#Microstation DXF
8 messages in this thread
I'm thinking of purchasing 3d Studio and use Microstation for modeling at
present. Can DXF files from Microstation be used in 3D Studio. I have tried to
load them on a associates computer using 3d Studio and no luck. It mentions
something about a ratsnest and not a valid file. Obviously before I purchase 3D
Studio I need to know I can use my files.
Thanks.
Doug Davis
<< I'm thinking of purchasing 3d Studio and use Microstation for modeling at
present. Can DXF files from Microstation be used in 3D Studio. I have tried to
load them on a associates computer using 3d Studio and no luck. It mentions
something about a ratsnest and not a valid file. >>
You definitely can use a lot of stuff out of MS 5 with 3DS. Without going into
a *LONG* document here, my best advice is to get/read the applicable sections
from "Inside 3D Studio", and experiment.
BILL
M. G.
Thanks for you reply. You mentioned get/read applicable sections from "Inside
3D Studio. Is this a book or a file here in this forum?
Thanks again
Doug
<< Thanks for you reply. You mentioned get/read applicable sections from
"Inside 3D Studio. Is this a book or a file here in this forum? >>
It's a wonderful book written by several forum old-timers (sorry <g>): Steven
Elliot, Phillip Miller, & Greg Pyros. Available from New Riders Publishing,
ISBN 1-56205-075-3.
Get it.
BILL
I use Microstation for modeling, but you have to export your geometry as a DXF
file and bring it into 3ds.
Rico,
Thanks for the reply. I do export my files to dxf first, then try to bring them
into 3D studio and no luck. Can you tell me the settings you use in the dxf
export dialog box. I think somewhere I'm not setting the buttons right. Thanks
for any help.
Doug
Doug
here is a copy of some info I posted about uStation last week……
I have been taking in a lot of uStation stuff recently, the biggest problems
come from the Beta spline entity type which ( as you may imagine) is very
popular for modelling ! The uStation operator can determine the segmentation
of the resulting pline, pline-mesh or whatever before translating it but it is
very easy to end up with adjoining parts with different segmentations and maybe
a few glitches as well.
There is probably room for an in-depth analysis of the ideal way to translate
and I think it would be worth it, uStation 5 looks to be a very good modeller
but it would need uStation and 3DS in the same room for a day or so for trial
and error testing.
On the whole the problems are not really any worse than coming from ACAD, apart
from one big whoopsy…. uStation can generate a polyface mesh entity with only
_2_ vertices in the face, ACAD will accept this and even pass it on to .DXF but
3DS aborts the dxfin with an "Invalid ratsnest in DXF" error message. One test
for this condition is that uStation will not read the .DXF back.
Using Autovision to 3DSOUT bit by bit will detect the offending part but
proceed with care Autovision is one of the worse ways around for getting a 3DS
mesh. If this causes a major problem I have an Autolisp routine which will zap
the offending faces ( it is not exactly thoroughly tested but does seem to work
OK) let me know if you want it.
Microstation 5 will output .DWG or .DXF I have mostly used .DWG out of uStation
and then passed it through ACAD 12 as a sanity check before dxfing for 3DS.
Microstation 4 only has .DXF out and causes far more problems where beta spline
entities are concerned.
Grahame
You know I don't know what the problem is. I'm using micro v.5. What does 3ds
do when you try to import. I also use the dxf to 3ds file located in the
library because its quicker than 3ds at converting dxf to 3ds.