3D PDF Converter^™
Convert.  Visualize.  Collaborate.

3D PDF Converter is the world's leading solution for converting native 3D CAD data into rich, interactive 3D PDF documents, including full support for accurate BREP geometry and PMI. Only 3D PDF Converter and Adobe Acrobat together allow you to control whether recipients of your 3D PDFs can measure, section, comment on or export 3D data from both Acrobat and the free Adobe Reader.

Trust your 3D CAD data conversion to 3D PDF from the source – tetra4D is Adobe's exclusive provider of 3D PDF technology and the ubiquitous standard for open viewing of 3D CAD data.  

3D PDF Converter Suite

Get 3D PDF Converter and Acrobat at one suite price! When you buy the 3D PDF Converter Suite, you are sure to get the best price available for the latest version of Adobe Acrobat. Select the buy now tab above to learn more.

3D PDF Converter Suite - Upgrade

Need to upgrade your version of Acrobat? With 3D PDF Converter Suite Upgrade you can upgrade from any version of Acrobat, no matter how old, to the latest release and do more. Select the What’s New tab above to learn why you should upgrade today.

Get 3D PDF from THE Source, tetra4D is Adobe's exclusive provider of 3D PDF technology and the ubiquitous standard for open viewing of 3D CAD data.   Experience 3D PDF!  Visit the Showcase.

3D PDF from THE Source

Don't take chances.  Use the same 3D PDF technology that Adobe^® relies on.

Share 3D CAD data with anyone, anywhere.

No need to own or learn to use expensive 3D CAD systems.

Accurately convert 3D data from the latest versions of CATIA, Pro/E, SolidWorks, Inventor, and all other major CAD applications directly inside Adobe Acrobat.  3D PDF Converter is the next generation of the original 3D technology originally developed by Adobe, so you know your 3D PDFs are compatible with the free Adobe Reader.  And because Adobe Reader is installed on 98% of desktops worldwide, anyone who needs to view your 3D data already has all the software the need.

Integrate directly with CAD/CAM/CAE applications.

Export neutral 3D file formats directly from a 3D PDF document

Easily export precise BREP 3D CAD data to neutral file formats such as STEP, IGES, or Parasolid for use in downstream CAD, CAM, or CAE. Export to STL for use in 3D printing. Export the entire assembly, or select which part model(s) to convert. 

Simplified change management.

Rapidly update PDF documents when 3D data changes occur.

When design changes happen, you can quickly and easily update the 3D data within a PDF. Once you've created the 3D PDF template, it's effortless to republish work instructions, service manuals, RFPs and any other document that contains 3D data.

Advanced BOM management.

Create, manage, & share multiple BOMs from the master CAD file.

Use tetra4D's industry-leading 3D PDF enrichment products, Animate, Publish, and Compare, or the 3D Reviewer application to create animations, exploded assemblies, manage BOM information, add external XML data, and author complex process steps.  Create multiple derivitive 3D PDFs to satisfy the unique BOM requirements of varied downstream consumers of 3D data.  Learn more about 3D Reviewer here.

Move from MBD to MBE.

The optimal format for expanded use of 3D throughout the enterprise.

With full support for import of PMI data such as dimensions, tolerances, and annotations, complete with intelligent PMI view states, 3D PDF Converter already provides the tools you need to share 3D MBD with suppliers.  When combined with the power of configurable PDF templates, dynamic form fields, the ubiquity of the free Adobe Reader, thec security of the PDF format, and the full suite of advanced 3D PDF solutions and services available from tetra4D, your company can easily and affordably make the transition to a Model-based Enterprise.

Design reviews in real-time.

Manage shared design reviews with Adobe online services.

With Acrobat XI Pro, you can easily initiate a 3D PDF-based shared design review with your extended team.  All they need to participate is the free Adobe Reader.  Using the included Acrobat.com online services, it's easy to initiate a design review and then collect everyone's comments, mark-ups, and approvals.  You can set deadlines for action, track who has opened the document and when, and send reminders as deadlines approach.  The entire team will be notified automatically as new comments are added.  When the review is over, the document can even be digitally signed.  Store the secured PDF back into your PLM or other document management solution for long term archival.

Control 3D PDFs even after they're sent.

Turn on measurement, mark-up, and security features in the free Adobe Reader.

Only 3D PDF Converter, running inside Adobe Acrobat, can turn on powerful collaboration and security features (called Reader Extensions) within the free Adobe Reader.  Your employees, customers, and suppliers already have the free Adobe Reader installed on their computers.  Don't waste time with proprietary CAD viewers.  With 3D PDF, you can share your design data, technical publications and manufacturing instructions in a single format - 3D PDF.

