IGES Import

[ThirdEye]

impossible :hmm:

[medula]

Open the IGES file in something else first. Like Alias Studio for example. Then export it as an .obj file. Then you can open it in Cinema! :)

[chris_b]

... yeah, that is, if you happen to have a $20,000 USD license of Alias just kicking around somwhere ;) ... how about CATIA or Pro-E...

... Alternatively, Rhino is a great tool for importing IGES and STEP for tesselation and output to OBJ/3DS/LWO. Unfortunately, Cinema's smoothing
algorythms don't account for vertex normals and it is VERY hard to avoid artifacts (especially in topological transition zones like fillets).

... I'd give my big toe for Proper NURBS support (import and meshing) in Cinema :hmm:

c

PS you can download a demo of Rhino with 25 saves from the McNeel website

[AdamT]

Another option is to use the *free* ProEngineer Desktop program, which is pretty cool in its own right, and tesselate from there. I've heard that ProE is sort of picky about importing IGES, though.

[fxgogo]

Cool, thanks for the info guys. Yeah I will give that Pro-E and Rhino a go. THe origional model comes from Pro-E origionally I think. I was also thinking of using STL, but from my brothers experience in MAx is that the faceting has been a problem.

Have any of you tried importing a low rez mesh of the model and then Hyper-nurbing it? I was just hyperthetically thinking that might be an option to get a smooth imported model.

[AdamT]

Originally posted by fxgogo
Have any of you tried importing a low rez mesh of the model and then Hyper-nurbing it? I was just hyperthetically thinking that might be an option to get a smooth imported model.
That would depend on how the mesh comes in, i.e., whether it's triangulated or quads. If it's triangulated you can pretty much forget about HN.

[medula]

Have any of you tried importing a low rez mesh of the model and then Hyper-nurbing it? I was just hyperthetically thinking that might be an option to get a smooth imported model.

Yes - results will always vary . . . You will end up having to rework the model in just about every case to some degree.

I suggest doing the obj export with various settings. Some programs like Alias Studio will give you a lot of options (if you can get access to it that is).

Also I suggest finding someone who has the program PolyTrans - from what I've seen, it converts files flawlessly - thus, you may not have to do ANY reworking of the model. http://www.okino.com/

Good luck!

[chris_b]

ProDesktop Express is very VERY particular when it comes to importing geometry. I have had little success with IGES, but STEP and SAT work reasonably well.

The trick is to ensure that your model is perfectly manifold (watertight) with no unmerged edges at all. ProDesktop incorporates the Granite One solid modeling kernel, but the core (like SolidWorks and SolidEdge) is Parasolid, but without support for surfaces.

For anyone interested in/working with solid model files, there are excellent free viewing and export apps available at:

http://www.hoops3d.com/downloads/partviewer/partviewers.htm


c

[amapimaster]

Has anyone had any experience of solid egde?

Whats the modelling engine like?

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