CAD tip # 8509:

For unfolding a 3D body we can use the function "Unwrap UVW" available in Autodesk 3ds Max. Here are the individual steps:

1. Create or import (e.g. from DWG) the 3D object to unfold. We present the unfold functionality on a sphere, geoid (GeoSphere) - you can create it using the tool under the sun icon:

   

2. On the tab (icon) "Modify" go to the "Modifier List" and choose the modifier "Unwrap UVW":

   

3. With the sphere still selected, click the Edit button in the modifier parameters. The dialog "Edit UVWs" will open.
4. In this dialog, mouse-zoom to the whole sphere unfold mesh, select it (the Face sub-object mode, checkered button) and from the Mapping menu choose "Unfold Mapping". Leave the option "Walk to closest space" and uncheck "Normalize Clusters". Confirm OK and mouse-zoom to the resulting unwrap pattern:

   

5. Now read this pattern back into your scene. From the menu (icon) "Utilities" (hammer) select the button "More" and choose "Channel Info". Click the new button "Channel Info". This will open the "Map Channel Info" dialog:

   

6. Using this tool now copy the contents of the "map" channel to the "mesh" channel - i.e to your scene: select the row with the ID "1:map" and click the Copy button; selecz the row with the ID "mesh" and click the Paste button. Confirm the channel name and close the dialog. Zoom to the result - instead of the sphere you will see the unwrapped geometry (if you want to keep the original object, work on its copy):

   

7. The resulting unfold pattern can be transfered to AutoCAD for further processing. Here you can dimension it, plot it in full scale, or export it to CNC for laser cutting. Use DWG Export in 3ds Max and open the resulting DWG file in AutoCAD:

   

   You may need to explode the imported "mesh" object into 3DFaces, or explode even them to plain Lines (see the 3DF2L utility).