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How to Assess a 3D Model’s Quality for Parts and Products?

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3d Technology is growing every day and influencing every sector with its upgrade. One of the sectors that need to walk hand-in-hand with technology is the construction and design sector. Be its architecture, motor designing, gaming, or furniture manufacturing, all production companies need to be tech-savvy to be able to sell their products in a better way.

3D modeling is one such technique through which better products can be designed, presented, and sold to customers. Today’s clients are super demanding and particular about their purchase due to the large number of options they get in the market. For this reason, it is important to design a product according to the customer needs and specifications, even more, important when it’s their beloved house or office.

The 3D model is a currently developed technology that helps product managers and designers to create efficient products due to the numerous benefits it offers. Read on to know more about this saviour.

What is 3D Modelling? 

3D modeling, as the name suggests, is a process of designing 3-dimensional models through specialized software and techniques. 3D models are becoming a replacement for the 2-dimensional images or blueprints that could only convey a rough model of the design or building. However, with 3D modeling, a product’s shape, size, and texture can be designed that will be very much effective for the testing of an under-construction product. This unique computerized technology is efficient in its work because it uses the mathematical coordinates and spatial arrangements according to the x, y, and z axes to create the design that seems an absolute replica of its product. The dedicated software is designed in a way to incorporate points, lines, and surfaces to create a model that can be viewed from multiple angles.

The 3D models created through this software depict each and every detail right from the texture of the product to its surroundings and this further helps the designers to transform the model into a real product.

Why is 3D Modeling Important for Product Manufacturing Companies? 

3D modeling is one of the latest up-gradation incorporated into the construction sector. Although it is common for manufacturers to fear trusting these new technologies, 3D modeling comes with numerous benefits that nobody can overlook. This amazing technology makes the construction work easy, fast and fun for the producers, and here is why it is important for product manufacturing companies:

Product manufacturing company
Product manufacturing company
  • Helps in creating good quality prototypes:
3D modeling is a fabulous technique that creates a computerized version of a product or building much before it is built. 3D models have everything a designer wants to add to the product. It showcases all the textures of the product from feather-soft to hard rocky surfaces and makes the viewer feel its touch. The model incorporates perfect lighting with a mix of shadows to enhance the depth of each item created by the designer. 3D modeling takes care of the height and depth, light and dark, and smooth and rough textures of a model which mesmerizes the viewer and takes him to the virtual world where the model is placed. The creators can even perform multiple editing sessions on the model and then decide upon the best among all the versions. Contrary to the flat 2D image designs, 3D models are a much better product prototype.
  • Can display a design’s physical property in a much easier way:
No matter how much a designer work on the blueprint of a model, presenting them to potential customers is always a big task. A product may seem to be perfect for its manufacturers, but if the customer denies it, there is nothing that can be done further. However, with 3D modeling, creating a perfect model of the actual design is super simple and fun. The designers get too many options in the software to choose the perfect color, texture, material, shape, and sizes, while designing a 3D model that enhances each aspect of the product. Moreover, 3D modeling is created in a way that it can be viewed from multiple angles which is a very beneficial feature for designers. The product managers can now easily present their models in a 360 view and let their customers get an overview of the design from all angles. This computerized technology tends to impress more clients and gets them even more interested in the product. 3D modeling can benefit online stores a lot as they can showcase their product in a 3D animation form and convert doubtful customers into clients. For instance, a sofa manufacturing company can show the assembling and dismantling of the sofa, textures, and materials of the foam and cushions, and the actual shape and size of the sofa all through 3D modeling technique.
  • Cost-effective in comparison with photography:
While you may think 3D modeling is expensive being the latest technology, to your surprise it will cost less than traditional photography sessions. Product manufacturers have to keep a separate budget to get their products photographed. Transport charges, photographer’s fees, charges incurred towards creating the aesthetics and setting the scenes are all added to the bill that makes it heavier on the pockets of the product manufacturing company. Moreover, if multiple new products are to be shot, then these expenses simply multiply. On the other hand, a number of 3D model designers only charge for the working hours until the full design is ready. Moreover, these creators offer a package of edits that the manufacturer can take free of cost. Though it cannot be called a cheap service yet all-in-all this is budget-friendly and cost-effective when compared to photography.
  • Can be used in marketing campaigns before product launch:
It is important for product manufacturing companies to have separate budgets for marketing and advertising of the product and get it started before the launch of the product to attract the client’s attention. However, marketing their product in the middle of its construction becomes difficult at times and ultimately delays everything. But hardly anyone knew that 3D modeling will come to the rescue. Manufacturers can use 3D models of their products as a marketing material much before the actual product is launched. The latest design and high-quality imaging features of the 3D models fit everywhere be it magazines, promotional videos, or online ads. One biggest advantage that 3D modeling offers to its manufacturers is that it can be easily stored in a virtual library and edited or used in future marketing campaigns for the company. It can even be used as a reference to train new employees.
  • Quick alterations can be made to the model with 3D CAD technology:
When designers used the traditional methods of hand-sketching they had to take care of every single detail of the image. Many times the designers had to redraw the whole sketch even for the minor mistakes. All of this was tiresome and time-consuming and often depressed clients due to the delays it caused. To solve this problem, 3D CAD technology comes with a smart vision that automatically corrects your mistakes. It rejoins broken lines or fills in the gaps if something seems missing. Moreover, creators can quickly edit their models with the software. The software offers several options for the designers to choose the right colour, texture, shape, and size of the product according to the instructions of the customer. Not only this, with the help of 3D CAD software designers can create multiple versions of a model in a much easier way and in less time. 
  • 3D modeling is a multi-purpose investment:
Having a 3D model created for your product has several benefits that have been stated above. It would not be wrong to call 3D modeling an investment due to its multi-usage property. When you order a 3D model of a product, first of all, you get a high-quality prototype that is better than the traditional ones and takes less time in print too. You get 3D animation, videos, and images of the model that can be used for numerous advertising campaigns before the product is launched. The video ad images can be used in client presentations to give them a 360-degree view and finally a better deal. When walking with the latest technology, your product manufacturing company can have an edge over the competitors. These time-saving, cost-efficient, and multi-purpose 3D models can attract anyone and boost the sales of a company like never before.

