SOLIDWORKS MBD
Define, organize, and publish complete 3D product and manufacturing data (PMI) directly within your CAD model to replace 2D drawings and drive smarter manufacturing.
What is SOLIDWORKS MBD?
SOLIDWORKS Model-Based Definition (MBD) captures all product and manufacturing information directly inside your 3D CAD model, replacing traditional 2D drawings with fully annotated, software-readable designs. MBD enables you to include dimensions, tolerances, datums, surface finishes, notes, and Bills of Materials, then publish to formats like eDrawings, 3D PDF, and STEP 242. By embedding manufacturing intelligence into your model, MBD reduces errors, streamlines communication, and accelerates downstream processes from machining to inspection.
SOLIDWORKS MBD Use Cases
Eliminate 2D Drawing Dependencies
Replace traditional 2D drawings with fully annotated 3D models that contain all necessary manufacturing information, reducing document management complexity and eliminating discrepancies between 2D and 3D data.
Automate Manufacturing Processes
Enable automatic programming of tolerance analysis, CAM operations, CMM inspections, and other manufacturing processes by providing software-readable 3D annotations in standardized formats.
Improve Manufacturing Communication
Create unambiguous 3D documentation that can be viewed by manufacturing partners, suppliers, and quality teams using free viewers, reducing interpretation errors and manufacturing delays.
Comply with Industry Standards
Meet model-based definition standards and regulations such as military standard 31000A while providing clear 3D communications that support modern manufacturing workflows.
SOLIDWORKS MBD Features & Benefits
SOLIDWORKS MBD streamlines design-to-manufacturing workflows by embedding product data, tolerances, and annotations directly into your 3D model. This single-source approach eliminates drawing revisions, improves collaboration between engineering and production, and provides machine-readable data for automated processes. The result is greater accuracy, shorter lead times, and lower costs across the entire product lifecycle.
SOLIDWORKS MBD Key Features
Define complete manufacturing information including dimensions, tolerances, datums, surface finishes, weld symbols, notes, and BOMs directly in 3D models
Automatically recognize and annotate manufacturing features such as pockets, slots, holes, and patterns with appropriate tolerances and manufacturing requirements
Export to widely accepted formats including eDrawings, 3D PDF, and STEP 242 for seamless communication with manufacturing partners and automated systems
Create customizable 3D PDF documents with multiple views, interactive annotations, and cross-highlighting that can be viewed in free Adobe Reader
Provide software-readable annotations that directly integrate with CAM, CMM, and other manufacturing software for automated programming and inspection
SOLIDWORKS MBD Capabilities
Explore how SOLIDWORKS MBD extends beyond core features to deliver precise, compliant, and integrated 3D manufacturing workflows:
3D Annotation Definition
Defines all manufacturing details directly in 3D with full GD&T compliance to ASME Y14.5-2018, ISO 16792, DIN ISO 16792, GB/T 24734 and MIL-STD-31000A. DimXpert enables feature-based annotations that can be reused across configurations and derived parts, ensuring consistency and standardization.
Intelligent Organization and Views
Organize 3D annotations into clear, purposeful views that communicate design intent. Automatically manage annotation visibility as models rotate, resequence views for logical presentation, and compare revisions to track changes across design updates.
Professional Publishing and Communication
Create standards-compliant 3D PDFs with customizable templates. Include multiple views, tables, and cross-highlighting between components and BOM entries for clear, consistent communication.
Manufacturing Integration and Automation
Export software-readable STEP 242 files for direct use in downstream systems. Import 3D annotation data from other CAD platforms and leverage the SOLIDWORKS API to automate CAM and CMM programming workflows.
SOLIDWORKS MBD Frequently Asked Questions
What does MBD mean in SOLIDWORKS?
MBD stands for Model-Based Definition, a method of defining product data within a 3D model for clearer, more efficient manufacturing communication.
What is SOLIDWORKS MBD?
SOLIDWORKS MBD is a 3D documentation tool that embeds all product and manufacturing information (PMI) directly into your CAD model, removing the need for 2D drawings.
How does model-based definition work in CAD?
Model-based definition captures dimensions, tolerances, and notes directly in 3D CAD files, making them software-readable for downstream manufacturing processes.
What file formats can SOLIDWORKS MBD publish to?
You can publish annotated 3D models to eDrawings, 3D PDF, and STEP 242 formats for easy sharing and viewing.
How do you implement model-based definition in manufacturing?
Start by defining PMI in your 3D CAD models, then standardize templates and workflows to share that data across your engineering and production systems.