McHenry Forum

Preliminary instructions!
The following are steps and notes on making a 3D model to work with msmac3D
First you need your model in 3D DXF ASCII
To test the DXF to be sure the surfaces are in the proper direction

• 1) select Add other Model from medit3D graphics

  

  select other model.png (94 KiB) Viewed 451 times

  2) on dialog that opens you can select DXF model
  that will open the model at the origin and take a look at how it looks.

  

  dxf choice.png (20.09 KiB) Viewed 451 times

if OK, proceed,
if not,

• check surface directions
• put window Glass on a separate layer with gray color
• different colored objects on different layers will make the vehicle look more realistic
• Rims and Tires separate layers (and colors) will help make model look more realistic

The main technique to create the m3D models is to create in ASCII DXF ver 12 or 13 (use save as)
(replacing ‘whole model’ with your model name

• 1) Whole model.dxf
  2) Whole model_notires.dxf
  3) Whole model_RStire.dxf

or

• 1) Whole model.dxf
  2) Whole model_notires.dxf
  3) Whole model_RFtire.dxf
  4) Whole model_RRtire.dxf

• NOTE: if all tires the same use 'RStire' if Front/Rear different use RF RR
• have these DXF with the center at the center of the wheel (Top and side)
• Whole model_RStire.dxf
  • for the whole model and model w/o tires, if you have layers with GLASS in the name you can turn off the glass (of views in graphics from vehicle, etc)

To create a picture of the model

• save a picture of the DXF rendered as a jpg or png
• rename the name to your model name and the suffix M3Dd
• Also size needs to be max 300 pixels for width (so resize to smaller size once captured)
• NOTE: M3Dd is not required

Then from Windows -> Run

• c:\msoft3D\McHenry3DGraphics/McHenry3DGraphics.exe Action=dxf

That will open a dialog

• browse to the directory where the items above are located and it creates the M3D files required (M3D, M3ZDa, M3Db, M3Dc, etc)
• NOTE: It has an option to create 2 faced surfaces which may be required on some models from 3DCADBrowser

Then close the program

Copy the M3D files to c:\msoft3D\Models3D
or use the dialog to point the Model dialog to the directory you have the models

Important! couple items we've run into: the orienataion needs to be with X axis to front of vehicle and Y off to the left

and for the tires you only need 1 tire (if all the same, otherwise 1 tire for RF & RR) and make the origin at the center on top and side view and x forward and Y to left
see pics below

Q: How to handle duals and/or dual/tandems (like for a truck/trailer

A: for duals two tires are RR
for tandems four tires and RR
Recall for vehicle with different Front/Rear tires you create

• 1) Whole model.dxf
  2) Whole model_notires.dxf
  3) Whole model_RFtire.dxf
  4) Whole model_RRtire.dxf

Below is a sample graphics for the dual/tandem configuration for the rear of a trailer
Also note: for a trailer (no front tires) do not include RF tire.