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From Click to CAD: Automated Product Configuration

Learn how automated product configuration transforms manufacturing workflows from customer selection to production-ready CAD files.

2024-12-103 min read

1. Customer Selects Product & Options

Your website or portal displays a clean interface where users can:

  • Choose the product type
  • Select variants (gearbox model, frame size, material, etc.)
  • Change dimensions, mounting style, orientation, and more
  • All rules and dependencies are built into the configurator

Benefits: No invalid selections, no engineering intervention required.

2. Real-Time 3D Model Updates Instantly

As the user changes inputs, the 3D model updates in real-time:

  • Rotatable, zoomable, interactive
  • High-quality rendering
  • Shows the exact configured product
  • Works on desktop, mobile, or embedded inside any webpage

Result: This allows customers to visualize the product before ordering.

3. CAD Model Is Generated Automatically

The moment the configuration is valid, the system generates:

  • STEP
  • IGES
  • Parasolid
  • Native CAD (optional)
  • STL
  • DXF (for sheet metal)

Key Point: All geometry is generated programmatically using your parametric rules.

4. 2D Drawings & Technical Docs Are Created

The configurator also outputs:

  • Fully dimensioned 2D drawings
  • Assembly drawings
  • Part lists
  • Bill of Materials (BOM)
  • Specification sheets (PDF)

Advantage: No engineer needs to manually draft anything.

5. Customer Downloads Files or Requests a Quote

Once the configuration is complete, the customer can:

  • Download CAD
  • Download drawings
  • Download spec sheet
  • Send the configuration to sales
  • Request a quote instantly
  • Add to CPQ workflow (if integrated)

Impact: This drastically reduces the time from Inquiry → quotation → order.

6. Your Team Receives a Production-Ready Package

Sales or engineering receives an automatically generated data bundle:

  • Configured CAD model
  • 2D drawings
  • BOM
  • Configuration parameters
  • Quote details
  • Order information (via CPQ/ERP)

Value: It provides a single, trusted source of truth that keeps engineering, sales, and production fully aligned.

Conclusion

Curious how this automation works for your products? Request a Demo or explore our Demo Configurator.