Importing files from ArchiCAD 12 into 3ds Max Design 2010

[PLEA2]

I am currently an online interior design and architectural graduate student at the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco and want to take a course in 3D modeling using 3ds Max Design 2009/2010. However, I am concerned that I will have difficulty importing ArchiCAD 12 files -- my BIM of choice. The most recent posts that I have been able to find concern ArchiCAD 11 and 3ds Max File Link Manager. Does the most recent version of 3ds Max Design 2010 make it easier to import ArchiCAD 12 files or is it still a convoluted proposition? PLEA2

[brightlight]

Go to http://plugins.angstraum.at/ for a max plugin (export 3ds) or export an obj file from Archicad. Export from the 3d window in Archicad.

[PLEA2]

Thank you so much for your quick response. I shall try all of your suggestions. PLEA2

[BrianKitts]

We use archicad as our main BIM platform.... after lots of trial and error we've gone the .3ds route using the archicad material replacer, mentioned previously.

Biggest thing to remember however is when you export a .3ds file from Archicad you MUST set your scale such that one unit = 1000mm, then I prefer to export by material. Regardless of if you are using american or metric units in max, that is the export setting for everything to come into max at the right size.

I've found the Archicad import wizard to by faulty sometimes, so I just do a standard import, but I do use the material replacer. It too has it's faults such that it saves an archive in your presets folder of the materials when you setup the preset and if you change a material in your scene afterwards and reuse the preset you will lose the material change.

Also the fact that the install doesn't make a presets folder, and you have to manually go in an create it yourself.

That being said...... if you know all the faults of the plugin, it does make it easier than doing it all from scratch. Typically I can reimport updates from our Archicad models in about 5 minutes once everything is setup.