CAD Forum

Hi,

I have large(ish) assembly and when I try to make a 3D-pdf out of it, it comes out empty. If I make save-as-copy out of the assembly and then make the 3D-pdf it works. Any idea what is causing this? This is the first time I encounter this problem. Sorry for no attachments, the assembly includes too much confidental stuff to be shared to whole world.

Some Performance evaluation data of the assembly:

Total Number of Components 1968
Part Components: 1847
Unique Part Files: 319
Unique Part Configurations: 269
Number Of Bodies: 1994
Subassembly Components: 121
Unique Subassembly Configurations: 64
Unique Subassembly Files: 62
Resolved Documents: 302
Number Of Top Level Components: 9
Resolved Components: 1401
Lightweight Components: 25
Graphics Components: 0
Suppressed Components: 542
Hidden Components: 8
Virtual Components: 16
Envelope Components: 5
Maximum Depth: 7
Number Of Total Evaluated Mates: 26
Top Level Mates: 34
Flexible Subassembly Mates: 0
Note: Components of suppressed subassemblies are excluded from these statistics.


Best regards,
SolidKeke

You may want to check your preference settings for Adobe.

You may be better off using eDrawings and then saving it as a HTML, which is my preference..

Roasted By John wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:44 am You may be better off using eDrawings and then saving it as a HTML, which is my preference..

Yeah....as far as I can tell, saving an HTML file from eDrawings will ONLY allow you to open it in Internet Explorer (Not Edge, firefox, etc...) and it requires you to have admin rights to your computer so that you can install the "emodelsStandard" add on. So won't work here. Although I could be wrong.

Thanks for answers I checked the Adobe preferences and somehow the 3D-content checkbox was unchecked. Anyhow, it still keeps this specific assembly 3D-pdf empty. Still the copy would work as it should, it's just super slow to first make copy of the .SLDASM file and then save it to 3D-pdf.

This HTML-solution sounds too difficult as I'm supposed to show my 3d-pdf's to different clients. 3D-pdf is something that everyone can open, even with lower skills with computers.

SolidKeke wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:32 am Thanks for answers I checked the Adobe preferences and somehow the 3D-content checkbox was unchecked. Anyhow, it still keeps this specific assembly 3D-pdf empty. Still the copy would work as it should, it's just super slow to first make copy of the .SLDASM file and then save it to 3D-pdf.

This HTML-solution sounds too difficult as I'm supposed to show my 3d-pdf's to different clients. 3D-pdf is something that everyone can open, even with lower skills with computers.

It takes some time for the 3D PDF to load up in my experience. I did one for the clock I modeled (100+/- unique parts) and it took a few minutes to get to the point where I could see it. With as many parts as you suggest I would expect quite a bit longer.

jayar wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 4:10 am

SolidKeke wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:32 am Thanks for answers I checked the Adobe preferences and somehow the 3D-content checkbox was unchecked. Anyhow, it still keeps this specific assembly 3D-pdf empty. Still the copy would work as it should, it's just super slow to first make copy of the .SLDASM file and then save it to 3D-pdf.

This HTML-solution sounds too difficult as I'm supposed to show my 3d-pdf's to different clients. 3D-pdf is something that everyone can open, even with lower skills with computers.

It takes some time for the 3D PDF to load up in my experience. I did one for the clock I modeled (100+/- unique parts) and it took a few minutes to get to the point where I could see it. With as many parts as you suggest I would expect quite a bit longer.

That could be reasonable explanation IF the pdf didn't work with the copy of this assembly. But because the copy works, it kinda cancels your proposal out.

I routinely save large assemblies as .X_T Parasolid files. I make sure to hide envelopes and not resolve them in the export step, unless I want it shown. I re-import it with dumbed templates. I re-apply any relevant appearances that may have been lost in the import, such as transparency or paint color. Then I save as 3D PDF without saving the intermediary assembly.

I handle manufacturer parts with varied levels of detail. Some damaged & unrepaired STEP imported files can also cause issues. At some scale, this workaround simply becomes my workflow. I can avoid this in smaller simpler projects.