The 3DXML format plays a vital role in CAD data exchange, particularly for CATIA V6 users. This article details the technical characteristics of the 3DXML format, its benefits for interoperability, and the solutions available to optimize your workflows. Discover how to fully leverage this format in your design and engineering projects to improve your productivity and facilitate technical data exchange.
CATIA V6 and the 3DXML Format
CATIA V6 is a 3D CAD software developed by Dassault Systèmes1. The main architectural difference between CATIA V5 and CATIA V6 lies in their fundamental structure. CATIA V5 uses a traditional client-server architecture, while CATIA V6 relies on the cloud-based 3DExperience Platform architecture. This evolution enables smoother collaboration and more flexible data access. CATIA V6 uses the proprietary 3DXML file format as its native format. This format was created in 2005 by Dassault Systèmes to facilitate data exchange. Accurate and rich 3D. 3DXML is used by CATIA V5 and CATIA V6, ensuring compatibility between the two software versions.
Technical Characteristics of the 3DXML Format
A 3DXML (.3dxml) file is structured as a zip archive containing several essential components. This archive typically includes a BOM (bill of materials) file and one or more 3D representation files. This modular structure allows for efficient organization of complex data.
3D representation files can be stored in standard XML or binary format, providing flexibility for different needs. The format allows for the storage of several types of 3D data:
- Accurate surface data (Gregory patches)
- Surface meshes with topological information Complete
- Simplified meshes for rapid visualization
3DXML can contain rich information including meshes, textures, lighting effects, and various properties of 3D objects. This richness makes it an ideal format for detailed technical visualizations and professional presentations.
Advantages of 3DXML for CAD data interoperability
The 3DXML format offers several major advantages for exchanging CAD data in industry:
Performance and lightweight
3DXML is distinguished by its compactness and transfer speed. Its standard XML-based architecture allows for efficient data compression. This lightweight design facilitates file exchange, even for complex 3D models.
The algorithms 3DXML-specific compression methods significantly reduce file size while preserving the integrity of geometric data. This feature accelerates loading times and optimizes performance across different platforms.
Data Accuracy and Quality
Despite its lightweight nature, the 3DXML format maintains relative geometric accuracy. It allows for the capture of industrial-quality 3D data with all the details required for technical and engineering applications.
Multiple representation of 3D structures is an attractive feature of 3DXML. This capability allows the level of detail to be adapted as needed, thus optimizing the use of computing resources and facilitating visualization on different devices.
Integration into the Dassault Systèmes Ecosystem
The 3DXML format is natively supported by all Dassault Systèmes products Systems, including CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, and SolidWorks. This integration ensures optimal compatibility and simplifies workflows in a seamless environment.
Ease of incorporation into technical documentation
3DXML files can be easily integrated into various media: websites, emails, and office documents. This flexibility allows you to enrich technical documentation with interactive 3D visualizations, improving technical communication and understanding of complex concepts.
Tools and Solutions for Working with 3DXML
To fully exploit the potential of 3DXML, several solutions are available:
Visualizing 3DXML Models
Several tools allow you to effectively view 3DXML files:
- 3D XML Player : Standalone application for Windows for viewing 3DXML files.
- 3DVIA Player: Solution for viewing 3DXML files directly in a web browser.
- 3DViewStation: Powerful tool distributed by CAD Interop, designed to view and analyze very large models, with advanced integration into a PLM system.
These viewers make it easy to share 3D models with all project stakeholders, even those without full-fledged CAD software.
Conversion to and from 3DXML format
To ensure optimal interoperability with other CAD systems, specialized conversion solutions are available. These tools allow you to:
- Convert various CAD files to the 3DXML format, taking advantage of its lightweight and visualization benefits.
- Export 3DXML files to standard formats, such as OBJ, FBX, or JT, for use in third-party software environments.
However, it is important to note certain technical limitations. Conversions involving the 3DXML format are often based on tessellated geometry (surface mesh). Therefore:
- Converting a 3DXML file to a format based on Boundary Representation (BREP) representations, such as STEP, can result in a significant increase in file size and a loss of usability.
- These conversions do not allow for the recreation of the original parametric or exact geometric data, which limits their use in processes requiring high precision or subsequent modifications.
For these reasons, the 3DXML format is primarily recommended for visualization, rapid sharing, or technical documentation, while STEP remains the preferred format for exchanges requiring exact and editable geometry.
Design Review and Advanced Analysis with 3DViewStation
3DViewStation, distributed by CAD Interop, is a powerful and fast application for the visualization and advanced analysis of 3DXML files. Available in desktop, web, and VR/AR versions, it allows you to:
- Import and view 3DXML files as well as over 60 other native or neutral CAD formats.
