Custom LDD bricks and fixes

[M2m]

3 minutes ago, zweifuss said:

@Stephan I was always curious how you chose to do this. Why do you have all these different packs? I don't understand why you don't just overwrite the existing pack every time... isn't every new one always an improvement on the next? I don't see why anyone would want to go back to an old one. Also, Github automatically keeps older versions (history) anyway, so if someone wanted an older pack, they could just pick one from the history. It think it'd be a cleaner approach if it's always just one pack to download. Think about this one year from now... what if someone discovers this thread then? It's confusing to open the zip file and have all these folders in there. The dozens of us that are lucky enough to follow this thread since the beginning have an easier time to update than the new people that just discovered this. Perhaps it's time to think of another approach... perhaps an app that compares your current folder to something online, and then only downloads the updated files... or something?

I don't know maybe I'm a rambling old man, but that's a way I see it. I appreciate your cataloging efforts, don't get me wrong, I just don't think the method is quite right. Maybe someone like @polymaker might have a better idea of how to download new parts in a cleaner fashion.

I guess 2 reasons:

1) Its easier for Stephan

2) In case of a botched part update you are sure to have the old and still working version.

Still I agree its a little tedious. But then its also not too bad and too much effort.

Just now, SylvainLS said:

Yes, even more so when there are files to delete.

That’s what a “git pull” does on a “standard” git repository.  But then, forcing the use of git isn’t userfriendly.

I started to make a copy of all 'releases' into one git - it doesn't include the latest one yet. I mostly do it for myself:

https://github.com/sttng/LDD-New-Parts

 

[polymaker]

47 minutes ago, zweifuss said:

Maybe someone like @polymaker might have a better idea of how to download new parts in a cleaner fashion.

 

41 minutes ago, SylvainLS said:

That’s what a “git pull” does on a “standard” git repository.  But then, forcing the use of git isn’t userfriendly.

I had an idea a while ago about making a small "auto-updater" software that would download the latest version from a git repository and configure the DB.lif for new users.

In theory it should be easy enough to program but for the sake of "user-friendliness" it should also work on Mac OS but I have no experience making cross-platform software.

[M2m]

Yeah most of the time cross Plattform you end up in command prompt / terminal versions of software which aren’t so end-user friendly. 

[Stephan]

2 hours ago, zweifuss said:

 I was always curious how you chose to do this. Why do you have all these different packs? I don't understand why you don't just overwrite the existing pack every time...

You are right. It was previously requested that parts would be split into multiple parts packs. For me it's easier to create 1 pack, 1 GitHub folder, 1 rar file. I am waiting for the latest parts from @jester and @Kuramapika1 to be able to create the new file.

[Jason C. Hand]

New part suggestion: Part No. 38541 (Minifig Hair Combo, Hat with Hair Long and Straight, Dark Tan Hat with Dark Brown Tassel) 

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=38541pb02#T=C&C=86

[jester]

1 hour ago, Jason C. Hand said:

New part suggestion: Part No. 38541 (Minifig Hair Combo, Hat with Hair Long and Straight, Dark Tan Hat with Dark Brown Tassel) 

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=38541pb02#T=C&C=86

I'll do it right now)

Upd. I can't add it right now 
I checked part from LDraw
And the mesh is very raw

Edited July 21, 2020 by jester

[M2m]

8 hours ago, Stephan said:

You are right. It was previously requested that parts would be split into multiple parts packs. For me it's easier to create 1 pack, 1 GitHub folder, 1 rar file. I am waiting for the latest parts from @jester and @Kuramapika1 to be able to create the new file.

I appreciate your great efforts for this ! Keep it up ?? 

[Jason C. Hand]

9 hours ago, jester said:

I'll do it right now)

Upd. I can't add it right now 
I checked part from LDraw
And the mesh is very raw

Okay, thanks again.

[M2m]

I would be so happy if we could get the chicken minifigure in LDD

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=col135#T=S&O={"iconly":0}

[Takanuinuva]

On 7/22/2020 at 7:30 AM, M2m said:

I would be so happy if we could get the chicken minifigure in LDD

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?M=col135#T=S&O={"iconly":0}

We do already.I even think the printing is in.

[zweifuss]

Hey guys, I think I'm pretty happy now with my models for the 32296 (Tire 81.8 x 50 Technic Straight Tread) and the 22969 (Wheel 62mm D. x 46mm Technic Racing Large) outlines working nicely now after modifying the meshes a bit. I just have to add correct connectivity information. I do have a question for @polymaker though... these parts are not found in 'connector usage.txt'. So what connection parameters would I give these two items? Do I just choose similar ones and run with it? Because I imagine these hard-coded numbers are part of LDD itself, so LDD would have to be modified to include a new connector usage number.

[polymaker]

24 minutes ago, zweifuss said:

Hey guys, I think I'm pretty happy now with my models for the 32296 (Tire 81.8 x 50 Technic Straight Tread) and the 22969 (Wheel 62mm D. x 46mm Technic Racing Large) outlines working nicely now after modifying the meshes a bit. I just have to add correct connectivity information. I do have a question for @polymaker though... these parts are not found in 'connector usage.txt'. So what connection parameters would I give these two items? Do I just choose similar ones and run with it? Because I imagine these hard-coded numbers are part of LDD itself, so LDD would have to be modified to include a new connector usage number.

Before answering your question, I just want to explain what is the file "connector usage.txt".

I generated this file by reading all the standard LDD primitive XML, listed all the possible connection types and then generated a list of (maximum 10) parts using them for each type.
So this file does not contains all possible parts but does list every possible connection type.

I use this list to help me "put a name" on the connection types and to find out with what they connect to.
I put this information in a separate file named "Primitive connectors.xml".

