What advice do you have for importing CAD models into Lightwave?
Lightwave needs special attention and instructions in order to properly import CAD models. Lightwave and 3ds max have their origins in the mid-1980s and both still cling to the usage of approximating smoothing groups instead of accurate vertex normals, the latter which is the modern method of representing mesh smoothing. Smoothing groups have the most problems with CAD data where they are a lot of abrupt angular changes within a single mesh object. To compound the problem Lightwave only allows a single smoothing angle to be defined per mesh object which can be very limiting. Due to these facts, you will have to guess an appropriate smoothing angle for your data when exporting to Lightwave files via the Geometry Smoothing Angle type-in box on the Okino Lightwave exporter. In general, use a smoothing angle between 18 and 30 degrees. After import into Lightwave you can interactively set this smoothing angle with the material editor. But, there is one case you should be aware of. First of
