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Challenge — Importing CAD Models Using PiXYZ Studio

In this Challenge tutorial, you will replace a placeholder car with an actual car model. To do so, you’ll need to:

Replace a stand-in file in Unity with this model

In this tutorial, you will prepare a CAD model for use in Unity. Learn how to  manage model specific structural issues with smart orient. Your goal is  to build an understanding of how to run various functions in PiXYZ Studio in order to assemble a polygonal format of a model of your choosing.

Replace a stand-in file in Unity with this model 

Assumes you have a free trial license, if not, visit 

the Studio page of the PiXYZ website and click on 7-day trial at the bottom of the page.

 The PiXYZ Studio workflow depends heavily on the model.

Overview

Import a model to the PiXYZ Studio editor

Run multiple commands on the model to prepare it

Export the final optimized mesh, tessellated, and ready for use in Unity in .fbx format

This tutorial will teach you how to use PiXYZ Studio to prepare a mesh.

Challenge: Can we prepare a car model for Unity with PiXYZ Studio? 

Import the model of the Aviera into PiXYZ Studio. 

Use the PiXYZ Studio’s normal Import Dialog to bring the Aviera .wire model into the application.

Adjust the parameters in the off-chance that you need to have a lower or higher tolerance. Click Execute. 

Note that the Occurrences and Triangle count statistics will look  like this in the top left of your main viewer in PiXYZ Studio: 

Repair CAD is a catch-all function call, that will make changes to a variety of topology inadequacies automatically.

 Adjust the parameters in the off-chance that you need to have a lower or higher tolerance. Click Execute. 

 After using Repair CAD ensure the car looks like this: 

PiXYZ Studio Import

On the resulting dialog box, you can leave all default values and click 

 After using Tessellate the car will look like this: 

Note that for the first time now our statistics have changed to 156 Occurrences and 1,175,397 Triangles

Tessellate

 When you see the following dialog box, make sure to click yes. 

 After using Explode Patches the car will look like this: 

Note that this is the top-down view with 2-Sided, 100% visibility, and B-Rep, Shaded, and Outline toggled on. 

Explode Patches

You will note that currently you’re using a view that is default called 2-Sided.

This isn’t going to showcase those areas of the car that  still aren’t fixed. Switch the view to BF Color to see areas we need to  work on.

Use the view toggle found in the central bar of tools and click on it three times to see BF Color 

In the central bar of tools, there’s a box with multiple view types: Click on that until you find BF Color 

By using the BF Color view you’ll be able to see areas of the geometry  where the faces of the polygons generated using “Tessellate” are misaligned, hidden, or flipped. This can be managed by then using a  smart orient script in the next step. 

Use BF Color View

Note the number of Occurrences has since grown drastically as patches  were exploded to parts in step four. Smart Orient is a script used to  correct and reorganize the topology to reduce pink blotches where the  surface isn’t complete. 

The Smart Orient Script is actually just a way to speed up workflow;  however, what it really does is call four other functions. Those are  Smart Hidden, Create Visibility Information, Orient, and Delete Hidden  Attributes. 

Open up the Help menu in the toolbar, and click on Open Sample Scripts Directory. 

 Use the resulting file explorer window by and drag the Python script “SmartOrient.py” over into the Scripts window.
 

The Scripts window is located down at the bottom where you’ll see Output as well. 


Note: this is how my editor looks and I’ve dragged the script editor window into the bottom of the screen so that I can see more of the text in the document
 

Note: this window may be on the right-side of the editor or also right next to the Output bar, you need to find the scripts window and then you’ll be able to use the execution button


When done, the car should look like this: 

Use Smart Orient

Invert Orientations all around the car  model (until the amount of pink showing is reasonably minimized) to fix subtleties that weren’t addressed in the previous operations. 

You may find it helpful to click “F” on the keyboard to focus in on  areas that are selected. PiXYZ Studio will automatically reorient the  view to fit those pieces. 

Find areas like the one on the roof where the patch is contained to a small section.

Hold CTRL on Windows or Command on Mac and select these areas by clicking them. 

Run open the Mesh dropdown from the toolbar and click 

 Use your eye to ensure minimal pink is showing.

PiXYZ Studio allows you to save a workspace file known as a .pxz file.  Definitely take advantage of this as you move along to save your work. 

Watch how you can use the view tool along with ‘F’ to focus in on a small area. 

Here is the front section in the above gif from up close, and you’ll  need to do the same thing on the opposite side of the front of the car. 

Invert the Orientation of Selections

Merge final assemblies to reduce our occurrences and optimize the model for Unity. 

Merge Final Assemblies

At the very end we need to drastically reduce the amount of overall Triangles in the road flattener model. 

Use Optimize Mesh > Smart Hidden Removal:   

Smart Hidden Removal

You have now a command of the main functions within PiXYZ Studio

By completing this tutorial, you’re now able to:

Key Takeaways

Unfortunately this content is now out of date. Please see more relevant content.

https://www.pixyz-software.com/documentations/html/2022.1/plugin4unity/PixyzPluginforUnity20221.html

Unity Version 2018.3