Issue with "FAILED TO MERGE BONES" error when exporting skeletal mesh from 3ds Max to Unreal Engine

I’m facing an issue while trying to export a skeletal mesh from 3ds Max to Unreal Engine. Here’s the problem I’m encountering: When I export the skeletal mesh as an FBX file from 3ds Max and attempt to import it into Unreal Engine, I receive the “FAILED TO MERGE BONES” error message.

Strangely, if I export the same skeletal mesh directly from Unreal Engine and reimport it, I don’t encounter any issues. The original FBX file imports correctly, but the exported file from 3ds Max triggers the error.

To provide some context, the skeletal mesh I’m working with contains dummy helpers in 3ds Max, which represent the bones. I haven’t made any modifications to the bone hierarchy or their names, and the original FBX file imports correctly into Unreal Engine.

Maybe I have something wrong with the FBX export settings on 3ds max? I tried everything there but maybe I missed something.

Are there any specific export settings, considerations, or techniques I should be aware of when exporting skeletal meshes from 3ds Max to ensure compatibility with Unreal Engine?

I would greatly appreciate any tips, advice, or possible solutions you can offer.
Thank you!

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