Convert MAX and STP files

[tjwilson]

Guidance needed: Can anyone recommend an inexpensive way to convert STP and MAX files to LWO, LWS files? :help:

[MicroMouse]

I also received this question in an email today. I will post my answer here also for others who may be interested.
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3DS Max is the only program that reads .max files. There are no stand-alone programs that convert .max files.

The .max files are binary and there is no published information on the file format. The file format contains history, some polygon mesh data and instructions to run the tools in Max and any plugins used to make the model.

When a file format contains history the data saved to the file can be closer to a memory dump from RAM rather than a structured file format which makes reverse engineering much harder. As the file also contains instructions for running Max, the Max modeling engine has to be duplicated without any information on how the engine works internally.

The result of all this is that you either have to have Max save to a different file format or use a plugin with Max that writes to the required file format.

I don't know of an inexpensive program that reads .stp files. STEP file format is for high end and expensive CAD programs. Even though it is an international approved file format, there are problems with various programs being able to read STEP files created by another program. One of my customers was getting STEP files from several different expensive CAD programs used by their customers. They were unable to find one program that could successfully convert all the test STEP files. Before buying a converter program test it with several test STEP files that you will be getting from your customer or you might be disappointed.

An alternate file format could be STL. With STL files you only get the triangles and no material information. If a model was built containing several components in SolidWorks, for example, one STL file will be created for each component. The set of STL files can be loaded into AccuTrans in one operation and each STL file will be put on it's own layer.

Another possible format is VRML. Pro/Engineer will write a set of VRML files for one model made of several components. There will be one master file which AccuTrans will read and then automatically read all the referenced files. The only problem is that you could have tens of thousands of layers after the files have been read. If you can get the person to use different materials when building the model, AccuTrans can reduce the number of layers according to material. An example would be to give all bolts the RGB color 0,0,0 and all the nuts the RGB color 0,0,0.1 and all the washers RGB color 0,0,0.2. After AccuTrans merges based on materials the bolts would be one layer, the nuts on a second layer and the washers on a third layer.

Wayne