In today’s fast-paced manufacturing landscape, speed, clarity, and precision are everything. Traditional 2D drawings, while still relevant, are increasingly being outpaced by smarter, more integrated documentation approaches. That’s where SOLIDWORKS MBD (Model-Based Definition) comes into play—offering a revolutionary way to define, organize, and publish product manufacturing information (PMI) directly within 3D models.
What is SOLIDWORKS MBD?
SOLIDWORKS MBD is an integrated drawing less manufacturing solution that lets you communicate product and manufacturing information (PMI) directly in the 3D CAD model—without the need for 2D drawings. It empowers teams to define dimensions, tolerances, annotations, and other critical data right within the 3D environment.Picture 8, Picture
This transition from 2D to 3D documentation not only streamlines the process but also eliminates interpretation errors, accelerates time-to-market, and fosters better collaboration across departments and with suppliers.
Key Features and Benefits
1. Integrated 3D PMI
Add GD&T, surface finishes, datums, weld symbols, and more directly onto your 3D models. All annotations are semantically rich and embedded, not just visually placed.
2. Customizable 3D PDF Publishing
Generate intelligent 3D PDFs to share with stakeholders who might not have access to SOLIDWORKS. These documents can be customized with logos, BOM tables, and multiple viewports for full clarity.Picture 9, Picture
3. Template-Based Publishing
Create and reuse templates tailored to different departments—like manufacturing, QA, or procurement—ensuring everyone gets the exact info they need, formatted just right.
4. Improved Collaboration
With MBD, teams work from a single source of truth—cutting down on miscommunication and saving hours previously lost to drawing interpretation and revisions.
Why Go Drawingless?
Speed: Reduce time spent creating and managing 2D drawings.
Accuracy: Minimize manual errors and inconsistencies between model and drawing.
Clarity: Ensure everyone is working from the same digital model.
Efficiency: Simplify processes across design, manufacturing, and inspection.
Real-World Impact
Companies adopting SOLIDWORKS MBD are reporting faster quote times, improved production quality, and smoother communication with suppliers—especially those operating in digital environments or using CNC machining and CMM inspection systems.
Final Thoughts
SOLIDWORKS MBD is more than just a feature—it’s a mindset shift toward smarter, more connected product development. As industries evolve, so should our documentation practices. Embracing MBD helps teams innovate faster, communicate better, and reduce rework at every stage of the product lifecycle.
Ready to say goodbye to 2D drawings? MBD might be your next big move.
Engineering Technique is an Authorized Value-added Reseller of SOLIDWORKS Desktop 3D CAD & 3DEXPERIENCE Works Cloud CAD software in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and across Gujarat, including Mumbai.
For inquiries, feel free to reach out:
Call: +91 94276 11239
Email: marketing@enggtechnique.com
Thank you for Reading!
Author: Bhargav Naidu, Post-Sales Application Engineer
