Export animation to 3dMax

Hi Guys,

I want to export a GH Animation to 3DMax.

The geometry in 3dMax should be one animated object, possibly also with uv coordinates from Rhino.

I found one interesting discussion:

http://www.grasshopper3d.com/forum/topics/objdxfiges3ds-slider-expo...

So I downloaded the Max Script "Object Loader 1.4"

http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/objloader-v1-4

It worked out to export manually or by a GH Definition a meshed box in 5 different positions labeled from box_0 to box_4 as obj. files and import it via Object loader in 3dMax.
For some reason it doesn´t work out if the Geomery is a sphere or any other mesh. 3dMax gives me the following: unable to convert: undefinded to type: float.

Dos anyone have a solution to import object sequences into 3dMax which is working?
The GH solution is basically from Damien Alomar.
It is asking every frame for mesh density. How can this be avoided?
Is there a way to give UV Coordinates to the mesh object?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Simon

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Damien Alomar on November 12, 2009 at 7:23am

Well, I don't think that there's really any good solution for this. Animation data is notorious for being very hard to translate between applications. About the only software I know of that does a good job with this is RealFlow, but they still rely on their own proprietary formats and have custom importers for 3dsMax, Maya, etc.

I think the OBJ loader script is probably about the closest you'll get to getting an animation into Max. I think the issue that you're running into is an issue within that script, so you should contact whoever wrote it. I've never had any issues with OBJs to or from Rhino, so it may just be an oversight within that script. Keep in mind, that the object may not really be "animated" when it gets into Max. It may just have its visibility set to "on" for whatever frame of the sequence its in. So once you get it into Max, you may not be able to really do much work on it. Since I'm not very familiar with this script I just don't know, but that seams the simplest way to get a sequence of obj files into Max as an animation.

If every frame is asking for mesh density, then either you're not baking the object as a mesh (which would be the recommended way to go about it) or there's an object within the scene which isn't meshed yet (in which case you should mesh it and hide the NURBS geometry). If I remember correctly the export definition was set up for meshes, so I'm not sure where the issue is.

The meshes will have UV coordinates based on their natural UV surface parameterization, so its not like their is no UV information, but its likely not going to be very useful in Max. Other than assigning a texture mapping through the VB.NET component, I don't know what other options are had here.

Permalink Reply by MARIO VERGARA on November 12, 2009 at 9:29am

Hi Simon and Damien.
If every frame is asking for mesh density, you should add another _enter to the vb script in gh.
Doing this will avoid pressing enter a thousand times.
It worked for me.

By the way, i don`t think there is a problem with the maxscript.
The problem that Im getting is when i make the definition run, everything seems to be ok.
But when i import it to max i only get 1 surface instead of 400.

I was able to solve the problem by re importing the objs files into rhino that where already generated in gh.
I did this procedure with gh and the definition open.
Rhino reads the complete file, then i re saved it...its a pain anyways.
after doing that max has no problems in reading the complete data.
So....i guess there is a problem in the way the definition writes the obj...im sure there is a difference between the way the definition is writing objs and the way rhino writes the objs.
At least thats what i figured out by testing it.

Permalink Reply by to] on November 12, 2009 at 10:24am

hi simon

the script gives you the hint why it is not function the way you want
so it is asking for a float value .... the problem is the "_" in the filename,
just remove it and it will work fine
be aware to have a continuous numbering @ your files otherwise it will stop importing

- to]

Permalink Reply by Simon Vorhammer on November 13, 2009 at 3:08am

Hi,
Thanks for the replies.

Even after removing the "_" in the filename an also in the object name itself it didn´t work.
Has anyone a GH File which definitely worked for object loader?
Did you use Version 1.4 of object loader? If not can you send me the version which worked for you?
Btw. could there be a problem with "," and "." between Rhino and 3dMax?
As far as I know "floating value" means a number with decimal point, right?

S

Permalink Reply by Simon Vorhammer on November 13, 2009 at 3:53am

I think the problem is, that Grasshopper writes 1 mesh for frame 0, two meshes for frame 2, three for frame 3 and so on. Does anybody know why?

Attachments:

091113_Export_Meshes.ghx, 122 KB

Permalink Reply by MARIO VERGARA on November 13, 2009 at 12:55pm

hi guys...
this is what im getting

you can see the folder location and the file name

here, a small modification to the script, adding an extra enter

in max im only getting one component after using the obj sequence loader

now back to rhino.....i imported teh obj file with gh open, and re exported it

back in max ....everything is fine

but i dont want to re import the whole thing!!!
i'm using v.1.3

Permalink Reply by MARIO VERGARA on November 13, 2009 at 2:19pm

ok...so i've been playing around with this...
@Damien
Is there a way to make the vb.net component bake all the surfaces at once???
and not one by one???
i guess this is the main issue here.
since max opens only one component
i think if gh was able to bake every state of the geometry at every number of the slider....this should work
best

Permalink Reply by Damien Alomar on November 14, 2009 at 11:35am

Looking at the code in the image it appears as though it already is, so I'm not sure why it isn't. I'm in London, so pretty busy for the next week or so. If someone else doesn't stick there head in and help out, I'll take care of it when I get back to the states.

Permalink Reply by MARIO VERGARA on November 29, 2009 at 10:28am

Hi there Damien!
How was your trip?
any ideas regarding this topic??
best

Permalink Reply by to] on November 29, 2009 at 10:37am

hi mario
just try the new weaverbird written by piac(http://www.giuliopiacentino.com/weaverbird/#more-1218)
after install you can use the joinmesh component and then the script export just one mesh/animationstep
the other way is to go inside the vbnet component and write a little for each routine to attend the meshes to one mesharray
if you do not menage this workaround just ask again and i will assist you
-to]

Permalink Reply by MARIO VERGARA on November 29, 2009 at 7:31pm

hey to] thanks for the continuous help!
as soon as i have some time I'll check it out...
this looks excellent!!!

Permalink Reply by MARIO VERGARA on November 29, 2009 at 10:24pm

Could not wait!!...hahaha
just gave it a couple hours...but i not getting your idea.
where is the join mesh component?
on version 0.6.0043 or is it on weaverbird?
i tried using ccsbdv, picture frame, s. carpet and window...
not a clue
sorry but i'm kind of lost here.