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Creating animated 3D PDF for Assembly/Disassembly

Question asked by Van Le on Apr 19, 2014
Latest reply on Apr 22, 2014 by Van Le

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Hi Everyone,

I have been asked to find a way to create animated 3d pdf to help with the assembly and disassembly of our products. I have managed to created the animation in SW 2013 (I am not a SW user, just manipulating existing parts to create assemblies) but the animation can only be saved as video file, which is huge and undesirable. Not to metion the fixed camera view and not being able to zoom, pan and rotate throughout the animation. I also have tried saving the file with exploded view as u3d but when I tried to imported to PDF file, the animation does not play. It is there though because if I drag the slider bar slowly I can see it explode. Strangely a guy in youtube did the same thing with SW 2012 and his animation was playing fine.

My end goal is to having something like the attached PDF file. Can Solidworks Composer create this?

Thanks in advance.

Derek Parks Apr 22, 2014 4:02 PM

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Van,

Here is another link that will show you Composer animation being used in a PDF along with view usage also. I wouldn't know the file size of the finished product but it does give you a clear idea of Composer in PDF form. In this example the end user does have some control but I would think you could customize it to work for you. You wouldn't get the quality of video from my previous post but this may be a mid point for you to keep your PDF requirements. Perhaps you can show your VAR this example and see if they can find you someone in your area doing this type of PDF animation work you could speak to for step by step direction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPy9xf4oz3M

Derek

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Kompas-PumpAssemblyAnimation_eng.pdf1.6 MB

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Derek Parks Apr 21, 2014 3:25 PM

Van,

You would be able to accomplish this in Composer. Composer would actually give the end user a lot more control than your attached example.

Derek

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Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 21, 2014 6:56 PM

Hi Derek,

Thanks for your answer. So Composer definitely can create animated 3D PDF?

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Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 21, 2014 7:06 PM

You could create the animation and embed in a PDF. It would still be a huge file though. Composer player may suite your needs a but better. Talk to your VAR and see if they can show you some examples. Or check out YouTube there are some good examples there.

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Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 21, 2014 8:31 PM

That's what I don't want to do... embedding video file in PDF will definitely made the file huge and undesirable. I have asked my VAR and they have just sent me a sample but I could not pan, rotate or zoom while the animation is playing. The youtube videos only showing it in Composer player not as 3D PDF that's the problem.

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Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 21, 2014 9:19 PM

If you absolutely need the PDF extension that may be tough to get with the requirements you have. Almost like you want a full movie animation with complete user controls. Is this correct?

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Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 22, 2014 1:35 AM

Yes that is correct. Basically that's how the attached PDF animation is. Can Composer create this 3D PDF but withou complete user control?

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Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 22, 2014 8:07 AM

OK Van,

I was able to look at your PDF again when I got into the office this morning since I felt like I was missing something I might have overlooked. If you are looking to make an exact replica of what you attached I would say skip Composer. For the cost of the software to make a simple PDF like you attached in my opinion wouldn't be worth it.

To get the exact outcome it would not be in PDF form which I am assuming by your posts this is the most important requirement. If there is any way to get you out of that requirement I would recommend doing that no matter what animation program you use..

The words animation and PDF should never be in the same sentence in my mind. 3D PDF was created for just that, a simple 3D view not detailed animations.

Have a look at the link I attached that shows Composer animations for assembly instruction. There are several more on this specific site too. This is not my company but they were used as an example that really sold me on Composer. They choose to host on youtube but our company hosts on our server that any employee can access. You will find most people use animations in addition to text based PDF and not combining them in the same file.

I hope this gives you a little clearer idea of Composer and if it would be worth it for your needs but as said for replicating what you attached I wouldn't use it but if you feel you would expand to higher quality animations in the future it is a good tool.

http://www.wilfley.com/instructional-videos/chem/a7.html

Cheers,

Derek

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Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 22, 2014 4:02 PM

Van,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPy9xf4oz3M

Derek

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Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 22, 2014 6:38 PM

Hi Derek,

Thanks for looking into this for me. I have seen these videos and the problem is they are video, so embedding in PDF won't help much as the size will still be huge. If you have a look at my example, the file is only 1.6MB and the quality of the animation is quite good for that size. I also have seen that youtube video as well, thanks for the link.

