Export/Import AutoCad to Maya

[vafalls]

Hi !

Which would be the most reliable fileformat for 3d model export from Autocad to Maya ? I also need the assigned shaders/uv:s/textures included. We earlier used 3ds and had some different problems. Its 15-20 heavy dense polygon technical maschines/models and it would be nice to have a more efficient workflow . Is dwg the way to go ? Is there some kind of checklist how to export correctly from AutoCad ? The Cad-company dont use Maya.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Magnus

[mikedin]

If your using Maya <6.0 you should export as a DXF format out of AutoCAD. I've found that you should export as a Binary file and set it to AutoCADR14 or earlier for best results. Also any blocks that exist in AutoCAD should be exploded first.

If your using Maya 6.0 you'll find that there is now an excellent import and export for AutoCAD Dwg that I've found to work far faster with much better results than previous.

[vafalls]

Thanks a lot !
I got Maya 6.0...just wondering what to think of for the Cad people when exporting dwg. Dont know AutoCad and it would be nice to tell them the correct way to export their models. What to think of ? Dwg does support Uv:s/textures ?

[mikedin]

The only thing you should use AutoCAD files for are linework (Splines) and Surfaces (Faces). And actually I use AutoCAD a lot while modeling for geometric answers to intersections in 3D etc.

I don't actually know if UV mapping is really anything of value from AutoCAD as I've never considered it.

Surfaces have shading groups in AutoCAD as Layers and I've never seen a Textured Rendering that was anything more than Phong based out of AutoCAD with extremely simple flat texture mapping. Ignore lighting and cameras as well!

Good luck.