how to export from 3D MAX to IGES and into Inventor?

[ArtEm10]

Hi guys,
I have modeled this "low-poly" hand in 3d max. Here's how it looks with the "NURMS toggle" turned on.
What I need is to somehow really turn it into NURBS, to be able to export it as IGES and then import into Inventor.
Any ideas what's the best way of doing this?

Thanks!

[Cad64]

What version of Studio Max are you using?

You can export from Max to .dwg, .dxf, ACIS SAT or IGES. Inventor should be able to import all of those formats, so try those and see if any of them work for you.

And if you want to convert the hand to NURBS, simply select it and then right click and choose Convert to NURBS.

[ArtEm10]

nope IGES ( as Inventor ) used a NURBS models, while my model is currently a polygon mesh. therefor before exporting it into Inventor, I need to convert it to nurbs.

[Cad64]

Did you try what I suggested, by right clicking and selecting "Convert to NURBS"?

[ArtEm10]

Sure I did. but there isn't such an option. others say I should at first convert it to editable patch and then to nurbs, but it totally screws up the topology by adding a few hundred verts.

[Cad64]

Ah yes, you're right. Sorry about that. I was experimenting with a primitive Box. You can convert a primitive to NURBS, but you can't convert an editable poly to NURBS.

The only other way I know is what you just said. Convert it to a Patch and then convert the Patch to NURBS.

Maybe someone else with Inventor experience will come along with a suggestion?

[ArtEm10]

A member from another forum suggested this:

1. Export the unsmoothed model as a .dwg file.
2.open the file in autocad mechanical. In the 3D modeling environment,under the solid editing tab, click convert to surface (or solid if it is a closed model).
3. Export the model as a .step file.
4. Open the .step file in inventor. If you used convert to surface, you will need to stitch the surfaces.