How to Assess the Quality of 3D Model Parts & Products?

Headphone-3D Model
Headphone 3D Model
It is important for all product manufacturing companies to use 3D modeling techniques to stay updated with the market and to impress the clients. However, checking the model’s quality is of the utmost importance before you use it for your purposes. As not all the models are created in the same way, they tend to have differences in many terms. 3D modeling is a complex procedure and the models built are created by using different lines, points, surfaces, mesh structures, and various shapes. If any measurement or mathematical calculation goes wrong, then the model can look distorted and be a failure. To make sure no such issues arise, it is important to evaluate the quality of a 3D model and there are several ways this can be done. However, firstly the evaluator should know the purpose of the model created. The reason is simple, each model needs to be evaluated according to what it will be used for. The Quality here changes its definition according to the specific purposes a model can be used for.  For instance, a product manufacturing company that has ordered a 3D model of their product would expect a design that invokes realism and can act as a reference for their project. But on the contrary, if a model has to be a part of a video game, the quality expected should be low on poly-count and high on believability. Similarly, a mode that has to be used in the animation sector will have to have accurate bone structure. Here are a few ways through which a 3D model’s quality can be evaluated:
  • Laser Scans are a great help
Laser scanning also called 3D scanning is a technique through which a physical world object is scanned and a digitalized image of the object with the same shape, size, and the color is obtained. Laser scanning is done by throwing light upon the object to capture its dimensions, accurately. An Image obtained from laser scanning can then be used in the comparison and evaluation of the 3D model created and if any difference is found then it can be quickly corrected. Laser scanners can scan everything from small objects to, tall buildings and thus are a great help for the creators of the 3D model. A high-quality photograph along with a laser print of the object can help ease the evaluation process and ensure the manufacturers compare the model with the physical object.
  • Software programs can be used:
It is a general possibility that we miss minute details when comparing two projects by just looking at them. Though laser scanning gives a detailed picture of the real object so as to make it a reference and correct the 3D model created, it is not enough, especially when you are trying to make a version different from the original object. To the solution, there are many software programs available in the market that perform the evaluation task on your model and give a detailed summary of all the errors found. An evaluation software will compare your model with a reference like a laser scanner and surface, even the slightest mistakes in the model to your notice so that nothing goes wrong when the model is going for a 3D print. The software programs are smart enough to check for common mesh errors and help them in aligning back to save the model from any future distortions. Some software programs are so well-designed that they even give suggestive ideas to enhance the overall look of the model that the creator might have missed. The most commonly used software programs are Geomagic’s 3D, MeshLab, and CloudCompare that are easy to understand, user-friendly, and can solve all your errors in minutes.
  • Taking accurate measurements can help:
Although taking physical measurements and comparing them with the model might be the least effective method of evaluation, it still gives you a note of the accurate dimensions of any building or object. Comparing your 3-dimensional model with these measurements will help you in getting better results. These measurements can be clubbed with a detailed high-quality photograph of the product for a better comparison. Though laser scanning gives excellent results in comparison to this method, if you are unable to perform the scan or do not want to use a software program, this technique is effective.
  • Use inbuilt evaluation tools:
Many of the 3D CAD software come with inbuilt checker tools that perform self-evaluation of the models for potential errors and auto-correct them. Many times when a 3D model is compressed it forms a distorted structure and results in the failure of the whole process. This generally happens when 3D models are converted into print files before the 3D printing. To avoid this problem STL checks are performed by the software to analyze if the model would be fine when edited or rendered in the future. An STL checker tool is very important for all 3D creators as it eliminates errors and makes the project fit for every use. However, even this tool alone can’t evaluate the quality of your 3D model and would require the help of some other software programs to complete the evaluation process.

Conclusion

3D modeling is the latest technology that has impressed all. For product manufacturers, designers and architects this invention is no less than a boon. 3D modeling comes with numerous benefits not only for the manufacturers but also for the clients who can now have a better picture of the product they are going to use. While counting on the several advantages this technique is going to give your company it is equally essential to find a good 3D model creator that provides high-quality models at competitive prices. While you as a manufacturer may have read above about how to evaluate the quality of a 3D model, you must first understand what good quality means in this field. Well, a 3D model or design is said to be high quality if it has minimum or no mesh errors, is realistic, is made following the actual measurements, and can be viewed from a 360-degree angle. 3D models as you know can be used in several places like in client presentations, ads, promotional videos, and magazines. Moreover, storing them for future usage is a wise thing. It is cost-effective, new, and attracts everyone with its realism.

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