A Step-by-Step Guide for Technical Documentation Teams and Design Engineers
In the dynamic realm of product design and manufacturing, it is crucial to have technical documentation that is accurate, easy to access, and visually attractive. However, traditional documentation techniques often fail to keep pace with the rapidity of contemporary design cycles.
This is where Cortona3D steps in — a sophisticated solution that connects your CAD data (from NX, SolidWorks, or other platforms) with your technical publications, allowing teams to create interactive 3D manuals, assembly instructions, and service guides directly from engineering data.
Let’s explore how you can transition from CAD to interactive documentation using the Cortona3D workflow — all while ensuring data integrity, enhancing productivity, and significantly cutting down documentation time.
Step 1: Prepare Your CAD Model (NX, SolidWorks, or Other Systems)
The journey starts within your CAD environment — whether you utilize Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or another 3D modeling software.
Before you export, make sure that your model:
- Is finalized and validated for geometry and assembly structure
- Has clear part naming conventions (for easy identification during the documentation phase)
- Contains simplified configurations (removing unnecessary internal components to minimize file size)
This guarantees a clean, optimized data set ready for publication.
Step 2: Export and Convert CAD Data
Cortona3D accommodates a broad array of CAD file formats, making it adaptable and straightforward to incorporate into existing design workflows.
Compatible File Formats Include:
- Siemens NX: .jt, .prt
- SolidWorks: .sldasm, .sldprt
- STEP / IGES / STL for neutral data exchange
- 3DXML, Parasolid, and other lightweight formats
After exporting, Cortona3D’s RapidAuthor or RapidIllustrator tools import these files and automatically generate 3D illustrations that are ready to be associated with procedural or service content.
Pro Tip: Always opt for JT or STEP formats for lightweight, fast-loading models while maintaining visual accuracy.
Step 3: Create Interactive Documentation
This is where the magic unfolds.
With Cortona3D authoring tools, you can:
- Produce step-by-step assembly and disassembly instructions straight from 3D geometry
- Automatically generate exploded views and animations from CAD structures
- Connect parts to their respective BOM (Bill of Materials)
- Incorporate annotations, callouts, and procedural steps
This results in a visually engaging, interactive document that can be published online, embedded in PDFs, or accessed on mobile devices — all directly linked to your most recent CAD data.
Step 4: Manage Design Integrity and Consistency
A key advantage of Cortona3D is its data associativity.
When the original CAD design is modified, Cortona3D identifies these changes and enables you to refresh illustrations or procedures automatically without having to recreate content from the ground up.
This guarantees:
- Design and documentation remain aligned
- No chance of releasing outdated visuals
- Minimized human error and rework
Best practice: Keep a consistent file naming and revision system between your PLM (like Teamcenter) and Cortona3D to ensure smooth synchronization.
Step 5: Publish and Distribute Once the content is finalized.
Cortona3D enables you to publish in various formats, including:
- HTML5 web-based 3D documentation (for online manuals and service portals)
- PDFs with integrated 3D content
- Standalone executables for offline access
These outputs can be seamlessly integrated into Teamcenter, SharePoint, or any web-based knowledge portal for worldwide access — ensuring that everyone from design engineers to field technicians can view and interact with the same data.
Time Savings: Traditional vs. Cortona3D
| Process Step | Traditional Workflow | Cortona3D Workflow | Time Saved |
| 3D to 2D Conversion | Manual screenshots, image editing | Automated 3D import and publishing | 60–70% |
| BOM and Parts Linking | Manual referencing | Automatic linking from CAD structure | 50% |
| Update Management | Recreate illustrations after each CAD change | Auto-update with CAD sync | Up to 80% |
| Final Publishing | Static 2D documents | Interactive 3D manuals and animations | >60% faster overall |
By eliminating manual illustration and update processes, Cortona3D cuts total documentation effort by up to 60–70%, while enhancing accuracy and visual engagement.
Conclusion: Cortona3D is an intelligent Approach to Convey Engineering Insights
Cortona3D connects engineering with technical communication — converting static CAD information into engaging, interactive 3D experiences.
For design engineers and documentation teams, this translates to:
- Quicker updates
- Reliable, precise content
- Enhanced communication among design, production, and service teams
From NX and SolidWorks to Cortona3D, the transition from design to documentation has reached unprecedented speed, simplicity, and connectivity.
