How to Create a 3D PDF in SOLIDWORKS

Contents

A 3D PDF lets someone view and rotate a 3D model inside a PDF instead of only seeing static drawing views. It can be useful for design reviews, quote packages, customer communication, and model-based definition workflows.

In current SOLIDWORKS workflows, publishing 3D PDFs is commonly associated with SOLIDWORKS MBD. Availability depends on your license, add-ins, and version, so check your installed tools before planning a 3D PDF workflow.

SOLIDWORKS model prepared for 3D PDF export — Prepare the model and annotations ahead of the 3D PDF export.

Prepare the model

Open the part or assembly you want to share. Rebuild the model, check configurations, and hide any construction geometry or components that should not appear in the PDF. If the 3D PDF will replace a drawing in a review, make sure dimensions, notes, and annotations are complete.

Publish the 3D PDF

Open the part or assembly in SOLIDWORKS.
Enable or open the MBD tools if your license includes them.
Choose the 3D PDF publishing command.
Select a template.
Choose the views, annotations, and model information to include.
Publish the PDF and save it to a controlled project folder.
Open the exported PDF and test it before sending.

3D PDF publishing options in SOLIDWORKS — The publishing workflow depends on the installed SOLIDWORKS tools and templates.

Choose a useful template

A good 3D PDF template should support the purpose of the file. A customer review template may need a clean model view and notes. A manufacturing template may need dimensions, tolerances, datums, BOM information, and revision fields.

Do not overload the PDF with every possible view. Include the information the recipient needs to understand the part or assembly.

Check the exported PDF

After publishing, open the PDF on the kind of computer your recipient is likely to use. Confirm the model loads, rotates, and displays the intended views or annotations. Some PDF viewers handle 3D content better than others, so test before relying on it for an important handoff.

Finished SOLIDWORKS 3D PDF export — Always open and test the exported 3D PDF before sending it.

3D PDF versus normal drawing PDF

A normal drawing PDF is still better for many manufacturing packages because it is simple, predictable, and easy to print. A 3D PDF is better when model rotation and interactive understanding matter. In many workflows, both are useful.

For standard drawing output, see how to save a SOLIDWORKS drawing as a PDF. For drawing documentation, see SOLIDWORKS detailing and drawing techniques.

Troubleshooting 3D PDF export

The command is missing: check whether SOLIDWORKS MBD or the required add-in/license is available.
The file is too large: simplify the model or reduce included views and annotations.
The recipient cannot view it: test with their PDF viewer or send a normal PDF fallback.
Annotations are missing: check the selected template, views, and publish options.

Reference: SOLIDWORKS MBD product information describes publishing model-based definition data to formats including 3D PDF, eDrawings, and STEP 242.