Supporting Seamless Design Communication with 3D PDFs

Created: February 21, 2017
Updated: December 14, 2020

3d-pdf-design-documentation-adobe-acrobat

With the increasing complexity of modern PCB designs, effectively communicating design intent is a growing challenge that threatens both speed-to-market and overall production costs. In the race to bring quality products to market before your competition, information has to be shared quickly and efficiently while clearly conveying critical aspects of the design. But how can you go about doing that?

Leveraging Native 3D^™ PDF Exporting

One way of relaying design data is by sending screenshots to mechanical teams and vice versa. However, it’s difficult to effectively communicate design aspects using text and static images alone, and the potential risks of miscommunication are far too great to ignore.

The Altium^® 3D PDF export capabilities take advantage of the 3D format, as well as the ability to embed this format into PDF documents. This export format grants users the ability to share a fully-rendered, interactive, 3D view of their PCB designs, even with people outside the immediate design team.

3D PDF Viewed in Adobe^® Acrobat^® Reader

How to Create 3D PDFs

You can share 3D PDFs with external stakeholders, customers, fabrication or assembly houses. Communicating the design and design intent using 3D PDFs greatly enhances understanding. They also provide unique insights into the design’s actual structure, so that anyone with access to an up-to-date copy of Adobe^® Acrobat^® Reader can view the design, including its components and their associated mechanical.

Want to create your own 3D PDFs in Altium? Learn how by downloading a free white paper.

Altium Designer - PCB Design Software Altium 365 - PCB Design Platform Enterprise PCB Design Solutions FREE Trials

Related Resources

What is PCB Design?

What is a PCB and Intro to PCB Design Printed circuit board (PCB) design has grown into its own specialized field within the electronics industry. PCBs play an important role in that they provide electrical interconnections between electronic components, rigid support to hold components, and a compact package that can be integrated into an end product. They are the main component in an electronic device that is responsible for form and function, and they allow advanced semiconductors Read Article

What is Lenz's Law

What is Lenz's Law and How Does it Affect PCB Design? Lenz's law is one of the fundamental physical laws that describes the multitude of relationships between electricity and magnetism. Together with Ampere's law, Gauss law, Faraday's law, Coulomb's law, and the Lorentz force law, we have everything we need to understand the classical behavior of the electromagnetic field. Among these laws, Lenz's law and Faraday's law work together to describe how the magnetic field in your PCB is related to the Read Article

What is a balun

What is a Balun in RF PCB and Do You Need One? Are you wondering what a balun is? Find out more and see where one fits into your RF PCB layout. Read Article

pcb testing

PCB Testing 101: Important Methods and Metrics PCB testing must occur during fabrication, assembly, and board bring-up. Here’s how you can plan to be successful during testing and inspection. Read Article

Continuous conduction mode

Continuous Conduction Mode in an SMPS: What is it and Why it Matters Learn more about continuous conduction mode and how to design to this condition in your power supply. The best design and simulation tools can help you verify continuous conduction mode is reached. Read Article

Everything You Need to Know About Oscillators

What Is An Oscillator? Everything You Need to Know What is an oscillator? Mark Harris gives an in depth overview of the major categories of Oscillators. He explains the different types with their functions and drawbacks. Read more here. Read Article

Solder Bridge Jumper Best Practices in PCB Design

What Is a Solder Bridge? Best Practices in PCB Design A PCB variant is often simply thought of as a new layout created from an old design. However, if you’re creative with your routing and layout, you can use a solder bridge jumper to configure portions of a single PCB layout for multiple variants. This lets you quickly create variants of a PCB layout without rerouting traces or changing your schematics. If you plan to use jumpers in your PCB layout, there are some important guidelines to follow to Read Article

ESD protection and PCB design

What is ESD and How Does it Affect My PCB Design? We've compiled a complete guide to ESD protection for PCBs and your electronics. Implement these guidelines for enclosure-level ESD protection and to prevent ESD on important digital interfaces. Read Article

1:06 Ted Pawela What is Altium 365 Watch Video

1:44 What is the Thermal Conductivity of Conductive Pastes? Watch Video

Related Technical Documentation

Back to Home

Table of Contents

Leveraging Native 3D^™ PDF Exporting
How to Create 3D PDFs

Take advantage of the world's
most trusted PCB design system.

One interface. One data
model. Endless possibilities.

Effortlessly collaborate with
mechanical designers.

The world's most trusted
PCB design platform

Best in class interactive
routing

View License Options