LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
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Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#2Starting from 2017 developers changed numbering of LeoCAD, so now (after 0.83.x version) it look like YY.MM - 17.07.
This is second release in 2017, and must say that LeoCAD grow up - "Parts" toolbar has so many modes for preview LDraw parts (starting from 17.02). And for now models in main window could be displayed with shadows and blinks (starting from 17.07) - just go to menu "View -> Preferences... -> Rendering" and switch on "Enable lightning".
If you has any issues post them in tracker[0].
LeoCAD has very simple to understand & use UI, so kids could use it after one hour learning using Basic Tutorial[1].
Don't forget read the docs about Texture Mapping[2] and Meta Commands[3] tags (could be stored inside .mpd/.ldr/*.dat), that give you additional features on customizing your LEGO model.
Fresh 'nightly' builds of LeoCAD for many Linux-based distros placed on OBS[4]. Also on this OBS you could find builds for Lpub3D, Lpub, LDglite, LDView and LDraw library.
Call for Developers: if You know C/C++ & Qt, please, help make this program better! Help us solve unclosed issues or propose any ideas on how to improve LeoCAD! ;-)
[0] https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues [1] http://www.leocad.org/docs/tutorial1.html [2] http://www.leocad.org/docs/texmap.html [3] http://www.leocad.org/docs/meta.html [4] http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/pbartfai/
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#3How does this compare to Mecabricks online? https://www.mecabricks.com/
And the new tool from Stud.io from Bricklink? https://studio.bricklink.com/v2/build/studio.page
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#4How does this compare to Mecabricks online? https://www.mecabricks.com/ And the new tool from Stud.io from Bricklink? https://studio.bricklink.com/v2/build/studio.page
LeoCAD is fully free & open-source crossplatformed standalone software that could run on older PC too. Now availiable for Linux/Mac/iOS/Windows; port for Android also in plans:
https://github.com/leozide/leocad/issues/65
Mecabricks is cloud-based online, so it require Internet connection and, I think, modern PC with WebGL support. License is EULA-like(?) and its track user (users are kids). Not good for security reasons, and not availiable in offline.
Stud.io is only for Mac/Windows, and its licensed as EULA-like(?). Not good for Linux users.
Here is comparsion of LeoCAD with some other LEGO CAD's (November 2015)
http://jasonmcreynolds.com/?p=507
Think, need create comparsion on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_LEGO_CAD_softwar...
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#5The one I've been familiar with (since the early 2000s, really) is LDraw:
These guys take Lego SERIOUSLY.
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#6The one I've been familiar with (since the early 2000s, really) is LDraw: http://www.ldraw.org/ These guys take Lego SERIOUSLY.
Yeah! LeoCAD use LDraw library compiled in binary form ("library.bin") for faster interaction with it, but also could use LDraw in original 'textual' form directly.
Also, LeoCAD always included in "All-In-One-Installer" (aka AIOI) for Windows, produced by LDraw team.
http://www.ldraw.org/news/37/15/LDraw-All-In-One-Installer-2...
AIOI include one more CAD - LDCad (also availiable for Linux), that could be in some way powerfull (allow scripting, etc.), but LDCad is only freware proprietary software.
I tried both (LDCad & LeoCAD.) on xUbuntu 16.04LTS (64bit) on 10-year old notebook (Samsung R58P - RAM 2Gb, CPU 1.7 GHz, intagrated GPU ATI 1250 Express 256Mb).
For me (from point for teaching kids 6-14 year olf), LeoCAD much easier and faster.. LDCad has much harder to understand UI and settings dialogs, that not all kids could undetstand.
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#7Wow super cool! They should have a hot swappable rendering backend so we can get globally illuminated PBR renders out. Given the limited materials that Lego bricks are made out of, getting sensible default materials and automated lighting would be hella easy.
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#8Wow super cool! They should have a hot swappable rendering backend so we can get globally illuminated PBR renders out. Given the limited materials that Lego bricks are made out of, getting sensible default materials and automated lighting would be hella easy.
> Given the limited materials that Lego bricks are made out of, getting sensible default materials and automated lighting would be hella easy.
So, don't wast time and give us your pull request! ;-)
https://github.com/leozide/leocad/pulls
Other option is use Blender with "ImportLDraw" addon for import and render models produced with LeoCAD
https://github.com/TobyLobster/ImportLDraw
Combination of LeoCAD for modelling & Blender (Cycles Render) for rendering - really COOL thing!
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#9Well, that's my productivity done for the rest of the day
Re: LeoCAD – A CAD program for creating virtual Lego models
#10If I had side project time I'd really like to make a good VR lego CAD program. I have seen a couple of demos and prototypes and lego has a daydream app, but all of it seems limited and unpolished compared to LDD, LeoCAD etc.