AutoCAD and 3D Studio
10 messages in this thread
I have AutoCAD 12 for DOS with Advanced Modeling Extension and 3D Studio 3.0
programs. I use them to make 3D drawings of cars, trucks, and vans. I wish I
could name objects in AutoCAD before importing them into 3D Studio which
requires that objects be named. I tried putting each object on its own layer
but when I import drawings into 3D Studio, 3D Studio adds numbers to layer
names. How do I know that normals of faces point outward? How do I group
several objects into one object such as grouping wheels, tires, and nuts into
one object so that they can be animated? The cars, trucks, and vans that I draw
are not of real cars, trucks, and vans but they are of my own basic design.
Thank you very much for helping me. Jeffrey.
Hi Jeffrey, draw your faces counter-clockwise. That way the normals will point
outwards or rather towards you. Or simply reverse them in 3Dstudio but it is
better to do it at origin.
To group objects just go to the 3d editor and select CREATE Object attach. e.g.
attach bolts to hub (give that a new name) then attach that new object to RIM,
then to TIRE and so on and so on. For a full car it is a slow process. Be sure
you have defined materials and attributes to every part before you do that.
Otherwise if you want to change the material of the RIM you will have to
de-attach (CREATE Element detach) it, assign, map etc, and then attach again.
Good Luck, Arturo
Dear Arturo, I tried loading the 3D drawing of a car into 3D Studio and use the
Modify/Objects/Attributes to rename objects in the drawing after using the
Select/Object/By Name to select the object that I want to rename so that the
object turns red on the screen but clicking on the "Selected" button on the
lower right corner of the screen doesn't work. Jeffrey.
Hi, Jeffrey. If I understand you correctly, you want to rename a single object
— right? In this case, you don't need a selection set. Follow these steps:
1. select Modify/Object/Attributes and hit the "H" key (for "Hot") this action
will display a list of all objects in the scene. 2. Click on the name of the
object whose name you want to change and click on OK. 3. The Object Attributes
dialog appears, allowing you to type in a new name for the object (among other
things). 4. Type in the new name and click on OK. Voila, the object has a new
name. :).
Regards, Connie
Great tip, thanks. Maybe there are other "hot" keys for other functions that do
not allow you to select by name. Who knows what lurks 😐
Good 3Diing! Arturo
Glad I could help — anytime!:)…The "H" key was first made available in
rel.2, and does help a great deal in many sitiuations. Thank you, GY!
Connie
Dear Connie, When I import 3D drawings from AutoCAD into 3D Studio, 3D Studio
names all objects "Unn" where nn is a number. I had to use the Select/Object/By
Name so that objects turn red on the screen so that I know which object to
rename. I used Modify/Object/Attributes and hit the "H" key. Jeffrey.
Glad I could help — anytime!:)
Connie
<<I tried loading the 3D drawing of a car>>
hi, yeah, that is not an option in that mode (the selected button). You first
wante to "detach" the parts of the car (by using CREATE Object detach), that
allows you to "name" each part individually to assign attributes, or mapping
textures or whatever. You will lose those names when you re-attach them to be
able to animate the whole car as a unit. A tip: when you want to perform an
operation on a single element of a complex object (like a car)first select that
element or group of elements, then choose INVERT from the select menu, then
HIDE SELECTED and keep doing that until you only have the piece you want on the
screen. Even though it is still part of a bigger object you can now choose
CREATE Object detach and click on that little piece (a bolt for example) and
rename it to bolt. Now you can change the color or name or whatever. Dont
forget to re-attach it or your car will speed up leaving a trail of parts
behind (great for effects!)
Good 3Ding! Arturo
Dear Arturo, When I import 3D drawings from AutoCAD into 3D Studio, 3D Studio
names all objects "Unn" where nn is a number. I had to use the Select/Object/By
Name so that objects turn red on the screen so that I know which object to
rename. I used Modify/Object/Attributes and hit the "H" key. Jeffrey.