“PDF in Manufacturing” helps explain the modern revolution in manufacturing design

The PDF Association and the 3D PDF Consortium have partnered to develop a high-level introduction to the role and capabilities of PDF technology with respect to manufacturing industries. Developed and intended as non-commercial educational content, PDF in Manufacturing may now be downloaded directly from pdfa.org.

PDF was originally invented to bring printed-page fidelity to digital communications but the technology has evolved in many directions since its introduction in 1993. Today, PDF is at the heart of manufacturing and engineering communications. The technology is in use worldwide, conveying ideas, plans, communications, contracts, specifications, contracts… and of course, 2D and 3D drawings and supporting content throughout complex workflows and across corporate, organizational and process boundaries.

PDF in Manufacturing provides a concise and informative background to the relationship between manufacturing technology and the PDF file format. Starting with a short history of documents as applied to design processes the publication covers the development of model based definition(MBD) and reviews key applications and industry segments. An introduction to the wide range of manufacturing-relevant technologies built into the PDF format is provided.

Four example interactive 3D PDF files, provided by the publication’s sponsors for demonstration purposes, are included in the downloadable PDF document.

PDF in Manufacturing is sponsored by Anark, callas software GmbH, GEAR.IT, intarsys, iText, PDFTron, PROSTEP AG, SEAL Systems and Tech Soft 3D, all members of either the PDF Association, the 3D PDF Consortium, or both.