Page 782 - Kitab3DsMax

Part VI: Advanced Modeling
FIGURE 28.1
The SAT Import dialog box includes options for importing CAD objects.

The Single Body options let you import all objects together as a single object in Max. If all objects are not
welded together, you can select and move them independently in Element subobject mode. If they are
welded, they act as a single object. This may be desirable if you are loading in a background or some terrain
data. The final option imports each trimmed surface as a separate body object.
The Viewport Body Mesh Quality setting is used to set the density of the mesh displayed in the viewport.
The 3D Trimming Tolerance option lets you set how accurately the imported objects are trimmed. It is best
to start with a lower tolerance and increase it as you see import problems such as missing faces.
Caution
SAT files can be large, and selecting any of the Fine settings results in huge Max files. n

Enabling the Automatic Face Flipping option causes the importer to attempt to correct any normals that are
pointing the wrong way. Most CAD formats have a different coordinate system with the Z axis pointing up
instead of the Y axis. Enabling the Convert SAT Y Axis to Z Axis option fixes this for the imported objects.
The Select Additional SAT Files for Import button opens a file dialog box where you can select more files to
import using the current settings. Importing SAT files takes a long time, so selecting and importing several
files at once is a good idea.

Converting Max Objects to Body Objects

Objects that are imported from an SAT format appear in Max as Body Object types in the Modify panel.
Max objects can be converted to the Body Object type using the Body Object button found in the Create
panel by opening the Body Objects subcategory. Simply select the object to convert, and press the Body
Object button.
The conversion works best when used on only the most basic primitive objects. If a more complex mesh
object needs to be converted, try converting it to a NURBS object first and then to a Body Object.

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