Assistance converting Inventor to 3DS Max

[Ryan Dognaux]

I know, this topic has been addresed, but it's a different situation for us. The computers we are using are using a Novell client networking system, thus screwing our computers up and making them incredibly restricted. For some reason, we can't configure plugin paths, and can't import an inventor file into 3DS Max. Within the next few days or so, we're going to need to put an inventor file into max, and I was wondering if any team would be willing to do me a favor turn the file into a .max extension for me? PM or just leave a message here if you're willing, thanks. :)

[Lev]

I know, this topic has been addresed, but it's a different situation for us. The computers we are using are using a Novell client networking system, thus screwing our computers up and making them incredibly restricted. For some reason, we can't configure plugin paths, and can't import an inventor file into 3DS Max. Within the next few days or so, we're going to need to put an inventor file into max, and I was wondering if any team would be willing to do me a favor turn the file into a .max extension for me? PM or just leave a message here if you're willing, thanks. :)

Here is what you do: Export as STL file from Inventor, and then import it in 3dsmax. You'll have to tweak the import settings to get it right, but these should work for most cases:

turn on Autoweld
turn off Auto Normals.
set the smoothing angle somewhere from 10 to 20

[Ryan Dognaux]

Thanks, I'll try this first. Does this method allow for seperate components with seperate textures?

[Matt Hallock]

Be careful about how programs export their files to other formats. I've run into a few files in 3DSMAX that removes all grouping and makes the object one whole thing, really annoying.

[Tyler Olds]

There was another way that I found a long time ago, and is posted I think in 2002. You can actually take the .iam file and put it directly into 3ds max. It had something to do with the plugins, and I am pretty sure that it would work fine even with novell.

I'll try looking for it later if i have time.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Here is what you do: Export as STL file from Inventor, and then import it in 3dsmax. You'll have to tweak the import settings to get it right, but these should work for most cases:

turn on Autoweld
turn off Auto Normals.
set the smoothing angle somewhere from 10 to 20

Tried doing this, but you can't save an assembly file as a .stl file... at least, we don't have that option..? Any suggestions? :confused:

[Ryan Dognaux]

Does anyone have any other suggestions??... because right now we are SOL on this Inventor to 3DS Max thing :confused:

[Lev]

Does anyone have any other suggestions??... because right now we are SOL on this Inventor to 3DS Max thing :confused:

Does it allow to export as IGES? this also works sometimes, although the results are usually worse than with STL.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Yes it exports in IGES, but unfortunately this is a pretty complicated piece and thus, when exported as an IGES file it's all one big block that you can't ungroup or anything...

[Lev]

Yes it exports in IGES, but unfortunately this is a pretty complicated piece and thus, when exported as an IGES file it's all one big block that you can't ungroup or anything...

Why dont you export it part by part in STL and then assemble the pieces in max?

[Ryan Dognaux]

That's unrealistic... I'm wanting to import our assembly file of our robot, do you realize how long that would take to import each part file and assemble them?? If it's my only option, I'll do it, but I'd even let someone on another team import the file into a .3ds file before assembling piece by piece. So, if anyone has the capability of turning .iam files into .3ds files and is willing to help us out, just reply or PM me with some contact info.

Thanks :]

[Lev]

That's unrealistic... I'm wanting to import our assembly file of our robot, do you realize how long that would take to import each part file and assemble them?? If it's my only option, I'll do it, but I'd even let someone on another team import the file into a .3ds file before assembling piece by piece. So, if anyone has the capability of turning .iam files into .3ds files and is willing to help us out, just reply or PM me with some contact info.

Thanks :]

the only "normal" way of exporting iam files to 3ds is the following:
1) Install Inventor 6 and 3dsmax 5
2) Install autodesk's 3dsmax Inventor Import plugin (search for "inventor" on maxplugins.de
3) Read the manual on how to install it. Its anything but trivial

and then you can import stuff with ease. Sorry, but becasue of the ingenuity of autodesk's version compatibility approach, this is the only combination that seems to work.

Here is my old post in one of the hundred Inventor to Max threads:




As far as i know there is no "export to .3ds" option in Inventor.
But i did find a working plugin for Inventor 6 and 3dsmax5 (and 3dsmax3 and 4 as well) - you can download it here: http://adeskftp.autodesk.com/prodsu..._Max_Plugin.zip (and the installation instructions are found here: http://www.mekvizion.com/Support/Ma...ugin_Readme.txt )

Hope this helps

[Ryan Dognaux]

Today w/ some help, I imported our robot as a .IGES file into 3DS Max, then converted it to an editable mesh and separated it by selecting each piece by "element" and detaching them. Tedious? A little, but it works fine... if anyone is having major problems w/ plugins and such, I would try doing this... but don't try importing a HUGE file into Max as .IGES, because it can't handle it. :]

[bolton]

If you still have a copy of max 5 you can install both that and your copy of inventor on the c drive. you can go into max and under the plugin paths add the Autodesk Inventor folder (I think it's the bin folder you want but not positive). Add the subpaths. next time you boot up max 5 you should be able to import an iam straight in. save it as a max file (or export as 3ds) and open it in your copy of max 6.

[Tyler Olds]

Today w/ some help, I imported our robot as a .IGES file into 3DS Max, then converted it to an editable mesh and separated it by selecting each piece by "element" and detaching them. Tedious? A little, but it works fine... if anyone is having major problems w/ plugins and such, I would try doing this... but don't try importing a HUGE file into Max as .IGES, because it can't handle it. :]


IGES files tend to be huge, did your tedious work make it any smaller?? If so I would think that is the best option.

[Ryan Dognaux]

If you still have a copy of max 5 you can install both that and your copy of inventor on the c drive. you can go into max and under the plugin paths add the Autodesk Inventor folder (I think it's the bin folder you want but not positive). Add the subpaths. next time you boot up max 5 you should be able to import an iam straight in. save it as a max file (or export as 3ds) and open it in your copy of max 6.

This whole thread was about plugins not working on our computers, and alternative options. Please read the thread next time, thanks.

Tyler - Yeah, the .IGES file was huge.. that's why the entire robot kept freezing Max on me, but I imported the drive, sub systems, etc. , and that worked. Now we got the entire robot in Max and we're in the process of animating it.