Poly Modeling software for Accurate modeling? (suggestions? any available?)

#1

Hi,
Sorry… This is not a Maya vs Max or some other software thread, although it might seem like it xD I was wondering if there is a poly modelling software out there (other than Maya or Max) that provides one for more accurate modelling (accuracy in terms of dimensions, snapping, moving vertices etc… eg: like Rhino) I hate nurbs modeling in Rhino but love the accuracy I can get with it. Is there a Poly modeling software that is much better in terms of accuracy compared to Maya or Max? I have used tsplines plugin in Rhino but that software is terrible compared to poly modeling in Maya or Max. I guess I’m looking for the best of both worlds and maybe somewhere in between… accuracy offered by Rhino and easy of modelling like in Maya or Max.

Thanks

#2

anyone use Modo? does that offer me better accuracy during poly modeling?

#3

For me is Maya modeling perfect but maya is powerfull software and needs a strong machine when i use laptop’s with less power and only for modeling then i use for NURBS Rhino 3D and for POLY Silo 3D. Try Silo 3D maybe you like it…
Silo 3D

#4

Solidworks has really come a long way over the past few years, and has put quite a few 3DS Max/C4D/Maya product viz artist out of work.

http://www.solidworks.com/

Modeling with curves and splines really is the most accurate way to approximate curved surfaces. Maya has some fancy poly modeling tools, but its never going to approach what you can do in a good CAD program.

#5

I think the snapping tools of Blender have become very powerful with the last releases. If you do not know Blender you can checkout my Blender tutorials to get started.

#6

This might sound odd, but some 3D software appears to have its accuracy problems to the right of the decimal point. (It seems they typically round off or truncate after 8 digits or so right of decimal. They do this to keep calculations or other overhead down where it’s “not seen”.) So if it’s possible, you can try modeling bigger by some factor of 10 and then scaling back down to the intended size in whatever environment you’re going to use it in. (So if you were to need 3 extra digits of precision than what the software normally gives, scale by 1000%.)

Yeah, it’s definitely a hacky work-around to get more usable precision out of modeling software with some built-in limitations. Not always guaranteed but sometimes it’s worth a shot.

If you don’t need mathematical precision and are looking for for polygon modeling with user defined constraint steps, user defined distances on user defined axes, snapping, etc… And doing that with readily usable hotkeys… Wings 3D of all software does fairly well at this. (Provided you don’t get carried away on polygons. I find it starts to chug somewhere upwards of 65K. YMMV.) Other software may not have features like that built in, but it’s very likely those are available via plug-ins.

Blender is mentioned and can also give a good bit of precision. But you first have to learn how to make that 3D cursor your friend. The context of snapping in general is limited in some regards, but that 3D cursor will put stuff “right there” if you know how to use it.

#7

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