Now back to your question, I haven't done the test myself but it may be possible that Fixed and Hinge connections use arbitrary numbers.

There seems to be a pattern in the number used, even numbers are "female" connections and odd numbers are "male" connections.
For example, a type 2 Fixed connection is a "Tire Ø11mm" and type 3 Fixed connection is a "Wheel hub Ø11mm".

So my guess is that an even number "X" will connect with "X+1".

You could try using a Fixed connection type 160 for your tire and a Fixed connection type 161 for your hub and check if it works in LDD.

[zweifuss]

Thanks for this info, this worked beautifully! 160 and 161 it is... Now if only we all had a spreadsheet or something where we could keep track of all the parts and connection types we're creating here, so that nobody is overlapping another's work. This is kinda of a wild west situation here, if I decide it's 160 and 161, but then someone else chooses those two numbers for something else... what will happen?

[M2m]

6 hours ago, zweifuss said:

Thanks for this info, this worked beautifully! 160 and 161 it is... Now if only we all had a spreadsheet or something where we could keep track of all the parts and connection types we're creating here, so that nobody is overlapping another's work. This is kinda of a wild west situation here, if I decide it's 160 and 161, but then someone else chooses those two numbers for something else... what will happen?

The result would be that these 2 (unrelated) parts can connect to each other. Not too bad. But yeah, some alignment wouldn't hurt.

[M2m]

10 hours ago, Takanuinuva said:

We do already.I even think the printing is in.

Indeed. My fault: 11262 is the head. 24319 is the torso..... How comes I missed that

[zweifuss]

@polymaker is the flexible parts feature still preliminary? I'm trying to create the 14M and 16M flex rods but I don't think there's a way to import a mesh with bones in it, am I correct there? I took the 19M one and removed some bones, imported a model of the 14M, and tried to generate LDD files but I got the 'SURFACE_NO_FLEXIBLE_MODEL' error. I even tried to edit the mesh of the 19M one in blender and import that, and I even tried to add bones (and combine with the model) in blender as well, to no avail.

[polymaker]

9 minutes ago, zweifuss said:

@polymaker is the flexible parts feature still preliminary? I'm trying to create the 14M and 16M flex rods but I don't think there's a way to import a mesh with bones in it, am I correct there? I took the 19M one and removed some bones, imported a model of the 14M, and tried to generate LDD files but I got the 'SURFACE_NO_FLEXIBLE_MODEL' error. I even tried to edit the mesh of the 19M one in blender and import that, and I even tried to add bones (and combine with the model) in blender as well, to no avail.

Is the 19M one flexible by default (from LDD) or is it custom made? Because I remember making a part flexible and in my git repository I have a folder with that part.

Anyway, flexible part are not yet fully supported in my software and currently the bone weights are not imported.

I recently made a breakthrough and I now understand how the "flexCheckConnection" attribute works for flexBone element.

I'm am currently working on making flexible part editable in my software.

[zweifuss]

51 minutes ago, polymaker said:

Is the 19M one flexible by default (from LDD) or is it custom made? Because I remember making a part flexible and in my git repository I have a folder with that part.

Anyway, flexible part are not yet fully supported in my software and currently the bone weights are not imported.

I recently made a breakthrough and I now understand how the "flexCheckConnection" attribute works for flexBone element.

I'm am currently working on making flexible part editable in my software.

Ok that's cool, just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong. Yes, the 32235 is the 19M rod that you did yourself in your repository, and that is the one I was working from. But even when I open 32235 ('Create from Brick...) and simply generate LDD files from it, all the <FLEX>/<BONE> tags are removed from the XML file, so I guess it's not ready yet...

[ThorsHammer9999]

Been wanting this one for a while if its at all possible

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=18731c01pb01&amp;idColor=63#T=C&amp;C=63

[Jason C. Hand]

Added these guys to LDD recently.

They are not textured/color mapped yet. Hoping they can be part of the next parts pack (with necessary modifications, if necessary).

[M2m]

4 hours ago, Jason C. Hand said:

Added these guys to LDD recently.

They are not textured/color mapped yet. Hoping they can be part of the next parts pack (with necessary modifications, if necessary).

Where is is Apu ? Just kidding these are great !

On another note. Can maybe someone fix the flex in the original LDD Part 63037 - Outer Cable 88mm. It seems this comes as 'botched' in the original LDD.

Edited July 30, 2020 by M2m

[Stephan]

12 hours ago, Jason C. Hand said:

Hoping they can be part of the next parts pack

No problem :) Happy to add them!

[polymaker]

10 hours ago, M2m said:

On another note. Can maybe someone fix the flex in the original LDD Part 63037 - Outer Cable 88mm. It seems this comes as 'botched' in the original LDD.

I was gonna ask if it was just me! I found this part while trying to make a part flexible. I have exported the model to blender and from what I can see the bone weights are totally wrong.

Making flexible parts is not (fully) functional yet in my software but I'm working on it, I'll fix this part as soon as it is ready.

Here is my recent progress on that matter:

Finally we will be able to complete the millennium falcon set!! 

Edited July 30, 2020 by polymaker
Spelling

[M2m]

1 hour ago, polymaker said:

I was gonna ask if it was just me! I found this part while trying to make a part flexible. I have exported the model to blender and from what I can see the bone weights are totally wrong.

Making flexible parts is not (fully) functional yet in my software but I'm working on it, I'll fix this part as soon as it is ready.

Here is my recent progress on that matter:

Finally we will be able to complete the millennium falcon set!! 

That looks ... AWESOME !!

[Jason C. Hand]

3 hours ago, Stephan said:

No problem :) Happy to add them!

Cool! I'll have the link for them ready by tonight.