A Guide to 3D PDF

Published interactive 3D data contained within a 3D PDF file can be shared, viewed and interrogated using the freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader by users and departments who do not have access to native CAD data, but who need a 3D representation without the need for additional installed applications and knowledge of how they work. Once published, using Adobe Acrobat Reader a user will be able to:

• View the 3D model
• Interrogate the model tree sub-assemblies
• Turn components in assemblies on and off
• Shade and render for technical authoring
• View as a solid and wireframe
• Cross section components and assemblies

A 3D PDF document is extremely lightweight and therefore easily emailed without the danger of it being blocked by a firewall or inbox capacity. Intellectual Property can also be exchanged in a PDF protecting the native data. A smarter way of exchanging your design data. Publish 3D can be configured to distribute CAD models in many different contexts for different departments (all in one process), e.g.

• As a solid assembly (rendered) for marketing
• Hidden line removed for technical publication
• An exploded view for customer service
• Part of a bill of materials for purchasing

CADPublish will run the process at the press of a button (or as part of an overnight batch process) and will create multiple documents for multiple users. It can also email the data exchange document or can upload it to an FTP site or the cloud.

In addition to the 3D model itself, there are many user-configurable features that lend themselves to an array of use cases.

A complex, yet comprehensive approach to using the PDF format enabling interactive, step by step building capabilities for manufacturing in a single document.

The Works Instruction document in its simplest form can contain:

• A stepped process; each step referencing its own unique data set and view
• A 3D section showing an interactive representation of filtered geometry
• Accompanying icons which help to reduce ambiguity where the language is an issue when needing to highlight specific requirements – i.e. hazardous area.
• A means to show information alongside the 3D representation
• The instructions for each process step.
• Multi-lingual content to suit the audience based on geographical location
• Process stages can contain filtered steps, based upon user permissions or required actions.
• Additional Documentation can be attached to give context and clarity for defined operation states; each step can contain its own attached data set.

The Works Instruction template environment takes the capabilities of the 3D PDF format to the next level for sharing and consuming data.

Using the 3D PDF format to represent a Technical data sheet is revolutionizing how easily data can be gathered, displayed and interacted with. By incorporating the traditional characteristics of a technical data sheet within a 3D PDF document template as part of the creation process, the output and uses are dramatically enhanced.

A Technical Data Sheet traditionally summarizes the performance and other technical characteristics of a product, machine, component, material, etc. in sufficient detail that allows design engineers, for example, to understand the role of the ‘component’ within the overall design of the product. They generally have a very formal, yet static 2D layout which has been pulled together manually from disparate sources.

It is now possible to publish a single document containing a combination of data from a variety of sources, alongside an interactive representation of a 3D component, which is bringing new clarity to the technical detail and configuration specifications.

Highlighting a component and being able to instantly see where it fits into the overall product assembly, costings, materials, etc. is bringing a new dimension to the traditional technical data sheet.

Inspection Reports for Quality and Inspection Departments

The creation of final Inspection documentation, containing interactive 3D Data using the PDF format, significantly enhances and simplifies the QA reporting function needed for components to pass quality control and move into production.

An interactive 3D representation of a specific part or component, combined with additional metadata-part descriptions, part numbers, detailed drawings and proposed changes- and created as part of the inspection process that can be annotated, with findings highlighted and shared between departments is a very powerful information communication tool indeed.

The 3D representation can be used as an additional check of inspection; visually showing what has been inspected or what needs to be inspected.

Using a QA report template that can be populated directly from source data; with data that can be pulled from all necessary departments within an organization, as well as being attached to create a data package, reduces the time needed to locate all required documents and drawings helping to improve the QA process.

Engineering Change Request for Engineering Departments

3D PDF is the perfect mechanism to use for an Engineering Change Request Document. An interactive 3D PDF can be used to inform and update others within the Engineering department that modifications to a component are required, without needing specialist CAD or viewing applications to see the change(s) and give relevant approvals.

As with the Inspection Reports, the addition of an interactive 3D representation of a specific part or component, combined with additional metadata, proposed changes, and created as part of the ECR process that can be annotated, with notes highlighted and then shared, is a very powerful, yet simple communication tool.

As PDF doesn’t require the use of a license of Vis-Mockup to load CAD data into a specific application, for example, time will be saved and costs reduced, especially as the all necessary information can be contained and attached within a single document (technical data package); simplifying the sign off process.

Bill of Materials (BOM) for Manufacturing Departments

When the product lifecycle is at the manufacturing stages, it is essential that staff have all the necessary pieces of information that are required to put in place the manufacturing processes needed for production.

Most of this information will be passed down from the design engineers, who will have designed the product using a CAD system. But the manufacturing engineers need more than just the design visual, they need the rest of the product information, such as dimensions and materials etc. and unless they know how to use a CAD system, they may have difficulty in accessing and understanding it. Sharing data in its native digital form requires specialist resource and training. The more traditional paper route can equally be as problematic. Both routes can be expensive and time-consuming and often require input from Engineering to make sense of the data.

