From the documentation on 3ds, it simply states that

Export to the 3DS format supports the following graphics primitives: GraphicsComplex, Cuboid, Cylinder, and Sphere.

so it basically should work. The problem seems to be the Translate command, because

Export["test.3ds", Graphics3D[Translate[Cuboid[{0,0,0}], {{0,0,0}}]]]

does not work, but this is equivalent to

Export["test.3ds", Graphics3D[Cuboid[]]]

which does work. Consequently you could do it like so:

pts = RandomReal[{-10, 10}, {100, 3}];
y = Graphics3D[{Red, Cuboid /@ pts}];
Export["test.3ds", y]

But in any case Mathematica knows a lot of respective 3D Geometry & Modeling Formats.

Regards -- Henrik

Hi

With help this site I found workaround:

  x = {RandomInteger[1, 20], RandomInteger[1, 20], RandomInteger[1, 20]};
  vals = ArrayReshape[x, {12, 512, 26}, 0];
  pts = Position[vals, 1];
  test = Graphics3D[Translate[PolyhedronData["Cube", "GraphicsComplex"], pts], Boxed -> False, SphericalRegion -> True]

  ClearAll[normify, xfcoords, ixfcoords];
  normify[Translate[g_, v : {__?NumericQ}]] := 
    normify[Translate[g, {v}]];
  normify[Translate[g_, v_?MatrixQ]] := 
    xfcoords[g, TranslationTransform[#]] & /@ v;
  normify[g_] := g;

  SetAttributes[xfcoords, Listable];
  xfcoords[g_, xf_] := ixfcoords[g, xf];
  ixfcoords[(obj : GraphicsComplex | Polygon | Line | Point)[coords_, rest___], xf_] := obj[xf[coords], rest];
  ixfcoords[g_, xf_] := g;

  normaltest = normify //@ test

  Export["test1.3ds", normaltest]

It's only work with Graphics primitives such as:

   PolyhedronData[All]

Regards, MI