I just started using the demo. I am extremely impressed with MoI - especially its ability to export OBJ for use in C4D. I have been a FormZ user for years and hope to be able to replace it with MoI. I have a simple file with two smooth objects within FormZ that I export as STEP. When I open the STEP file in MoI, only one object appears. This happens no matter what grouping method I use within FormZ. If I export the objects individually (separate files), they come in fine. Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong? Thanks!
I could really use some help here. I have tried IGES and SAT. IGES comes in a mess with multiple untrimmed surfaces. SAT produces nothing. Does anyone use the current version of FormZ and is able to export to MoI? When I import all of these file types back into FormZ, they work fine.
Hi, I also have various problems with the STEP files, each program has different behaviors, try to import into FreeCAD and if it opens correctly, try to save a copy in STEP format.
Hi kmccall, for the STEP problem is it possible for you to send me the STEP file at moi@moi3d.com so I can take a look at what's going on?
For SAT format the problem there is probably the version of the SAT file, see if there are any options for the FormZ export to use an older SAT version like ACIS v8. That should then convert any specialized surface objects into generic NURBS surfaces which the MoI SAT importer will be able to recognize.
Just emailed the file. Thanks for taking a look. I have hundreds of models that FormZ cannot export decently, so I hope we can find a solution. Funny thing, I did not have this problem on my home computer a few days ago. STEP import worked perfectly at that time.
Hi kmccall, thanks for sending the file. It looks like it might be some bug in how MoI's STEP importer processes instances in the file. It will take some detailed investigation to figure out exactly what's going on. In the meantime if there is any method in FormZ for converting instanced objects into regular plain non-instances try doing that before your export to see if that lets you get a good export.
SAT format may be more reliable if you can find a setting for using an older ACIS version.
Michael - Thanks for taking a look. These objects were never created as instances. They were merely copied and then transformed individually. This may be an issue on FormZ's end as they just brought back clones in V8.6. I'll bring it up on their forum and see if I can find a solution. In the meantime, I am getting good results using SAT version 10.0. Thanks again for your help. I still can't believe how beautifully MoI exports out to OBJ. I could never get anywhere near these results using FormZ. Kevin
Hi Kevin, that's great that SAT works with that setting adjusted. SAT tends to be best when importing to MoI from an ACIS based modeling system.
I will put it on my investigation list to see if I can figure out what's going wrong with the STEP import too though, it looks like a bug in MoI's importer.
