3D Part Models – Creating a Collaborative Digital Design Process with an Online CAD Catalog

With an interactive product catalog, customers and manufacturers can now use their expertise to create a custom 3D part model together more efficiently than ever before

Great things happen when experts come together and share their knowledge.

For manufacturers and design engineers, the platform for easy, real-time collaboration is the online CAD catalog.

With an interactive product catalog, customers and manufacturers can now share their expertise to create a custom 3D part model together more efficiently than ever before. See how it’s done:

Download the B2B Guide to Digital Customer Experience to learn how manufacturers can create a collaborative design process with 3D part models and CAD downloads.

Creating a Real-Time, Value-Based Negotiation

Using the interactive product catalog, the customer and manufacturer can design a custom product together in real-time (either in person or remotely) and create a file that incorporates both areas of expertise: the manufacturer’s product and the customer’s design requirements.

The customer sees that each option he chooses has value and cost: the more the customer is a part of the collaborative experience, the better product he walks away with. And, the happier the customer feels about the overall customer service.

Self-Service for 3D Part Model Design

Manufacturers can install an outward-facing configurator on their website which allows customers to create configured 3D products themselves. The process is self-serve, giving the user visibility to a wide range of product options and the manufacturer’s recommendations (while moving at the customer’s pace).

The customer no longer waits to test the 3D part model in his design because he can download a free digital sample and test it immediately, all within the interactive product catalog. If he needs to make a change, he can return to the configuration to modify and download a new variant to re-test.

This cuts the design time from weeks to just days, and ultimately results in the best possible product and an unmatched digital customer experience.

The Ultimate Guide to DCX: Everything you need to know about digital customer experience in the manufacturing industry.

Taking in One Step Further

As if design collaboration couldn’t get any better, global manufacturer Parker Hannifin just changed the game in a major way:

With the new Parker T-Slot Aluminum Design Architect, Parker Hannifin customers can download the free design tool directly from Parker’s website. Within the Design Architect, users of any experience level can build their design with Parker T-Slot products then easily share it with Parker’s design experts and purchasing department. Once everyone is happy with the design, Parker builds the product to order and ships to the customer.

Check out the Parker Hannifin case study to see why the interactive design tool sets the new standard for collaboration.

Ready for a More Collaborative Experience?

If so, then it’s time to take your 3D part model library online with the interactive CAD catalog. The tool creates a collaborative, self-serve experience that fits the schedule of both the manufacturer and online engineer.

Customers instantly get the CAD models they need, and manufacturers free up more time for their in-house engineers. What could you achieve with all that extra time?

Download the free ebook to learn more about collaborative design processes and the online CAD catalog.