How can I export to 3D PDF?

alec_stewart245

Hello

How can I export my OnShape design into 3D PDF format?

I can't seem to find any OnShape plugins for this...

Thanks

J

NeilCooke

You can't - what's the use case? You should just share the Onshape URL if you want to show a 3D model.

alec_stewart245

NeilCooke said:

You can't - what's the use case? You should just share the Onshape URL if you want to show a 3D model.

Background
I am trying to 'Share' the URL of my design for some quick feedback with some non-technical friends.

So yes, I tried sharing the design's URL, however they are complaining that in order to see it, OnShape is compelling them to enter all sorts of information in order create an account on OnShape...!

Surely the must be some easy way to create a 3D .PDF out of an OnShape 3D design, now that 3D PDFs are becoming so widely used... No?

J

Ste_Wilson

I know STL files aren't much liked here as better file options are available, but, on my works windows PC at least, an STL does open in Paint 3D without any hassle, downloads, plugins etc.

martin_kopplow

alec_stewart245 said:

So yes, I tried sharing the design's URL, however they are complaining that in order to see it, OnShape is compelling them to enter all sorts of information in order create an account on OnShape...!

That depends very much on how you share your file. If you share it in a way like you share it with onshape users (editing rights and all that), the receipient will need to sign in. If you just create a shared link, without any rights, but just for viewing, everyone with the link can click on the link and immediately see it without logging in.

Still, exporting from OS to 3D PDF might make sense when creating interactive PDF files for certain purposes. Then, when doing such advanced PDF wizardry, one would probably have the Adobe set of tools avilable anyway, which allow creation of 3D PDF from imported files. In my old CAD though, a direct 3D PDF export preserved the assembly tree, which was in fact a very strong point! I used that a lot.

NeilCooke

I thought 3D PDF died a death ages ago?

nick_papageorge073

Turn on link sharing. Copy the link (at a version, not the workspace). Then test it to be sure by opening a private browser tab (which means you won’t be logged in) and paste the link there. How it shows up there will be exactly how it shows up for a random person. If all good, send the link. 

This is good practice to do every time when communicating with a customer to make sure nothing was forgotten. 

alec_stewart245

Is it possible to only show one tab?
i.e. Allow other people to only see one Assembly? (And hide all the other tabs...)
And if so how can I allow them to go straight into an Exploded view?

Either way, I would still like to share a 3D .PDF file!
If OnShape won't let me do this directly, how can I create one (for free) via exporting some kind of intermediate CAD tool?

J

eric_pesty

alec_stewart245 said:

Is it possible to only show one tab?
i.e. Allow other people to only see one Assembly? (And hide all the other tabs...)
And if so how can I allow them to go straight into an Exploded view?

Either way, I would still like to share a 3D .PDF file!
If OnShape won't let me do this directly, how can I create one (for free) via exporting some kind of intermediate CAD tool?

J

Create a publication document and insert your assembly tab in there, then set the view the way you want (exploded, BOM showing, etc) and copy the link using the "copy link" (not the URL from the browser address bar):

This creates a link to the same configuration, view orientation an exploded view state (and some other stuff). And yes paste the link in a private browser window to check what it will look like to someone not signed in before sending the link...

This is a lot more "user friendly" than 3D PDFs in my opinion, which I find 3D DPFs very cumbersome and annoying...

ivan_boudjema

nick_papageorge073 said:

Turn on link sharing. Copy the link (at a version, not the workspace). Then test it to be sure by opening a private browser tab (which means you won’t be logged in) and paste the link there. How it shows up there will be exactly how it shows up for a random person. If all good, send the link. 

This is good practice to do every time when communicating with a customer to make sure nothing was forgotten. 

Hi Nick,

This works fine but the person i share it with sees all the instances and mates. Is there a way to hide this to the person I share it with?

Thanks!

martin_kopplow

Yes: Hide the mates and things you don't want to show before making the publication. Visibility will be preserved.

nick_papageorge073

ivan_boudjema said:

nick_papageorge073 said:

Turn on link sharing. Copy the link (at a version, not the workspace). Then test it to be sure by opening a private browser tab (which means you won’t be logged in) and paste the link there. How it shows up there will be exactly how it shows up for a random person. If all good, send the link. 

This is good practice to do every time when communicating with a customer to make sure nothing was forgotten. 

Hi Nick,

This works fine but the person i share it with sees all the instances and mates. Is there a way to hide this to the person I share it with?

Thanks!

Do they show up when you open the link in a "private browser session". If they do not, it's possible the person you sent the document to inadvertently clicked on something to make them appear. If that's the case, all they have to do is refresh the browser, and it will go back to the way it was.

Martin's advice above about Publication's is good. However, I believe Publications are only on the paid plans. IDK if they are on the edu plan. If they are not, to get only the asm in a document by itself, you can duplicate the asm and move the duplicate to a new document. Or, you can move the asm itself to a new document, separating it from the part studios. In either case, share that new document.

To make it open to a specific exploded view, do what Martin said above using that copy link. Again, you must test in a "private browsing session" to be sure it works properly.

nick_papageorge073

If you still want a 3d pdf, you can export as step, which is the most common neutral 3d file format. There may be some free step to 3d pdf viewer out there, I have no idea.

martin_kopplow

Nick has a valid point here. You can have as many assemblies as you like, made up of all or just a selection of your parts. Assemblies may even exist outside the original document. That way you could get control over what someone with a link can see or export.