2D to 3D conversion process

Why is it that model data is almost exclusively exchanged in the form of technical #2D-#drawings? And why do we still need the #3D-#model? ➡️

Question 1

In #engineering, there is of course a large stock of legacy data. Components or assemblies for which there may or may not have been a 3D model at some point. In any case, there is a huge amount of projects where you can't access a 3D model.

This veritable #PainPoint is also rooted in data exchange between companies. The classic:

I want to have a #component manufactured by a contract manufacturer and for various reasons I don't have the CAD model or I don't want to transmit it because, for example, it contains information worthy of secrecy - so I transmit the (2D) drawing.

(Fun Fact 👉 2D drawings usually contain much more information worthy of protection than the CAD model itself, precisely because many manufacturing process parameters are not arrested in the model itself).

Which brings us directly to question 2:

Because manufacturing companies, in particular, naturally use CAM software en gros. That is, they plan their machine tool path control with the help of the computer. And that requires that I also give the computer an interpretable date. In other words, the product to be manufactured must be available as a 3D model, since most CAM tools are based on a 3D model.

Conclusion?

Basically, of course, you can do everything by foot and by hand. You can also program the CNC by hand and do without 3D drawings.

But that is simply not state of the art, would take far too long and has far too much potential for error. That's why the 3D model is needed.

How do you handle the conversion process from 2D to 3D?