Is there any free app to convert 3Ds to OBJ or Lightwave. Also, can I extract 3Ds and MAX's textures from the file? (I can use Mac or PC to run apps)

Thanks!

Blender supports all those formats, though I find it can be touchy during imports (i.e. chokes and crashes). Wings also supports 3DS and OBJ but its internal representation doesn't allow for two-sided faces so it may mangle certain models.

Note that 3DS format is not the same as MAX format however - I don't know of any app other than 3D Studio Max that can open MAX files.

Hi,

you can load .3ds files in lightwave's modeler (8 here):
file>load object>select "enable : all documents" (default : "enable : ligthwave objects").