Originally Posted by roboticscnc  Hi, is there any way to convert iges, step, stl or similar files so they work in Gmax? The CNC Toolkit is the only software I can find that does 4 axis toolpaths but I can't spend time recreating drawings that are only compatible with Gmax. There are also some 3D models I would like to use but they are all .max format, which Gmax doesn't support either.
I've done an extensive search on the web for conversion programs but I can't find anything suitable.
Thanks,
Glen. |
Hi There,
You Can convert .STL and .MAX files to .3DS using 3D Exploration 1.5. see the link below to download it. This did used to be hosted at David H. Smiths Gmax support site... but the site no longer exists... If the link below doesn't work I do know of a couple of other places you can still find this online as part of other downloads...
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attach...2&d=1210930947
3D Exploration conversion is quite intelligent... if the file exceeds .3DS format limits of 64,000 faces per object it automatically and seamlessly divides the object into 64,000 face groups. These can then be reunited inside Gmax using the Editable Mesh Attach function.
As for .IGES and .STEP I'm not aware of anything that does these formats directly... but you could always look for something that will take them to .STL format.. and then apply 3D Exploration 1.5 again...
Edit:
BRL_CAD is a FREE option for the above.. it's open source and according to the documentation it will open IGES and Convert to .STL see the link below to download
http://sourceforge.net/projects/brlcad/
If you have 2D content you need to get into Gmax the best route is via .DXF.. Gmax will import .DXF files directly...
Hope this helps
Danny