjustments, and then get to work on refolding it before saving the results to a new completed model file.

@ComfySofa:
I mean, that’s one use. At its core, it’s just virtual bricks on your computer. It has a supply that’s only limited by how powerful your computer is, and a range of colors that doesn’t care what has been officially released. Want transparent minifigs? It’s possible. So are GitD baseplates. What you actually do with LDraw, any of its related interfaces, LDD, or Studio, is entirely up to you. You can build sets you don’t own. You can build sets you do own (maybe you don’t have access to the parts at the moment, or you want to keep it sealed). You can use it to create an archive of MOCs that you’ve already built (especially if you plan to scrap the physical models). You can use it to test new techniques, or check the geometry of parts you don’t own (especially useful for wheels and tires). And yes, you can use it to design MOCs, whether you intend to build them at some point or not.

I actually prefer it. For one, you don’t need to have, or sort, a huge loose parts collection to build anything, and you don’t need to buy parts you might not need just to get started. I also find it very useful for designing stuff like cars, where I’m able to start with the exterior and figure out how to hold everything together with interior SNOT construction.

So, can this load more parts into Studio, somehow?

Another related question this package got updated last month, apparently. How is Studio, apparently based on the library, behind? Shouldn't it be in sync, then?

Thank you @PurpleDave and others for the helpful explanations!

I think I’ll stick with Stud.io for the time being. I mainly use CAD programmes to work out mods/mocs that I plan to then build in brick (saves lots of mess and wastage of un-needed parts), so the aesthetics side isn’t as important for me.

Thanks @PurpleDave.

I see what you mean about having/sorting vs virtual. Our collection has got out of hand in recent years and I’m not the most organised…

Whenever our cave gets fixed up I’m going to need some ideas for methods of sorting and storing because the current ‘method’ really isn’t one :)

Starro looks great!

Must be the season for LDraw related updates. After many years, I finally released an update to Bricksmith this weekend too!
https://bricksmith.sourceforge.io/

This is an LDraw editor for Mac OS.

@PurpleDave: Do you mean LEGO makes and provides official LDraw files for new parts? I'm not too familiar with this software past being aware of its legacy and support.

@LegoSonicBoy:
Not quite. At least I don’t think so. How it originally worked was that the LDraw creator (James Jessiman) measured the geometry of a lot of really basic parts and wrote his own part files based on those numbers. Following his passing in 1997, this task was taken over by the community of LDraw users, but still calculating all of the geometry by hand (hairstyles in particular were of very limited variety due to the complexity of modeling them). At some point, TLG started handing over official geometry, I believe by providing files from their own internal format, and LDraw volunteers would then extract that data and use it to write new LDraw part files. But instead of having to write everything from scratch, they were now just having to interpret data from one format to another, which allowed current parts to be added at a much faster rate. This freed up some volunteers to start diving into older parts that had never been modeled, so the back catalog has seen a lot of work in recent years. I don’t think any official geometry has been provided for stuff like Bionicle parts, so those are probably being added using hand-calculated geometry. In those cases, access to parts is the biggest challenge, so Bionicle fans may have loaned parts to people who write LDraw part files to facilitate the addition of parts that they commonly build with.

As an LDraw user since 1997 and active member of the community, I really want to point out that Stud.io = LDraw (under the hood). If it wasn't for the LDraw library, there would be no Stud.io.

That answeres @gsom7 question too. Does Stud.io use LDraw Parts Library? = Yes.

@LegoSonicBoy
@PurpleDave: Do you mean LEGO makes and provides official LDraw files for new parts? I'm not too familiar with this software past being aware of its legacy and support.

No. LDraw is made by fans with no support from LEGO.