Converting LDD to standard 3D model files

I've wanted to make Lego Digital Designer files into 3D models or 3D printable models. It's not too terribly hard.

Steps

1. From Lego Digital Designer, export the model as an LDraw file: File->Export Model, pick Ldraw-Files (*.ldr) 
2. Open that ldr file in LeoCAD
3. Export to Wavefront OBJ file.
4. Import into Microsoft 3D Builder, select mm for import units.
5. Repair
6. Resize (Select size, make sure it's locked, change mm to % and pick 40%)
7. Save as STL.

Notes

Note that scales in OBJ files vary, and LeoCAD apparently decided to use the LDraw Units instead of anything like mm or inches when exporting. So after importing, a "stud" is 20 mm instead of 8mm. That's why we have to resize them and scale the model to 40% in step 6.

Also note that the LeoCAD export uses the "nominal" sizes, so the model won't have any of the reductions in size that a real Lego brick does to allow for fit.  

In other words, a LeoCAD 1x2 brick would be 8mm x 16mm.  But a "real" Lego brick has .1mm removed from each side to allow for clearance.  So a real Lego 1x2 would be 7.8mm x 15.8 mm.

If you intend to 3D print your model and have it interface with "normal" Lego, you'll have to do something about those clearances as the model will be slightly too large in all dimensions.

If all you want is a "normal" brick, several programs generate Lego bricks for printing, such as my own Fancy Bricks OpenScad program on Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:197171

3D Printing

From some of the posts here and on L3-G0's blog and YouTube, you can tell that I've been doing some stuff with 3D Printers.  Especially for the droids I "need" funny angled bricks and the like that reinforce the Lego models.  They can be built from pure Lego, but once you start bouncing them down a rough sidewalk, they fall to pieces, and the hinges get confused and stuff - so most of the droids have printed bricks.

(printed bricks seen @ 21 seconds in the video)

I've been exposed to some of the 3D printers available at a "maker garage" and have friends that have built various models, but I pretty much thought of all FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printers using filament as being about the same. They all have things to move the head &/or platform and an extruder to squeeze out a long string of hot plastic to build up the models in layers.

To that effect, I'd bought a Flashforge Creator (the wood one) as my first printer, and I've been pretty happy with it. The other various printers at work sometimes seem a little cleaner in some cases, or worse in other cases. They all have issues with the extruder getting clogged occasionally, and they all need a little bit of hands on maintenance.

I pretty much expected to keep using the Flashforge (indeed, I bought another used one and fixed it up), however I've been lured into trying a Creality CR-10 and have been pretty pleased so far.

Mini Lego Disney Wonder Instructions

People ask if we have instructions/plans/whatever for the big builds, but we don't :(  Sometimes they even get really mad that I don't have time to spend 3 full-time weeks making plans for them instead of working on fixing my roof or the next project or whatever.

But we do have plans for the Mini Lego Disney Wonder!

Two notes: the second page is an alternate hull in black because black is easier to find than the Dark Earth Blue brick that is a better match to the real ship.  So start on page one or page two, not both :)

And the last page is stickers for the rear details for the blue hull.  Some need printed on clear sticker paper, some can be printed on white sticker paper.

And please support the large Lego Disney Wonder on Lego Ideas!

Here's the link for the plans: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AkcvBm2eyNfPytovCpqr6xK_ow-dqg

And don't forget to support the big Lego Wonder on Lego Ideas!