topic How to import FBX file with correct orientation in 3ds Max Forum

How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Anonymous — Thu, 04 May 2017 13:07:38 GMT

Hi, I have imported FBX to 3ds Max.

The FBX file is created from Navisworks Manage. Here is the top view for FBX in Navisworks Manage:

However, when I import FBX to 3ds Max, the orientation has changed. Here is the top view in 3ds Max:

Here is the FBX import settings I have used when I import FBX in 3ds:

I could not find FBX import settings which specify rotation or orientation.

Could anyone please guide me how to import FBX with correct orientation? I have attached a sample FBX file here.

Thank you.

Re: How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Anonymous — Fri, 05 May 2017 13:59:23 GMT

Dear all, anyone has experienced this problem before?

Thank you.

Re: How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Alfred.DeFlaminis — Mon, 15 May 2017 16:22:10 GMT

Hello @Anonymous,

This seems to be an issue with how Navisworks sees scenes with Z as Up axis. (Navis uses Y.) The FBX is importing as it's being written, so I think the fix is in Navisworks. I don't know that software at all, but I did find this article which explains how to set coordinates in Navisworks. Seems like if you made some adjustments there it should fix the problem.

In Max you could just rotate the helper that everything is parented to 180 degrees on the Z to get the same results.

Can you please try those things for me?

Best Regards,

Re: How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Anonymous — Tue, 16 May 2017 08:52:34 GMT

@Alfred.DeFlaminis, thank you for your response.

I have checked with the NWD file author and the coordinates shown in Navisworks are correct.

@Alfred.DeFlaminis wrote:

In Max you could just rotate the helper that everything is parented to 180 degrees on the Z to get the same results.

How do I rotate the helper?
Could you please show me some guidance in doing this?

Thank you.

Re: How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Alfred.DeFlaminis — Tue, 16 May 2017 19:42:04 GMT

Hello @Anonymous,

According to that article, Navisworks uses Z as up which is the same as Max, that's great. It uses +Y as North. This should be the same in Max but your entire model seems to be rotated 180 degrees. So maybe setting -Y as North will fix that. Worth a shot.

Otherwise you can select the helper that Navisworks is putting in your FBX at 0,0,0 and use snapping to rotate it 180 degrees. I made a screencast to show this to make it easier to understand. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Re: How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Alfred.DeFlaminis — Thu, 18 May 2017 22:48:00 GMT

Hello @Anonymous,

I just wanted to follow up here, any progress on this issue?

Best Regards,

Re: How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Anonymous — Mon, 22 May 2017 16:31:49 GMT

@Alfred.DeFlaminis, sorry for the late response.

I managed to try your method and it works well.

Thank you for your support!

Re: How to import FBX file with correct orientation

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 10:52:09 GMT

@Alfred.DeFlaminis , is there any script available for me to the same actions you have shown in the video (import the FBX and then rotate the model)?