A key feature of 3ds Max is its ability to let you work with drawings and models you've created with AutoCAD and Autodesk Architectural Desktop, or drawings you've exported from Autodesk Revit. 3ds Max gives you the advantage of being able to improve on sound, precise drawings by letting you create realistic design visualization presentations.
The integration of drawings created with AutoCAD and Architectural Desktop or exported from Revit with 3ds Max scenes is extremely tight. DWG files convert cleanly and maintain their layer identities and you have control over import smoothing, normal unification, and several other geometry specifications. You can import entire drawings, merge specific layers or components, and even create a live link between 3ds Max and AutoCAD.
You can find the files for this tutorial in the tutorials\designviz folder on the program disc that ships with 3ds Max. Before starting the tutorials, copy the \tutorials folder from the disc to local installed program folder.