topic Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

t_smith5 — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:24:43 GMT

I'm having some difficulty with exporting a model out to another package. I'm just experimenting at the moment, but the last time I tried exporting something out as an OBJ or FBX, the mesh is miles away from the centre of the world and it's usually in the wrong orientation. I did set the 'Default Modelling Orientation' to 'Y up' in the Preferences, but that didn't work.

I'm guessing the meshes need to be at the Origin point before they'll appear in the centre of the world in another package...? If so, I'm having some problems with that. I can't figure out how to move my meshes to the Origin whilst they all stay together. I managed it easily with the Canvas... I read about adding them to a Rigid Group, but I still can't figure out how to move them there. Likewise with combining all the meshes together.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

TrippyLighting — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:32:07 GMT

Fusion 360 is a BRep/NURBS modeler. Only when you export these into .stl, .obj. or .fbx will these become triangulated meshes. For use in Maya, 3DS MAx or any other Sub-D modeling software I would not use .stl export.

So in essence before you export your design into meshes they need to be in the right location. If you want your objects centered around the origin, then that's where they need to be before you export them.

My suggestion would be to design them in place from the beginning and not move them there later.

Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

TheCADWhisperer — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:51:18 GMT

@t_smith5 wrote:
I did set the 'Default Modelling Orientation' to 'Y up' in the Preferences, but that didn't work.

If so, I'm having some problems with that. I can't figure out how to move my meshes …

Renaming the faces of the View Cube has nothing to do with coordinate system. XYZ is XYZ.

Move is almost always the wrong move (pun intended) as used by beginners.

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

t_smith5 — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:00:14 GMT

Sure. I've attached it. Also, did you see my reply to your other post regarding help with Fusion...? 🙂

Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

TheCADWhisperer — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:21:47 GMT

Forget the words on the View Cube - these are all relative.

Imagine you are on the International Space Station. What is UP?

The only thing that is consistent between CAD programs is XYZ. One CAD program might call Y - Up and another call Z - Up, but when you move files from one to another those designations are ignored, The only thing that is honored is position relative to absolute XYZ.

In use this is referred to the BORN Technique - Base Orphan Reference Node. The origin (and coordinate system) is what it is. Based on >>Cartesian Coordinate System<< definition.

Use the Origin as your absolute datum - single source of truth. It cannot be deleted, it cannot be moved.

At anytime you are tempted to use the Move command you should - STOP - and ask questions first. There are appropriate times to use the command, but it is most often the wrong move.

I will now continue this discussion in your previous thread...

Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

t_smith5 — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:45:57 GMT

@TheCADWhisperer wrote:

At anytime you are tempted to use the Move command you should - STOP - and ask questions first. There are appropriate times to use the command, but it is most often the wrong move.

What, not even to move a mesh that's not quite in the right position based on a reference...? Or to move a new piece of geo into place for a blockout?

Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

TheCADWhisperer — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:07:01 GMT

I didn’t say Move is ALWAYS the wrong move, just most of the time as used by beginners.

You did not Attach a file and ask if Move was appropriate in particular file.

I did notice in the other files that you Attached - inappropriate use of Move.

Re: Confusion with exporting out to Maya/3ds Max etc

t_smith5 — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:16:10 GMT

Hmm, okay. No, I don't have any example files for Move. But the previous file I linked above - is there something I've done wrong where I've used Move?

Also, how is it possible to have everything at the Origin? Such as in the case of my provided file - the Canvas was set to the Origin, but in order to match the references, which are on either side of it, my meshes won't be/aren't.