Rhino import/export

[andrewjohn81]

alot of times it's just one piece that is causing the crash.

Are you previewing the mesh in Rhino before exporting? If not then something may not be meshing properly. It is wise to export each different piece seperately so that you have control over them.
If you want only one file, mesh the pieces in rhino, then select the mesh to export. I've not had any problem getting the files into max if Rhino doesn't choke on the mesh.

Another thing to try is using a different mesh format. There are a few that max will accept, so try different ones. My suggestion is obj format.

[tilite]

thats excatly what im running now... its importing as i type!

[EighthDecay]

I use that Rhino To Max Puggin, that imports meshes from rhino 3dm files?

Have you tried that one?

I'll have to dig around and find it, but seaching google I found this,, not sure if they are the same that I downloaded a few years ago.

http://www.geofrac2000.com/3dsmax_geofrac.htm

it keeps the layer color from Rhino, makes easy selection, just select by color.

and I never have a problem with big rhino files using this, but I have allot of trouble with the OBJ files. never looks quite right and usually the file is 10 time the size I would have with any other method.

[tilite]

well the obj was sucessful but it is huge... draining my machine for everything its worth... there is actually a timelapse on what im typing now:S all from a simple rotate???

this is sooo frustrating

[sabaman]

type "O" in max,

youll get the box when rotating,

also, did you optimize your mesh before exporting?...

[andrewjohn81]

with polydata, especially from Rhino because it's "messy", you want to make sure and have the quality as low as can be for whatever purpose it is.
Don't use the slider. Figure out what the manual controls for meshing do and use them.
The guys at McNeel disagree with me, but I usually have alot of success with changing the Maximum angle, Minimum edge length, and max aspect ratio (if I want better topology and don't care about size).
The reason I choose to use the minimum edge length is for the really small radii. if you are far from the object then you really only need 1 edge there. So, for an 8th inch radius make the maximum edge length (here's where the math comes in) .177. I think that's right. You wouldn't use the length, but the distance between the two, so you only have one surface there.
If you get a bit closer then bump it up to 2 or 3 edges per smalles radius. I wouldn't go past 5 though unless the radius edge is full screen or something. Always keep that number odd. That will ensure you get a proper highlight.
The aspect ratio should be obvious. If you are going to optimize in max (not always a bad idea if everything is joined properly) then make sure that is somewhere between 1 and 6.
You can throw the max angle in there in conjunction with the max edge length to ensure nice radiuses for big ones, but you can ignore some of the smaller ones.
I often use 5-15 degrees, but sometimes will use 90.
If you use 90 degrees, but set a maximum edge length to something like a quarter of your larger radii, then your small radii will be ignored, but your larger radii will look nice. This makes some fairly uniform geometry so you can optimize it pretty good in max.

On the max side of things you can add optimize in the modifier stack. Beware of large file sizes. You will notice they don't get smaller. You have to collapse the stack. I just convert to editeable poly again and that takes care of that. The downside to that is you can no longer edit the quality. The upside is you can edit the polygons now. If you modeled in a hurried rush you will have lots of spots to fix.

Note: if you are using meshsmooth or turbo smooth in max on your objects from rhino then you are doing something horribly wrong. Export again from rhino and give yourself the quality you need from there. If your faces look faceted then learn about smooth groups from your friend f1

[tilite]

thanks andrewjohn i appreciate the intrest... atm i think i have narrowed it down to a few surfaces... i will stick at it and give an update soon. but really not thinking to straight now.. i read what you posted and lets just say i need to sleep and read it again... lol

edt: i must be honest for now i can only stand dealing with the slider :banghead:

[tilite]

edt: andrewjohn i apologise for the post i left in this space.. i was just panicing and extreemly tired.

i did read your post again it makes perfect sense now.. some really good guidelines to follow... cheers

i now have import export working fine for file typs ige, 3ds, obj and dwg... i think thats all ive tried but no problems now.. i wants to ask about dwg... that is what i was recomended a uni... can anyone tell me anythign about them and how they compare?

i did a small test with these objects (pre meshed)

http://img6.imagevenue.com/loc85/th_da6_5objs.JPG (http://img6.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc85&image=da6_5objs.JPG)

ige(igs) = didnt work... saved file but didnt import anything into max (note: 1 attempt only, just moved on)
3ds = import worked, can't export layers and all default max colors
obj = import worked, can export layers (choice), default max colors
dwg = import worked, must export layers (no choice), exports layer color also, even imported to wireframe in the max perspective window

so as far as i can tell the dwg file export seems to have me most direct correlation with the rhino model... so im having a toss up with obj and dwg files. obj files seem to me customable but the dwj keeps truer to the rhino model (not sure if thats and advantage or disadvantage yet???).

so ive been told that the 3ds file works the same as obj but 3ds will divide a mesh when it exceeds 60000 polys... obj wont. so what limitations does the dwg file have compared to the obj file???

[tilite]

ill fiddle round with ige and if i come up with anything i will edit this space here

[KevinK]

Dit you export nurbs data in the IGES file or did you try to export mesh data?

[Klasz]

I didn't read all the thread, but u should try NpowerTranslator for Max..(NpowerSoftware)
Great Tool. U can mesh Brep Objects in max by converting them in editable mesh, and it is a very good optimized meshing...

I use it a lot, and my imports in max are very quick... U can directly import .3dm file into Max.

Byye

[tilite]

kevink to tell you the truth i can remember??? lol but i dont think that matters... i think im going to keep ussing dwg files... i just found out another thing that is nifty with them... i seems you dont have to flip surfaces... not to much of a hassle but when there is that one surface in like millions hat wont render...

i havnte used npowertranslator and im sure its heaps better but atm when im broke i think im going to have to stick to dwgs....

im still keen to hear if anyone knows of any problems with them too!

[KevinK]

Actually it does matter ;) For the IGES files to work your object has to be nurbs, since it only exports nurbs data. It will simply ignore mesh data :)

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