I don't know if this belongs in another forum.
I looked around a little bit and decided to just post it here.

I have freind who does engineering in an application called Solidworks.
Does anyone have any experience with this software?

Before I have him put in to much time trying to create me stuff I thought I'ld see if it is an app that can output the required files for Poser.

Charactors or props would suffice.
He's good enough to create probably just about anything he put his mind to but if I can't get the files to a format that Poser will use then there's no sense in moving forward with it.

Thanks for any replys; advice, experience failures or direction.

Scott

Message edited on: 12/13/2005 19:25

I think it might be a problem. I don't use Solidworks, but I use a similar 3d engineering application. There doesn't seem to be any good way to get the files from the common engineering formats to Poser. Unfortunately.

If he can export in DXF format, you can try importing the model into Poser. However, I've found that rather buggy. Try it with a model he's already made, and see if it's worth it.

can you give the list of formats this program will import?

I know a DXF is a file he can output. I'm waiting for feedback from him on other 3d formats he can output. Also he can output an object file, which is where we began. I had him make a simple XMas tree light and send me it as an obj. Now I think props or figures require more then a simple obj file to use it in Poser but I simply wanted to see if I could create a texture for it and go from there. I tryed opening it in that free UV mapper program but it gave me a bad facet error. I know there is more to this next bit then I tryed but I just wanted to see what would happen. I put the obj in a geometries folder of an empty runtime and loaded it into Poser. Of course it did not see it. I don't pretend to be an expert here. There is far more to creating useable files then I know. We haven't given up yet. I'm going to get a DXF from him & try that. If I can even get Poser to load it then I can export a obj and go from there. Many Thanks for the replys! I'll add my progress when I make some. Might be next week though. Thanks Again. Scott

Scott, The problem with engineering softwares such as AutoCAD, Inventor, Pro-Engineer, and Solidworks, is that they are mainly ACIS solids-based programs. I have a very limited exposure to Pro-Engineer and Solidworks, but most of these will not export out a nice mesh like Maya or Max. Most of these programs export out as a DXF, STL, IGES, or STEP format. DXF is ok, but the others will not work properly in Poser. If you wanted to make a rapid-prototyping model, STL would work great. IGES and STEP are more geared towards the CAM/CAE crowd. I hope this helps. -Starkdog

Poser doesn't see the OBJ files in "runtimegeometries" just because they are there. New objects will have to be imported and saved as props. You can try this with the OBJ you already have: (1) Open Poser. (2) Go to "File:Import:Wavefront OBJ" from the menu. (3) Browse to the folder your OBJ is in. (4) On the next popup, leave all the checkmarks as they are. You might want to use the % of Figure size, though. Try about 20-50%. (5) The object will still probably come in larger than you expect, because Poser has a much smaller sense of scale in relation to other software. That's ok for now, so leave it as is. (6) On the libraries palette, select Props. (7) Hit the + icon at the bottom of the palette. Give your new prop a name and hit enter. All done. Now you will see a small picture of your object in the library palette. Any time you want to add it to the scene, just double-click its picture.

Just a quick aside, Shade 8 standard had an IGES import, I havn't tried it though, not sure I could convince my employers to let me take one of their models home :)

What R_Hatch said. Try importing the OBJ.

Though I'm not surprised that it gave you an error when you tried to open it in UV Mapper. That's the kind of problem I've had, trying to use engineering models in 3d art programs. Even if you find a format in common, it often doesn't work quite right. Poser doesn't recognize the DXFs I've tried. Vue does, but imports them badly. (Parts missing, the textures completely screwed up.)

Starkdog's post is spot on. Engineering solids modellers like Solidworks are good at what they do - making virtual objects destined for some manufacturing process. In my experience they make awful poser models with WAY too many polygons in areas where you really don't need them. See if you can introduce your engineer friend to Wings3D, a really excellent freeware modelling program. It can produce really excelent, economical Poser models because you have ful control of polygon placement. It is easy to learn once you 'get' how it works. He should get up to speed in no time and I'm sure he'll find it a fun change from Solidworks. http://www.wings3d.com/ Tutorials at: http://www.geocities.com/paulthepuzzles/aardvarks.html