Prostep AG of Darmstadt, Germany has added new functions to its PDF Generator 3D software to enables 3D PDF documents to be created automatically and to be published on the web. The company makes product lifecycle management software for publishing 2D and 3D content.
Version 8 now allows both the export of 3D data to HTML5 and the automatic generation of bills of material with 2D views of 3D components. This makes for flexibility when the software is used as a service content generator or as a means to drive implementation of drawing-free processes forward with the help of technical data packages.
The upgrade also offers functions for publishing 3D data together with metadata in the web. The 3D content of the HTML pages can be visualized in nearly all currently available browsers, both on desktop computers and on mobile devices running iOS or Android. Responsive design means that the pages are displayed differently depending on the end device being used.
Like 3D PDF templates, corresponding HTML5 templates can be stored and used to create the web pages. They allow the pages to be displayed in line with customer specifications regarding layout and corporate identity. The standard configuration includes a template that customers can use immediately.
Another new feature is the automatic generation of BOMs with 2D views of the 3D components. This allows customers to integrate 3D representations in their 3D PDFs as well as 2D views derived from assemblies and individual parts. Derivation takes place during conversion in conjunction with the PDF Generator 3D technical data package module, which also, for example, creates the BOM tables for spare parts catalogs.
The upgrade includes all functions needed to generate technical data packages as required for establishing drawing-free processes in accordance with the VDA guideline 4953-2 and the US military standard MIL-STD-31000. Not only can it be used to embed 3D representations and STEP AP 242 metadata in PDF/A-3-compliant containers but also to derive static 2D views from dynamic 3D PDF models.
In addition to supporting the current formats of all leading CAD systems, the upgrade also provides support for the 3D formats DWG and DXF for the first time. The native processing of the widely used AutoCAD formats not only makes it easier to provide HTML5 and 3D PDF content for architecture and building information management but also for service documentation, says Timo Trautmann, a Prostep senior consultant.
Integration facilities to virtually all leading ERP and PDM/PLM systems and direct access to more than 20 different CAD formats allow the creation of catalogs to be automated to an extremely high degree, thus saving a substantial amount of time and money. This is of particular benefit to companies that produce spare parts catalogs for products configured according to customer specifications–regardless of whether these are small machines or large systems, Trautmann says.
“The provision of the respective current spare parts catalogs, manuals and other documents in digital form is a prerequisite for developing new service offerings and service-based business models,” he adds.
