3D technologies get better every year and their impact continues to grow. We keep experiencing more 3D generated content in anything from social media feeds to 3d printing, from VR/AR to 3D scanning.
Using 3D technology in the Web means solving real-life problems for users, i.e clients, or employees.
IntexSoft was engaged in the development of various 3D web applications, and we decided to gather some of the most interesting.
The client is a leading German supplier of stands, racks, fittings, and furniture for kitchens and campers. The company decided to market a new product: an in-house shelving line and recruited IntexSoft to develop a 3D shelving configurator.
In a nutshell, the 3D shelving configurator allows end customers to create racks based on their tastes and styles: it is possible to choose the right size, number of shelves and doors, color, and material.
The key feature that we have provided our client with is a flexible admin panel: in the platform that allows adding new products and accessories to the configurator, setting the desired size, setting the rules in the configurator, and adding the details with JSON files and data import without a developer’s assistance.
As for the end-users, the 3D configurator allows getting the average cost of production while constructing it, setting the shelves sizes and accessories, exporting geometry models of products. One of the most exciting features of the system is the ability to create a room with the necessary dimensions, interfering elements (windows, doors, furniture) and configure the required rack within this particular room.
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The client hired IntexSoft to develop a 3D configurator for the designing of spare parts and distribution & control of electrical energy consumption.
The configurator allows creating projects composed of a wide range of various products based on flexible association and availability rules, using 3D modeling to get the complete overview of the designed system.
The main task was to develop a configurator that would help users create mounted components and work with them. As in the previous project, we implemented a flexible admin panel that allows loading and processing of each 3D part separately and setting up a variety of crucial parameters responsible for the location of the component in the rail system, compatibility with other components, etc. We added the potential to zoom and rotate elements for the convenience of working on parts and designs.
The developed system also lets to calculate the construction stamina in case of a short circuit and the construction power losses.
Data import in the system works in such a way that information on available products is loaded from the client’s ERP system by importing several XML files used at different working stages of the 3D web application. Due to the items already entered into the system, it is possible to load and assign 3D models in the admin panel and make further adjustments.
It’s also possible to export the rail system geometry in OBJ, 3DS, and DXF formats. The exported data can be used in further production processes and the preparation of sales documentation.
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The client is a world leader in terminal and connector manufacturing with unique spring clamp technology. The company needed to develop a 3D web application for the designing of spare parts and their distribution.
The software is essentially similar to the described above. The project has been lasting for more than ten years. During this time, our team also participated in the project migration from Flex to HTML5. During the migration, we transferred some existing functionality, added new features, and updated the application design.
The main task set for the IntexSoft team was the development of a CAD (computer-aided design) application (some kind of 3D web application) for creating 3D models of components from the field of distribution and control equipment. Within this task, we have created a flexible admin panel that allows users to download and process 3D parts individually and set a large number of necessary parameters.
For modeling, IntexSoft has implemented several vital and optimizing features.
The system allows working with three project categories:
When modeling, a user can turn off the display of some elements so that they do not interfere with the processing of parts nearby. Otherwise, the admin can combine several individual products into one product by uploading the necessary details to the scene, processing them, and saving as one unit.
The 3D web application has an advanced project validation system. Our experts have connected the rule engine Drools, which allows admins to set and record particular rules understandable for a person. When assembling the system in the application, various recommendations may appear depending on the type of products.
Each part created in the app can be customized by color, size, markings, etc. Markings can then be directly sent for printing. The app also allows the creation of multiple project versions; each version can be edited, commented, and monitored separately.
The IntexSoft team has also implemented a project changes tracking feature: the admin can view the entire story of modifications made by different users and restore any version.
The app also allows both users and admins to comment on the details if they need to be processed in some particular way.
We also developed several features leveraging the distribution and ordering process. For example, creating custom libraries of goods: if the customer often orders a specific product or set of products, they can collect them in a personal library, making it easy to find the necessary product when re-ordering.
The end-user receives a complete overview of the designed system, and the exported geometric data can be used in further production and sales processes.
The end-user can also request a commercial offer within the system. To do that, one should describe the required construction, select the necessary parts and their quantity. Based on that data, company representatives calculate the cost.
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These were three of the most impressive 3D projects we developed for our clients. As you can see, 3D web applications are vital for manufacturers and suppliers. Such projects are time- and effort-consuming, but eventually, they solve the issue of human-error probability, as well as automate manufacturing and marketing processes.
If you need any help in 3D-related software development, contact us for a free consultation.
This article is inspired by the meetup about the 3D printing method, which has been held in our company recently. At the meeting, my colleague told a lot of interesting facts about 3D printing and even delivered his 3D printer to the office where he demonstrated the process of creating various objects with the help of this printer.
IntexSoft has been working with Java from the very creation of the company. We have several Java teams, the majority of which are Oracle Certified Professionals.
Each step in business requires a thorough analysis and understanding of outcomes and benefits. When it comes to deciding on the type of software to use for your business processes, there are two options – SaaS or Software as a Service and custom enterprise software.
