Communicate in 3D

Doug Halliday has a nice write up on how to better extend your 3D CAD assets outside of engineering and integrate the product development process across the extended enterprise using Acrobat 3D.

While there is definite overlap between Acrobat 3D and other CAD viewers (ie. the ability to distribute 3D geometry and 2D drawings with a no cost viewer), where Acrobat 3D is totally unique is the ability to combine all relevant project information from spreadsheets to proposals to 2D/3D geometry into one unified and archivable document. Doug’s write up goes through a simple how to scenario that makes this clear.

One of the most compelling new features in Acrobat 3D 8 is the portable PRC format. This is the magic that allows for large assemblies, high compression that stores exact geometry, and the tolerances necessary for export to STEP or IGES for manufacturing. Specifically it enables:

• assemblies and parts
• tree of 3D entities : coordinate systems, wireframe, surfaces and solids,
• exact geometry representation
• tessellated (triangulated) representation
• markup
• regular compression : enables to represent DIRECTLY CAD data without loss or transformation from the originating CAD system.
• high compression : enables to store very small files, which are at a given physical tolerance from the originating shape. Tolerance is typically 0.001 mm for exact geometry and 0.01 mm for tessellation.

Adobe has released the PRC specification in the Acrobat 3D Developer Center

This means that developers can start building Acrobat 3D 8 plug-ins to manipulate PRC files or CAD and 3D Modeling developers can create applications that read and write PRC format files and Acrobat 3D 8-compatible PDFs.

Acrobat 3D 8 is definitely cool as a format for distributing 3D models for collaboration (or using PRC, for production). But where PDF becomes even more compelling is in the ability to combine multiple document types and easily navigate between them.

Take architecture as an example: Architectural plans usually consist of site plans, project data, floor plans, elevations, terrain maps, BOM, cost estimators, etc. as well as 2D renderings of the exterior and interiors produced from 2D/3D CAD software. It’s a lot of paper produced from a variety of software packages.

Now no one is going to rush out to change their basic workflow. They will still use their drafting/design package such as AutoCad, Bently, ArchiCAD , etc. They will still use their costing applications. And they will still use their 3D modeling applications.

But with Acrobat 3D they can combine the results from each of the individual applications, into a cohesive and easily navigated document - containing all relevant information, all in one place.

Of course there are other advantages to using v8 3D PDFs as the primary architectural document such as:
- Document security and control
- Selecting objects directly from the model tree panel
- Selecting objects directly from the model area
- Ability for project stakeholders to comment or collaborate in real-time.

In this way, Acrobat 3D 8 is essentially just a vehicle for communication and collaboration. It can take the best features from a blueprint and architectural software and make them more accessible and more understandable, all at lower costs and faster.

Check out this very simple example that combines blueprints, elevations, cross sections, 3D and interactive walkthroughs for a 2 story house design.

As part of a recent case study, HNTB Architecture shared several quotes that are relevant here.

“Acrobat 3D Version 8 software enables us to generate and present engaging 3D models that give our clients and partners instant, clear insight into designs. Many clients are not skilled at reading architectural drawings on paper or 3D models on screen. With Acrobat 3D Version 8, we offer everyone the flexibility to view and experience designs up close and from all angles using only free Adobe Reader software.”

“The on-demand, web conferencing capabilities in Acrobat 3D Version 8 revolutionize architectural design collaboration. Recently, we worked with a consultant who was having difficulty integrating a lighting plan into a room with an oddly shaped roof. When we sent her a 3D model in Adobe PDF and walked her through the model via an Acrobat Connect web meeting, she instantly understood the structure. Misunderstandings that went on for over four months were eliminated in seconds.”

Alejandro Ogata, Project Designer, HNTB Architecture

The time is nearing when we can expect the release of Acrobat 3D 8 and I’m getting excited. Acrobat 8 Professional offers some great new features, but my interest is CAD and 3D, and Acrobat 3D v8 promises to delivers some gangbuster enhancements that will entail a giant step for the industry.

Everyone will have their own favorite feature, but to me one of the most interesting and significant change will be the inclusion of the high compression, geometry-preserving, high performance CAD format - PRC.

