Product Visualization involves visualization software technology for the viewing and manipulation of 3D models, technical drawing and other related documentation of manufactured components and large assemblies of products. It is a key part of Product Lifecycle Management. Visualization can refer to: Graphic Visualization as in any technique for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate any message. ... Product Lifecycle Management or PLM is a term used for the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacture to service and disposal. ...

Technical visualization is an important aspect of product development. Originally technical drawings were made by hand, but with the rise of advanced computer graphics the drawing board has been replaced by computer-aided design (CAD). CAD-drawings and models have several advantages over hand-made drawings such as the possibility of 3-D modeling, rapid prototyping and simulation. An example of a technical drawing with orthographic and isometric view. ... Computer graphics (CG) is the field of visual computing, where one utilizes computers both to generate visual images synthetically and to integrate or alter visual and spatial information sampled from the real world. ... Engineers and draftsmen use the drawing board for making and modifying drawings on paper with ink or pencil. ... Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of a wide range of computer-based tools that assist engineers, architects and other design professionals in their design activities. ... The rewrite of this article is being devised at Talk:3D computer graphics/Temp. ... Rapid prototyping also describes a software engineering methodology. ... A simulation is an imitation of some real device or state of affairs. ...

People from many disciplines and with varying requirements across an organisation need to view and manipulate product data in different ways. CAD is the traditional tool of the engineer who needs to create and edit the geometry, but other need to see this data or convey information in other way to that of the engineer. Also many companies work in a multi-CAD system environment and require a neutral viewing format within the organisation. Therefore product visualization technology has been developed. This allows, as well as visualization of components, Digital Mock-Up DMU (placement, alignment, collision and clearances analysis), Markup (redlining) of documents, collaboration sessions with other sites, web publishing and integration to Product Data Management. Product Data Management (PDM) is a category of computer software that aims to create an automatic link between CAD and a database, usually with data on what components something drawn using CAD consists of. ...

The technology used includes tessellation of 3D geometry to aid in speed of loading and viewing. This is done with the help of data stored in levels of detail; different sized facets depending on level of zooming in on a product and exact (BREP,NURBS) geometry for precision measurements. A tessellated plane A tessellation of the plane is a collection of plane figures that fill the plane with no overlaps and no gaps. ...