It can be difficult to anticipate which emerging technology trends will shape business strategies in the new year, but the act of thinking through future possibilities has value. A forward-looking mindset can help you react more quickly – and decisively – to changing conditions. With that principle in mind, let’s explore what 2023 may mean for the practice of model based definition (MBD).
We predict that the capabilities of model based design technologies will continue to expand in the coming months, coupled with steady growth in adoption. As more organizations overcome the implementation challenges associated with the technology, we predict that solutions will continue to mature, easing the transition from the 2D world. Here are two major themes we expect to see gain traction for MBD in 2023:
3D Interactive Viewables Continue to Improve
A 3D interactive viewable is defined in the MBE Maturity Index Issue B – MBE Lexicon as “A derivative model that is rendered in 3D, is interactive, and is published in a ubiquitous format (e.g., pdf)”.
3D interactive viewables provide access to product design information for users who do not have full computer-aided design (CAD) software packages in a model’s native format.
Three common formats for 3D interactive viewables are 3D PDF, JT (Jupiter Tessellation), and HTML. These file formats are then displayed in viewing applications. 3D PDFs are viewed in Acrobat by Adobe. JT files can be viewed in the Siemens JT2Go application. HTML data can be viewed in web browsers like Google Chrome and MS Edge.
This is not a comprehensive list, but below are some providers for 3D interactive viewables:
3D PDF: Anark, Elysium, Theorem, SolidWorks, Siemens, Creo
JT: Siemens JT2Go
3D PDF is very prevalent in the MBD space and JT2Go is often used by customers that have a Siemens portfolio. In 2023, we are expecting to see a shift towards browser-based HTML solutions. HTML solutions offer several benefits over other options which can include the following:
- Mobile compatible
- Not dependent on operating system or supporting software
- Increased control over file sizes
- Faster page renderings
- Improved markups
While the benefits of browser-based solutions seem to outweigh the drawbacks, they’re not necessarily going to be the best option for all use cases or scenarios. For example, contracts requiring compliance to Another aspect to consider is that browser-based viewers generally live in cloud-based environments to offer greater connectivity across enterprise data sets. Enabling the technology requires technical configuration efforts that may not be possible or feasible within the constraints of some organizations.
While an “MBD nirvana” state would directly reuse the CAD model in a native or neutral format, not every organization that needs to interact with a model will have access to those tools. That means 3D interactive viewables are here to stay—at least for a while. They do an excellent job at providing ubiquitous access to MBD data for human-centric use cases that do not require direct access to the CAD model data. Increasing usage of 3D viewables should go hand-in-hand with continuous improvements in their capabilities.
MBD Usage Expands in Additive Manufacturing Applications
Because additive manufacturing requires use of a 3D model, it’s a natural fit for implementation of MBD. The complex organic shapes that can be generated with additive processes are difficult, if not impossible, to fully define in flat 2D drawings. The ASME 14.46-2022 standard was developed to respond to the growing use of additive manufacturing and the discipline’s need for uniform product definition practices. The standard goes into detail on a variety of definitions, terms, and features that are unique to additive. Examples include supplemental geometry, geometry characteristics, bounded regions and tolerances, design characteristics, process related characteristics, product data packages, etc. ASME Y14.46 is an extension of the widely used ASME Y14.5 standard for dimensioning and tolerancing.
Additive parts are complex, but very well suited for MBD. We see an opportunity for the industry to match the uniqueness of additive parts to the 3D product definition approach and a supporting industry standard. We expect the industry standard to provide an incentive to migrate to MBD for additive parts. Traditionally, 2D drawings would refer to the model geometry for the basic shape of additive parts, so the next logical extension is to include the complete definition in the MBD data set.
Moving Forward with Model Based Technologies
Any departure from the status quo can seem daunting. Although the implementation process for MBD and model based engineering efforts requires new processes and technologies, we predict that 2023’s digital trends should help smooth the way to widespread MBD adoption. If your organization is ready to implement MBD or needs guidance in finding a starting point, we are here to help. To request more information about our digital capabilities and solutions, click here.
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