3D and Communication Strategy

Hi Oleg,  Nice article. All the 4 formats ( 3D XML, 3D PDF, JT, XVL ) that you mentioned are very good in creating light weight CAD data and they seem to have been fairly well integrated into PLM systems. 3D XML also has  a very nice social networking site called 3DVIA. DS and Siemens seem to be doing the right thing by integrating these visualization technologies with PLM. Such an integration will automate the creation of light weight model process( this is the dirty part ) and  makes it easier for the users to access and view the right data ( nice part ) from PLM.  PLM is well positioned to handle such management of processes as well as managing the versions thru their configuration management.   If you are interested to do similar things with CAE data ( i.e convert FEA and CFD data into a common light weight format for easier sharing ), then you should look at the CAX format from VCollab. It is a light weight format to store 3D Models and Simulations for easier sharing of FEA and CFD data. If you are interested, you should check the social networking site called marechi (http://www.marechi.com). Marechi to CAX data is similar to what youtube is to videos. Note that the site needs registration ( Free ) to download their free 3D CAX Viewer and view the light weight 3D Simulation data in CAX format. 

Prasad, thanks for commenting and sharing your insight! I think, actually, DS and Siemens are not doing good job integrating their lightweight 3D efforts. As a result, they push for multiple standards. It is hard to blame somebody, specifically, but JT was more successful, in my view. Just my opinion, of course :). Best, Oelg

Hey Oleg, you should also mention Right Hemisphere - they are doing some really amazing stuff in this area - and they support (read and output) all of the main 3D formats (so you can work with JTOpen, Acrobat 3D, .RH, or any of the other main formats).
As always - great articles - please keep them coming!

Hey Jed, thanks for commenting and thanks for bringing up RH topic. I am actually familiar a bit with what they are doing. I didn't mention them since it is not exactly "format" or "files". RH required server software that distributes/share 3D information in an organization. Are you aware about RH features that distribute lightweight files with a free viewer? What format RH is using in this case? Best, Oleg

Oleg, Christine, you both brought two very important point regarding using 3D as a mean of communication. Oleg, 3dxml which is the base 3DVia Composer as different means to be consumed. For example, incorporating the 3dxml into a word document or powerpoint as if you were drag and dropping an image into your file. The 3D, structure along with basic visualization capabilities become available to you within the MS Word file.
Christine, look forward to some very good news very soon...though I can't talk much about the details, but what you described is the marriage of Composer and PLM and it is planned for very, very soon.

Yaser, Composer and PLM are dating long time already :). I hope it will end up as a happy marriage. Thanks for your comments. Oleg

So... 3D in PLM is easy. 3D beyond the limits of PLM is harder, and 3D in companies without PLM (SMBs) is harder still. 
I am still surprised at how many companies are not leveraging 3D lightweight viewers, like eDrawings, which has been available for quite a long time.  That may be because CAD models are inaccessible or simply difficult to locate outside of the design organization.  Culturally, purchasing and manufacturing organizations are still accustomed to flat paper.
Will we have to wait untill DSCC?  

The usage of 3D within the PLM enterprise (Enovia V6) is very comprehensive (3DLive), however, I was referring to your comment about 3DVia Composer interacting with PLM just as a DWG would (automatic 3D update at each revision etc).

Yaser, thanks for commenting. 3DLive is a collaborative application. To access it you need to have an installation running on your machine. In my view, this is very limiting. I want to have zero-install option. So, I mention 3DXML, which has at least browser-based viewer. What is your take on zero-base 3DLive install? Is it available? Planned? Thanks, Oleg

Let's wait for DSCC. Probably, DS recognized the opportunity. As I understand, until now, 3DVIA composer was solve as part of other product suites - SolidWorks, CATIA, Enovia.. Maybe something is going to change?

Having used the Composer product for the last year, I have no doubts that the use cases are just beginning to emerge.  However, there are a few challenges that manufacturers are going to have to overcome before 3D becomes standard.  These lightweight representations exist as separate entities, and they need to be managed and updated in the same way as drawings. 
One way to manage that update it is to host the files inside of a PLM system.  The problem there is that sales, manufacturing, and purchasing operations don’t typically work within a plm environment.  For example, it would be great to have this information available to material handlers, so they could visually pick to a kit list.  Those kit lists and locations exist inside MRP. 

Christine, I think you just nailed it. The adoption of PLM tools in downstream usage is still one of the biggest problems on the way of improving communication with 3D. Thanks for commenting! Best, Oleg