Acrobat 3D Version 8 is NOW Shipping!!
Great news for all of you that use 3D in your AEC and EPC designs and collaboration workflow's. Acrobat 3D Version 8 is now shipping. This version of Acrobat 3D is full of new features that will take your 3D designs to millions of possible consumers! 3D PDF's can be enabled by Acrobat 3D for users that use the Adobe free Reader. Click here to read more ab out the new version of Acrobat 3D.
So first off let me say, I am a 3D nerd! I admit it, I have been designing in 3D since 1987 using almost every 3D CAD system known. Now I will also admit that I am a mechanical engineer by training, therefore, I have been through what the AEC industry is going through now, already. I mean in the early 90's the mechanical design industry had already moved to PMI data (equate that to BIM) and the extraction of parametric metadata for cut sheets, order entry, and BOM's. In those early days of CAD they tried to set up translation standards such as IGES, STEP, VRML, DXF, and of course every CAD manufacture had their flavor of translation format. It was a convoluted MESS!! That is why I am so excited about Acrobat 3D Version 8. It is the first De Facto Standard format that address the CAD format translation.
So let's take a look as some of the cool things that Acrobat 3D version 8 brings to the table:
- Added a new Precise File Format (in addition to U3D) that allows for 100% precision measurement
- Over 150 times compression! Your 3D files are e-mailable! Easily handle assemblies/designs that exceed 500mb!
- We now have converters for 40 CAD formats including PTC, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Microstation, Catia, UG... Click here to see a complete list.
- Extraction of PMI data on Mechanical Files
- New Revit Capture
- Direct import of 2D and 3D DWF's with BIM data
- Get SketchUp Models in through .OBJ translation
- Export to industry standard IGES, STEP or Parasolids..(Humm read in 40 formats export to standard formats!)
- Use the 3D toolkit to combine multiple 3D CAD Formats
- Enable measure, 3D mark up, digital signature, forms, and all 3D files for the over 700 Million Adobe Free Readers consumption
- Support for Vista and Office 2007
- And Much More..
This development cycle was a very intense one with over 10,000 users participating in the beta and public preview programs for Acrobat 3D Version 8. Caterpillar Inc., Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., Eaton Corporation, HNTB Architecture, John Deere, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP were among the innovative organizations working with pre-release versions of the software. EDS, a global technology services company, was also a beta participant. At EDS, the software is helping improve 3D-based document collaboration across engineers, project managers and clients. The product also has helped the company bring additional clarity and richness to technical documentation, enabling CAD design data to be placed in Microsoft Office documents for the production of interactive 3D PDF files.
“As a consultancy focusing on engineering processes, Acrobat 3D Version 8 supports one of EDS’ primary goals—enabling clients to be more productive,” said John Brabbs, senior simulation consultant in EDS’ Modeling, Simulation and Collaborative Solutions Group. “By converting 3D models to compressed PDF files, companies can reach partners anywhere at any time with interactive 3D objects they can review and comment on simply using Adobe Reader.”
Some basic info on Acrobat 3D Version 8, Three-dimensional CAD data can be easily combined with other critical project information, such as product specifications, spreadsheets and bills of materials, into a more secure PDF document containing product manufacturing information (PMI). PMI is used to convey geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, annotations and other specifications directly on a 3D model.
The product is available for Microsoft® Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 4, Windows XP Professional, Home or Tablet PC Editions with Service Pack 2, and Windows Vista™ (32-bit and 64-bit) Ultimate, Enterprise, Business, Home Premium, or Home Basic Editions.
The icing on the cake....Registered users who purchased Acrobat 3D from Sept. 18, 2006 until May 30, 2007 will be eligible to receive a free upgrade to Acrobat 3D Version 8 (sales tax, shipping and handling may apply). Which is just too cool!
Whew, well that is a big announcement! Look for some expanded coverage in the coming weeks on the new Acrobat 3D Version 8! To find out more info go to our web page. To see examples of 3D PDF's Click Here. To see some more AEC specific examples
Whelp it's getting late and I had better try to put some life in my life, got to get ready for the England v Brazil friendly on Friday June 1 and by the way Way to go Manchester United Premiership Champions and VfB Stuttgart Bundeslinga Champions, ahh it's been a good season, now what about this Beckham chap......
Tim Huff
Acrobat for AEC
Acrobat in the AEC and EPC Industry
