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Import a Component or 3D Model

Import Component Icon

This command opens the File Open dialog window, allowing existing Aspire files (CRV3D extension) and importable 3rd party 3D files to be selected and opened. If you select a 3rd party 3D model format, the Orientate Model form will open (see below) to allow you to manipulate the 3D model before it is converted into a Component.

V3M

V3M is a proprietary file format developed by Vectric for Vector Art 3D and Design and Make. Files in this format can be purchased from www.vectorart3d.com and www.designandmake.com and when imported into Aspire will create a new Component with the same name as the file. This will be imported at the size and position the part was saved in the original file.

STL

This is a standard format for complex 3D models, based on a triangular mesh. STL files can be exported from many 3D design software programs such as Rhino. These models can be completely 3 dimensional (i.e. have a front, back, etc.), this means that when this type of file is opened that it must first be sized and oriented before a Component can be created (Aspire only represents base-relief so cannot work with a completely 3D object). Once the file becomes a Component it will have the same name as the original STL file. This file type will need to be imported using the Orientate 3D Model to size and position it before it is brought into VCarve Desktop.

DXF

3D DXF files from AutoCAD and many other CAD orientated modeling packages, these must be 3D meshes and not just wireframe data of the models vertices. This file type will need to be imported using the Orientate 3D Model to size and position it before it is brought into VCarve Desktop.

3DS

A native format from 3D Studio Max and many other animation orientated modeling packages. This file type will need to be imported using the Orientate 3D Model to size and position it before it is brought into VCarve Desktop.

OBJ

A native format from Wavefront and many other animation orientated modeling packages. This file type will need to be imported using the Orientate 3D Model to size and position it before it is brought into VCarve Desktop.

SKP

A native format from the SketchUp modeling package. This file type will need to be imported using the Orientate 3D Model to size and position it before it is brought into VCarve Desktop.

Note: If you wish to read data from a 3D digitizer or scanning device then STL is typically the best format that should be used to import the data into VCarve Desktop. Many software packages that work with a scanner offer an STL export option, if not then a third party software program may be required to convert the data to an STL model.

Importing a 3D Model
(STL, DXF, 3DS, OBJ etc)

When one of these formats are chosen for 3D file Import, the imported model needs to be oriented and scaled before it can become a Component. A special import window is opened and a set of orientation/scaling tools enabled. Depending on the job type, import window will be different:

There is also a video tutorial that shows this process.