Exporting models from Sandbox

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haarp

As the owner of a brand new and highly accurate 3D printer, I naturally decided that mechs are desirable objects to print. First attempts with random MWO models off the 'tubes yield great results.

https://i.imgur.com/h7B6aJG.jpg

This isn't even the end of it. I can still swap out the 0.4mm nozzle with a 0.25mm one and print even slower, even more highres.

However, MWO models are hideously repugnant. Clearly, it is MWLL models which deserve to be printed. Therefore, attempts were made to export objects and scenes from Cryengine Sandbox via its Export Selected Object as OBJ. This works for Crysis assets, but breaks for MWLL ones, with a single useless error: Error while getting the mesh from object!

The theory is that Crysis' .cgf-based models work, while MWLL's .cga make it choke. Who knows. Well, I hope you do!

Here's my offer. If you can provide me with a solution to this problem, that empowers me to export arbitrary scenes from the Cryengine editor (not just static unarmed models) that I can print, I shall reward you with a high-quality print of your choosing, to be delivered to your doorstep. Doesn't have to be a "mini" either, I can print large figures aswell.

Who can help out? Cheers!

@fire-hound

fire-hound

Hi there!

what I use

may i first warn about few caveats:
1. only tested on win7 64bit - and that might be a big show stopper (or win7 clean install party)
2. win10 is well known by now of it's obnoxious and ridiculous "security" demands that stipulate anything but the basic functions in it - i can't and won't be of much help there - but would greatly appreciate feedback for others that might try walk that path of torture.
3. since i doubt that Sandbox2 will ever work on wine/Linux I just assume this is of 0% interest for MWLL_on_Linux
4. the process is tested to work 100% with:
CGA (animated objects get exported their geometry only)
CGF (static bodies of course)
5. our MWLL models deal with actor models (the legs) i didn't run any tests yet in that regard
6. we can get Collada (for blender) and *.obj files for 3dsmax out of the game so far (both tested)

TL;DR
torso and up will work
legs: TBD

will provide troubleshooting as far as i can go, expecting feedback of either fail or pass

haarp

So basically you're using cgf-converter? That doesn't work for me.

For example, let's set it loose on CL_Madcat.

It handles on both CL_Madcat_vehicle.cga and CL_Madcat_torso.cga. It complains that Index was outside the bounds of the array. and writes .obj files that are far too small. And indeed, there's nothing useful inside of them: https://i.imgur.com/3cOwSzC.png - I suspect that these are elements of the platform the legs and torso attach to. cgf-converter doesn't seem to convert our models properly.

It doesn't work on cl_madcat_legs.chr at all, complaining that The given key was not present in the dictionary.

fire-hound

I will look into it later this afternoon
so far i got all the 8bay factory guts out (Collada - *.bae) and into blender - there I un-fscked it and exported all back as 3 parts for Ancient to make it nuke proof on 4bay factory:
Effectively the current (0.10.1) 4 bay factory are models re-exported from blender.

The cga-converter needs some parameters handled to it to work properly - and some are not obvious at all.
I only got it going once i provided the srcdir and the output format switches.

I advise you look into the scripts of the archive i gave links - just to check the process and how odd it might be?

fire-hound

You where right, the models seem to be somewhat a showstopper for the cgf-converter.
Once i renamed the *.cga to *.cgf the context menu would allow me to run conversion but, alas, only the torso model went thru.
(see attachments)
Ever heard of Noesis?
Noesis home page
once i had it point to the Mad Cat directory, it showed me the legs properly (yes!) while it too failed to render the torso n vehicle at all...
... that's the 2nd *.dae file I got from the session.
Once I imported the two into blender, and rotated the legs (X axis -90 degree) i had the model I am sending you

I leave as an exercise for the readers to complete the actual layout by exporting/importing the various other objects and files all over the build

TL;DR:
1. rename all cga to cgf to enable right click access to cgf-converter (or maybe add the option to the reg file?)
2. if the export fails have Noesis handy
3. must decide of the model you promised (can't make up my mind between Uziel and Black Lanner )

madcat raw export n stuff

haarp

Of course I checked the scripts. There's not much to them, basic command execution. There's no srcdir, I'm assuming you meant objectdir.

./cgf-converter.exe Objects\objects_mwll\Vehicles\Clan\Tracked\CL_Oro\*.c* -noconflict -objectdir Objects -obj -group

Not much to do wrong here. I've also tried dae, but I have no tool to open it with. So what am I doing differently? Renaming the extension makes no difference.

I also cannot use Blender files either. I'll need obj or stl.

fire-hound

haarp
yes objectdir
I had the dae file from the torso part
had no luck from the vehicle part
and noesis thingy got my the legs
Blender is free download and license is quite relaxed - once you have a blend file - blender exports quite reliably into whatever.
I will convert it to obj and stl for You, shortly.

And, the obj didn't work for me neither (on neither file)

You use 3dsmax or some other Autodesk product, right?

fire-hound

other fromats

fire-hound

WIP

fire-hound

final
preview

haarp

Just a followup on this. @fire-hound did export and fix up the Timber Wolf to be printable back in December.

It could still use some tweaks here and there and many of the fine details are not easy to print. But the process works.

Unfortunately it's a ton of work as every model needs lots of fixes to be printable and reasonably durable. And it seems fire-hound has also lost interest. Oh well, it was a nice experiment. Good to know that it's possible tho.

fire-hound

I actually lost the free time , but as @haarp said, the models are far cry from an clean enclosed body that the 3D printing process expects, so yes a lots of tweaking on that side.
Adding insult to injury are the legs that are thin and feeble for the volume of the body - we had breakage there too...

I'm still learning the demands for a proper 3D print, and I might eventually revisit the models at a later time, once i have more free time or finish other tasks I'm occupied with...

More 3D printing sheneningans can be found on the artist discord of MWLL, where we have a fine master of 3D printing everything (our good lad Toriate)

machinegodur

Sorry to necro a 2 year old forum here, but @fire-hound how exactly did you go about getting the legs for the timber wolf there? I'm trying to nab a couple mechs out of here for 3D printing myself and I can't seem to find the legs anywhere. I can get the torsos exported to dae, but can't find legs. For some mechs like the Owens who have just missile pods for arms, I can't seem to find them either. Can you point me in the right direction?

fire-hound

machinegodur i hope we get a list once we thru with this (we're on discord DM each other as we speak (lol recursive pun!) )