3DSMax to Solidworks

[DDDPiper]

Hi,

I've designed a blaster in 3DSMax for a laser tag arena.. We want to get a rapid prototype of it to check for real-world scale and fitting of circuits and components.. However, once exported, I can't seem to do anything with it at all in Solidworks.. Admittedly, I am a MAX fellow, and know nothing of Solidworks.. Right now, all I want to do is get a measurement of the model.. I can't figure out how to do it.. Is the STL format locked?

Is there someone available who could look at the file?

-Matthew

 

[SBaugh]

Check the options on the STL import side of SW. However if you Exported it out as STL there is a possiblity that it will come in as a Triangulated model. If it does then measuring will not be an option. It must be a solid or surface.

Depending on the size of our arena maybe a problem too. SW only has a certain size that SW will handle, anything outside of that is not valid and probably not translate over.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[DDDPiper]

Scott,

I do have some problem areas I'm still ironing out (I booleaned a cylinder and have to rebuild some faces).. I'm not sure if it's a solid or surface, MAX only deals in tris and quads..

Size may be a problem.. MAX units are generic and mean nothing, they are just for reference (MAX is definitely not a CAD package).. I was hoping to scale it as needed in Solidworks, but I can't seem to do anything but rotate it..

Worse case senerio, can I build surfaces in Solidworks based off of MAX data?

-Matthew

 

[Theophilus]

Have you used the "smart dimension" tool in SW to try to snap a dimension from one point to another? I would think that whatever generic units you had in 3DSMax would import in the default units of your SW part template file--inches or whatever you have it set to.

If you can get a dimension, you can scale it. Try to go from point to point. (I didn't know SW could import an STL file.)


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[SBaugh]

Sounds like the file is not solid and is more of a triangluated model. Because if you can't scale or anything then there isn't much more you can do with that file. It's probably a Graphics file and SW cannot convert that into a solid.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[DDDPiper]

I'm positive what I'm sending out is tris, not surfaces or curves..

However, the Rapid Protyper we are going to use only takes STL format, so I'll be exporting to STL one way or the other..

Does this mean I can't get any measurements at all in Solidworks? Doesn't look that way.. I could scale it in MAX if I just knew how big the dang thing is..

We've also experimented with exporting to DXF and DWG, but neither imported correctly.. My point cloud was 2D, not 3D..

-Matthew

 

[SBaugh]

SW will bring in Parasolid, STEP, IGES, or ACIS as a solid model geometry. If you can't get your model into one of those then I would say your SOL.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[PlasticFantastic]

DDDPiper. Solidworks does not have STL editing /poly editing capabilities. Can Max convert poly to sub-div and then nurbs?? Unless you can work in nurbs in Max and export to iges Solidworks is not helpful. Right now you will probably have to create wall thickness in Max

perhaps you should make a CNC model. This only needs the surface model. Sorry not to provide the answer you were looking for

 

[rockguy]

http://www.okino.com

and

http://www.baren-boym.com

both offer translators to go from 3D Studio to SolidWorks and vice versa. I believe each site offers 30 day free trials of the product. Check them out.