Importing Facade from CAD to 3ds Max?

[kenji]

Hi guys,

 

I'm a newcomer to max and only know a few basics so far.

 

Basically i have made a facade for a building, of perforated core ten steel panels on AutoCad

 

How can I import this to Max and turn it into 3D?

 

Any help would be appreciated

[djoshi]

if you hv 3d modelled in cad then use file link manager to import.. if u r asking how to model on max.. u should go to help or tuts. on net..

[danb4026]

First clean the Cad file to just the linework you need to bring into max and put it on its own layer. Make sure the linework are polylines, not just lines.

 

Once the necessary linework is cleaned, and that is the only layer open, copy the linework (ctrl C, select linework), create a new file (ctrl N, to create a new file), paste into new file (ctrl V, I usually paste to 0,0). Save this file for easy access and import into Max.

 

Go to Max, go to File, go to import, and find this cad file. When you select the file, a dialog will come up with import options. Stick with the default optins for now, but make sure "weld" is checked to a satisfactory measurement (usually 3/64" or equivalent works well).

 

Now your linework will import into max. Depending on your previously chosen import options, the linework may come in as one complete spline object (in which case, you might have to detach specific splines to make unique) or they may come in as separate splines.

 

Make sure you weld the individual vertices for each spline (the weld option in the import dialog doesn't always do the job), otherwise the splines wont extrude or perform as expected.

 

From here on in you are using max and its modifiers to create your model.

 

Hope this helps get you started.

Edited May 15, 2009 by danb4026

[kenji]

cheers dan!

 

i'll give that a try tomorrow in studio and let u know if i need any help!

 

thanks for taking time to respond.

[danb4026]

My pleasure. Good luck