Using Modifiers with Body Objects

One of the most useful workflows with the SAT feature set is to import solid geometry, deform it with 3ds Max modifiers, and then export an SAT file, still in the ACIS solids format.

1. Export your geometry in SAT format from a solid-modeling program such as Autodesk Inventor or Revit. Alternatively, you can import Inventor IAM and IPT files directly as Body Objects. You can also import Body Objects from a number of other applications.
2. Import the SAT, IAM, or IPT file into 3ds Max.

   For details on the import parameters, see SAT Import Dialog or Autodesk Inventor (IPT, IAM) Files. For an SAT file, on the Import dialog, set Viewport Body Mesh Quality to Coarse. For an IAM or IPT file, import as Body Objects and then choose the Coarse setting on the Viewport Display Settings rollout after importing.

   In general, Body Objects import from other applications does not have customizable settings, and happens automatically.

   Tip: For optimal performance with large files (over 100MB), use the 64-bit version of 3ds Max with a large-memory system (8GB or more) and set the display to a single viewport before importing.

   The result is one or more Body Objects, which is the format solid geometry uses inside 3ds Max.

3. Select each Body Object you plan to deform, and on the Modify panel set its Viewport Display Settings rollout Max Edge Len. % value to 2.0 or 3.0.
   Tip: You can adjust viewport display settings for multiple objects simultaneously by selecting them and using the Body Utility tool.

   This setting provides for enough polygons for deforming planar faces.

4. Apply a Mesh Select modifier to a Body Object, and then apply a deforming modifier such as Bend or Twist.

   The Mesh Select modifier converts the Body Object temporarily to mesh format, so it can deform more readily.

5. Adjust the deforming modifier settings to obtain the desired results. If you like, apply other deforming modifiers and adjust them as well.

   For a list of supported modifiers, see Modifiers and Body Objects.

6. Optionally, use the additional SAT tools described in this section to modify the Body Object. For example, you can convert native 3ds Max primitives to Body Objects and combine them with your geometry, optionally using Boolean operations such as Union, Intersect, and Subtract.
7. When you’ve achieved the desired results, delete or turn off the Mesh Select modifier,
   Note: There might be a delay after disabling Mesh Select, while the software applies the modifier effects directly to the solid geometry.
8. You can now use the deformed object for rendering, or export it to a solid-modeling program as an SAT file.