Two dimensional

rect.dat

This primitive represents a rectangle in the {x,z} plane and the four edges that bound it. Its origin is at its centre and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions. To avoid matrix arithmetic problems in some renderers, the third dimension ({y} in the default orientation) should be given a scaling factor of 1.

1 16  0 0 0  5 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 20  rect.dat  

Three dimensional

box.dat

This primitive is used to define a cuboid. Its origin is the centre of the cuboid and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the three dimensions.

box5.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} face. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

box4.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} and bottom {+y} faces. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

box4t.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} and front {-z} faces, but with all its edges. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

box4-1.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} and front {-z} faces and the edge between those faces. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

box4-4a.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} and front {-z} faces and all the edges of the missing front face. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

box4-7a.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} and front {-z} faces and all the edges of both missing faces. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

box3u8p.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} and left {-x} and right {+x} faces and excludes all the edges of the left {-x} and right {+x} faces. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

box3u2p.dat

This primitive represents a cuboid missing the top {-y} and left {-x} and right {+x} faces and excludes the top edges of the left {-x} and right {+x} faces. Its origin is the centre of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 2LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

tri3.dat

This primitive represents a triangular prism missing the top {-y} and bottom {+y} faces but including all edges. The left {-x} and front {-z} faces are perpendicular. Its origin is the right-angle corner of the (missing) top face and by default has a size of 1LDu in each of the {x} and {z} dimensions and 1LDu in the {y} dimension.

1-8disc

1-4disc

2-4disc

3-4disc

4-4disc

Two dimensional

n-fedge.dat

This suite of primitives are used for edges which comprise an entire or part circle.

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4, 3-8, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4
High resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4, 2-4, 4-4

n-fdisc.dat

This suite of primitives are used for surfaces which comprise an entire or part circle.

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4
High resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4

n-fndis.dat

This suite of primitives pad their matching n-fdisc.dat primitives out to the bounding square. They are used to integrate circular elements into rectilinear elements.

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4
High resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4

n-fringr.dat
n-frinrr.dat
ringr.dat
ringrr.dat

This suite of primitives are used to generate circular rings or part rings. The numeric suffix r in the filename indicates the inner radius of the ring - the outer radius is 1LDu greater. For example a n-fring4 primitive would create a ring with an inner radius of 4LDu and an outer radius of 5LDu.
These primitives are currently undergoing a change of naming convention - names of the form "ringrr.dat" are being migrated to "4-4rinrr.dat". Backward compatibility will be maintained.

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution :
   r=1 : 1-4ring1, 2-4ring1, ring1
   r=2 : 1-4ring2, 2-4ring2, ring2
   r=3 : 1-8ring3, 1-4ring3, 2-4ring3, ring3
   r=4 : 1-4ring4, 2-4ring4, ring4
   r=5 : 1-4ring5, 4-4ring5
   r=6 : 1-4ring6, 4-4ring6
   r=7 : 1-4ring7, 2-4ring7, ring7
   r=8 : 1-4ring8
   r=9 : 1-4ring9
   r=10 : 1-4rin10, ring10
   r=11 : 1-4rin11
   r=12 : 1-4rin12
   r=15 : 1-4rin15
   r=16 : 1-4rin16
   r=18 : 1-4rin18
   r=19 : 1-4rin19
   r=38 : 1-4rin38
   r=39 : 1-4rin39
High resolution :
   r=3 : 1-4ring3
   r=4 : 1-4ring4
   r=9 : 1-4ring9, 4-4ring9

Three dimensional

n-fcyli.dat

This suite of primitives are used to generate cylinder or part cylinders.

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4, 3-8, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4
High resolution (n-f) : 1-8, 1-4, 4-4

n-fcyls.dat
n-fcyls2.dat

1-4cyls.dat

3-8cyls.dat

2-4cyls.dat

1-4cyls2.dat

These primitives are used to generate cylinders or part cylinders which are truncated by a plane which is not perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. The default angle of the plane is 45 degress.

These primitives are notoriously difficult to describe and the user is encouraged to experiment in order to gain a full understanding of their geometry. One technique is to open the primitive in L3Lab, increase the zoom to 12800, deselect BFC and choose random colours. Selecting Show Axes also helps.

The 2-4cyls.dat primitive is orientated with the perpendicular bounding plane at the top {-y} and the angled bounding plane at the bottom {+y}. In common with the other 2-4xxxx.dat primitives, the {+z} semicircle is represented. By default the truncation plane is y=x-1. The 1-4cyls.dat and 3-8cyls.dat primitives are sub-sections of 2-4cyls.dat

The 1-4cyls2.dat primitive is orientated with the perpendicular bounding plane at the top {-y} and the angled bounding plane at the bottom {+y}. Unlike the other 1-4xxxx.dat primitives, the {-x,+z} quadrant is represented. The truncation plane is y=x.

