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Posted

I can't start the poll yet, but I'd like to ask 3 questions:

1) You use some CAD software (and which one) to design a MOC virtually before building a real thing.

2) You don't use any CAD software during the whole MOC creation process.

3) Some combination of both methods.

Any further comments welcome.

Posted

I try to build a Lego Technic MOC using real bricks first, then (maybe) model it in Lego Digital Designer. It takes a LONG TIME to model something in LDD first; I only do that if I'm away from my bricks and have no other choice.

Posted (edited)

3) Some CADing (LDD) then prototyping then refining then re-digitalizing then CADing (new stuff or refining the prototype) then prototyping.....

Some parts are easier for me to do in software some are easier to do with real bricks.

Okay, this method was true for only my last too finished models, but they were much better than the previous, only real brick built models.

LDD can be very quick to model, almost as quick as with real bricks (at least for me). Making big modifications is much quicker in LDD than in real life, where I have to greatly disassemble the thing to change something.

Edited by Lipko
Posted

I sketch up a few rough ideas on paper, and a few gearing ideas on LDD, and then get stuck in with proper Lego :sweet: I use LDD throughout when I need to work out how long something will need to be, so I don't need to dismantle half of the model to replace it :grin:

Posted

I sketch my design first on graphing paper, then I start building.

Made a mistake in the title. Please, moderators here, delete the part "cars" from it.

Actually you can delete that, all you have to do is click "edit" in the bottom right corner. :wink:
Posted

I can't start the poll yet, but I'd like to ask 3 questions:

1) You use some CAD software (and which one) to design a MOC virtually before building a real thing.

2) You don't use any CAD software during the whole MOC creation process.

3) Some combination of both methods.

Any further comments welcome.

Personally, I prefer to build it with real pieces to make sure it is a strong creation and can support itself.

Posted (edited)

I sketch my design first on graphing paper, then I start building.

Actually you can delete that, all you have to do is click "edit" in the bottom right corner. :wink:

Ok, I know that I can edit the thread text, but not the title of it.

...oh, and thanks for correcting it, Blakbird, I guess it was you who did it :thumbup:

Edited by AKM_76
Posted

Ok, I know that I can edit the thread text, but not the title of it.

...oh, and thanks for correcting it, Blakbird, I guess it was you who did it :thumbup:

Oh oops, I must've misread that part.
Posted

I tend to build little modules out of real bricks to make sure they work as expected, such as gearboxes, winches, linkages, etc. Anything that 'moves' can be difficult to visualize within a CAD program, but once I have them worked out in real bricks, I re-create these modules in LDraw so that I can save the designs and refer back to them later, and I can reuse the real bricks for more modules.

When it comes to the body work, I tend to use LDraw first, where I can make sure it is to scale and I don't have to worry about building up a supporting structure as I am adding the body - I'm just more concerned with adding the right panels at the right place. I might occasionally pull out real brick/panels just to see how thing look or if I'm not sure that two pieces really fit together. Using LDraw this way, I am able to build from the outside-in and not worry about 'gravity', whereas with real bricks you have to build from the inside-out.

Then once I have the modules (gearboxes, winches, linkages, etc) and the body in LDraw, I add a supporting structure/frame/chassis that ties both of them together. One thing that you have to do here is make sure that the frame is rigid enough. Again, this can be difficult to visualize in CAD, but you get used to it after a while, especially after a few failures. Triangulation is usually the key here.

Once I have the modules, body, and frame designed, I pull out the bricks again to see if it really works, then tweak things with the real bricks if needed, and recreate those changes in LDraw. I repeat these last steps until everything is just right.

By the end of this process, I have the model in real bricks, as well as LDraw ready for creating renders and/or instructions.

Posted

The MOC I am currently modding gets all the effort.

I obtained the photo instructions from Brickshelf. Then I first built the MOC in LDD (because I had something else assembled). After tearing the car apart I had enough parts and built the MOC with real bricks. In the meantime I got some Bricklink orders and exchanged several parts.

Now I wanted to modify that MOC to include power functions. So I took my digital model and created some copies for different stages of the modification. I tried if I could fit the PF parts into the model and how I could make them work by trying to adjust the gearbox, connect the features and so on. The next step was to try with real bricks again. I kept the MOC assembled as it was and used the other parts I have to rebuild the center of the model where the new functions and all the drivetrain and gearbox stuff is housed. As it turned out, I couldn't build it as I planned first, without severly destroying the structural integrity and stability. But I instantly had a new idea. I took some photos of the fail, teared it down and sat at the computer again. I did the modification again, at a different position and a little bit more simple (in regards to gears). I could build it digitally like a charm and it looks relatively stable. I will need to implement the other mod as well in the digital model today and on Wednesday, I'll try to build it again. I guess it will work just fine if manage to build some good mounting points for the pump. After that, I'll incorporate the modifications into the real model by building it anew.

And perhaps, I'll convert the digital model to LDraw and attempt to make instructions for it.

Posted

My building method has evolved over the years. At first (~20 years ago) I built solely with bricks. I just started with the most complicated part of the model and built outwards from there.

Than I learned to build with an infinite amount of bricks (during my years as Lego technic designer). There it was a matter of building till you got stuck and than start again with the previous version(s) next to it.

After I left Lego I used an adapted version of this method where I build 3 copies simultaneously, 1 for the structural integerity, 1 for the looks and 1 for the mechanisms (I described this more extensively in the Hispabrick magazine no 15).

For my latest MOC however I use a combination of DLL and real bricks. I find it is much easier in DLL to replace bricks deep inside the structure to get that extra hole needed some studs further away. I use the real bricks when I need to assess the strength of the structure, power of motors, looks, slipping gears and ranges of motion.

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