[jomaga]

Dxf import to Studio have some issues with 3dsolids built in Autocad (I make almost all my models with this kind of geometry)
As a workaround, to import all the data without problems I´ve found a solution:

Open Autocad drawing

1- Put each part onto a unique layer. This will facilitate assigning materials in Studio since materials are assigned to each layer in the model.
2- Set the mesh resolution with the FACETRES system variable. The default value of 0.5 is very low and results in a course polygon mesh approximating the shape of your model. I recommend you set the value to a higher level to create a more accurate part shape. Use the maximum setting of 10. If you have 3d surfaces, set the surface resolution with SURFTAB1 and SURFTAB2 (default is 6 / 6) to a medium value like 40 / 40
3- Export the solids to a 3D Studio files using the 3DSOUT command or by selecting File / Export from main menu and setting 3D Studio as the file type. Keep the default settings on the 3D Studio File Export Options screen.
4- Import the 3D Studio file into a new AutoCAD drawing using the 3DSIN command or by selecting Insert / 3D Studio from the main menu. Click the Add All button in the Available Objects section of the Import 3D Studio File Options screen and keep the rest of the settings at their default values.
5- Save as... the meshed parts to a .DXF file. The .DXF file can be imported into Studio.
6- Open Studio, open dxf

All the geometry is ok: solids, boolean operations, lines, 3dfaces

Hope this could help you!

[Ernesto]

Yes it is working, but there are some problems.
1) the objects names are lost in Maxwell Studio, instead it names all the objects with the file name plus a number.
If you rename this objects you will lose the possibility of updating a geometry, keeping the projectors and other caracteritics that were edited in Maxwell Studio, and you will have to start all again.
2) There is a limit of polygons to be exported to 3DS, if your object is over that limit it will dissapear. You have to divide complex objects and assign each part to a diferent layer to export it succesfully.
3) Maxwell cannot know the axis orientation when the file was exported and imported so many times and the scene appears rotated in MX Studio.
Ernesto

[3ddrummer]

Not to rain on the rest of you guys parades.. but for me it seems to work perfect using jomega's methods.....THANKS JOMEGA....I was importing into 3DMAX then going into MAxwell. Not a good workflow. I do however have to scale down my models by 0.01 to get the lights and scales correct. Anyone else have that issue? Also, How can we start our own AutoCAD to Maxwell thread/forum? Anyone up for it since we are few but proud?

drummer boy

[jomaga]

Hi!
As some of you know, Autodesk removed the 3Dsout command since 2007 version.
I requested them to a workaround to solve the mesh export problem in the last versions of Autocad, and voila! they have republished the 3dsout command for Autocad 2007&2008, as a external application.
Here it is:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps ... ID=9240618