Export from Rhino/Import into Max

Tubular objects: Export of Rhino/Import into Max

A nurbs curve can be converted to an usuall 3DS studio spline. This is pretty cool because you'll be able to use the very complete set of Rhino curve features and use them for example in max with surface tool (surfaces from network of curves) or just to make the curves renderable without any surface creation.

This very cool way to build objects or scenes allow us to keep a quick display and rendering with some complex objects.

This way we can add a lot of details in a scenes or start to make animation.

Export from Rhino3D

1 - To convert the Nurbs curves we use the DWG file format wich is native from Autocad.

If we use the "Write surface as" Spline option in the export dialog box we'll then convert the nurbs curves as spline wich can be used in Max the same than the native Max's splines.

Rhino will remember the options you've choosen even after have close and re-run it. So if you usuallt use the same options you may click "OK" without looking the options.

Import into MAX

2 - To import the spline saved in the DWG file you will naturaly import the DWG file.

Now the options depend of what you wanna do. If you want to manage the splines as one whole object then check the "Convert to single object" option on.
And if you want assign some differents material or tickness to some of the curves then don't check this option. Also you can more surelly manage so set of curve if you assign them to a few layers with Rhino, then the "Convert to single object" will only act on the curves wich are on the same layer. If yu want all the curves to be one different object, you can uncheck the "Convert to single object" option and use "Ungroup" in Max's "Group" menu. The best thing to remember is probably to make your own test. when there are a lot of curve the import computing can take a long time.

Render the curves

3 - To make the curve renderable you just have to check this option On , in the modifiers of the curve(s). It's located in the general parameter wich mean this stuff is not animatable. You also define the thickness of each curve or group of curves. The spline is then rendered as a tube shape. No way to make it with square cross section or anything else but that already great and people not using Max could be a bit jalouse.

Hoping all this will help you to make some great pic, so please send me an adresse where to look at your rendered splines.

Here are a few idea of objects:
Chains, guitar string, swiming pool lader, light show support, electric cables, water pontoon, posts and cables, stret neon light text, cage, part of spaceship, architecture around a space rocket (cap Canaveral), table feet, matches, torre, spring, and probaly many others... So let me know about your rendered splines.

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