Can SolidWorks Create a 3D PDF?

When it comes to sharing 3D designs, there are various file formats available. One such format is the Portable Document Format (PDF), which is widely used for sharing documents due to its compatibility across different platforms.

But can SolidWorks, a popular computer-aided design (CAD) software, create a 3D PDF? Let’s find out.

The Basics of SolidWorks

SolidWorks is a powerful CAD software that allows engineers and designers to create 3D models with ease. It offers a wide range of tools and features that make the design process efficient and accurate. However, when it comes to exporting designs in different formats, SolidWorks has its limitations.

Exporting Options in SolidWorks

By default, SolidWorks provides several export options for saving your designs in different file formats. These include:

STL (Standard Tessellation Language):

This format is commonly used for 3D printing as it represents the surface geometry of the model using triangles.

STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data):

This format is widely supported by other CAD software and allows for the exchange of 3D models between different systems.

IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification):

This format is used for exchanging digital information between CAD systems and supports both 2D and 3D data.

The Limitations of Exporting to PDF in SolidWorks

Unfortunately, exporting directly to a 3D PDF from SolidWorks is not supported natively. While SolidWorks does provide a “Save As PDF” option, it only exports the 2D drawing views and not the actual 3D model.

However, there are workarounds to create a 3D PDF using SolidWorks:

Using Third-Party Software

There are third-party software applications available that can convert SolidWorks files to 3D PDF. These applications act as plugins or extensions to SolidWorks and provide additional functionality for exporting to different file formats.

One such popular software is “Adobe Acrobat Pro Extended.” This software allows you to import SolidWorks files and convert them into interactive 3D PDFs. It provides options to control the visibility of different components, apply animations, and even add annotations to the model.

Converting to Other Formats First

Another workaround is to export your SolidWorks design into a format that supports 3D models, such as STL or STEP, and then use a separate software or online converter to convert it into a 3D PDF.

Once converted, you can open the resulting 3D PDF in any compatible PDF viewer and interact with the model by rotating, zooming, and panning.

In Conclusion

SolidWorks itself does not have native support for creating 3D PDFs. However, by using third-party software or converting your designs into other formats first, you can still achieve the desired result of sharing your SolidWorks designs in a 3D PDF format.

Note: It’s important to verify the compatibility of any third-party software or online converter with your specific version of SolidWorks before proceeding with the conversion process.