From 3D to Everyone: Publishing with SOLIDWORKS MBD

In this blog post, we’ll walk through what SOLIDWORKS MBD includes customizable templates for 3D PDFs. Several aspects of the 3D Output Template, such as layout, company, or department logos; 3D viewport and thumbnails; text descriptions; Meta-property links; and tables can also be customized to address specific deliverables, such as Engineering Drawings, Request for Quote (RFQ), and Inspection Reports. 

SOLIDWORKS MBD (Model-Based Definition) is an add-in that enables you to define, organize, and publish 3D annotations (dimensions, tolerances, notes, etc.) directly inside your CAD models—eliminating the need for 2D drawings. 

MBD supports: 

• 3D annotations with DimXpert 
• Custom templates for 3D PDFs 
• Export to eDrawings, STEP 242, and QIF 
• Compliance with industry standards (ASME Y14.41, ISO 16792) 

 

Let us see how SolidWorks MBD works with 3D PDF’s and eDrawings 

Before you publish, make sure your part or assembly is fully annotated using DimXpert. You’ll want your PMI (Product Manufacturing Information) clearly defined. 

Use the Annotation Views tab to organize how your dimensions and GD&T annotations appear in different orientations (e.g., front, top, isometric). These views will be used in the 3D PDF. 

In feature manager tree it will open and you can select the 3D Views that you wanted to show and create the views accordingly. 

 

Creating 3D PDF’s 

Click to Publish to 3D PDF and this feature requires Adobe Reader to work correctly. 

Download the Adobe Reader(if necessary) and click OK. 

The adobe Reader helps the SolidWorks Views to view in 3D format   

Browse option click Security Settings. It will enable the 3D PDF Security feature for the PDF and we can protect it from the other sources. 

Click on the Browse option and select the derived Template(Part, Assembly, Engineering, Manufacturing) for the PDF. 

Fill in the Title Block Fields (Like Part Number, Material, Revision, Etc.) and click OK. 

The Primary & Thumbnail Views section of the PropertyManager determines which views will be in the Primary Viewport and Thumbnail area.  

• Click in the selection box to highlight it, then click on 3D Views in the 3D Views tab. 

If you created a Text Field, the Publish to 3D PDF PropertyManager will include a Notes & Text Area section where you can fill those fields out. If your 3D PDF template includes multiple sheets, use the Next and Back arrows at the top of the PropertyManager to switch between pages. 

• Save As window where you can specify where your 3D PDF will be created. 

 

Creating eDrawings 

Once your model and annotations are complete, export the model as a 3D PDF or eDrawings file. These formats are accessible via free tools such as Adobe Reader or the eDrawings Viewer. 

3D PDF can be viewed using a variety of free tools including Adobe Reader. In addition to providing associative information such as engineering notes, BOM, and rich Meta properties, you can also explore the model in 3D with Pan, Zoom, Rotate, Measure, Section, and other 3D tools using the eDrawings. 

• After creating the 3D PDF now click Publish to eDrawings. 

• The pop-up will appear if you have any Configurations and also you can save the file in STEP format also along with the eDrawings and click OK. 

• Save the eDrawing in *.eprt format. You can also save in picture formats also. 

 

Conclusion: 

SOLIDWORKS MBD revolutionizes the way product information is communicated by enabling the direct publication of 3D PDFs and eDrawings. Whether you're sharing models with internal teams, external suppliers, or quality control departments, MBD ensures that everyone receives the exact data they need—accurately and efficiently. 

By eliminating the dependency on traditional 2D drawings, you streamline collaboration, reduce misunderstandings, and accelerate the entire product development process. With powerful tools to define, organize, and publish manufacturing data, SOLIDWORKS MBD sets the foundation for a smarter, more connected workflow. 

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