I'm a first-time user of MecaBricks. I've been using both LDD and MLCad up to this point. As a consequence, I started using MecaBricks with a LDD/MLCad mindset. That mindset needed re-tuning. It is possible that other new users will have a similar mindset when they first use MecaBricks. I have put together a short primer (see below) for new users to get them going with using MecaBricks. It's purpose is to get people interested in using MecaBricks so is consciously not an extensive "how-to" guide. The primer begins after this paragraph.
This primer provides a brief introduction on how to use the MecaBricks Workshop. It is a simple "how to get started" guide. As such, it describes only a small amount of the MecaBrick workshop's capabilities - enough to whet your appetite and want to come back for more. The primer is presented as a sequence of 10 steps, with each step assuming the previous step has been undertaken. Each step is formed by some descriptive text and one or more screenshots.If you are used to using either Lego Digital Designer (LDD) or Mike's LEGO CAD (MLCAD) to design your model, note that a slight mindset shift will be required when using MecaBricks. It's not a big difference but it may be enough to have you scratching your head to begin with. Attention will be drawn to the difference at an appropriate point in the primer.
The MecaBricks workshop can be trialed without the need to create an account. This primer assumes that you have you browser opened and are already in the MecaBricks workshop. If you aren't, please navigate to [url]http://www.mecabricks.com/en/workshop[/url]. So without further ado, here are the 10 steps that make up the primer for first time users.
1) Pick a colour
Figure 1 - Pick a Colour
The lower part of your browser window is where you select the part that you want to add. There is a pop-up list which categorizes the parts. When you pick a category, the list of available parts will change to reflect the chosen category.
Begin by picking the colour that you want the part to be, Click on a colour in the bottom right hand side of the window (see Figure 1). Note that if a part is selected when you choose a colour, the colour of the selected part will change. When you are looking to add a part which is different to the colour shown on the colour palette, ensure that no part is selected prior to selecting the colour.
2) Add a Part
Figure 2 - Part Loading
Use the forward and backward icons on each end of the list of part images to view the parts available within the selected category. When you see the part you want, click on it. You may see a "progress" indicator displayed while the part loads (see Figure 2).
3) Part Placed at the Origin
Figure 3 - Part placed
The first part will be placed at the origin (X, Y and Z co-ordinate of 0, 0, 0). Notice the three differently coloured arrows near the brick. Each part will have one of these and it will be displayed when the part is selected. The red arrow points along the part's X axis, the green arrow points along the part's Y axis and the blue arrow points along the part's Z axis. You will see the impact rotating a piece has on these arrows in step 9. It is also worth noting that in the bottom left hand corner is a similar (but smaller) red, green and blue axis indicator. These are used to indicate the current orientation of the view of the model being built. When you rotate the view, this indicator will rotate correspondingly.
4) Moving a Part
Figure 4 - Moving a Part
LDD/MLCAD mindset shift. The way a part is moved in the MecaBricks workshop is different to that for LDD and MLCAD. You move a brick by moving the mouse onto the axis for the direction which you want to move the brick (see figure 4). The arrow will change colour to yellow. Click and hold the left mouse button down and drag the part in the direction which you want it to move.
5) Select the Next "Target" Point
Figure 5 - Select First Target Point
The currently selected brick is drawn in red. When you move the mouse over the selected brick, it will turn blue and display some orange points. One use for these points is to determine where the next part will be added. When you position the mouse over one of the points, the point will turn green. Clicking the left mouse button will "lock in" the point as the target point.
6) Add the Second Part
Figure 6 - Add Second Part
Pick the next part to be added by selecting an appropriate part category, scrolling to the desired part and clicking on the desired part. The part will be added to the model using the target point of the currently selected part. If a part on the model is not selected when the new part is picked, the new part will be added at the model's origin (0, 0, 0).
7) Select the Next "Target" Point
Figure 7 - Select Second Target Point
Just as with step 5), a target point is selected on the newly added part. Notice that a target point has an X, Y, Z orientation, just like a part has. The axis orientation for a target point may differ from that for the part (see Figure 7).
😎 Add the Third Part
Figure 8 - Add Third Part
Pick the next part to be added by selecting an appropriate part category, scrolling to the desired part and clicking on the desired part. The part will be added to the model using the target point of the currently selected part (see Figure 8 ).
