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FEATURE CAD/SOFTWARE
Companies today are becoming ever more concerned about their ‘digital transformation
strategy’. By enabling designers and engineers to work on and share 3D models digitally, and collaborate
seamlessly, 3D PDF – rich, interactive,
PDF documents that
Bridging the digital gap with 3d pdF
I
n today’s digital world, companies are organising a plan of action on how to strategically reposition themselves in the
digital economy. One topic you will probably have heard about is the ‘Metaverse’ which, in it’s simplest form, can be explained as a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection, with integration between virtual and physical spaces and virtual economies. This relies on access to Head Mounted Displays – XR Headsets. In addition, the use of XR (extended reality)
is gaining traction. With a steady rate of acceleration in adoption of Augmented (AR), Mixed (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, XR has been establishing itself as a viable way to replace existing traditional engineering and manufacturing practices. For engineers and manufacturers, XR enables the user to experience their 3D CAD data in context and at full scale, taking away the confines of having to imagine a 3D product on a 2D screen. However, getting started with XR is not
as complicated as it may seem. You can use existing 3D data, whether that’s MCAD, AEC CAD, Scanned data, ISO/ANSI standard data like STEP and JT, lightweight visualization formats such as 3D XML and Creo View.PVZ, and neutral formats such as FBX and glTF, and create 3D content for use in XR. Businesses who have already implemented
an XR strategy have discovered numerous ways in which to use AR, MR or VR to carry out everyday engineering tasks – such as design reviews, training, factory layout, visualization and inspection related jobs. The COVID
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also contain native 3D CAD data – could be that first step in the journey
on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. 3D PDF is taking designers and engineers away
pandemic has pushed these technologies into the spotlight, especially in regards to their remote collaboration capabilities. Teams who are located across the world can join the same XR session as their colleagues, and interact with the same CAD model, regardless of where they are – as long as there is a wi-fi connection you can join. You don’t even necessarily need an XR device, you can even join from a desktop – although you don’t get the same immersive, 3D full scale and in context experience. With the preference for remote working
looking set to stay into 2022, it is likely the rate of growth for these technologies will continue too. But if using XR seems like too much of a
leap, 3D PDF could be that first step in starting a digital transformation process…
introducing 3d pdF
A digital transformation strategy is all about using digital technologies to replace or improve processes that may need updating as technology advances. If XR is not necessarily the right fit at the moment, then 3D PDF could bridge that gap. 3D PDF’s are really rich, interactive, PDF
documents that also contain native 3D CAD data such as CATIA V5, JT, NX, Creo, 3DEXPERIENCE. With this, the recipient is able to open, view and interact with the document, and the 3D CAD data, without actually needing to have access to a CAD license – they only require the free Adobe Reader. Not only do you get all of the same
functionality you would in a usual 2D PDF, but you also get the benefit of it containing the CAD data. And you can use these documents
4 DESIGN SOLUTIONS SEPTEMBER 2022
from the old ways of working with 2D, where drawings are printed off to pass around, and changes are scribbled on paper to then be applied to the CAD model on the designer’s workstation. It’s moving them on to being able to work on and share their 3D models digitally. This also provides the added bonus of being able to go paperless. 3D PDF makes collaboration between
colleagues, and the wider supply chain, seamless as no special skills or access to CAD licenses are required. It’s as simple as ‘Save as 3D PDF’ from within your CAD system, and can be integrated into your PLM system. And although you’re sharing CAD data, your IP is protected: 3D PDF’s can be password protected, watermarked or time-bombed, providing a secure way for 3D CAD data to be shared, in a document that is lightweight enough to be sent via email.
theorem’s solutions
As a provider of solutions for both XR and 3D PDF, Theorem-XR enables engineering and manufacturing companies to work with their design data in XR. The company prepares 3D CAD data for use in devices such as Microsoft HoloLens 2, Magic Leap, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, which can then be utilised in a variety of engineering based use cases such as Visualization, Design Review, Factory Layout and Training. Working collaboratively, Theorem-XR allows remote teams and home-based staff to work in an immersive environment, consuming data in context and at full scale. Theorem’s 3D PDF products create interactive
3D documentation such as Work Instructions, BOM’s, RFQ, RFC and Technical Data Packages (TDP), containing 3DEXPERIENCE, CATIA V5, NX, JT or Creo data.
Theorem Solutions T: 01827 305350
www.theorem.com
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