Interoperability Tutorials > Using the SAT Format to Share a Model with Autodesk Inventor >
Import the Model into 3ds Max Design

Now you have a model that you can import into 3ds Max Design.

Import the SAT model into 3ds Max Design:

1. Start 3ds Max Design.
2. On the Quick Access toolbar, click Project Folder and set your current project to Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012 Tutorials.
3. Choose Customize Units Setup. On the Units Setup dialog, choose Metric, and then choose Millimeters from the drop-down list. Click OK.
4. From the Application menu, choose Import. In the Select File To Import dialog, navigate to the \import\Inventor_files folder, highlight my_blade_clamp.sat, and then click Open.
   NoteIf you skipped the procedure with Inventor, import blade_clamp.sat.

   3ds Max Design opens the SAT Import dialog.

5. On the SAT Import dialog, turn on Convert SAT Y Axis to Z Axis.

   In Inventor, the up-axis is Y, rather than Z as it is in 3ds Max Design. So when you move a file from one product to the other, you have to be careful to make this adjustment.

6. Click OK.

   3ds Max Design now shows the blade clamp as geometry in the viewports.

   There are two objects: blade_clamp_01 is the mounting pin, and blade_clamp_02 is the clamp itself.

Examine the geometry:

1. Select the clamp, blade_clamp_02, and go to the Modify panel.

   SAT objects appear in 3ds Max Design as the Body Object type. Body Objects model solids.

2. Change the Perspective viewport to Edged Faces display (press F4). On the Modify panel, look at the Viewport Display Settings rollout.

   By default, the display is set to Both and Medium.

3. Choose Mesh to see the 3ds Max Design mesh approximation of the clamp.

   In viewports, 3ds Max Design approximates Body Objects as meshes. Try choosing Coarse and then Fine as the mesh types.

   Coarse mesh

   Fine mesh

   NoteThe Curves display option displays only the curves that outline Body Object geometry, even when the viewport is a shaded view.

   If you plan to deform the Body Object geometry, as in this tutorial, then it helps to set the Max Edge Len[gth] % value explicitly.

4. Change the Mesh Quality Presets back to Medium.
5. In the Mesh Display group, set Max Edge Len. % to 3.0.

   3ds Max Design subdivides the mesh approximation.

   This fine-grained subdivision gives 3ds Max Design modifiers adequate geometry to modify.

   When Max Edge Len. % is set to 0.0, the parameter is inactive. Values between 2.0 and 5.0 are good for deforming geometry in 3ds Max Design.

6. Change the Display Options back to Both.

Next

Edit the Model in 3ds Max Design