SolidWorks and Adobe 3D PDF?

[JakeAdkins]

Has anyone used the Adobe 3D PDF.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the security of the data?

If I send a native SolidWorks file to a customer they can do anything they want with it. If I send a STEP or IGES they could still go behind my back and get tools made from the files and send it to China. If I send them screen shots it is hard to get the true design intent.

Could this be the best of both worlds? A 3D representation of the data without the ability to directly steal it?

I know all about non-disclosure agreements, patents, and engineering integrity... but you know as much as I do that customer steal. I just want to protect my company’s interests as much as possible.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If the customer just needs an overall external view of the product, do a Save as on the assy and select Part as the type, with the External faces only option. That way none of the internal components are accessible.

 

[JMirisola]

With Adobe, or with eDrawings, you have the option to allow, or not allow, measuring.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP, Certified DriveWorks AE

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[fcsuper]

3D PDF also allows you to add sheets of other data. You can put the drawing and the 3D model in the same file, for example.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[keepinitcool]

I just looked at some 3d PDF samples and found it view much faster and smoother than edrawings. I wish edrawings was that smooth.

 

[GRF]

We have seen just the opposite. Edrawings was smoother and faster than the PDF version. Although both were created by a Pro E user.

 

[josephv]

Hello Jake,

In SolidWorks when you do a Save As 3D PDF there are no settings to disable measure or to disallow file exports (like you have in eDrawings).

My advice is get a free trial of Adobe Acrobat. Here is the link:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/tryout.html

Then open some of your 3D pdf files with Acrobat and see if you can export a STEP or measure the data.

After that see if there is a way you can use Acrobat to disable measure and not allow file exporting (e.g. STEP) for the pdf files.

Kind regards,

Joseph