3DS Export for SpaceClaim is a 3D Studio (.3ds) file export add-in for SpaceClaim®. This add-in gives SpaceClaim the ability to export 3D solid and surface data from a SpaceClaim part or assembly document to 3d polygon meshes in a 3D Studio 3DS file.
3DS Export for SpaceClaim tessellates solid bodies in a SpaceClaim document into a set of triangular meshes. These meshes are then exported to a 3D Studio 3DS file as mesh objects. The 3S file can then be imported into a variety of CAD applications.
3DS Export for SpaceClaim is very easy to use. It adds new commands to SpaceClaim. Once installed, it automatically loads itself into SpaceClaim and adds a new ribbon bar to SpaceClaim called "SYCODE" containing the newly added commands.
The new commands are:
Export - Exports a 3DS file
Help - Displays the 3DS Export for SpaceClaim help file
Register - Displays the 3DS Export for SpaceClaim product registration dialog box
About - Displays the 3DS Export for SpaceClaim about box
3DSExport for SpaceClaim comes with detailed documentation for each command as well as a tutorial to get you started in the shortest possible time.
The 3DS File Format
The 3DS file format is the native file format of 3D Studio. 3D Studio has now been replaced by 3ds Max whose native file format has a .max file extension. However, 3ds Max is still able to read and write .3ds files. 3ds Max is one of the most widely-used off the shelf 3D animation programs. It has strong modeling capabilities, a flexible plug-in architecture and a long heritage on the Microsoft Windows platform. It is mostly used by video game developers, TV commercial studios and architectural visualization studios. It is also used for movie effects and movie pre-visualization.