As the Service Publication department at John Deere's Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division, our primary responsibility is to translate engineering data into service support documentation for our customers. When it became apparent that we needed visualization tools to aid us in this task, we went looking for the best software option that was:
- Easy to learn and master for even the casual user.
- Built for a Windows-based platform.
- Able to render geometry with enough quality to support our printed documentation standards.
Our choice was Immersive Design’s Interactive Product Animator (IPA). This tool not only met the needs of our non-engineering users, but also opened our eyes to the value of animation as a way to demonstrate procedures and provide step-by-step instructions to customers.
Rendering good-quality images of Pro/ENGINEER models for printed manuals and part catalogs was our primary concern. Having access to the 3D data allows us to start the documentation of a product even before a prototype is built. Adding decals to the model also gives the rendering a production appearance.
The images shown in Figures 1 to 4 were rendered with IPA for use in operator and technical manuals. Figures 5 and 6 present exploded 3D views used to describe assembly and disassembly steps.
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Figure 4.
Figure 5.
Figure 6.
With the IPA tool, we’ve also been able to combine 3D geometry from outside suppliers with Pro/ENGINEER models, rendering views that were impossible to create until now. In Figure 7, for example, the blade attachments were provided by the supplier, while the tractor model was created by our engineering group.
Figure 7.
Animation is also a perfect fit with 3D geometry. Now, instead of having to show multiple still shots, we can tell a story with a single animation—sometimes even without text. To view some examples of marketing and service animations, click on the image below to start the AVI.
Core Pulverizer (12.9 MB AVI)
Mower Blade Assembly Sequence (3.5 MB AVI)
This brings up the most positive aspect of using IPA-converted Pro/ENGINEER geometry. IPA software exports the model as HTML-compliant web pages. It uses templates to create pages with a 3D viewing window using a free Internet Explorer plugin, IPAWebView. Sample pages appear in Figures 8 and 9.
Figure 8.
Figure 9.
Users can interact with the 3D model by rotating, panning, zooming, and exploding parts manually. They can turn parts off, make them transparent, and filter down through the bill of material (BOM), which is an exact duplicate of the Pro/ENGINEER BOM. All of these functions can be performed at the users’ discretion, or one can follow scripted instructions embedded within the program.
Right now, we are using Pro/ENGINEER’s 3D models make it possible to create high-quality graphics for operator manuals, technical repair manuals, and installation instructions. Renderings from 3D models reproduce more predictably on the printed page than half-tones from photos, providing a more professional presentation at a far less cost than that of preparing line art from Pro/ENGINEER 2D files. The 3D models also allow writers to quickly create exploded views and perspectives that only graphic artists could once create.
We are now exploring ways to supplement or replace conventional paper operator manuals with interactive animations. The 3D models have great potential for creating interactive parts catalogs at great savings over traditional authoring processes. This should also help other downstream users—notably, Marketing, Service Training, and Product Support—begin to recognize the value of using Pro/ENGINEER models for graphics and animations.
The most challenging aspect of promoting additional downstream use of is acquainting people with the possibilities. Tools such as IPA allow the non-engineer to leverage 3D models to easily create custom graphics. As others in the organization recognize the value of Pro/ENGINEER 3D models, this resource should find many other applications. 
Scott Mason is a Publications Information Specialist at John Deere. He can be reached by email at masonscottr@johndeere.com.