Combining interactive 3D design data representations with full Product Manufacturing Information (PMI), 3D PDF documents can be used during the manufacturing process, removing the requirement for 2D drawings to be output from the CAD source data.

3D PDF allows a more thorough understanding of the product due to different views being available for interrogation, along with dimensional, tolerance, and surface finish information. Additional information can be attached to the 3D PDF document (such as spreadsheets, hyperlinks, AVI’s etc.). You can then use the 3D image embedded and any additional data, such as quantities, and cost information, and lists of raw materials, to create an MBOM, which can be shared throughout the organization and the supply chain.

Almost every department within an organization will need to discuss a product’s design at some point along the process; the question is how this can be done more efficiently and utilizing existing resource?

Product designers have a close working relationship with many different departments within an organization. They create the initial design concept/brief which would then need to be shared with colleagues to review and assess the design and provide their own input and feedback. Using 3D PDF makes this quick and easy and so speeds up the whole design cycle.

By embedding 3D viewing capability into the freely available Adobe Reader, 3D data exchange and 3D viewing become available to anyone in the world.

Using 3D PDF to review data offers the following functionalities:

• Annotations- allows additional comments to be added to the data if required and saves changing the source data.
• Saved views- save various iterations of a viewing session
• Sectioning- create a cross-section of the model
• Explode- examine the finer detail of the CAD data by breaking the assembly down
• Hide/show parts- only see what is necessary
• Standard out of the box commands- familiar to regular PDF users
• Attachments – the addition of spreadsheets, AVI’s and hyperlinks etc. create a rich data package

Data reviews today can be conducted collaboratively using the latest digital 3D technologies, enabling multiple concepts to be reviewed by departments globally, to evaluate different configurations before settling on final options for new designs, or changes to existing configurations.

Model-based definition (MBD) is the practice of using 3D models (such as solid models, 3D PMI and associated metadata) within 3D CAD software to define the manufacturing data that is needed to make individual components and product assemblies.  The types of information included are Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), component level materials, assembly level bills of materials, engineering configurations, design intent, etc.  By contrast, other methodologies have historically required accompanying use of 2D engineering drawings to provide such details.

Modern 3D CAD applications allow for the insertion of engineering information such as dimensions, GD&T, notes and other product details within the 3D digital data set for components and assemblies.  MBD uses such capabilities to establish the 3D digital data set as the source of these specifications and design authority for the product.  The 3D digital data set may contain enough information to manufacture and inspect product without the need for engineering drawings (which have traditionally contained such information).

In many instances, use of some information from 3D digital data set allows for rapid prototyping of product via various processes, such as 3D printing.  A manufacturer may be able to feed 3D digital data directly to manufacturing devices such as CNC machines to manufacture final products.

Implementing MBD at the beginning of the product lifecycle and re-using it throughout an organisation and its supply chain enables quick, seamless and cost-effective development and deployment of products.

PDF files containing interactive 3D data provide a higher level of Intellectually Property (IP) security than native CAD files by allowing the documents to be password protected.

Native CAD files cannot be password protected, causing IP vulnerabilities when shared or accessed. Using 3D PDF, the CAD data can be translated into a tessellated format, with content such as features, history and constraints being removed, so that the 3D representation can be viewed and manipulated, but the native CAD data cannot be accessed or reproduced from the PDF alone.

This added functionality gives greater confidence when sharing sensitive information with partners and suppliers.

Using standard Adobe PDF security, a 3D PDF can be:

• Password protected
• Encrypted
• Data Rights Management added
• Restricted access for specific users with other applications such as LiveCycle, FileOpen etc.

A 3D PDF has the capability for the document to be annotated, and can also act as a ‘carrier’ file for additional data to be transported (such as spreadsheets, AVI Movies, hyperlinks, as well as native CAD data) and create a richer file and source of information, but still keep IP secure.

The 3D PDF format is revolutionizing the consumption and sharing of data. It is a simple and cost-effective method to leverage existing CAD and PLM assets with non-CAD users internally and externally. More importantly, the use of the interactive format is helping to reduce ambiguity and improve communication, whilst speeding up and simplifying day to day engineering and manufacturing design cycle processes. This, in turn, is helping to reduce costs, time to market and improving product quality.

3D PDF is enabling organizations of all sizes to extend the use of their native 3D CAD and Visualization data into numerous multi-disciplinary application areas and for downstream re-use that can benefit from access to 3D geometry, product structure and associated metadata.

Being able to utilize a single document as an interactive technical data package without loss of quality, is allowing a more thorough understanding of the 3D technical content of the product by staff who would not normally have access to raw engineering and CAD design data.

With Intellectual Property remaining secure in the 3D PDF format using password protection and digital rights management, data can still be exchanged without concern or risk to security.

The 3D PDF format is the future of data sharing and consumption of engineering design data throughout a product lifecycle.