topic Re: Alternatives for importing very dense CAD? in 3ds Max Forum

Alternatives for importing very dense CAD?

brandonhall32 — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 22:09:10 GMT

Does anyone have any solutions for importing very high cad files? Some are close to 10 gigs. We use to use Right Hemisphere Deep CAD, but they were bought out by SAP and getting any support from them is like pulling teeth. One of the great things about that program was I could open the cad and export out sections of the model. So I didn't have worry about importing the whole thing at once? We are at our wits end here and could really use some suggestions.

Thanks for any help.

Re: Alternatives for importing very dense CAD?

Diffus3d — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 22:56:38 GMT

Any luck @brandonhall32 ?

You can import models as STEP and put the smoothing level down and convert to mesh on import so they aren't 10Gigs anymore. That could be one option. Otherwise the export procedure from CAD is the area I'd investigate. I don't know much about CAD exporting but can it export layers at a time? That might be an option. If it cannot do that and you have no other way...

When all else fails and you absolutely must convert the file format to something else, PolyTrans has been the goto in my experience. Spendy, but good.

Best Regards,

Re: Alternatives for importing very dense CAD?

brandonhall32 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 23:18:35 GMT

@Diffus3d yeah the problem with using max to import the step files, is If I take it low or even just to 0 it really makes the model faceted, Once i go higher it takes hours to import, if at all. I did find a solution though. I opened the step file in Fusion 360 and then saved each part as a separate IGES file and then imported each file separately. It's been working so far.

Thanks for the support.

-B

Re: Alternatives for importing very dense CAD?

Diffus3d — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 23:21:43 GMT

Glad to hear it @brandonhall32 ! If you don't mind I'll mark your post as a solution so that the next person with this problem has a goto. Thanks so much for the follow up!

Best Regards,

Re: Alternatives for importing very dense CAD?

brandonhall32 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 23:23:11 GMT

My Pleasure!