CompuServe Thread

>> I like using the adavanced modeling extension in ACAD 12. But it does not translate well into 3D Studio from a DXF file. I understand that ACAD 13 will translate an ACAD file to a .3ds file. Unfortunately, I am not in the market for an ACAD upgrade. Any suggestions would be appreciated. << hi Jeff. i use AME a lot to import surfaces into 3DS… number of tricks which really help: a) keep an AME version of the drawing saved. explode the AME object (all the blocks) iteratively until you get down to the 3DFACE level. import these. b) make sure to have a high setting for SOLWDENS before SOLMESHing c) make sure no entities with "thicknesses" are being transfered. d) whenever possible, use xSURF commands instead to create open surfaces with a high setting for SURFTAB1 and SURFTAB2. in other words, if the objects you are transfering are completely enclosed 3d boundaries, AME can do a fairlky reliable translation to DXF. if you are doing open surfaces though, use xSURF commands… (EDGESURF, RULESURF, etc) e) make sure all boolean ops on AME primitives leave clean vertice welds before DXF translation is made. check with quick renders in ACAD first to avoid gaps and open seams. f) avoid XREFed component model assemblies whenever possible. if you have to, bind the suckers first (leaving the originals intact as saved files of course) and explode down to the 3DFACE level again. g) for blocks and surfaces which are having real trouble translating, remember that 3DS also has boolean sculpting capabilities. i have often translated wireframes in ACAD to 3DS for object scultping guidelines in 3DS. this works too and uses 3DS native construction to weld vertices, etc. R13 does have 3DSOUT and 3DSIN commands to export/import directly to 3DS files, but it's also using ACIS modeler, not AME. as long as you're using AME, R13's tranfer functions won't be much more help than R12's. hope this helps. -dave