autocad to 3d studio max workflow?

[Pete]

I've been importing autocad drawings in 3d studio max. I realized that it really slows the pc down, where working is almost impossible. Is there a faster and easier way? Like tracing over the original drawing in 3ds max or just attach and weld splines?

[Brian Cassil]

What are the specs on your computer? I get some slow down sometimes because of acad drawings but usually not too much and certainly not to the point of it being unworkable.

 

You should clean up the acad dwgs as much as possible, like getting rid of dimensions, grids, furniture, etc., before you import.

[AJLynn]

How complex are the Autocad files? It's pretty easy to make and Autocad drawing that comes into 3DSMax as thousands of objects. Try killing the lines, plines and splines, they can slow you down a lot and you probably only want the 3D stuff...

[Brian Cassil]

and you probably only want the 3D stuff

 

Doesn't sound like it to me. I think he want's to "trace" the 2D data in max. I did think of one other thing though. Make sure you have combine objects by layer turned on when you import.

[ihabkal]

Try killing the lines, plines and splinesQUOTE]

I'm anti-violence with lines, plines and splines.

[Bugga_Guy]

I get this all the time, especially with big projects. What I do basically pre plan how to work on a project: first clean up the drawing (ie get rid of text grid lines etc) then I break up the autocad drawning into seperate drawings. and only link parts at a time, when that is complete, load next drawing. etc etc.

 

Also you can also load everything in and just hide all the parts and only keep the part that you are working on unhidden. This works well too.

 

sure you can trace over a image file but you loose the snapping ability.

[Fernando Lino]

the perfomance also change when you import the file thru 3ds format or if you link the CAD file.

[Pete]

What i do is make closed polylines with the Pedit or boundary command in autocad. Then i import to 3ds max without checking anything in the checkbox. If it is necessary, i will attach and weld splines in 3ds max, but other than that, that is pretty much what i do.

 

Now, i know that there are different method to import 2d plans in 3ds max.

 

1. you can just import the 2d plan and attach and weld lines in 3ds max.

2. or you can trace over autocad lines using 3ds max splines. The splines snaps to the lines and after you finish you can delete the autocad lines and the 3ds max splines remain.

3. using primitives like boxes to create a wall

4. the method i use (import closed plines), but it is very time consuming because you have to do a lot of work in autocad forehanded. And also it slows the system down.

 

Do you guys have another method that is quicker and easier?

[Brian Cassil]

The only other method I could think of would be to do the modeling in ACAD. There are still a few who work that way and swear by it, but it's not for me.

[Pete]

which method do you use?

[Brian Cassil]

A combination of 1, 2, and 4, but mostly 2.

[Pete]

It would be great if you can use the 2d plan as x-ref in 3ds max like in autocad (like a template). This would definitely keep the speed up. However if you freeze the drawing and trace over you can't snap to the forzen lines, or can you?

[only3d]

pete im sorry but it sounds like ur not listening. some people here gave u good advice but u repeat about your 'method' instead of trying somthing new.

what i advise u is to experiment alittle with the import dialogue box. i think it will pay off.

 

and again- pay more attention 2 what uv been told, especially brian cassil.

 

p.s.- u sure u have enough experience with max? because using boxes as walls is not the ideal way 2 go

[Brian Cassil]

 

However if you freeze the drawing and trace over you can't snap to the forzen lines, or can you?

 

 

You can actually, just go into snap settings, under options, and check "snap to frozen objects".

 

Also, you can "x-ref" a plan in, it's called linking though not x-refing. You can only x-ref another max-file in max.

[Pete]

Thanks Brian.

 

I tried it and the pc is up to speed again. But like you said, combining method 1,2 and 4 works well. And offcourse, cleaning the drawing and working in section improves speed also.

 

Only

 

The box method i've got from the the tutorials at US Berkeley. http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/courses/arch132/Exercises/Exercise_4/tutorial.htm go to method 3.