BIGREP AR PRINTER

Founded in 2014, BigRep set sail to transform the 3D printing and manufacturing business. With its 1m3 volume, the BigRep ONE opens the gateway to a new dimension of 3D printing and 3D manufacturing, while the BigRep Studio allows fast and precise large-scale 3D printing.

Client

BigRep

Sector

3D printer

Marketing

Services

3D modeling

AR application

Technology

AR Foundation

Unity 3D

Business value

Work (and showcase) smart, not hard

Thanks to the application potential buyers can locate the printer anywhere, it is thus possible to compare its original size with the dimensions of the chosen room in real-time. They can also test key functionalities of the device as well as gain information about additional space needed such as side doors, switches, and other important components.

What’s more, augmented reality allows for the display of a wide range of additional content on the mobile device – like pop-up maintenance tips or videos. In this case, we are talking about additional promotional activities that are particularly well-suited for trade fairs and industry events.

It becomes much easier to take with you a device with the bespoke AR app installed rather than constantly being worried about the transportation of the original piece of equipment.

Challenge

Size does matter

The main problem with selling advanced equipment – like our client’s 3D printer – is its size. Massive, heavy components are often bulky to carry and might cause some disturbance to people nearby while in use, especially people not used to the variety of sounds made by such equipment (like the CNC machine tools). It is also hard to visualize its true dimensions without asking the buyer to go directly into the company’s facilities.

That’s why our client challenged us with creating a fully portable mobile app, that would be useful not only for the company’s representatives but also for customers wishing to familiarize themselves with the 3D printer offered by BigRep. The client prefers using modern technological solutions that correspond with the innovative model and policy conducted by the company.

Process and project scope

Scope

BigRep printer is a perfect tool for showcasing a virtual copy of our client’s 3D printer in a real environment. The application presents product specifications in a modern way and allows the user to see key functionalities of the original device in just one click/slide.

The model is fully scalable, thanks to which the potential buyer can explore the printer from their own phone or compare its real size with the dimensions of any location chosen, i.e. in a hall or other destinations.

Collaboration

Communication with the client took place through weekly conference calls. Our company provided an updated version of the application every week. Smaller information was communicated on slack.

The project lasted about a month. The customer provided us with a raw 3D printer model, which was then improved by us.

Service

The client asked us to program a mobile app that allows the user to experience the actual size and functionalities of a 3D printer and place its one-to-one model in any given room.

The fully-scalable copy of the device should allow placement on any flat surface. This would serve as a functional miniature for chief-office presentation or real size placeholder for choosing the right room for the 3D printer.

Technology stack

Create complex parts from scratch

Bigrep printer is an application that works on devices, which support AR Foundation technology (iPhones, iPads, Android devices). The development process was taking place in Unity 3d.

Unity - the main tool used by 4Experience