Auto Ballooning Software for Aerospace
Upload a drawing.
Get a verified Form 3.
Every dimension, GD&T callout, tolerance, and spec extracted. ISO 2768mk applied by size range. Fit classes expanded. Datum references complete.
First drawing free. No signup. Results in minutes.
The 10% Problem
Every auto-ballooning tool
gets 90% right
The other 10% is where your FAI gets rejected. GD&T without datum references. Flat tolerances on size-dependent dimensions. Fit classes shown as text instead of limits.
| Capability | DISCUS / 1Factory / High QA | Mavlon |
|---|---|---|
| Explicit dimension detection | ~90% accuracy | Verified |
| GD&T with complete datum references | ~80%, datums often incomplete | Complete A|B|C with modifiers |
| ISO 2768mk by size range | Flat default or blank | Applied per dimension size |
| Fit class expansion (G6, H7) | Text only, no limits | 9.005 to 9.014mm (ISO 286) |
| Cross-sheet deduplication | Manual review required | Automatic |
| Surface class designations (last sheet) | Not detected | Captured from every sheet |
| Boeing PVS note interpretation (8N, 9N) | Not interpreted | Classified and applied |
| Post-extraction correction needed | 1-3 hours per drawing | Review only, 30 minutes |
How It Works
Drawing to Form 3 in three steps
No software to install. No OCR to configure. No correction pass.
See how the AI reads your drawing, step by step
STEP 01
Upload your PDF drawing
Drop your 2D PDF aerospace drawing. Multi-sheet, ISO, ASME, Boeing PVS. Any standard, any complexity.
STEP 02
Mavlon reads every sheet
Every dimension, GD&T callout, blanket tolerance, fit class, thread, surface finish, and general note extracted. Cross-sheet features deduplicated. Last sheet captured.
STEP 03
Receive your verified Form 3
Pre-populated AS9102 Form 3 with characteristic numbers, tolerances applied by size range, datum references complete, designators assigned, inspection methods specified. Ready for CMM measurement entry.
What Gets Extracted
Every spec. Every sheet.
The categories that auto-ballooning tools miss are the ones that cause FAI rejections.
Explicit and untoleranced
Every dimensioned feature plus every untoleranced dimension with the correct blanket tolerance applied by size range.
Complete datum references
Position, profile, perpendicularity, flatness, runout. Every feature control frame with every datum and material condition modifier captured.
Expanded to actual limits
G6, H7, H6 expanded from ISO 286 tables. Form 3 shows 9.005 to 9.014mm, not just "G6."
Fully expanded
M5x0.8-6H expanded to go/no-go, pitch diameter, thread depth. Each inspectable component gets its own Form 3 row.
Roughness and class designations
Ra/Rz callouts captured with units. Class 1 and Class 2 surface designations from the last sheet of multi-sheet drawings.
Tolerance standards and edge breaks
ISO 2768mk, Boeing Note 8N, edge treatment requirements, process specs. Every note that creates an inspectable requirement becomes a Form 3 row.
95
Characteristics extracted
from a 7-sheet bracket
from a 7-sheet bracket
<60s
Extraction time
per drawing
per drawing
100%
Datum references
captured complete
captured complete
0
Correction hours
for your QE
for your QE
Try It Now
Test it on your hardest drawing.
Not a sample. Not a demo PDF. Your actual production drawing with the GD&T callouts your estimator missed last time.
First drawing free. No signup. No credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is auto ballooning software?
Auto ballooning software uses OCR and AI to detect dimensions, tolerances, and GD&T callouts on engineering drawings, place numbered balloons on each feature, and generate a characteristic list for first article inspection (FAI). Traditional tools achieve 85-90% accuracy and require 1-3 hours of manual correction. Mavlon delivers verified output with complete datum references, size-dependent tolerance application, and fit class expansion.
How does Mavlon compare to DISCUS, 1Factory, and GroundControl?
DISCUS IDA, 1Factory, GroundControl, and High QA detect approximately 85-90% of explicit dimensions but miss GD&T datum references, do not auto-apply ISO 2768mk tolerances by size range, and cannot expand ISO 286 fit classes. Mavlon delivers verified Form 3 output where blanket tolerances are applied correctly, GD&T includes complete datum references, and fit classes show actual upper and lower limits.
Does Mavlon handle ISO 2768mk drawings?
Yes. Mavlon identifies the ISO 2768mk callout in the general notes and applies the correct size-dependent tolerance from the ISO 2768-1 table to every untoleranced dimension. A 305mm dimension gets +/-0.5mm. A 12mm dimension gets +/-0.2mm. Each tolerance is documented with its source range in the Form 3 notes column.
Does Mavlon handle Boeing PVS drawings?
Yes. Mavlon interprets Boeing general tolerance notes including blanket surface profile (Note 8N), classified hole systems (C/H and P/H), wall thickness ranges (Note 9N), and 3D model authority references. Each note-derived tolerance is captured as a Form 3 characteristic with the source note identified.
How long does extraction take?
Mavlon processes a typical 3-5 sheet aerospace drawing in 2 to 3 minutes. A 7-sheet bracket with 95 characteristics that takes 5-6 hours to extract manually is processed in a few minutes.
What file formats are accepted?
Mavlon accepts 2D PDF drawings, which is the standard format aerospace subcontractors receive from their customers. Multi-page PDFs are processed sheet by sheet with automatic cross-sheet deduplication.
What does it cost?
Mavlon charges per drawing processed. First drawing is free with no signup required. Contact us for volume pricing on production programs.