PRC (acquired in the purchase of the 3D file translation company TTF) will be supported in the 1.7 PDF format and will completely change Acrobat 3D in terms of performance & manipulation, format support, files sizes, editing and use in manufacturing. (Note: full details about PRC integration have not been released yet by Adobe. What I am writing about is based on the information I could find out there on the web - but that is enough to get me salivating. Hopefully nothing is too far off the mark.)

So what will PRC bring?:

Superior File Size Compression:
PRC will dramatically shrink file sizes (up to 100x smaller than the original CAD file). PRC compresses both geometrical and tessellated parts, so you can get great compression without any loss of data.
I have no idea how it actually achieves this, but the result is that you can:

• Compress files in seconds.
• Easily transfer light files through Internet, even low bandwidth. (Which means real time collaboration is fully possible.)
• Access compressed files fast

Enhanced Performance
Details are sketchy on this part, but everything I’ve read says that PRC performance, manipulation and display (refresh, frame rate, memory management etc..) is very strong.

Enhanced Format Support:
TTF was made famous from its translation technology libraries for CAD, CAE (computer-aided engineering), CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) and MVP (mock-up, visualization and 3D publishing) . So while there might be a dearth of U3D translators out there, translation to the PRC format will be enabled from all the major CAD-related and 3D formats. (these same libraries are actually used in many current market leading CAD/3D products).
Note 1: Adobe recently released an update to Acrobat 3D v7 which includes a bunch of new and enhanced import formats
Note 2: Acrobat 3D 8 will continue to support the U3D format, and its compression will be improved (files reportedly up to 3x smaller than produced by the current version).

PMI Data Support:
PRC can import and display Product Manufacturing Information (dimensions, tolerances, notes, etc). (See earlier blog why this is important)

Now all of the above-mentioned good stuff is just for starters.

High compression, enhanced performance, better format support and PMI are very compelling. But Acrobat 3D v8 PRC support has a few more tricks up its sleeve that will make it a strategic format for any CAD or modeling company and the future standard format for CAD collaboration.

PRC handles exact geometries and can be used for manufacturing including STEP export
With a PRC model and permissions enabled, a user is able to manipulate, make accurate cross sections, export to other CAD systems, investigate the features, look at the history tree, and extract the design intent because PRC objects are exactly the same as they are in their native environment.

This exactness means that the data in the 3D model can actually be used directly in manufacturing. So 3D PDF is not just for markup (although it it great for that). It is also a format for production.

With Acrobat 3D 8, data from PDF files can be exported in STEP, IGES and Parasolid formats for use directly in CAM and CAE applications. The same file for review and comments, or use in marketing, can also be used for actual production.
Export to STEP also brings 3D PDF to a host of existing engineering and manufacturing applications.

3D PDF using PRC opens the door to “enhanced” sharing - more than just viewing
Right now there are several standards in the CAD industry for sharing design data: eDrawings, AutoCAD DWF, JT, 3DXML and of course, Acrobat 3D PDF. But these are all intended for a “look but don’t touch” form of sharing. You can share the model for review, markup and commenting, but the format is not for editing. This works well when all you need is comments. But what do you do when you want to share a document with someone with the authority to make changes but they aren’t at a computer with one of the very expensive copies of your CAD software. They are limited to red-lining.

But with Acrobat 3D v8 you are exporting the actual design data (remember the exact geometries mentioned above that enable 3D PDF to be used for manufacturing). If a user publishes the 3D PDF and turns on the ability to export data, that 3D PDF is not simply a model for review and markup, but an actual editable model. Collaborators should be able to edit the model data in Acrobat 3D Toolkit or their own low cost CAD software, and return it back to the original 3D CAD software in a fully iterative design process. A little unusual to think of Adobe as a revolutionary company - but this is pretty revolutionary stuff.

As I noted above, all of this is based on the public information out there about the PRC format. I expect Adobe will have a few interesting tricks up its sleeve when Acrobat 3D v8 is actually released, that will make PRC even more interesting. For now, I just want in on the beta program!