derek forreal

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SHORT TITLE FOR SUGGESTION/BUG/ENHANCEMENT REQUEST
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CAD Modelling tools

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF YOUR REQUEST
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Simple CAD tools (should be 2nd nature for the company that makes Autocad). In order of importance (to me):

3 point rotate & 3 point scale

Relative coordinates

More (and 'smoother') snapping options (intersections etc)

Inferencing

While drawing, shift drag FULLY locks axis (currently only locks if desired side is shorter than locking side)

Guide Lines

Input Box (to type in sizes as you draw)

The ability to change window/zoom/pan mid operation

etc etc

these tools are available (for example) for Lightworks (LWCAD) so i don't understand why they are not available for the most widely used modelling application of them all. if MAX had these, there would be no need for any other 3d software (maybe )
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WHY THIS REQUEST IS IMPORTANT TO YOU
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when modelling from reference pics, max is great, but if reference files are not available, i find it difficult to judge things like scale etc without the above tools (input boxes etc). inferencing and good snapping not only speeds up modelling, but also makes it much more fun.

i would like to be able to use max for all modelling but i find that cad apps are much easier/quicker to use for basic house modelling (floors/walls/roof). however, importing and editing cad models often presents problems.

Matt Clementson

Sorry but no, no, no! If you want CAD tools use a CAD application. 3dsmax doesn't need to be burdened with more tools that aren't necessary for the job it does - its NOT a CAD package. Just my opinion there, it sounds like you want max to be SketchUp - so why not use SketchUp?

derek forreal

well, that's a telling off if ever i've heard one...

however, i have to disagree with you Matt. i don't think it would be a burden. surely something like a 3 point rotate wouldn't add that much overhead to the programming? (although i have finally found a workaround for that)

i don't want to make max like sketchup (i don't even use it) and i don't expect a fully featured CAD application. i just think that several carefully chosen tools would make modelling (especially architectural modelling) much more intuitive and efficient.

i love the flexibility that max offers plus it is the app that has most support for /dwg/rendering/objects/tutorials etc but i often find myself in a situation where i wish there was an easier way to line up to a certain vertex/edge (for example). in addition to this, there are MANY other tools that i don't use (characters, rigging etc) and it would also be great if these could be 'swithed off' to make room for the CAD tools.

i'm relatively new to the 3d world so maybe i'm talking crap. i design and build my own small residential projects, so my needs are focussed more on modelling rather than integration with other softwares.

if what i've said is nonsense, then feel free to delete my wish

Derek

pmaggia

I think these functions must be in Autodesk Viz. They are only for an architectural use.

Matt Clementson

Sorry - didn't mean to come off quite so harshly there - guess I'm having a bad day. Anyway, it's just my opinion and I'm pretty sure most users won't agree with me so there we have it...

Jefferson Grigsby

instead of 3 point rotate, you can move transfrom center is max, or also use the align tool to align an object to coordinate system or object therein

The only snap max is missing is the intersection, otherwise it functions just like Acad.

"The ability to change window/zoom/pan mid operation" am I the only one that knows how to do this, been available since relase 4. try using the scroll wheel and set it to zoom about mouse point in your preferences, otherwise you can use a combination of I, [ and] to pan and zoom. Also, the numerical keypad can be used to to arc rotate around a model if you take the time to program it.

"Relative coordinates"-have you even taken the time to explore all of the functionality of Max, or has an insecure CAD manager completely fooled you into thinking that Max is inept?

"Input Box (to type in sizes as you draw)" hmm, isn't that the beauty of parametric modeling. i thought this was the whole premis of Max.

Also,. ever try right clicking on the move, rotate, and scale transforms?? This is where you get your "type in" dialogues. Pretty nifty hey?.

I shoot beer out of my nose everytime somebody tries to convince me that Max is not an accurate modeler. Not only is it as accurate, but it is far more fluid and faster than modelling in AutoCAD. I think it is more of a process issue than a functionality issue. You just have to learn to do things a tad bit diferent and kick the CAD Monkey off of your back.

derek forreal

some of you guys are so defensive...

i am just responding to a request made by this forum. this is what I would like to see in max, nothing more.

if you import a rotated object or if you draw a spline that is not aligned with the world axis, its pivot (even the local one) is not rotated with the object itself (pivot is aligned with world axis), so there is no way of aligning exactly to it.

intersection is what i have asked for.

no, you're not the only one who knows this. this method works but can be tedious (i said 'can be', not 'is'). also, try drawing a spline and changing from 'corner' to 'smooth' whilst drawing, or doing anything else. you must draw the spline first and then edit - for me this is inefficient.

no need to be rude. i am trying to learn as quick as i can. parametric modelling is something completely different but even then you have to draw something that you know will be the wrong size and then edit its size - you have to do it twice. i didn't mean this anyway. my example is to draw a spline (the outline of a house/a cupboard etc). can i input the length of each wall as i go? i don't think so. again, i have to draw a rough outline and then edit it. max works great if you have a reference image or a dwg guide, but if you start from scratch it can be tedious.

i'm not trying to convince you of anything. i am just submitting my wish. i don't use autocad, i use archicad. as far as 3d is concerned, these tools are available in FormZ, LWCAD, SketchUp, Rhino and now even modo. and before you say it, no, i do not want to buy any of these apps. i have invested time and money in max and i feel that i shouldn't need other apps (although i am tempted by formZ) - i just wish Max had better CAD functionality (hence my post)

thanks for reading

ben-csab

I have to protect you Derek. People, I don't understand you. You've read such wishes here, that would make the 3dsmax to be a more user friendly software. Also I'm doing arhviz, and Derek's list forms my opinion too, those are the features I'm really missing. Those a few improvements would make the workflow much easier, and more effective.

And finally: the solutions you've mentioned are ok, but there could be a much more easier way for each of them. Max's editing functions takes 2-3× more energy, as normally should be...

paultwyman

I definitely agree with the idea of having more control when creating splines. Being able to specify a length (maybe angle too) or switching between initial and drag types during creation would be a real benefit. I certainly wouldn't want it to be all input based but having the option for when it is needed would be great.

MikeGentile

we often customize max to do whatever the artist needs through custom scripts. an example is our multiple instance script. we select an object...say a tree...then simply click and it places a tree. a very handy tool when placing landscape or cars, yet it derived from Cadd. we take the best/most helpful features from what ever package and customize it.

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Thanks.

Mike Gentile
Technical Director
f O C U S 3 6 0 ®
Architectural Communications
www.focus360.com