Modelling in NX 9

[MOC]

Hello KSPers,

My first post! Woooo!

So, I want to try out modding. And, I'm in a class that teaches NX 9. I'm even going to have a project later in the semester where I build some real life rocket/plane/satellite/ISS/something in a fair amount of detail. It would be really cool if I could (a) use NX 9 to build some parts for KSP and ( export my project to KSP in some way, shape or form once it is completed. I could even plan ahead and make the wings, cockpit, engines, etc into seperate .prt files so that they could be made into a mini part pack.

Because NX is not the norm here, I will mention that NX does have an option to export as a .dxf file, which Unity apparently can import (http://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/3D-formats.html). So I think this all should be possible. But, I haven't worked out the process and am looking for pointers.

So my question is has anyone ever used NX 9 to model parts for KSP? Any suggested resources? If I'm the first person, I'll do my best, fumble through it, and come back with a more specific questions as they arise.

Thanks everybody!

[Vashts]

Hello KSPers,

My first post! Woooo!

So, I want to try out modding. And, I'm in a class that teaches NX 9. I'm even going to have a project later in the semester where I build some real life rocket/plane/satellite/ISS/something in a fair amount of detail. It would be really cool if I could (a) use NX 9 to build some parts for KSP and ( export my project to KSP in some way, shape or form once it is completed. I could even plan ahead and make the wings, cockpit, engines, etc into seperate .prt files so that they could be made into a mini part pack.

Because NX is not the norm here, I will mention that NX does have an option to export as a .dxf file, which Unity apparently can import (http://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/3D-formats.html). So I think this all should be possible. But, I haven't worked out the process and am looking for pointers.

So my question is has anyone ever used NX 9 to model parts for KSP? Any suggested resources? If I'm the first person, I'll do my best, fumble through it, and come back with a more specific questions as they arise.

Thanks everybody!

i am sorry, but this is probably the worst program to use to make game models, as well as most other parametric solid modelers. your best bet is to use something capable of polygon/mesh. curves dont translate well to low poly game models, and would need cleanup afterwards. if you really intend to use NX for this, your best bet would be to learn a program like blender in tandem and use it as a go between, or just go with blender or equivalent.

good luck regardless.

[Van Disaster]

You can get solids into 3d studio ( I've never worked with them myself so I don't know how usable any internal conversion to mesh is for an actual model as opposed to rendering ), no idea about anything else I'm afraid.

[sashan]

NX is feature-based, I have it as well. Games modeling is always mesh-based. So no-go. You need blender, 3ds max or smth like that.

[MOC]

Thanks for the feedback! Now that I'm starting to get into the thick of this NX course we're doing things like surface modeling. And I kind of see how most of these tools really aren't needed for game models.

I've installed Blender and am taking a look at it. Most of the things I imagine making would probably follow pretty basic meshes, at least for now. So it shouldn't be too big an issue to learn Blender. Maybe I'll return to NX in the future, but probably not.