Export and share annotated 3D models

00:09

In this exercise, we will be discussing how to export and share your annotated 3D models.

00:17

So once you've finished annotating your 3D model and you have all of the tolerance features, dimensions and notes that you need,

00:25

on the "Annotate" tab, you'll see a panel that says "Export."

00:30

If I click on "3D PDF," this will generate a three-dimensional PDF file that can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat.

00:39

You can also export the STEP file alongside the actual document.

00:45

So if I click on "3D PDF," I can then choose my summary information from properties.

00:52

So things like "Title," "Author" and "Comments" and "Revision Number."

00:57

You also see a bunch of other properties here that you can include.

01:02

If I don't really want any of those additional properties, I can clear that "Check Mark."

01:07

"Design View Representations" -- this is what views will be automatically included.

01:11

I'm going to leave "Isometric," "Front," "Top" and "Right."

01:14

For "Visualization Quality," I'm going to change that to "High,"

01:17

so it's nice and easy to see no matter what view I'm looking at.

01:23

And then what I'll go ahead and do at the very bottom is there's an option for "Attachments."

01:27

So if you're sending this to a manufacturer, they'll often want the print or the PDF file, as well as a STEP file,

01:34

so they can interrogate the model and pull dimensions on their own.

01:39

And also if they have a CAD program, they can view the file in 3D.

01:45

So I will "Generate and attach STEP file" by checking that box and then going to click on "Options."

01:52

And this is very important when you're exporting this.

01:55

If you want to either yourself use this for CMM or CNC machine interrogation,

02:04

you'll want to make sure the option here of 242 is the format that you're exporting in.

02:10

This is your MBD format or your model-based 3D engineering format.

02:15

So 242.

02:17

I can choose to "Include Sketches." I'm going to turn that off.

02:21

I can put "Author," "Organization" and "Description."

02:24

Click "OK."

02:26

And then I'll click "Publish."

02:28

This will generate the PDF as well as the STEP file at the same time.

02:32

So it'll take a moment to publish that.

02:37

So once the PDF file has been generated, you can then just open up the file with Adobe Acrobat.

02:43

It should open up automatically.

02:47

When it does, you can then view the PDF.

02:49

Now, what's neat about 3D PDF is I can just left-click in the window here and rotate my model around.

02:57

This is great if you're sending it to someone who does not have a CAD software. They can just rotate the model and see it in 3D.

03:02

It also includes your tolerance features and then your notes in the top left there.

03:07

Down at the bottom, you can click on "Front View," "Top View,"

03:11

or "Right View" to rotate around to that perspective, just like you would with Inventor.

03:16

You'll also see the "Part Number" and "Designer" as well as "Title" and "Revision."

03:21

These fields will be brought over from the I properties of the part file.

03:26

So as long as those are populated in the I properties, they'll be brought over to the PDF automatically as well.

03:33

So if you're satisfied with this PDF,

03:34

you can then just save it and then include it with the STEP file that was also generated,

03:39

and then share it with anyone that needs the information.