Acrobat 3D Corner

CASE STUDY

Bradrock Industries

For every design created at Bradrock, there are typically more than 30 downstream users that need access to the design

Challenge

Bradrock Industries manufactures plastic moldings and assemblies. Services include engineering, prototyping, mold making and tooling, as well as developing plastic injection moldings. Bradrock designs using AutoCAD and SolidWorks CAD software. For every design Bradrock creates, there are typically more than 30 downstream users that need access to the design but typically don’t have the same CAD applications.

As a workaround for sharing product designs with suppliers, clients and others, Bradrock would take screen captures of 3D designs and send the resulting 2D snapshots to people who needed the information, however, clients or suppliers often need to see the back of a design or be able to rotate the design and measure parts to see how it is assembled or need check clearances or see design size and thickness. So engineers spend a lot of the time on the phone answering questions. Bradrock wanted a better solution to share 3D designs and reduce the chances of costly delays, miscommunications or re-works.

Solution

After converting CAD files to PDF using Acrobat 3D, staff and clients were able to open, share and manipulate 3D designs using the free Adobe Reader. Recipients of designs could rotate 3D designs in PDF on screen for a better look at all components. This functionality was particularly important for Engineering and Quality Control staff. For instance, they could compare an original design with a manufactured part to help ensure no discrepancies existed.

Bradrock also attached statistical process control information from spreadsheets and approvals on purchase orders to 3D designs in an integrated PDF as an effective way to minimize miscommunication and accelerate collaboration across product development groups.

Using commenting and electronic notes on areas to give dimensions and descriptions of how something is assembled resulted in fewer supplier questions and enabled suppliers to provide more accurate bids on the first try. QC staff also found the electronic commenting tools useful for providing clearer feedback to the factory to indicate discrepancies between a manufactured part and an original design.

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