Since the MSRDS Simulation environment doesn't provide 3D model mesh creation capability, it's been suggested we use a 3rd party modeling tool to create a mesh representation of any physical object.
Can anyone here provide a great 3D modeling tool recommendation (preferably a free one, or inexpenseive one) that will export the alias.obj format that is required by MSRDS?
You can try Blender, it supports a lot off file types including *.obj, but I create models in different way. I'm not skilled in using Blender so I draw the model in google Sketchup (free edition), then I export the model with plugin to *.obj, plugin file name obj_export_1.1.rb (I don't remember where I get it from). Then I import it to Blender, resize it so it has the real dimensions, then I add some colors and export it to *.obj again. Then you have two files *.obj and *.mtl (material file with colors). All you need to do with the files is to copy them into the mrs\store\media directory and you can use the *.obj file as mesh. MRS will then generate *.bos file and you can use this file too.
You can try Blender, it supports a lot off file types including *.obj, but I create models in different way. I'm not skilled in using Blender so I draw the model in google Sketchup (free edition), then I export the model with plugin to *.obj, plugin file name obj_export_1.1.rb (I don't remember where I get it from). Then I import it to Blender, resize it so it has the real dimensions, then I add some colors and export it to *.obj again. Then you have two files *.obj and *.mtl (material file with colors). All you need to do with the files is to copy them into the mrs\store\media directory and you can use the *.obj file as mesh. MRS will then generate *.bos file and you can use this file too.