- Perform advanced analyses such as measurement, dimensioning, cutting, geometric comparison, and volume calculation.
- Simplify models to optimize their use in industrial processes.
Thanks to its intuitive interface and high performance, 3DViewStation is ideal for quickly navigating complex data while protecting technical know-how.
Creating Immersive Experiences with SimLab Composer
SimLab Composer, also distributed by CAD Interop, is an innovative solution for transforming 3DXML data into immersive experiences. It allows:
- Import 3DXML files and convert them to various formats suitable for VR and AR applications.
- Create interactive animations and advanced physics simulations using its built-in engine.
- Export models as WebGL or 3D PDF files for easy sharing between technical and non-technical users.
SimLab Composer is particularly suited to projects requiring immersive environments for training or industrial visualization.
These tools offer complementary features that meet the diverse needs of professionals working with the 3DXML format. They improve interoperability while optimizing collaboration and productivity in modern CAD environments.
Limitations and Technical Comparison of the 3DXML Format vs. the STEP Standard
Although the 3DXML format offers significant advantages for viewing and sharing models within the Dassault Systèmes ecosystem, it has certain limitations to consider:
- Limited Software Compatibility: Unlike the universally adopted STEP (ISO 10303) format, 3DXML remains primarily used in Dassault software (CATIA, DELMIA, SOLIDWORKS). Its limited adoption outside this ecosystem often requires conversion to neutral formats such as STEP or IGES, with a risk of losing geometric or semantic data during these transformations.
- Complex modification: Optimized for visualization, 3DXML is not suitable for direct editing. Modifications must generally be made in the native CAD format before conversion.
- Lack of official standardization: Unlike STEP (ISO since 1994), 3DXML remains a proprietary, albeit documented, format. This sometimes leads to interpretation variations between third-party software.
Trade-off between richness and universality:
| Criterion | 3DXML | STEP AP242 |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Content | Tesselated data (meshes), textures, visual PMI | Accurate data (BREP), semantic PMI |
| File Size | Lightweight thanks to optimized compression (~70% reduction) | Larger size due to geometric detail high |
| Ecosystem | Natively integrated into Dassault Systèmes products | Widely supported by over 90% of CAD software |
Despite these limitations, the 3DXML format remains essential for interactive reviews and enriched documentation in the CATIA V6 environment. It is often used in conjunction with the STEP standard to meet specific interoperability needs.
Practical Applications of the 3DXML Format
The 3DXML format has numerous applications in industry and engineering:
Enhanced Technical Documentation
The lightweight and visual richness of 3DXML make it ideal for creating interactive technical documentation6. Integrated 3D models significantly improve the understanding of complex products and facilitate user training.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
In projects involving different expertise, the 3DXML facilitates communication between teams. The easy access to 3D data allows everyone to view and understand models, regardless of their technical level or specialty.
Virtual Design Reviews
The 3DXML format enables efficient remote design reviews. Its lightweight design facilitates real-time model sharing, even with limited internet connections, promoting international collaboration and distributed work.
License and Access to Specifications
Dassault Systèmes provides an annual royalty-free license for the 3DXML format documentation. This policy allows developers access to the format's technical specifications, although this license is limited to internal work.
The 3DXML format specifications were published by Dassault Systèmes in 2005, allowing various stakeholders to develop compatible solutions. This controlled openness encourages adoption of the format while preserving certain proprietary aspects.
Evolutions and Outlook for the 3DXML Format
The 3DXML format continues to evolve to meet the growing interoperability needs of Industry 4.0:
Integration with Web Technologies
The evolution of 3D web standards opens up new possibilities for using the 3DXML in online applications. Integration with modern technologies could further improve data accessibility and facilitate remote collaboration.
Semantic Enrichment
Adding semantic information to 3DXML models would improve their interpretation by different systems. This development would facilitate the automation of engineering processes and integration into advanced digital workflows.
Conclusion
The 3DXML format represents a powerful solution for CAD data interoperability, particularly in the CATIA V6 environment and the 3DExperience platform. Its lightweight yet rich structure makes it ideal for sharing and viewing complex 3D models.
For industrial companies, mastering interoperability around the 3DXML format allows them to optimize workflows and improve collaboration. Available visualization and conversion solutions effectively meet the data exchange needs of a modern CAD environment.
As Industry 4.0 develops, the 3DXML format will continue to evolve to meet the new challenges of technical data interoperability. Its growing adoption demonstrates its relevance in today's digital design ecosystem, where seamless data exchange has become a key competitive factor.
