Exporting to 3ds or dxf format

Hello, everybody.
I am searching for a free software or procedure that will enable me to
transfer my 3d models from WF2 to another application which can only
import .3ds or .dxf files.
Now, the important thing is that the geometry will survive, no matter
about textures or materials, they will be applied entirely in the other
application.

Thanks for help.
Sarge

 

You can only import 2d (dxf and 3ds) so you have to export in a 2d format from
Pro/e. The only place to do that is drawing mode. Create a drawing on size that
will let your model geometry scale at 1:1, then place as many views (at a drawing
scale of 1:1) as it takes to completely represent the geometry. I'm pretty sure
you have to place the views in wireframe, or possibly 'no hidden'. Use named
'Saved Views' that you've created for this purpose. Don't place any format on it
and use no annotations (notes, dimensions, symbols). Then do 'File>Save a copy'
and scroll through the list until you find dxf.

 

I don't claim to know anything about this but...

I think you might want to figure out what "data type" you need to be
trading in. DXF supports NURBS as well as facet type enitites. I will
have to guess (cause I don't know) that 3DS supports only facet data. Your
mentioning textures and materials indicates you are going to a rendering
software (?). Given all this I think a facet representation of the part(s)
is what you'll want.

Pro/E will output facet reps using a few (again, I don't do this so am
doing a lot of guessing) export types. Look at STL, IV (not to be confused
with the copycat from Ad$k), OBJ, VRML, ..., .... (? if you get a dialog to
set resolution values it's probably worth looking at).

Then you'll have to find something to read your output and translate to 3DS
or DXF. There are a few that might help; Rhino comes to mind as a
possibility. I'm also wondering if the target system won't read something
besides 3DS and DXF. If unsure, what is the target program? At any rate,
facet reps are so commonly exchanged you should have no problem finding a
freeware / shareware / eval copy to do the translation.

Another avenue that might be explored; create a faceted shrinkwrap export
as IGES or whatever. Don't know if there's any future in it or not.

=========================================

 

Hello

I think Pro/E can only export (or import) 2D form of DXF files. I presume
You want get some 3D geometry to do rendering and /or animation in some
other software (3D studio etc...). I think You'l need some workaround via
third software to do that.

For such purposes I'm relying on Rhinoceros, which supports a lot of
different 3D formats. I use it to clean up IGES and STEP files or do the
conversion in files, which are not supported by Pro/E. That means You'll
have to export 3D geometry from Pro/E in some standard 3D format (IGES or
STEP), than inport it into Rhinoceros and then do the export in 3D DXF or
3DS file (Both are supported by Rhinoceros).

Hope that helps...

Bye

Joze