AutoCAD to Maya 2015 Workflow

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am working in a furniture design company. All the furniture models were done in AutoCad. I am required to texture and animate them for promotional videos using Maya 2015. However, I am having some problems converting AutoCAD files to Maya files with proper topology polygons (Quads).

I've tried using DirectConnect 2015, AutoCad Mesh Tessallation, and also 3Ds Max to export AutoCad files as FBX and OBJ but the results are terrible. lots of tris, seperated faces, and the topology is horrible. It is too hard to texture, rig and animate under these conditions without retopo/remodel.

Is there any efficient workflow tutorial or tips I can follow? Thanks in advance!

[J450NP13]

You won't get anything better than what you're getting.  I use FBX out of autocad to Maya.  Or DWG right into Maya sometimes.

It's because the platform that the furniture is designed in is for CAD....not animations...the modeling type is completely different.

You will just have to get use to it.

I haven't found an easier way.  If someone else knows....that would be great.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

you will need software that is able to merge surfaces together, based on materials, components etc.
In maya this is dreadfull, but I believe the software you are looking for is called power translator or something like that.

After that and you have your new meshes, you can cleanup everything in maya, so quadratulate everything, reduce meshes etc etc