CAD

How to convert max files without 3ds Max

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Allan Brito February 5, 2018

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When you start to work with architectural visualization, you eventually will have to deal with proprietary file formats, which will give you some headaches to manipulate. Among those formats are the DWG and MAX. Do we get questions like; how to convert max files without 3ds Max?

Is that possible to convert a max file without 3ds max? The problem here is you can only read and open a max file, using 3ds Max.

We might have a solution for that, but it will depend on a conversion service.

Convert max files without 3ds max

If you are trying to convert a max file to something like an obj file, you can use a free online service like Yobi 3D. They have a free conversion system, which can handle max files.

Does it work?

Let me show you a quick test. We can use an iconic primitive 3d object from 3ds Max like the Utah Teapot. The file I have is a max file from 3ds max 2016.

If you upload the file to Yobi 3D, you can convert the max file to something like OBJ or FBX. You will be able to get the model to Blender.

Answering the question, yes it does work. You can convert max files without 3ds Max using Yobi 3D. At the moment, their conversion system remains free.

A few things you have to look for, before heading for a conversion. There is a size limit to any files you upload to the system. The max file cannot be larger than 30MB. Depending on the complexity of files, you probably will have to wait for a while to get the download link.

In our tests, we got two failed conversions. Only in the third attempt, we got the download link.

For a free service, it is a great resource! Use their system to convert max files without 3ds Max and import them to Blender.

The options seem much better than having to open 3ds Max to export files to Blender, using a middleware.