Need Help - Will Pay...STP file into 3D max

[geardaddy1]

HI All,

 

I have recieved an STL file from a manufacturer that I need to get into max for high end renderings and animations. I cannot seem to get it to work. I was wondering if there was an expert out there that would be willing to help me out. They also sent me a IGES and STP file. All three are giving me fits. I have tried the polytrans and meshlab demos with no luck. Anyone have experience doing this? Willing to pay thru paypal for your services! Need a very quick turnaround!

 

Please Contact:

Dave

davidwhiteman1@gmail.com

Edited April 3, 2010 by geardaddy1

[Dave Buckley]

what program are the step and iges files coming from? is it inventor? solidworks?

 

if so then ask for them to send you a pack and go of the inventor assembly and i may be able to help.

 

or feel free to email me at dave@davebuckley.co.uk and i'll take a look at the files you've got.

 

out of curiousity, how big are the step and iges files?

[alias_marks]

I've actually had some trouble getting stp and Iges files into max as well, and would be curious as to what you find is the best work flow.

 

My solution was eventually to get an obj file from our client, but still had some trouble with faceting etc. Is there a good way to do this? I feel like stp and iges files are pretty standard outside the archviz world.

 

I'd be curious to hear what you find. Thanks!

 

Mike

[deanomagino]

try importing into rhino as its a nurbs based modelling program and should therefore handle the iges file better, then convert to 3ds.

 

hope it helps

[Dave Buckley]

step and iges sound like the common format for engineering models (hence why assume its inventor or solidworks - the leaders in this field), if you can get the original file i.e. iam file, then this should import directly into max as a body object with the new connection extension (this supports nurbs)

[Thablanch]

If your model is quite simple, you can load it directly into max, it will load it as Nurbs, and play with your nurbs param. until you are happy. This can make some heavy model, but at least no other software or converter required.

 

If you have a few bucks, take a look a Npower:

 

http://www.npowersoftware.com/pressreleases/pressreleasePowerTranslatorsUniversal.html

 

Works well.. no facet, no cconversion lost and quite light, easy to use end result model. Npower customer service is really nice, if you run into some problems.

[Dave Buckley]

ok so . . . i got an email off someone who sent me a step file? i can't access my emails at the minute to have a look at it, but something tells me it wasn't the original person who posted the thread :$

[Claudio Branch]

STL files will import directly into Max as far back as version 6. I used to be a Pro/E user and I exported all of my models into Max for rendering. STL files can take a long time to import and it depends on the complexity of the model and the quality of the export settings.

 

The question is then, have you been waiting long enough for the import process to finish?

Edited April 6, 2010 by Claudio Branch

[PiXeL_MoNKeY]

if you can get the original file i.e. iam file, then this should import directly into max as a body object with the new connection extension (this supports nurbs)

The Connection Extension only supports .SAT files and creates Body Objects, which is based off the nPower Technology. Body Objects are Solid BREP objects and are different than Max NURBS objects, just FYI. With 2011 Autodesk and nPower expanded the Body importer to support Inventor (.ipt and .iam) and .wire formats (unsupported format).

 

If you will be doing a lot of CAD data import I would recommended the nPower Translator. Their Basic Translator supports .IGES, .SAT, .STP, and .3dm formats.

 

-Eric