[insomnia3d]

Once you import the object into 3ds Max it will no longer read them as a cad file. The layers will be there but will convert them to editable splines, mesh,.. all depending on the geometry and construction. That said, it has to render as long as it has a Maxwell material applied to it, and obviously a light.
Any who, try selecting the objects in question and turn them into a editable poly, or mesh, depending on your mood.
Hopes this helps

[Romans]

Hello Mike,

I am using this same seamless workflow here too and I am a preacher for this file-linking thingy. It works fine for me here (ADT 2006 and 3ds Max8.1).
No problems so far. The one BIG problem I have suffered with was large models with a huge amount of polygones (Max makes triangels from ADT-objects). This was no problem at all with the maxwell beta, but now with RC5 and the RC5-plugin size (objekt amount) does matter (even .mxs will not be written.. )
In your case: try to bind the linked geometry. Then all objects become Max-objects without Filelink-restrictions. And it is recomended to asign a maxwell material to every single object.

Good luck

Roman

[insomnia3d]

Have you tried Power Translators fron Npower Software?

http://www.npowersoftware.com/