Communicate in 3D

I been tooling around in Acrobat 3D 8 Preview, delighting in the import support for all of the major CAD formats (see list below), and the very tiny file sizes of saved documents (60 MB models reduced to less than half MB PDFs). A while ago, I tried out the new IGES export functionality. Of course I didn’t read any documentation, so I fumbled around a bit until I figured out the process. I thought I would share my own confusions along with my “oh - that makes sense” moment.

In my first test, I opened a CATIA v5 model directly into Acrobat 3D 8. Flawless. I then went to the File –> Export menu, but was dismayed to see there was no option to export as IGES or any other 3D format for that matter. I was confused. Did I need to use Acrobat 3D Toolkit for export? That didn’t make sense because then how could a 3D PDF be used for actual production (i.e. CAM and CAE)?

Then I noticed that the listed export options all appeared to be related to the PDF document as a whole and not to the model I had in mind. That was my first “ah-ha” moment. I didn’t want to export the PDF as a whole to IGES (which might contain supporting cost spreadsheets, annotations, etc as well as multiple models). I wanted to export a specific embedded model. (Seems obvious now in hindsight). So again rather than read any documentation, I right clicked on the model itself. Low and behold - an Export option (IGES, STEP, Parasolid and VRML). Flawless.

I did some more experimenting with different ways of converting and importing the same CATIA v5 model. If I imported the model in U3D format rather than PRC format, my export option was gone. Instead I had an option only to edit in the 3D Toolkit. That one I quickly figured out. PRC supports B-rep (exact model information) which can be used for manufacturing so IGES/STEP export makes sense. U3D is a tesselated model, so no export to IGES/STEP. More experimenting brought more understanding and a greater appreciation for the complexity of what Acrobat 3D 8 is trying to tackle.

All in all, the whole IGES/STEP export option is pretty interesting. There already are dedicated CAD programs that do this data translation and most CAD shops already own one of these. So why would anyone use this feature in a 3D PDF? Although I am not an expert in 3D translation, to me the answer is very clear. The same document that contains supporting information (costs, notes, drawings, interactive 3D mockups), can be used for manufacturing (assuming you know to right click on the model! and you have the security authorization). It means communication stays consistent within and between organizations. That will improve efficiency and productivity, as well as reduce confusion. It will take time for CAD engineers to become confident enough to use Acrobat 3D as an adjunct to or replacement for their current CAD translation solution. But the the ability to share CAD data throughout the enterprise - and the breaking down of barriers between engineering, suppliers, marketing, and management, is compelling.