<p>You could try import it with <a href="https://www.blender.org/download/" rel="nofollow">blender</a>. It's a free software which should be able to import the files.</p>

<p>First thing is to go the the File->User Preferences->Add Ons tab. In the Import-Export section, enable the 3DS Add-on.</p>

<p>After that you can export it to the desired format. Before exporting you must select the model/mesh you want to export. Otherwise nothing will be exported. The obj exporter is enabled by default in blender.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:32:49.677Z
So I must export the file in Maya first?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:33:06.917Z
Or import in Blender?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:35:42.217Z
Blender should be able to import the .max file directly after activating the shipped 3DS Add-on ;)
salomonderossi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:36:22.177Z
Ah. I see. How big is blender?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:37:54.057Z
Blender is about 100 megabytes at the moment. So not to big in my opinion
salomonderossi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:39:17.613Z
Oh woah. I was expecting it to be atleast 1gb. This is the whole file right?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:42:02.627Z
Jep. In the 100 mb download is everything you need. Just don't forget to activate the 3DS Add-on. I use blender a lot in my 3d printing projects...
salomonderossi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:42:50.690Z
Oh great stuff. Thank you for the insight. I will try it and let you know.
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:49:39.830Z
Tell me something. Is a .max file the same as a .3ds file?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:51:24.640Z
These are two different file formats from the same company (Autodesk). But blender should be able to import both
salomonderossi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T09:39:59.180Z
I installed blender, and went to add ons, and saw the .3ds file plugin was already on. I then looked for my file and didnt see it. Any suggestions?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T09:40:29.790Z
Is there another plugin?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T10:21:45.477Z
Have you had any luck importing .max files in blender?
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T14:45:54.867Z
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/39557/discussion-between-gipsyd-and-salomonderossi).
GipsyD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-04T14:41:59.343Z
`.3ds` is not `.max`. Try converting online
PEdro
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T06:30:49.387Z
2016-05-10T06:30:49.387Z
salomonderossi
<p>I need help opening a <code>.max</code> file a friend sent me. The thing is, I don't have Alias Maya. Well, a copy of Alias Maya that works anyway.</p>
<p>Are there any other file openers that I can use? Or do I have to get Maya to open the file? Would Alias Maya open the file? I don't want to get download 1.3 GB and discover that there is 15 MB file opener.</p>
<p>Is there a file converter maybe? That converts <code>.max</code> to, maybe, <code>.obj</code>?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-10T04:27:26.430Z
I believe the best tool for such conversion is 3DMax itself. I also tried [google](https://www.google.com/search?q=convert+max+to+stl) which returned me some worth-to-check results.
darth pixel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-11T08:13:42.673Z
If you want to use it for 3d printing then I suggest you to ask your friend to export it to STL format.
Serg Kryvonos
<3d-models><file-formats><123d-catch>
How to open .max files
GipsyD
# How to open .max files

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-09)

I need help opening a `.max` file a friend sent me. The thing is, I don't have Alias Maya. Well, a copy of Alias Maya that works anyway.

Are there any other file openers that I can use? Or do I have to get Maya to open the file? Would Alias Maya open the file? I don't want to get download 1.3 GB and discover that there is 15 MB file opener.

Is there a file converter maybe? That converts `.max` to, maybe, `.obj`?

**Tags:** 3d-models, file-formats, 123d-catch
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I believe the best tool for such conversion is 3DMax itself. I also tried [google](https://www.google.com/search?q=convert+max+to+stl) which returned me some worth-to-check results.  
> **username_2**: If you want to use it for 3d printing then I suggest you to ask your friend to export it to STL format.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-05-10. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

You could try import it with [blender](https://www.blender.org/download/). It's a free software which should be able to import the files.

First thing is to go the the File->User Preferences->Add Ons tab. In the Import-Export section, enable the 3DS Add-on.

After that you can export it to the desired format. Before exporting you must select the model/mesh you want to export. Otherwise nothing will be exported. The obj exporter is enabled by default in blender.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So I must export the file in Maya first?  
> **username_0**: Or import in Blender?  
> **username_3**: Blender should be able to import the .max file directly after activating the shipped 3DS Add-on ;)  
> **username_0**: Ah. I see. How big is blender?  
> **username_3**: Blender is about 100 megabytes at the moment. So not to big in my opinion  
> **username_0**: Oh woah. I was expecting it to be atleast 1gb. This is the whole file right?  
> **username_3**: Jep. In the 100 mb download is everything you need. Just don't forget to activate the 3DS Add-on. I use blender a lot in my 3d printing projects...  
> **username_0**: Oh great stuff. Thank you for the insight. I will try it and let you know.  
> **username_0**: Tell me something. Is a .max file the same as a .3ds file?  
> **username_3**: These are two different file formats from the same company (Autodesk). But blender should be able to import both  
> **username_0**: I installed blender, and went to add ons, and saw the .3ds file plugin was already on. I then looked for my file and didnt see it. Any suggestions?  
> **username_0**: Is there another plugin?  
> **username_0**: Have you had any luck importing .max files in blender?  
> **username_0**: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/39557/discussion-between-gipsyd-and-salomonderossi).  
> **username_4**: `.3ds` is not `.max`. Try converting online  

---