Learn more about Reader Extending here.

Lightweight.  High performance.

Our 3D PDFs are 95% - 97% smaller than the native CAD file.

When you create a 3D PDF using technology from tetra4D, you can easily share them via email, Adobe SendNow, Dropbox^TM or any other web-based platform. And because the Adobe Reader is installed on 98% of desktops worldwide (that's over one billion!), you know that the recipient can open, view, and interact with the 3D PDF without needing to download any arcane, unfamiliar viewing software that might not be around tomorrow.

Quick. Easy. Accurate.

Convert all major CAD formats to 3D PDF.

Select either the PRC or U3D format as the internal file type stored within your 3D PDF. PRC is a lightweight, highly-compressible data structure that can be stored as either precise B-REP or tessellated geometry and may optionally be compressed during conversion. U3D data supports tessellated data. Regardless of which file type is selected, your 3D PDF will be at least 95 -98% smaller than the original CAD file, on average.

3D CAD formats supported for import to 3D PDF

New or updated formats in release 3.6 are highlighted in green. 

 • = Supported     • = Unsupported    - = not applicable for this native CAD format

3D File Formats Supported for Export

3D PDF Converter supports exporting to the following neutral file formats directly from a 3D PDF document. 

2D CAD formats supported for import

3D PDF Converter supports the import of the following 2D CAD formats. Formats preceded by (*) are supported by Acrobat XI Pro.

What's New in 3D PDF Converter™ 3.6

Overview

The 3.6 release of 3D PDF Converter™ provides support for Adobe^® Acrobat^® XI Pro, adds support for the latest versions of several important 3D formats, and delivers substantial stability and quality improvements to several previously supported CAD importers. Included in this release is a new  X3D that will allow users to easily visualize, validate and then export to suitable for import into a 3rd Party System.

New CAD Format Versions (Import and Export)

New CAD format versions include Solidworks^® 2013, Siemens^® NX 8.5 and Rhino^® 4.5. Also added to 3D PDF Converter 3.6 is the ability to export to X3D. For a complete list of supported formats and features, please see the supported formats tab. 

Support for ASME Y14.41 "Visual Response"

3D PDF Converter 3.6 brings a new feature critical to customers that are using Model Based Design (MBD) data, deploying within the Model Based Enterprise (MBE) or delivering critical Department of Defense data per the MIL STD 31000A specification. Visual Response enables users to easily generate 3D PDF's that automatically include PMI Associativity. Every 3D PDF created by 3D PDF Converter now allows users to visualize and cross-highlight the geometry or features related to Geometrical Dimensions, Tolerances, Datums and Annotations. The functionality is freely supported with Acrobat XI Pro or with the Adobe Reader XI.

3D PDF Templates Made Simple

One of the top features requested by our customers is now delivered in 3D PDF Converter 3.6. Users now have the ability to simply combine a PDF Template with 3D CAD data during import to produce a rich, interactive 3D PDF, customized to end users needs. Combining the power of Javascript, the capabilities of Acrobat and Acroforms with the simplicity of 3D PDF Converter, every user now has the ability to leverage 3D PDF templates as part of their daily work.

 
Improved CAD Importers

Improved CAD Importers include JT, Catia^® V5, SolidWorks^®, NX, IFC, IGES and STEP 242 formats.

 
Adobe Acrobat XI Pro & Acrobat X Pro Support

3D PDF Converter 3.6 continues to provide support for Adobe Acrobat XI Pro and Acrobat X Pro.

 
Defects

As part of our ongoing commitment to deliver best-in-class 3D PDF Conversion solutions we have addressed numerous defects reported by customers in this release. For a complete list of all the issues fixed, please see the 3D PDF Converter Version 3.6 Release Notes document.

Access to 3D PDF Converter Version 3.6 is free for all customers with current maintenance contracts.

 
System Requirements

Windows

• 1.3GHz or faster processor
• Microsoft^® Windows^® XP with Service Pack 3 for 32 bit or Service Pack 2 for 64 bit; Windows Server^® 2003 R2 (32 bit and 64 bit); Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 (32 bit and 64 bit); Windows 7 (32 bit and 64 bit); Windows 8 (32 bit and 64 bit)
  
• 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)
  
• 1.85GB of available hard-disk space
  
• 1024x768 screen resolution
  
• DVD-ROM drive
  
• Video hardware acceleration (optional)
  
  Note: For 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows XP (with Service Pack 2), Microsoft Update KB930627 is required