mx3d is a set of Flash components I created in 2002 to build, transform, and display three dimensional geometry using Euler angles. mx3d takes advantage of (and demonstrates) the power of using components to create modular applications in Flash. mx3d is free for you to use any way you want, including commercial applications. The only restriction is that you may not take mx3d and sell it without making significant improvements or changes (not that anyone would buy a spinning cube anyway, but I’m just saying).

Example

This example shows the mx3d system in action. The display is rendered by an engine component, the cubes were created by a geometry generator component and the motion comes from a rotation controller component.

Download + Install

To install these components, you need the Macromedia Extension Manager 1.4 or later. (And, of course, you need Flash MX or later.) Once you install mx3d, it will be available from the Components Panel.

mx3d-102.mxp (28 kbytes)
NOTE: you have to save this file to your hard drive before installing it. Then run the Extension Manager, select “Install Extension…”, and select the file you just saved. If you try to install it without saving it first, the Extension Manager will give you an error.

Quick Start

After you install mx3d, open up the Components Panel and try this:

1. Drag an mx3d onto the stage, and name it mx3dInstance.
2. Drag an mx3dControlPreset onto the stage.
3. Drag an mx3dGeometryGenerator onto the stage, and name it geom.
4. In frame one of the main timeline, add the following ActionScript:

center = new point3d(0,0,0);
geom.addCube(center, 40, 0xFF0000);

5. Publish Preview or Test Movie to see the results.
6. Experiment! Try using an mx3dControlPad or mx3dControlMouse instead of the mx3dControlPreset. Try adding different kinds of geometry. Test out the different parameters of each component. You’ll find documentation in the Reference Panel.

Credit

This project was inspired by work I did with my friend Sam Torrisi. Thanks to Brandon Williams for his laying down a very simple and clear explaination of the math behind 3d geometry, and to Gary Grossman for making sure we had all the necessary tools to be able to make Components in the first place.

This is not the first Flash MX 3d engine, nor is it the best. To the best of my knowledge, Stuart Schoneveld created the first one, along with some other very nice components.