9) Rotate the Part
Figure 9a - Part Rotation #1
Having placed a part, the arrow keys can be used to quickly rotate the part by 45 degrees along different axes. Pressing the right arrow key once will rotate the part clockwise around the Y axis (see figure 9a) (assuming the viewpoint for the rotation is looking towards the part's axes origin).
Figure 9b - Part Rotation #2
Pressing the right arrow key a second time will rotate the part clockwise another 45 degrees around the Y axis (see figure 9b).
The key combinations to rotate a part around an axis are;
Left arrow - Anti-clockwise rotation around the Y axis
Right arrow - Clockwise rotation around the Y axis
Up arrow - Anti-clockwise rotation around the X axis
Right arrow - Clockwise rotation around the X axis
10) "Show Me The Edges"
Figure 10 - "Show Me The Edges"
It is possible to change the way in which parts are displayed. For example, edges can be added to the model (see Figure 10), which you may find will make it easier to see individual parts.
Conclusion
The MecaBricks workshop is a powerful CAD tool for LEGO. This primer has touched on a few of its capabilities. You are encouraged to explore and experiment further to discover more about it.
Thank you!
The Question: What is the tab "Instructions" on the top right corner of the Workshop for and how would I use it?
Thank You!
It's not possible yet to generate building instructions of your build yet. It will be possible in the coming years and will be available though that tab..
Thank you very much! I am eager to be able to use that feature in the future. May I also note that this program is an excellent LEGO designer and is very thorough in its details.
The workshop isn`t working! Just a black screen! What should I do?!
I'm having the same problem. No workshop, just a black screen... TypeError: viewport is undefined
viewport[b('0x163')] = !![];
(Refreshing solves it)
If it stopped working after you saved the settings, I just corrected a bug that may solve that. If the new workshop never worked, it may be because your browser is too old. I'll try to find solutions but I cannot promise anything if it is a browser issue.
The bug is still present, got it again this morning in the latest firefox. 😛
I think the viewport is being accessed too early. There's no data in it yet. It starts clean here, whenever I start firefox. It would explain why a second time always works. Do you read this from local storage or something? Try to load the workshop in privacy mode.
When I open the workshop my browser turns black for just a second before the workshop loads. I also use latest Firefox. No problem, just for information!
It may be normal. This is to avoid weird looking stuff happening in the user interface while everything is loading and get positioned nicely.
Even with all the recent updates, this tutorial still works nicely. However, it seems that it would be a good idea if someone made a more comprehensive tutorial that comes after this one, for those who already know the basics. It could include lights, grouping, and the new settings panels.
i was hoping it could turn the creations into instructions.but then it does no have that function.i hope mecabricks could add that
Scrubs is hoping to add the instructions feature in the next year or two.
HI. I can't even seem to get to the first screen, my workshop page is completely blank. Where can I find out what I'm doing wrong. Thank you.
@Mark2.0, what browser and OS are you using? Try to reload the page, some users have had the same problem with a blank screen since the new version of the workshop launched a week ago, most times it's solved by reloading the workshop page if i'm not wrong?
I just want to say thank you for this completely free program. Easy to use and fun to find out how things work. Spend hours in it already.
Got a question though: is there an easy way to move "clipped on" special plates? I'm in the middle of trying to build an ornate piece on a wall and it's pretty hard the way I'm trying it by freely rotating it with the arrow keys. Is there a way to "clip it on" and the piece "knows" it can only be rotated in an angle to the "clipped on piece". Hope anybody understands what I mean 😄
Hello,
I am not sure I understand exactly. Would you have a screenshot to show which parts you try to connect?
I hope this works:
Is there a possebility to "attach" the selected special brick to the other special brick and just rotate it at the angles that are possible. If I rotate it via the keys, it's possible to find the right angle but it takes way more time. Hope it's understandable now 😃 Thanks for answering anyway
This is a good video that Scrubs made showing how to use snap points to move and rotate all parts.
[youtube]AsDczg1pOFc[/youtube]
I'd like to add another vote for the generating/making instructions feature. Make it two votes...oh what the heck, make it 100 billion!
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