3D publishing improves communications

Latest versions of 3D publishing applications and platform allow users to communicate, reduce costs and improve processes, instructions and provide enhanced training using 3D data.

Lattice3D, the leader in 3D publishing and communications, today announced the immediate availability of the latest versions of their 3D Publishing applications and platform.

Lattice3D Embed, Lattice3D Composer and Lattice3D Publisher, increase the ability of users to communicate, reduce costs and improve processes, instructions and provide enhanced training using 3D data.

XVL Converter Scheduler and Manager turn Lattice3D software into a full enterprise 3D Publishing platform with automated workflow through the 3D Publishing applications to ensure business processes reflect updated 3D CAD files.

This enables parts catalogues, web pages, manufacturing instructions, training manuals, etc.

to be easily maintained.

The latest versions add new functionality, extensibility, improved ease of use and are fully compatible with the recently launched new XVL Studio family of products.

Collectively they enhance manufacturers' abilities to use, share and repurpose 3D data across the enterprise.

On release of the original products in January Dr Joel Orr, VP Cyon Research, commented on CADwire.net, "I am impressed".

"The stuff you can do so easily with the new Lattice 3D tools just blows me away." Now the applications are more functional and even easier to use and as a set of highly interoperable XVL-based applications create a very agile software ecosystem.

Users have a choice of components they need for 3D publishing now, or later as internal processes evolve from groups to enterprise-wide.

Lattice3D Embed enables interactive 3D data to be easily manipulated and embedded in popular 2D document formats including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and HTML.

The 3D data can be rotated, zoomed, cross-sectioned and manipulated for greater communication of information and immediate comprehension by its readers.

New features include numerous user requests including send 3D email, more measurements in a cross-sectioned model, cameras and lights inherited from CAD models, right click menu in player window for fast changes, click on 3D graphic part highlights in assembly structure, embed in PDF updates for Acrobat 7.0 and more.

Lattice3D Composer creates 3D documents with linked and interactive 3D data, 2D images, parts lists, assembly structures and any other structured data.

Composer documents can include all these data types as well as markup text, fully cross-referenced for collaborative problem-solving, process planning, training, design review, and other communication exchanges.

Composer documents can also be embedded in popular 2D document formats including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and PDF (now updated for Acrobat 7.0), Microsoft Office and HTML.

Lattice3D Publisher makes publishing of intelligent 3D information into lightweight, fast loading 3D web pages as simple as selecting a template and clicking a button.

It has never been easier to communicate with interactive 3D parts, components, or complete products - with or without exploded parts views or animations.

New features include send 3D email packaging all necessary files, improved previews and various UI Enhancements.

XVL Converter Scheduler and Manager schedules and manages XVL Server Converters and facilitates automated processing of newly converted files including downstream publishing, vaulting, and secure distribution across the enterprise.

When linked to XVL Server Converter(s) and XVL Applications, XVL Converter Scheduler and Manager transforms Lattice3D software into a full 3D Publishing platform for maximum workflow automation and integration.

Lattice3D applications exploit the ultra-compressed 3D XVL format which is used by leading companies including Boeing, NASA, Toyota, L3 Communications, Pratt and Whitney, CoCreate and Dassault Systems.

XVL enables the widespread use of large-scale 3D data in an unmatched high fidelity compressed form.

It typically provides 1/30 to 1/250 (better than 97%) compression in a loss-less format, which means that large 3D data files become small enough to easily handle on PC systems and can be sent via email or easily used on the Internet without loss of detail or visual fidelity.

"XVL breaks the mold with a technology shift, rather than rely on representing product graphics in a tessellated form of planar triangles", said Dr Ken Versprille, PLM research director, CPD Associates.

"XVL uses a higher mathematical surface form allowing for impressive data compression".

"Less data drives faster data transfer and faster data transfer drives expanded use of that data for collaborating design teams and downstream users of product data." 3D Publishing is a burgeoning market and has been enabled by the creation of advanced formats such as XML.

XVL brings instantaneous standardisation for very diverse formats such as those commonly found in the 3D design and engineering industry as well as the industry's best data compression rates".

""The market for 3D publishing is approximately $1 billion and growing rapidly," says Dave Burdick, president of Collaborative Visions".

""It is currently characterised by a variety of ad-hoc tools used to capture 3D graphics and embed them into MS Office, Adobe PDF, and Web documents".

" No dominant player has yet emerged but Lattice 3D is leading with a comprehensive vision and robust solutions." * About Lattice3D - with over 500,000 users at over 2,000 companies, Lattice3D's applications enable our customers to use existing 2D and 3D data beyond engineering--throughout the extended enterprise.

The company's 3D software easily creates interactive 3D documents directly from CAD drawings, while its unmatched compression enable uses ranging from technical illustrations and electronic training manuals (IETM) to 3D sales presentations and assembly instructions.

Lattice3D's award-winning solutions increase efficiency, lower costs, and improve product and service quality.

Lattice3D is a privately-held company founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Silicon Valley, USA, and Tokyo.

The company has offices worldwide and works with resellers in 91 countries.

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