Lightweight 3D Visualization
Lightweight 3D Visualization is the vendor-neutral logical capability of consuming, viewing, marking up, measuring, sectioning, and exchanging 3D product data in a compressed, tessellated representation that is independent of the authoring CAD system. It is the umbrella concept under which every PLM platform’s “viewable” — JT, 3DXML, Creo View / PVS, PRC inside 3D PDF, glTF, FBX — sits as a concrete format-bound child capability. Lightweight viewables are typically one to two orders of magnitude smaller than native CAD, can be opened by non-CAD users (manufacturing, supply, service, sales), and support assembly browsing, PMI display, kinematics review, and digital-mockup interference checking without consuming an authoring seat.
Concrete format children
| Vendor / steward | Capability child | Format note |
|---|---|---|
| Siemens (open / ISO) | JT Visualization | JT Format (ISO 14306) |
| Dassault Systèmes | 3DXML viewing (3DLive / 3DEXPERIENCE) | (format note pending) |
| PTC | Creo View / PVS | (format note pending) |
| Adobe / ISO 14739 | 3D PDF (PRC) | (format note pending) |
| Khronos | glTF | (format note pending) |
| Autodesk | FBX | (format note pending) |
Relationships (see sidebar)
- Has part JT Visualization (the JT-bound format-specific child); other vendor variants will be added as their notes are authored.
- Conforms to the open JT format (ISO 14306); other format conformance edges are added on the child capability notes themselves.
- Implemented by every PLM platform — Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE, PTC Windchill, Siemens Teamcenter, Aras Innovator, Dassault 3DVIA, PTC Vuforia — every CAD/PLM ships a viewer.
- Supports Supplier Development, CAM Manufacturing Planning, Service and Maintenance, and Detailed Design reviews.
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