Glitchy .3ds file from manufacturer

[braddewald]

Gaggenau is a kitchen appliance manufacturer. A client is requesting an oven from their line (product number B0280). They have a download page for the model in several formats here. It includes a even a .3ds format availabe here.

 

No matter what I do, I can't seem to get any of the file formats to come into 3ds Max 2010 cleanly. There seems to be some kind of warp to the materials to when you apply a reflective texture. I'd love some advice as I'm on a deadline. Thanks.

[BVI]

Hi Brad,

 

Not at the office yet, Ill try then, but can you import the 3DS and then save as an OBJ and then import that OBJ - I know we had a similar issue and that corrected some of the errors in the mesh.

[BVI]

I cant register on that site, its so slow. Can you post the file here?

[BVI]

Ok, got the file.

 

This is what Chris from my office says:

 

IMPORT THE FILE,

Select all the objects and apply an OPTIMIZE modifier to them all, select autoedge. The default FACE THRESHOLD is set to 4.0. Reset this to 1.0.

Apply a smooth modifier to the mesh, but dont select any groups, and make sure AUTOSMOOTH is turned off. This will eliminate any smoothing groups in the 3ds import.

Lastly, when you render you will notice a ton of flipped faces. You could go into each face and check them, but the easier (although heavier geometry wise) method is to select the entire group, and apply a shell to it. Keep the shell thin to avoid 'bulking up' the model.

[JonRashid]

Or you could just turn force 2 sided rendering on and save on the extra poly's

[braddewald]

Thanks, Nicolas! Worked like a charm. The entire model had flipped faces, so I just applied a normal modifier to every object. Thanks again!