Interactive 3D assembly instructions offer several advantages over video instructions often making them a superior choice for product assembly guides. Here are some of the reasons why interactive 3D is better than video.

Enhanced visualization

Different render styles can be applied, and items hidden or made transparent for clarity which would be hard or impossible to do with video. Animations that are not possible in real life can be added to help focus the users attention and highlight specific important areas. Additional markup such as text and arrows can be added to further enhance the visuals on offer.

Personalized Experience

Users can control the pace of instruction and choose which steps to focus on or repeat, making the experience more customized to their learning style. Since you can interact with the instructions you can put links to additional help or purchasing options.

Improved Learning Experience

Interactive 3D assembly instructions provide an immersive learning experience. Since they are interacting with the instructions the users remain more engrossed which helps them retain information better than video instructions, which can be less engaging and more passive.

Better Clarity and Accuracy

Interactive 3D assembly instructions offer better clarity and accuracy than video instructions. With 3D models, users can interact with the product, zoom in and out, rotate, and view it from different angles, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the product's structure and assembly process. It is easy to see components in detail, allowing the end user to better identify and locate each component during assembly. In contrast, videos can only ever be viewed for the cameras point of view, so if it has not been filmed clearly users may be left struggling to understand what they should be doing.

Quicker and easier create

Recording a professional video take a lot of time. First you need the components actually made and available, as well as a suitable space to assemble it. You need to ensure you have a decent camera and sufficient lighting and always remain mindful that as you present, the camera is focused on the important areas. If you are going to have someone presenting, a script will need to be written, remembered and practiced, and the actor will need to speak clearly and effectively, which is easier said than done. A poor presenter can easily ruin a video and make a company look unprofessional. Further time will need to be spent in post-production to add titles and graphics.

In contrast, repurposing your 3D CAD models means you can start the whole process much earlier on, before the item is even made, helping to get to market quicker. It is very easy to position items and you know there won’t be someone in the way having to hold it. You may need to worry less about the orientation since you know the end user can interact and modify it themselves. Adding text, images and other markup can be done at the same time to avoid a lengthy post-production.

Less Time-Consuming to view

Interactive 3D assembly instructions can be more time-efficient for your end user than video instructions. Whilst with a video a user can fast forward through the instructions, so that important information isn’t missed, often they must be watched in real-time, which can be time-consuming, especially if users need to re-watch specific parts of the video.

3D assembly instructions on the other hand will only progress when the user is ready, saving them from constantly having to pause before they miss something. They can enable the user to jump to any step in the process as well as skip over parts they already understand and focus on more complex areas, or rewatch steps easily without having to search through the entire video.

Lower Cost

Interactive 3D assembly instructions will typically be more cost-effective than video instructions. With 3D models, there is no need to rent or purchase expensive video equipment or hire actors to perform in the videos. Once the 3D model is created, which you are doing anyway as part of the manufacturing process, it can be used again and again to create assembly instructions much earlier on in the release cycle. Any changes to the design can mean a simple update, rather than having to redo the entire video again.

In summary, interactive 3D assembly instructions offer several advantages over video instructions. They provide enhanced visualization, improved clarity and accuracy, help get you to market quicker, and are more cost-effective.

Cadasio is an online platform that will create interactive 3D assembly instructions from your CAD data. If you are wondering what 3D assembly instructions look like then check out some of our showcase examples or better yet simply try Cadasio for free today to learn how we can benefit your business

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