Believe It Or Not!
Believe It Or Not! Engineer converts 347 MB SolidWorks Assembly into 2MB PDF and can use the resulting PDF to machine the parts
If I told you that I could take an ordinary 49 MB Photoshop file and compress it down to 125 KB without data loss, ready to create 4 color print separations, you would probably find it a bit hard to believe (must be a trick file).
Similarly hard to believe: Take a 49 MB Solidworks assembly file and convert it down to 125 KB fully interactive PDF, with a precision level that can be used to machine the parts. Sounds like the kind of thing you would read in Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
Well while the Photoshop scenario might be wishful thinking, the CAD to PDF scenario is reality. Check out the 3D samples gallery for Acrobat 3D 8 files (they have the little 3D 8 tag). Several of the files show the original CAD file size along with the lossless compression factor. Note: you will need to download the Acrobat 3D 8 trial to view these models as they use they new PRC format.
With Acrobat 3D 8 and its support for PRC, you can have bigger, smarter, but smaller models with accuracy tolerances sufficient for manufacturing or iterative editing.
Tuesday May 29, 2007 is the official release of Acrobat 3D Version 8. This is the first time that people who weren’t involved in the beta program can actually try out the product and test the compressions levels.
Regardless of your field of interest - CAD, 3D modeling, Architecture, Industrial Design, CFD - the ability to convert your 3D files into email-size friendly interactive 3D PDFs, without having to sacrifice precision, is truly exciting.
My strong advice: Take the trial version out for the 30 day test drive. For simple previews and animations, try creating U3D models. For precision, import as PRC. And if you create a 3D PDF model that you would like to share in the Gallery, be sure to send us an email (acrobat3d[-at-]acrobatusers[-dot-]com)
Also if you would like to write about your experience using the new Acrobat 3D 8 in real world production (fun or professional), let us know.
