All of my addons meshes are created with AutoCAD, which is NOT an ideal tool for doing this work, but it's what I know. (I'm an architect and have used AutoCAD for 15 years). I export the .dwg model to .3ds, then convert to .msh using both 3ds2msh and MeshMaker which is where the real hair-pulling "fun" begins...
MeshMaker produces smooth, unfaceted surfaces with a low polygon count, but the faces are one-sided and AutoCAD doesn't not provide complete control the "normal" direction for mesh faces, so the finished Orbiter model is sometimes "inside out." I know that meshmaker is supposed to have a "2-sided" feature but I don't find it realiable -- MeshMaker has many little hiccups that must be worked around.
3ds2msh is more reliable and predictable (I have worked up batch files to deal with its DOS interface -- boy, am I old). The "normal" direction is not an issue becuase 3ds2msh ALWAYS produces 2-sided mesh faces, but at the cost of an inflated polygon count. The biggest drawback is that 3ds2msh does no smoothing -- curved surfaces are faceted by 3ds2msh and unacceptable looking.
Am I the only one creating Orbiter addon models this way? If there is anyone else out there struggling along in similar fashion, I would like to discuss and trade information. I have tried Anim8tor, but the leap from AutoCAD is too big -- I'm not interested in learning how to draw all over again. Can anyone out there suggest a 3D program (freeware preferred) that is more similar to AutoCAD? Are there better choices for converting 3ds to msh? Perhaps import my AuotCAD generated 3ds file, flip normals as needed, then export again to 3ds.
I want to do a version 3 of Skylab, with full interiors, but I think I need better production methods.
MeshMaker produces smooth, unfaceted surfaces with a low polygon count, but the faces are one-sided and AutoCAD doesn't not provide complete control the "normal" direction for mesh faces, so the finished Orbiter model is sometimes "inside out." I know that meshmaker is supposed to have a "2-sided" feature but I don't find it realiable -- MeshMaker has many little hiccups that must be worked around.
3ds2msh is more reliable and predictable (I have worked up batch files to deal with its DOS interface -- boy, am I old). The "normal" direction is not an issue becuase 3ds2msh ALWAYS produces 2-sided mesh faces, but at the cost of an inflated polygon count. The biggest drawback is that 3ds2msh does no smoothing -- curved surfaces are faceted by 3ds2msh and unacceptable looking.
Am I the only one creating Orbiter addon models this way? If there is anyone else out there struggling along in similar fashion, I would like to discuss and trade information. I have tried Anim8tor, but the leap from AutoCAD is too big -- I'm not interested in learning how to draw all over again. Can anyone out there suggest a 3D program (freeware preferred) that is more similar to AutoCAD? Are there better choices for converting 3ds to msh? Perhaps import my AuotCAD generated 3ds file, flip normals as needed, then export again to 3ds.
I want to do a version 3 of Skylab, with full interiors, but I think I need better production methods.