#GOOD DXF INTO 3DS?
8 messages in this thread
I am having problems getting good DXF files into 3DS v.2.
My client's machine parts; (ACAD DXF files), when imported to 3DS, ("Derive
objects from:","Layer."), etc., are missing many faces, and show some of what
are supposed to be holes, as solid cylinders. I have tried different weld
thresholds, (with unified normals,) to no avail.
I don't know ACAD myself, but supposedly my client has "DXF'd" his data and has
run the "SOLMESH" command. (I believe he is running current release of ACAD.)
Is there anything I can tell him to do differently before sending me these
files?… I hope to put this project to tape SOON! THANKS.
Andy,
If you've gone through the unify normals and such you could always try using
two sided materials – faster or just force 2 sided on in the renderer –
slower.
Dave Mennenoh
Andy,
>>ACAD DXF -> 3DS…
In my humble experience, the success of conversion depends largely on how the
model is created in ACAD. I've built scads of geometry in ACAD AME, and DXFed
it (mostly) without problems. I think DXFout, Entities, Binary is generally
recommended. I've also brought in models made by someone else and spent weeks
fixing them up. Sometimes it was easier to use the ACAD geometry as a
dimensional and placement guide and recreate portions of the model from scratch
in 3DS.
A couple of points, besides the things you've already tried… If any of the
objects are built manually in ACAD, he must make sure he actually built all the
faces. It is easy to miss some. Can he "Shade" or "Hide" the model correctly
from several viewpoints after meshing? If not, make him fix the model.
Unfortunately, after seeing some "expert" ACAD construction, I would hesitate
to estimate a 3DS project until AFTER I loaded the DXF and checked it out.
JKJ
Andy,
We have a product BlockSOLID which welds vertecies, joins meshes & unifies
normals inside of ACAD (along with a host of other functions). Its pretty
inexpensive (<$200). If you and your client doing this on a regular basis
(working in ACAD –> 3DS) then this program will come in handy.
BlockSOLID works on surface entities in ACAD and allow modification and
*ENGINEERING CALCULATIONS* on surface models. So, it has the distinction of
allowing you to model complex shapes in 3DS .. import the models into ACAD and
calculate things like: wieght, volume, CG, inertias, cross-sections and
x-section properties…. well and a whole lot of other stuff. We can also do
*SURFACE OFFSETTING* which can be very handy if you have a complex object and
want to create an inside or outside surface at a given thickness.
If you would like further info, please call (800) 236-5425 and I'll mail and/or
fax some to you.
Happy New Year!
Ang
Ang,
Send me info on BlockSOLID!!!!
Chuck
Chuck,
>> Send me info on BlockSOLID!!!!<<
Sure … hea … give me a call and give me your Fax:# and I'll send'ya some
info. The call's on me <g>. (800) 236-5425.
Ang
Ang, I'd be interested in looking at the info you have too. My fax # is:
(405)341-0308. Voice is (405)341-3440. Thanks.
-Mark
Andy,
Is your client building themodel with AME or is SOLMESH just being used as a
step prior to export? If it's the latter he is not heling your translation at
all. If it was built in AME then you should not be unifying its normals. You
might want to explain to your client how 3DS interprets DXF files in that it
will cap ANY (legal) closed entity – this is the reason his "holes" are
cylinders: the extruded circle is being capped top and bottom. You're missing
faces are probably do to erratic face normals – they might be there but are
not rendering.
The model needs to be built in ACAD with 3DS conversion in mind. If it wasn't
you should double your fee because you're going to be doubling your effort.
– Phil