Category — Mechanical

I’ve noticed that Adobe’s Acrobat 3D PDF files are becoming common.  For example, I’ve seen 3D PDF models at Tyco Electronics and Norcomp.

The best about Acrobat 3D?  Since it’s been built-in to Acrobat Reader since, IIRC, 7.07, all you need to do is click on the link, and (assuming your browser has Acrobat setup correctly) the model appears in your browser.  If you click on this link to a Norcomp 180-026-103 HD26M connector Acrobat 3D model, you should see similar to this:

HD26M connector shown by Acrobat Reader 9

The 3D PDF format still isn’t a replacement for STEP or IGES files.  The biggest issue for mechanical designers is that, as far as I know, you cannot import 3D PDF parts into a MCAD program and use them in an assembly.

Another problem is that it’s not always possible to measure 3D PDF models.  Suppose I want to know some distances that are not documented on Norcomp’s 180-026-103 2D PDF drawing.   I cannot measure using Adobe Reader 9 and Norcomp’s model, since Norcomp did not enable analysis when they created the model.  If I have Acrobat Professional 7 or later, then I can measure (and can enable measuring for Acrobat Reader by enabling analysis and saving the modified PDF).

When the 180-026-103 model has measuring enabled, Adobe Reader 9 can measure like this (click for a larger image):

Measuring HD26M with Acrobat Reader 9

I found it a little hard at first to get Reader 9 to measure what I wanted, but it did get easier with practice.

Another problem is that measurements are in “model units”.  For the 180-026-103 model, the model units appear to be inches, but I know that because I know how big a HD26M connector should be.

So right now 3D PDF is an interesting technology, especially for documentation, but I’ll be downloading STEP files for my designs.