3D PDF enables secure sharing of annotated CAD data

14th April 2015
Posted By : Barney Scott
3D PDF enables secure sharing of annotated CAD data

3D PDF technology is a way of sharing 3D data within the familiar Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format) presentation, recognised and used globally. Theorem’s Publish 3D Document suite enables the publishing of 3D CAD data directly from within the Siemens NX design application and via batch process for Siemens JT visualisation data.

The published output is a PDF document containing embedded interactive 3D representations of the native CAD data but offering greater levels of IP protection.

Anybody with access to the freely available Adobe reader, either on a PC, tablet or phone can access the interactive 3D data and are able to view, mark up and interrogate the document without the use of specialist CAD software.

Using the toolbar provided by Adobe, the user can manipulate and view the data in a way that is applicable to them. The 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 to create a richer file and source of information. The Publish 3D product supports 3D annotations and dimensions (PMI) from NX and JT into the 3DPDF format.

More specifically, Publish 3D Document for NX users is interactive and has a ‘Save as’ function from within the NX UI plus batch output capability to speed up the publication process.

For JT users Publish 3D Document enables the creation of PDF documents containing 3D data using batch or interactive processes with additional server based versions available for high volume use.

As the 3D PDF containing interactive 3D representations is an easily readable document and can be readily accessed by anyone with the Adobe reader, it is opening up opportunities for sharing information within an organisation and up and down the supply/distribution chains, allowing improvements to assembly, product cost and quality.

PDF files containing interactive 3D data created using Theorem’s Publish 3D Document suite of products provide a higher level of 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. This works alongside the data being translated into a tessellated format, 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 a password protected PDF file.

The simplicity of 3D PDF, low cost, and ease of use allows for the integration of departments, customers and suppliers into the product lifecycle process which in turn leads to reduced lead times, fewer mistakes and better products.


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