Convert .lxf file to CAD format

[YonaE]

Hi,

I would like to export and convert assembly i built by LDD application (.lxf file format) into one of the following formats: .jt, .prt, .asm, .igs. iges,. .dxf, .stp, .step, .prt, .asm, .CATpart, CATProduct, CAD Files

Any suggestion/recommendation of how to do this conversion are welcome :-)

Regards 

[Fugazi]

Welcome to EB, I'm moving this the the LDD forum where you might find better advice.

[Mylenium]

6 hours ago, YonaE said:

I would like to export and convert assembly i built by LDD application

Long and short: There can be no such thing. That's the same old gag of 3D files used for animation and visualization not being of any use to CAD people other than serving as a template for re-building it natively in CAD. The precision of these files is simply inadequate and since they are not based on parametric entity definitions, contain no exact measurement data and tags plus a gazillion other potential problems they are essentially useless for CNC milling or any other such process. Also it's usually the other way around - nobody cares to bother converting such data to STEP or IGES and proprietary formats tied to specific CAD programs are out of the question, anyway. You simply export a generic 3DS, OBJ or polygonal DXF file from your 3D application and it is then imported into the CAD program where it is then to be rebuilt. Unless there is a very specific scenario underlying your question where your coarse unsorted poly data might suffice, the ugly truth is that you will need to invest five times the work and time you have spent in LDD to actually get a clean CAD file.

Mylenium

[YonaE]

How can i get/build a clean CAD file contains Lego bricks? 

Is it possible to import Lego bricks into a CAD system and then other there to build what do i need? 

 

[supertruper1988]

What is your desired outcome? That may help us help you.

[YonaE]

I want to build some assembly with Lego and import it into some CAD for a demo.

I thought to build it with LDD and export and import to my CAD application.

I understand that it might be complicated...so if possible to import Lego bricks into my CAD application and other there to build the assembly.

Any other idea are more then welcome 

[Scrubs]

It simply isn’t possible without a lot of worthless efforts. Depending on the complexity of your assembly it is probably almost quicker to redo everything directly in your CAD software.

[supertruper1988]

There are whole libraries of basic bricks available on grabcad or similar sites. No idea how accurate they are. There was also a Maya library and studio can export to OBJ but again I am not sure what results that produces. What kid of Demo are you doing with LEGO in cad?

[Scrubs]

Maya will not produce parametric objects.

The OBJ format doesn't retain the transformation data making it therefore useless for assemblies unless you export part by part and rebuild the assembly...

I guess the purpose of importing in a CAD software is to work with it, not just display it. Therefore working from the start with parametric elements is kinda the only way.

Forget LDD unless you write a file parser for your CAD package that will import and locate parametric parts that you may have found online.

[Mylenium]

16 hours ago, YonaE said:

I want to build some assembly with Lego and import it into some CAD for a demo.

For just a demo inside the CAD program importing a 3DS or DXF might suffice, though you still can't really do much with the data. In fact even many functions inside the program will be blocked unless you have explicitly converted the elements. So other than swiveling the model around in the viewport to impress your boss it may still not be that useful. Even simple stuff like drilling a hole or running a static force simulation will not work on unprepped poly data.

Mylenium