I have already contacted a Solidwork VAR and they said Composer cannot create exactly the same functionality as that PDF. They can create 3D PDF but without full user control. So the question now is how important is full user control on the 3D PDF?

Thanks for all your help Derek. I think I have to test out their software vs composer.

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9 Replies

Derek Parks Apr 21, 2014 3:25 PM
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Correct Answer
Van,

You would be able to accomplish this in Composer. Composer would actually give the end user a lot more control than your attached example.

Derek
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- Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 21, 2014 6:56 PM
  Mark Correct
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  Hi Derek,
  
  Thanks for your answer. So Composer definitely can create animated 3D PDF?
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  - Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 21, 2014 7:06 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    You could create the animation and embed in a PDF. It would still be a huge file though. Composer player may suite your needs a but better. Talk to your VAR and see if they can show you some examples. Or check out YouTube there are some good examples there.
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    - Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 21, 2014 8:31 PM
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      That's what I don't want to do... embedding video file in PDF will definitely made the file huge and undesirable. I have asked my VAR and they have just sent me a sample but I could not pan, rotate or zoom while the animation is playing. The youtube videos only showing it in Composer player not as 3D PDF that's the problem.
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      - Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 21, 2014 9:19 PM
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        If you absolutely need the PDF extension that may be tough to get with the requirements you have. Almost like you want a full movie animation with complete user controls. Is this correct?
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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        Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 22, 2014 1:35 AM
        Mark Correct
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        Yes that is correct. Basically that's how the attached PDF animation is. Can Composer create this 3D PDF but withou complete user control?
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        Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 22, 2014 8:07 AM
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        Correct Answer
        OK Van,
        
        I was able to look at your PDF again when I got into the office this morning since I felt like I was missing something I might have overlooked. If you are looking to make an exact replica of what you attached I would say skip Composer. For the cost of the software to make a simple PDF like you attached in my opinion wouldn't be worth it.
        
        To get the exact outcome it would not be in PDF form which I am assuming by your posts this is the most important requirement. If there is any way to get you out of that requirement I would recommend doing that no matter what animation program you use..
        
        The words animation and PDF should never be in the same sentence in my mind. 3D PDF was created for just that, a simple 3D view not detailed animations.
        
        Have a look at the link I attached that shows Composer animations for assembly instruction. There are several more on this specific site too. This is not my company but they were used as an example that really sold me on Composer. They choose to host on youtube but our company hosts on our server that any employee can access. You will find most people use animations in addition to text based PDF and not combining them in the same file.
        
        I hope this gives you a little clearer idea of Composer and if it would be worth it for your needs but as said for replicating what you attached I wouldn't use it but if you feel you would expand to higher quality animations in the future it is a good tool.
        
        http://www.wilfley.com/instructional-videos/chem/a7.html
        
        Cheers,
        Derek
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        Derek Parks @ Van Le on Apr 22, 2014 4:02 PM
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        Van,
        
        Here is another link that will show you Composer animation being used in a PDF along with view usage also. I wouldn't know the file size of the finished product but it does give you a clear idea of Composer in PDF form. In this example the end user does have some control but I would think you could customize it to work for you. You wouldn't get the quality of video from my previous post but this may be a mid point for you to keep your PDF requirements. Perhaps you can show your VAR this example and see if they can find you someone in your area doing this type of PDF animation work you could speak to for step by step direction.
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPy9xf4oz3M
        
        Derek
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        Van Le @ Derek Parks on Apr 22, 2014 6:38 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Hi Derek,
        
        Thanks for looking into this for me. I have seen these videos and the problem is they are video, so embedding in PDF won't help much as the size will still be huge. If you have a look at my example, the file is only 1.6MB and the quality of the animation is quite good for that size. I also have seen that youtube video as well, thanks for the link.
        
        I have already contacted a Solidwork VAR and they said Composer cannot create exactly the same functionality as that PDF. They can create 3D PDF but without full user control. So the question now is how important is full user control on the 3D PDF?
        
        Thanks for all your help Derek. I think I have to test out their software vs composer.
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Creating animated 3D PDF for Assembly/Disassembly

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