Adobe Announces Availability of Acrobat 3D Version 8

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New Adobe Software and 3D PDF help companies of all sizes accelerate new product development.

Adobe Systems Incorporated announced the immediate availability of Adobe Acrobat 3D Version 8 software, a major upgrade to the desktop application for driving document-based 3D design collaboration and CAD data interoperability capabilities to virtually anyone inside manufacturing organizations and across the global supply chain.

With Acrobat 3D Version 8, CAD, CAM, CAE, and technical publishing professionals in the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, heavy machinery, life sciences, and AEC industries can convert virtually any 3D CAD file including large assemblies of more than 500 megabytes into a single PDF document. The PDF file can maintain precise geometry or be compressed over 100 times smaller than the original file, depending on the needs of the specific business process. Three-dimensional CAD data can also be easily combined with other critical project information, such as product specifications, spreadsheets and bills of materials, into a more secure P

DF document containing product manufacturing information (PMI). PMI is used to convey geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, annotations and other specifications directly on a 3D model.

Once 3D models are combined with other documents in PDF, Acrobat 3D Version 8 users can enable extended teams of colleagues, suppliers, partners, and customers to participate in an efficient document review process leveraging the free, ubiquitous Adobe Reader software. Adobe Reader users can view detailed product structure and, when enabled by Acrobat 3D Version 8, have the ability to use commenting, measurement and cross-section tools directly on 3D objects in PDF files. By helping engage technical and non-technical team members in 3D-based communications throughout the product life cycle, the software can help workgroups diminish the risk of misunderstandings, discover design flaws earlier, and speed product development.

Over the past few months, more than 10,000 users participated in t

he beta and public preview programs for Acrobat 3D Version 8. Caterpillar Inc., Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., Eaton Corporation, HNTB Architecture, John Deere, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP were among the innovative organizations working with pre-release versions of the software. EDS, a global technology services company, was also a beta participant. At EDS, the software is helping improve 3D-based document collaboration across engineers, project managers and clients. The product also has helped the company bring additional clarity and richness to technical documentation, enabling CAD design data to be placed in Microsoft Office documents for the production of interactive 3D PDF files.

"As a consultancy focusing on engineering processes, Acrobat 3D Version 8 supports one of EDS' primary goals?enabling clients to be more productive," said Senior Simulation Consultant in EDS' Modeling, Simulation and Collaborative Solutions Group, John Brabbs. "By converting 3D models to comp

ressed PDF files, companies can reach partners anywhere at any time with interactive 3D objects they can review and comment on simply using Adobe Reader."

Acrobat 3D Version 8 supports conversion to 3D PDF from over 40 formats, including those for Autodesk Inventor, Dassault Systemes CATIA, PTC Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks, and UGS NX and I-deas. The software also provides users the option of exporting precise manufacturing CAD data from PDF into neutral file formats such as STEP, IGES and Parasolid for downstream processes, including machining operations and tool and mold design.

Pricing and Availability:
Acrobat 3D Version 8 is immediately available in English, French and German language versions. The Japanese language version is expected to be available in June 2007. The product has an estimated street price of US$995. Registered users of Acrobat 3D can upgrade to Acrobat 3D Version 8 for US$295. Registered users who purchased Acrobat 3D from Sept. 18, 2006 until May 3

0, 2007 will be eligible to receive a free upgrade to Acrobat 3D Version 8 (sales tax, shipping and handling may apply).

Registered users of Acrobat 6.0 Professional, Acrobat 7.0 Professional and Acrobat 8 Professional can upgrade to Acrobat 3D Version 8 for US$545. The product is available for Microsoft Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 4, Windows XP Professional, Home or Tablet PC Editions with Service Pack 2, and Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit) Ultimate, Enterprise, Business, Home Premium, or Home Basic Editions. Adobe Reader 8.1, which provides updated support for PDF functionality enabled by Acrobat 3D Version 8, is expected to be available for download in June 2007.