Hello ladies and gents. This is a problem that's been killing me for weeks now. In trying to fix this problem, I've come to realize that this is a common problem for max users, and one that rarely seems to get solved (at least not publicly). I have a max model of an angel statue (mesh). This model is going to be used to create a mold. The problem is that the client ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE this model in .iges format. The manufacturer who's going to be making this mold seems to have a whole lot of limitations on getting this file. I won't go into detail about that part of it. Just know that pretty much any other format is out (even STL ... don't ask). I've lost count of how many hours I've put into researching this issue. Let me tell you what I do know:
1) The IGES format is for NURBS; Meshes simply will not work when exporting to iges (aka .igs) If you try to export a mesh as an iges file you will get a tiny .xlo file instead.
2) If you have a model that was created as a mesh, YOU CAN convert it to a NURBS object. Many people believe that it is impossible. This is not the case. In Max, here are the steps:
a. right click on the object
b. Convert to Editable Patch (depending on the complexity of the model, this might take a while)
c. After the conversion is done, right click again on the object and Convert to NURBS (depending on the complexity of the model, this might take FOREVER. For this particular angel, about 12 hours+ was the process)
I've done this with smaller, less complicated objects, and even successfully exported the objects to .igs straight from Max. So if anyone reading this is in the same boat I am, you might be one of the lucky ones who only needs to do this process to get your iges file. Unfortunately, this may not work for you (for whatever reason; anything's possible). So, in that case:
3) Rhino is a MUCH FASTER way to convert your mesh into a NURBS object. Here are the steps I took to get to this point:
a. in Max, export your mesh as a .STL file
b. Open your STL in Rhino
c. select your object and type _MeshToNurb as your command
d. go get some tea or something (the process is NOT NEARLY AS LONG as with Max, but it will take a little while. If I remember right, though, it was less than an hour, possible WAY less. I've gone through so many processes in the last few weeks I honestly don't remember)
I'd like to note here that you don't necessarily have to export your mesh as a STL. It works, but there are other formats that you can export to that will probably work just as well. Just know that STL definitely works.
4) Now, from here, you can export an iges file straight from Rhino. (I have no idea about the best settings or anything. Maybe somebody can help me with that)
So, here is my dilemma. I don't know what kind of whack system the manufacturer's running, but he claims to not be able to open my igs file. He says that it's too big. I don't seem to have that problem with Rhino. I opened a 217MB igs with Rhino. However, Max did lock up when I tried to open that same file and when I tried to open up another instance of the angel at 115MB. The client couldn't open the big files either. So my questions are:
1) Are IGES files just naturally HUGE? Because every one that I've created has been pretty big. Is there a way to create SMALLER (like way smaller) IGES files?
2) It's possible that I just don't have the export setting correct for the iges file. Is there an IGES expert out there who can help? The manufacturer is trying to open this in Pro/E, Inventor, Solidworks, and/or AutoCAD. And I know what you're thinking. "Well, shoot, those apps can take MANY different formats" But trust me, getting the client AND the manufacturer in this case to take a different format has been like pulling teeth. There are several different reasons why. At this point, it's GOTTA BE AN IGES.
3) I did send the client an iges file of a simple spiked ball thingy that I built and converted and exported in Max. THAT file he could open. So I'm thinking that the default settings for the IGES export in Max should do the trick. The problem is that I need to import the NURBS object that i created in Rhino back into Max without it being converted back into a mesh first. Any format ideas for that?
4) Because this thing is being 3D printed, all of the detail is in the geometry itself. So the file is destined to be large. Any ideas on how to optimize the object (besides the Optimize modifier) to shrink this file a little without having to lose too much (if any) detail?
Your help is much appreciated, but if anybody learns anything from my post, that's cool too. So thanks to anyone who answers, and good luck to anyone who's having the same problem. 🙂
