OpenTDP is an open specification for Technical Data Packages (TDPs), created to address the long‑standing challenge that TDPs are often referenced in industry but remain poorly defined, non‑standardized and overly abstract. OpenTDP provides a concrete, practical and extensible structure that can evolve based on the needs and insights of the communities that use it.
TDP files act as manufacturing recipes that contain all essential technical information required to produce a part using advanced manufacturing methods — including additive manufacturing (3D printing). By standardizing how this information is packaged, OpenTDP helps ensure the availability of critical spare parts, strengthens supply‑chain resilience and supports sustainable manufacturing practices.
OpenTDP defines the TDP file structure, the metadata schema, and the tooling ecosystem required for interoperable technical data exchange across organizations, systems and manufacturing environments.
The need for well‑defined TDP files originates directly from end‑user requirements: organizations relying on advanced manufacturing have repeatedly highlighted that existing TDP concepts are too abstract, inconsistent and difficult to implement in real workflows.
Technical Data Packages are widely referenced in manufacturing standards, defense documentation and industrial workflows, yet the term “TDP” is frequently criticized as:
- Too abstract
- Inconsistently defined
- Lacking a common structure
- Not interoperable across tools or organizations
OpenTDP offers a community‑driven alternative — a clear, open and extensible definition that can be adopted, improved and implemented collaboratively.
An OpenTDP package consists of:
- An XML file containing structured metadata, technical definitions and quality/IPR information
- Associated attachment files (e.g., CAD models, simulation data, process parameters, certificates)
- A ZIP‑based container bundling everything together
- The file extension .tdp
This makes OpenTDP both human‑readable and machine‑processable, while remaining easy to integrate into existing PLM, CAD and manufacturing systems.
- Enable advanced manufacturing
- Ensure spare‑part availability
- Improve supply‑chain resilience
- Support sustainability
- Enable IPR and quality compliance
- A structured TDP file format
- Tools for creating and reading TDPs
- An extensible ecosystem
OpenTDP is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.
See the LICENSE file for details.