I'm an engineering student so I have access to SolidWorks, which is I CAD program if you didn't already know. I really like the program and I find it a lot easier to use than Blender, and I'm definitely not going to shell out the money for something like 3DS Max or Maya. So basically I was wondering if anyone knows a way I can use the filetypes that Solidworks saves 3d models in, with Direct3D. Either directly or by converting them to .x or something else. The default file type is .prt(Part) or .sldprt(Solid Part), and the other ones that look promising to me are .u3d (Universal 3d) or .3dxml (3D XML). Failing that, here's a list of all the file extensions Solidworks can save to: prt, sldprt, sldlfp, prtdot, sldftp, x_t, x_b, igs, step, sat, vda, wrl, stl, eprt, pdf, u3d, 3dxml, psd, ai, xaml, cgr, prt, jpg, hcg, hsf, tif. cheers, metal

You've set a very difficult and inconvenient task for yourself. SolidWorks, being a CAD/CAM/CAE tool, constructs information dense models to ensure that interior details are engineering-level precise. Traditional game development tools, in contrast, are only concerned with external geometry. Consequently, there are relatively few utilities that address both of those concerns.

If you can't find a format that SolidWorks can output and a modeling package like 3D Studio MAX or Maya can read, then you're going to have to find a converter (rare and expensive) or write one yourself, which involves obtaining the file format specification for one of the formats SolidWorks can write.

Good luck!

Bugger.
I had a feeling it might be a tough ask, but I was hoping not. I get the impression that writing a converter would be well beyond me and so far I can't find anything existing so perhaps this is one for the too hard basket.

cheers anyway,
metal