What Is a 3D File in Azumuta?
A 3D file is the digital rendering of a real-life object in Azumuta. A 3D file can consist of one or multiple meshes.
You can add 3D files to an instruction step in Azumuta. Adding a 3D file will surely enhance clarity and precision on your shop floor, as operators will be able to visualize complex assembly tasks.
For example, the image below shows how the 3D file of a dining table & 3 chairs appears in Azumuta:
What Is a Mesh?
A mesh is a part of a 3D file. For example, in our dining table & 3 chairs 3D file, the backrest on one of the chairs is a mesh, as shown in the image below. Moreover, the list of meshes is also shown in the image below.
In order to see a mesh’s name on the list of meshes or to edit a mesh, simply right-click on that targeted mesh, as shown in the video below.
How to Upload a 3D File to an Instruction Step
- Navigate to the instruction step where you would like to add a 3D file into.
- Select the work instruction step that you would like to add the 3D file into, and click on “Open”.
- Click on the “Visuals” tab.
- Click on “Add page”.
- Click on “3D File”.
- Upload the file.
- Wait until the upload is complete.
- Click on “Save”.
Note: At the moment, we can only process ".stl" and ".obj" files. We can't process STEP files yet.
The video below shows how the 3D file will appear on the operator’s screen. The 3D file is not static – an operator can explore it as they wish.
Note: Besides using the minus & plus icons under "Zoom", an operator can also scroll down/up using their mouse to zoom out/zoom in.
Configuring a 3D File
After you’ve uploaded a 3D file to an instruction step, you can configure it to suit your needs. Here are the available configuration options:
Editing a 3D File
There are 3 possibilities for editing a 3D file:
- Rotating a 3D File
- Changing the Color of a 3D file/a Mesh
- Hiding/Unhiding a 3D file/a Mesh
Rotating a 3D File
You can rotate a 3D file along its X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. Take a look at the image below to see how you can do it:
And, of course, don’t forget to click “Save” after performing the desired rotations.
Note: To reset the 3D file to its original position, simply click on the "Reset" button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Changing the Color of a 3D File/a Mesh
In Azumuta, you can change the color of an entire 3D file or the color of a specific mesh. Here’s how.
Changing the Color of a 3D File
- Click on the color icon next to “Meshes”.
- Select the desired color. You can also type in a Hex code/RGB code for extra precision.
- When you’re done, click on “Save”.
Changing the Color of a Mesh
- Click on the color icon next to the name of the mesh that you would like to change the color of. To learn how to see a mesh’s name, see viewing a mesh’s name.
- Select the desired color. You can also type in a Hex code/RGB code for extra precision.
- When you’re done, click on “Save”.
Alternatively, you can also change a mesh’s color by:
- Right-click the mesh that you would like to change the color of.
- Click on “Change color”.
- Select the desired color. You can also type in a Hex code/RGB code for extra precision.
- Click on the close icon.
- When you’re done, click on “Save”.
Hiding/Unhiding a 3D file/a Mesh from the Operator View
You can hide a 3D file/a mesh from the operator’s view (without deleting this 3D file/mesh from your admin view). Here’s how:
Hiding /Unhiding a 3D File from the Operator View
To hide a 3D file: click on the eye icon next to “Meshes”. Afterward, click on “Save”.
To unhide a 3D file: click on the crossed-eye icon next to “Meshes”. Afterward, click on “Save”.
Hiding/Unhiding a Mesh from the Operator View
To hide a mesh: click on the eye icon next to the mesh’s name on the list of meshes. See viewing a mesh’s name to know how you can see a mesh’s name. Afterward, click on ”Save”.
Alternatively, you can also right-click on the targeted mesh and click on “Hide”. Afterward, click on “Save”.
To unhide a mesh: click on the crossed-eye icon next to the hidden mesh’s name on the list of meshes. Afterward, click on “Save”.
Displaying Only One Mesh and Hiding all Other Meshes (And How to Undo It)
You can also choose to display one specific mesh only (and hide all other meshes) on the operator’s screen. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the targeted mesh.
- Click on “Show only this”.
- Click on “Save”.
And here’s how to undo it:
- Right-click on the only visible mesh.
- Click on “Show everything”.
- Click on “Save”.
Other Configuration Options
Besides the aforementioned options, here are the other configuration possibilities that you can do with a 3D file:
- You can type in this 3D file’s description here. This is how it will appear on an operator’s device:
- You can see the 3D file’s name below. By clicking on the three-dot icon, you will open the option to download this 3D file and the option to delete this 3D file.
- Tick to show the wireframe of the 3D object (on both the admin view & operator view). Wireframe is the visual representation that shows the edges and vertices of the object, forming a skeletal outline of the model. It’s used primarily to understand the structure, shape, and topology of the object without the distraction of surface textures or colors. For example, this is how the backside of the 3D model of a chair with its wireframe shown looks like:
- Tick to display the rotate object buttons on the operator view. This is how these buttons will appear on an operator’s device:
- This column contains the center-in-view button for each mesh. When clicked, it will center your view to that particular mesh.
- Click to open the list of shortcut commands.
- Click to open the option to download this 3D file.
- After you’ve finished configuring the 3D file, don’t forget to click on “Save”.
How to Delete a 3D File from an Instruction Step
- Navigate to the instruction step that contains a 3D file that you would like to delete, and click on “Open”.
- Click on the Click on the “Visuals” tab.
- Click on the three-dot icon next to the 3D file’s name.
- Click on “Remove file”.
- Click on “Remove”.