8

Importing Autodesk Inventor Files 553
Expor t version
Export version list—L ets you choose the AutoCAD
version to export. 3ds Max allows you to export
to AutoCAD 2005, AutoCAD 2000, or AutoCAD
R12 DXF formats.
•
Entire Scene—(The default.) All objects in the
scene are exported.
•
S el e cte d O bje ct s —When chosen, only the
selected objects are exported. Choosing this
option is comparable to using File >
Export
Selected (page 3–491)
.
Geometry Options group
Conver t Insta nces To B l ock s—Converts instances to
AutoCAD block insertions. The block definition
usesthesamenameasthefirstinstanceconverted.
When turned off, each instance is conv erted as a
separate AutoCAD object. References are always
exported as separate objects.
Sk ip Hidden Objects—Exports hidden objects.
When turned off, hidden objects are not exported.
Ignore Ex tr ude Capping—When turned on, exports
shapes with Extrude modifiers as 2D AutoCAD
objects with a thickness property, and ignores the
stateoftheCapStartandCapEndparameters.
When turned off, shapes with Extrude modifiers
thatalsohaveCapStartorCapEndturnedon,are
exported as polyface 3D meshes. Extruded Circles,
Donuts, and Rectangles export as AutoCAD
Circles, Donuts and Traces with a thickness
property.
Autodesk I nventor Files
Importing Autodesk I nventor
Fi l e s
File menu > Import > Select File To Import dialog > Files
Of Type > Autodesk Inventor (*.IPT, *.IAM)
IPT and IAM are the native Autodesk Inventor®
file formats for
parts (IPT) and assemblies (IAM).
You can now import both file formats into 3ds Max
w ithout having to copy scripts from the i nst all CD.
Thecomponentsofmodelsthatyouimportinto
3dsMaxretaintheirobjectnamingasassignedin
Autodesk Inventor and appear as
editable meshes
(page 1–984)
.Onceimported,youcaneditthe
model just as you would any other type of object
that you construct. You can apply modifiers,
alter materials, add lighting and c ameras, create
animations, etc.
Requirements a nd Limitations
Inordertobeabletoimportmodelsthatoriginate
from A utodesk Inventor, Inv entor 8, or later, is
required to be installed along with 3ds Max on the
system.
Atthistime,therearesomelimitationstothe
Inventor Importer. They are as follows:
• Camera animation paths are not converted to
3ds Max cameras so any animation you’ve set
up in Inventor is lost during import.
• Any lighting from brightness and ambience
settings created in the Inventor file are not
imported. You w i ll have to relight the scene
once the import is complete.
•Amodelthatissetupwithconstraintsto
limit the movement of p arts will lose those
constraints upon import. You will need to use