The following observations may help :

• 1-4cyls and 1-4cyls2 are complements. If you put them together correctly they make a 1-4cyli.

  1 16  0 0 0  1 0 0  0 1 0  0 0 1  1-4cyls.dat

  1 16  0 1 0  -1 0 0  0 -1 0  0 0 1  1-4cyls2.dat

• 1-4cyls2 is actually hidden in 2-4cyls, which could be constructed like

  1 16  0 0 0  1 0 0  0 1 0  0 0 1  1-4cyls.dat

  1 16  0 0 0  0 0 -1  0 1 0  1 0 0  1-4cyli.dat

  1 16  0 1 0  1 0 0  0 1 0  0 0 1  1-4cyls2.dat

n-fconr.dat
n-fconrr.dat

This suite of primitives are used to generate circular cones or part cones. The numeric suffix r in the filename indicates the inner radius of the cone - the outer radius is 1LDu greater. By default the cone is 1LDu high in the {+y} dimension with the origin at the centre of the outer diameter. For example a n-fcone4 primitive would create a cone with an inner radius of 4LDu and an outer radius of 5LDu.

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution :
   r=0 : 1-4con0, 4-4con0
   r=1 : 1-4con1, 4-4con1
   r=2 : 1-4con2
   r=3 : 1-4con3, 4-4con3
   r=4 : 1-4con4, 4-4con4
   r=5 : 1-4con5
   r=6 : 1-4con6
   r=7 : 1-4con7
   r=8 : 4-4con8
   r=10 : 1-4con10
   r=12 : 4-4con12
High resolution :
   r=5 : 1-4con5
   r=6 : 1-4con6
   r=9 : 1-4con9

tffirrrr.dat
tfforrrr.dat
tffqrrrr.dat

inner

outer

tube

This suite of primitives are used to generate circular torus sections. By default all these primitives produce a torus with a major radius of 1LDu, so typically need to be scaled up in the {x} and {z} dimensions. The second and third characters of the filename ff denotes the sweep of torus, as an inverse fraction (01=1/1, 02=1/2, 04=1/4, 08=1/8, 16=1/16, 48=1/48). The fourth character denotes the section of a torus (i=inner, o=outer, q=tube - the combination of 2 inner and 2 outer sections). The last four chacters of the file name rrrr denote the tube radius in LDu (1333=0.1333, 3333=0.3333).

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution :
   Inner : t04i0625, t04i1304, t04i1333, t04i3333
   Outer : t04o0625, t04o1304, t04o1333, t04o1429, t04o1538, t04o3333
   Tube : t04q0625

These diagrams (based on an idea of Paul Easter's) illustrate the relationship of the torus primitives to the major (orange) and minor (black) radii.

inner

outer

1-4ccyli.dat

This single primitive pre-dates the creation of the tffirrrr and tfforrrr suite of primitives and will not be augmented. It produces a quarter torus with a major radius of 2.5Ldu and a tube radius of 1LDu.

It should be superceded by t04q4000.dat.

Currently available primitives :
Regular resolution : 1-8, 2-8, 4-8, 8-8

1-8sphc.dat

This primitive represents one octant (eighth) of a sphere, centered at the origin {0,0,0} of radius 1.414, truncated by the sides of a cube with a vertex at {1,1,1}. The boundaries of the resulting surface are circular and fit with 1-4edge.dat.

Technic axle primitives

axle.dat

Technic axle section

axleend.dat

axlehole.dat

axleho11.dat

axlehol4.dat

axlehol5.dat

axlehol6.dat

axleho10.dat

axlehol7.dat

axlehol8.dat

axlehol2.dat

axlehol3.dat

axlehol9.dat

Technic bush primitives

bushlock.dat

Technic 16-tooth castellation - long teeth

bushloc2.dat

bushloc3.dat

bushloc4.dat

steerend.dat

Technic connector primitives

connect.dat

connect2.dat

connect3.dat

connect4.dat

connect5.dat

peghole.dat

peghole2.dat

peghole3.dat

Stud primitives

stud.dat


studp01.dat

studel.dat

stud2.dat

stud2a.dat

stud3.dat

stud3a.dat

stud4.dat

stud4a.dat

stud5.dat

stud6.dat

stud6a.dat

stud7.dat

stud8.dat

Miscellaneous primitives

arm1.dat

This primitive produces two-fingered hinge component of the cylindrical arm with a radius of 10LDu.

This primitive produces three-fingered hinge component of the cylindrical arm with a radius of 10LDu.

This primitive produces a horizontal clip designed to hold an 8LDu diameter pole or rod.

This primitive produces a three-fingered vertical clip designed to hold an 8LDu diameter pole or rod.

h2.dat