Navisworks to Maya

[TheNewFrame]

Hi there,

So a client provided me with a major CAD scene in Navisworks format (.nwd), which needs to be exported to Maya.

I found that the only way to do this is by making an FBX export, however the .fbx file (binary) became arround 2GB and does nothing when I try to import it to Maya. I'm currently trying the ascii FBX (takes loooong to export) but maybe there are other (better) ways to do this?

Thanks in advance,

Niels

[TheNewFrame]

I tried the ascii FBX, it created a 16GB file which makes maya freeze when I try to select it in the Import menu. 

[Nicola_Ianeselli]

Hi @TheNewFrame,

call the client and ask for another format. Why NWD? Nobody works in Nwd if not for clashes or time simulation.

NWD is only a collection of models, but oyu cannot modify (kind of) anything inside of it.

Best

Nicola

[dgorsman]

Don't try to do it all in one go, either.  Get it broken down into logical chunks, and "shrinkwrapped" or "simplified" if possible.  See if they can provide a neutral format such as IGES

You may still run into problems.  Engineering designed items typically run counter to visualization software procedures.  They have many individual instances of low-poly objects (for counting) which runs counter to the usual low instances with high-poly count and duplications.  Models usually have a higher level of detail due to objects which would never be naturally visible and/or required for connectivity; in Maya those would be ignored or done with textures or procedural surface modifiers.  Civil-scale designs can have an additional problem if they are geo-located - the geometry will need to be moved much closer to the origin to reduce the coordinate values to usable numbers.