Edge length to editable mesh height

[Guest BmlLokesh]

Hi All,

 

Is their any way to link the segment/spline length to length/width of an editable poly or mesh

 

The idea is to update the 3d mesh in max as the cad plans are updated

 

Each time the plan is updated it is a big mess and time consuming to update the mesh

 

wiring or attribute holder is not helping

 

Or is their any other way of fast update between 2d to 3d

 

Please guide

[Francisco Penaloza]

So from what I understand you are modeling the whole thing, the architect/Designer is submitting you the flat 2d CAD only right?

one way could be extruding the actual CAD lines and create walls from there, then add polygon modifier on top of them and so on, so at the the very bottom of your stack you always have the original CAD spline available to move and stretch if need it; now this work flow create several other issues and sometimes some transformation break really easy when you just select the first element of your stuck.

The ideal workflow would be to the design inside AutoCAD or autoCAD architecture, where is pretty easy move walls change windows and doors, then file link that to Max and apply materials and all that.

Or tell your designer to decide what his design will be before him send it to render

we know that won't happen, so that is part of our business, I am dealing every day with changes over changes, but good coordination and clarify at the beginning what type of rendering they need before you go all the way through, sometimes they just want to see the volume, just see how light react, then made changes is not that painful, than do it when you are almost ready to print.

[Guest BmlLokesh]

Thank you very much for the reply

 

Yes you are right

 

I am not very familiar with cad to extrude and placing door and windows ..... and one more thing even If I do model everything in cad and link

I will have to update the materials, uvw and other transformations which is not a good idea

 

The main issue is that almost all the time they do a major change in the plan

 

Imagine an axo view each time if I have to change the plan it is hell a lot of work

 

Most of the time they want a quick update and they don't want to visualize without 3d view

 

My machine (xeon 3 Ghz dual core with 4 gb of ram ) is not that great to render for each update

 

So is their any other way to mechanize the update from cad to max

[Francisco Penaloza]

Well here is the deal, I used to work with and Architect that didn't know anything about 3D all his CAD where 2D, he also ask me for "quick" rendering to see volume, lights etc; but after explain the process from insert 2D CAD to max, build all wall, create doors, windows and so, he understood that it was not quick or easy.

My work around was, start drafting in AutoCAD architecture, so you can do all your CDs and at the same time have a great part of the 3D model ready to send to MAX, one you create a link between a CAD drawing and MAX you don't need to update materials, UV's, Lights or so, you just update the model, everything else stay the way you set it up in MAX, there is a dialog box with options when you file Link from CAD to MAx and one of the check boxes says, Keep scene materials so that's the one you select.

Now I work for a bigger Architectural firm, they do everything on AutoAD architecture, REVIT and Sketch up, so we use a lot File link between CAD and MAX or REVIT and MAX changes come and come, we keep all our materials Lights etc.

Now learn AutoCAD architecture take some time, but it is a good investment, if you don't want to jump in to REVIT yet, but a faster route for you can be use Sketchup, really fast modeler, you can model your buildings and show your client, right away with shadows and simple materials, he can review and do changes more quick than inside MAX, and once he feel confident then you can export that model to MAX and do a final rendering. So far in our company this seems to be a very efficient way to go through the design phase, the designers actually model the whole building in Sketch up before they do any CAD drawing, that way they see volume, simple Light effect, colors, materials and more.

I know maybe this is not the answer that you want to hear but, I think your problems is more about work flow than a technical issue with the software. I don't know if you work freelancer or you are hired by a Architectural company, if so my suggestions may be a little complex to develop, but you can give a try to free sketch-up do the modeling there, show to your architect and explain that this can be more efficient for him and you, time save is money saved