Maxonform again...are u really using it..and how

[Anonymous]

ok.. i tried using Maxonform huge capabilities... i adore it.. but implementing that into AC is a disaster ... its ok for a roof... for some furniture... i mean things that we don't really edit a lot... but for other elements? " twisted walls ... or even strange shell shapes" its a disaster.. SEO might not work sometimes.. we can't work with walls with it.. i was thinking maybe its my fault i wasn't using maxonform the right way? or is it really not that good?

so if any one likes to share ideas

[TomWaltz]

I think you found what it's capable of.... and why I didn't see fit to buy it 😉

[owen]

whatever wrote:
its a disaster.. SEO might not work sometimes.. we can't work with walls with it.. i was thinking maybe its my fault i wasn't using maxonform the right way? or is it really not that good?

No you are right - its really not that good. I share your pain .. its a horrible creation spawning app-crashing, bloated objects but unfortunately there is just no alternative to using it. There are somethings you just can't do in AC, at least without knowing some pretty sophisticated GDL (and even then debatable)

I just think MaxonForm/Cinema 4D is a bandaid for ACs basic modeling tools and is a total cop out by GS.

And they can't even keep the damn thing up to date .. ever since AC10 we have needed to use 3DS to get our models into AC as there is no Intel nor C4D R10 plugin.

The image below is of a small segment of a canopy around the base of a tower some guys here are working. Now I'm not saying it couldn't be modeled in AC, but it would be a nightmare and if you wanted to tweak those curves (NURBS in C4D) .. well i hope the cleaner knows how to get the blood out of the carpet

[Anonymous]

Glad to know that its not just me

but still sad coz this combination can be really the best solution , i mean Sketchup is lovely , but when it comes to curved shapes and these stuff? no , sorry.

thanx

[Rob]

I have happily ignored whole maxonform hype and as I can see it was for my own good. I just did not like the AC-Maxonform workflow from the very beginning.... well being honest it simply sucks in my opinion.

[owen]

Both offices I have worked in that use MaxonForm were already using C4D for rendering/animation and modeling where the latter was just not possible/realisitic in ArchiCAD - importing as 3DS, far from good but still the only way to do it. When MaxonForm came along they rightly thought it would at least simplify this process and it easily saved the $100 or so spent on the add-on.

but i still agree with you .. it really sucks

unfortunately until GS gets serious (if ever) about some really powerful modeling tools for AC it is the best solution out there. none of this 'wow my slanted wall can now curve in plan too' stuff .. i'm talking define a NURB surface and make a wall, slab, roof whatever out of it. Or array a series of trusses along it. Then stick a window/door in it. And have it look right in plan. Ok so maybe i'm asking for to much there..

it seems to me no-one thinks its that important (at least publicly on ACTalk) and i'll admit i do bang on about it (alot) but there are offices out there who really need this sort of thing. GS effectively admitted they know this by releasing MaxonForm, whilst at the same time throwing their hands up and saying its all too hard for them, let someone else do the work..

anyway i promise to shut up about it now .. well at least for the next 6 months

[Rob]

unfortunately until GS gets serious (if ever) about some really powerful modeling tools for AC it is the best solution out there. none of this 'wow my slanted wall can now curve in plan too' stuff .. i'm talking define a NURB surface and make a wall, slab, roof whatever out of it. Or array a series of trusses along it. Then stick a window/door in it. And have it look right in plan. Ok so maybe i'm asking for to much there..

this could be a great feature, however it would introduce in general completely different approach to the internal core maths which is a significant problem in terms of timing and GS resources...not having some basic features working properly.

[Anonymous]

Here here!

[Anonymous]

Owen, I 'll add my vote to your call for better modeling tools!
..and they should be INTEGRATED into the toolset, not treated as a buggy add-on.....

I'll also add to Rob's comment that the whole underlying engine needs an overhaul. I've posted numerous times in the past about the current "facet" based engine, and the fact that we have to put up with approximations of a curve in sections and elevations (in 2D, where accuracy for documentation should reasonably be expected!).

If GS don't get serious about these limitations soon their flagship will soon be left in the wake of competing software...

Now what are GS going to do once AC12 is out, and they need all the subscribers out there to renew? There is going to have to be a compelling reason to continue...