The following options are available in the DWG Import dialog:
Merge objects with current scene: Use this option to keep the existing MAX scene intact and merge the new AutoCAD models into it. The new objects use the AutoCAD coordinate system for positioning.
Completely replace current scene: This option deletes all objects currently in the MAX scene and imports the AutoCAD objects into an empty scene. This also uses the AutoCAD coordinate system for positioning.If you are importing from an AutoCAD drawing that uses Civil Engineering units derived from State Plane Coordinates, and so on, your objects could be hundreds of thousands of units from the 0,0,0 MAX coordinate.You may want to move all objects in AutoCAD to be near 0,0,0 before importing.The Import AutoCAD DWG File dialog contains several options that will be described below in more detail.
Familiarize yourself with the options and then test the import process on your own files, preferably starting with smaller imports and working your way to larger projects. Importing 2D AutoCAD entities and making them into 3D objects (Free 3D Model) in MAX is a very efficient method of capitalizing on the accuracy of AutoCAD and the flexibility of your 3D program (free 3d model).
Often, because of their placement on various AutoCAD layers, shapes imported into MAX may need to be edited. Attaching or detaching shapes is a very common technique to produce logical compound shapes. Familiarize yourself with MAX Sub-Object editing methods, especially those on how to attach and detach 2D splines to create compound shapes in 3D program (free 3d model).
