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Web-Based Screw Conveyor Product Configurator

Automating the generation of 3D models and drawings for conveyor systems—directly from a customer-facing web interface.

Client

Vagen Conveyors (Norway)

Workflow Type

Product Configurator

Primary Outputs

3D models, drawings, downloadable files

Deployment

Public web-based system

The Problem

Vagen Conveyors needed a faster way to respond to customer inquiries with accurate 3D models and drawings. Manually creating screw conveyor models in Autodesk Inventor for each sales request was time-consuming and slowed down the sales cycle.

Constraints & Challenges

  • Automation: Automating Inventor model and drawing generation from user inputs.
  • Usability: Providing a simple, intuitive web interface for non-engineering users.
  • Speed: Generating outputs quickly enough for real-time sales use.
  • Formats: Supporting multiple download formats for customers (STEP, PDF, etc.).
  • Integration: Embedding the solution seamlessly into the company website.

Our Approach

FDES designed and built a web-based product configurator powered by Autodesk Platform Services.

Screw Conveyor Configurator Interface
  • Capture conveyor configuration inputs via a web UI.
  • Trigger Design Automation jobs to generate Inventor models and drawings.
  • Display generated models instantly using a web-based 3D viewer.
  • Provide downloadable outputs in multiple engineering formats.
  • Use webhooks to manage processing status and notifications.

What Was Automated

Parametric generation of screw conveyor 3D models
Automated creation of associated drawings
Real-time visualization of generated models
Export of outputs in STEP, Inventor, and PDF formats
End-to-end automation from web input to engineering deliverables

Impact

Speed

Reduced quote-to-drawing time from 4-6 hours to under 10 minutes per conveyor configuration.

Responsiveness

Same-day turnaround on customer inquiries — previously taking 2-3 business days.

Experience

Customers self-configure 60% of standard orders directly via the web interface without sales involvement.

Scalability

5x increase in monthly quotation capacity without adding sales engineering staff.

Before vs After

Before Automation

  • 4–6 hours per conveyor quote
  • Engineers pulled into every sales inquiry
  • Customers wait 2–3 days for drawings
  • Manual errors in BOM and pricing

After Automation

  • Under 10 minutes per configuration
  • Sales team handles 60% of orders independently
  • Same-day 3D models and drawings
  • Zero BOM errors — rules enforce accuracy
Related

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