Preview of Acrobat 3D Version 8 Released

By DE Editors

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

DE’s Jonathan Gourlay, feature editor, ski bum (if he could), and VW bug whacko, recently got the full lowdown on Acrobat 3D Version 8 and was blown away by it. He was particularly impressed with the way you can share PMI data, its support of all the major MCAD platforms, and with its file compression capabilities. The latter means that you can share small, yet robust versions of those huge design files. Maybe a better way of putting it is that you no longer have to cram that cow through the snake of your data lines.

Acrobat itself has long earned a reputation as the communication and collaboration tool of choice in the business world. Acrobat 3D strives to become the same thing for the design world, where the brutal truth is that engineers have to share their data and designs with a seemingly endless stream of accomplices who are not that swift with all this high-tech stuff. Acrobat, however, they get. Maybe this will help you avoid all those tech support questions from marketing every time you send them a peek at what you’re doing to earn your paycheck. I don’t know, but anything is worth the try. Right?

Currently, Acrobat 3D Version 8 is in beta test, but the company expects to ship before summer. Use the links in today’s write-up to get your own copy of Acrobat 3D Version 8 to play with. It might just blow you away like it did old JG.

Thanks, Pal. – Lockwood.

Anthony J. Lockwood
Editorial Director, Desktop Engineering

Preview of Acrobat 3D Version 8 Released

Adobe PDF-based 3D product collaboration tool available for test drive.

Adobe (San Jose, CA) recently announced a public preview of its latest version of Acrobat 3D. We got a great demo of it last month that proved the software is a compelling way to disseminate engineering information across a vast universe of stakeholders. The update, Version 8 to be precise, takes the PDF-based 3D design collaboration tool and pumps it up with faster file opening; the ability to display PMI directly on the 3D models; and support for the latest CAD formats, including CATIA V4 and V5, UGS NX, I-DEAS, SolidWorks, Pro/Engineer, Autodesk Inventor, and others.

In making the announcement, Tom Hale, the senior VP of the company’s Knowledge Worker Business Unit, issued a press statement saying Acrobat 3D and PDF “have gained considerable traction” among manufacturers as a means for driving 3D-based communication and collaboration processes.

Acrobat 3D Version 8

“We’re excited to provide users around the world free access to a beta of Acrobat 3D Version 8,” he said. “We encourage anyone with interest in 3D to experience the dramatic advances we’ve made in terms of file compression, precision and CAD data interoperability. We look forward to hearing the thoughts and first-hand experiences of users throughout the preview period.”

As alluded to in the statement, among the other features in Version 8 are the ability to create easily accessible PDF files that are up to 100 times smaller than the native CAD files you’re looking for feedback on. You can create the PDF documents from OpenGL-based applications on Microsoft Windows and UNIX systems. And the ability to share PMI with the team directly on the geometry and from the assembly tree might just eliminate the need to create or share 2D drawings.

This is valuable for CAD users who need to quickly convert CAD files into highly compressed, secure PDF files to be used by customers, suppliers, sales and marketing departments, vice presidents, service departments, any co-worker who needs to be able to see how your design works so they can review and mark up 3D designs. If you enable the editing capabilities, to any security level you deem necessary, anyone with the free Adobe Reader (at least 7.0.7) can manipulate the 3D model, check out the information they are entitled to see, mark it up, and ship it back to you. And they can do this without needing to have any CAD applications or CAD viewers on their PCs.

Suppliers can then use Acrobat 3D Version 8 to view the CAD data, review critical PMI directly on the 3D model, and export the 3D CAD data to their preferred neutral B-rep format for downstream reuse in their CAD, CAM, or CAE applications. This should help cut the time needed to repair converted data as compared to STEP or IGES output from multiple sources.

A little more on the security aspect of this latest version: The creator of the PDF can assign permissions and create passwords to restrict access to the PDF, or different layers of the PDF, 128-bit encryption. It makes it possible to determine who will be allowed to print, save, copy, or modify a document. You can maintain individual digital signatures and security settings in different PDF files and forms when combining them into a single PDF package.

Imagine you are designing a new automatic clutch mechanism for a large harvesting machine. You need to compare notes with a manufacturing engineer halfway around the world. Acrobat 3D V8 could help you communicate your complex ideas more effectively through an interactive 3D animation that shows precisely how the mechanism should be assembled, or serviced, or it clearly points out a difficulty you need help with. Simple.

The program will help communicate 3D design intent with dynamic cross-sectional views with notes, exploded views of subassemblies, the ability to alternately hide or show parts, and highlighting and markup tools.

To test drive Version 8, you’ll need Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4, Windows XP Professional, Home or Tablet PC Editions with Service Pack 2. It is also available for Windows Vista Ultimate, Enterprise, Business, Home Premium, or Home Basic Editions.

Adobe also suggests an Intel Pentium III processor or equivalent, IE 6.0, 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended), 1.6GB of available hard-disk space (includes cache for optional installation files), and NVIDIA or ATI video card with pixel shader support and DirectX 8.1 or 9 required for video hardware acceleration (recommended for optimal performance).

The preview can be downloaded by clicking here. The beta version will cease operating on June 15, 2007. When Acrobat 3D Version 8 ships, the expected street price will be $995. Registered users who purchase Acrobat 3D from now until the ship of Acrobat 3D Version 8 will be eligible to receive a free upgrade to Acrobat 3D Version 8. —Jonathan Gourlay

Jonathan Gourlay is the feature editor at DE. You can send e-mail to him by clicking here.