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Guide to the 3D Viewer & 2D Inspection Workspace

Written by AMFG Consulting & Support

Overview

The AMFG 3D Viewer provides an intuitive, high-performance workspace for CAD model inspection, manufacturability (DFM) verification, and fast quoting. Available across both the Management Console and the Ordering Portal (with streamlined functionality for portal users), the viewer combines professional-grade 3D CAD visualization tools with side-by-side 2D technical document inspection within a single unified layout.

3D Model Navigation & Viewing Controls

Interacting with your 3D CAD model utilizes standard mouse controls:

  • Rotate: Click and drag with the left mouse button.

  • Pan: Click and drag with the right mouse button.

  • Zoom: Scroll with the mouse wheel.

Workspace Customization & Persistence

  • Light / Dark Mode: Toggle between light and dark workspace themes based on environment preference.

  • Visual Display Toggles: Turn display boundaries on or off to clear your view:

    • Bounding Box

    • Build Platform

    • Axis Indicators

    • Annotations

    • Geometric DFM Warnings

  • Per-User Preference Saving: Display toggles and viewer preferences automatically save per user account across sessions.

Visualization Modes & Machining Strategy

Inspect internal geometry, meshing, and manufacturing parameters using specialized render modes:

  • Wireframe: Displays the underlying triangular mesh structure or CAD surface edges.

  • X-Ray: Renders transparency through outer shells to inspect internal cavities, holes, and passages.

  • Shading with Boundaries: Highlights outer surface transitions and feature boundaries for clear geometric definition.

  • CNC Features: Color-codes recognized manufacturing features including pockets, threads, chamfers, fillets, counterbored holes, countersinks, slots, dovetails, and through holes.

  • Wall Thickness: Color-codes wall sections to flag thin geometry prone to manufacturing failure or print distortion.

Interactive Geometry & DFM Tools

Prepare parts for production using built-in manipulation and diagnostic tools:

  1. Direct On-Model Right-Click Menu: Click directly on selected 3D geometry features to bring up a quick-action menu. Instantly apply parameters across multiple selected features at once:

    • Set Tolerance: Assign specific tolerances to individual or grouped features.
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    • Set Surface Roughness: Specify surface finish (Ra) requirements.
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    • Assign to Service: Route specific features to distinct machining services (e.g., 3-Axis Milling, 5-Axis Milling, Turning).
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  2. Cutting Plane Tool (Sectioning): Drag and drop dynamic section planes along X, Y, or Z axes to inspect complex internal cross-sections.
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  3. Measurement Tool: Perform direct point-to-point dimension checks to verify scale, bounding box dimensions, and critical geometry before confirming quotes.
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  4. Part Rotation & Bounding Box Optimization:

    • Part Rotation Ball: Visually rotate the part along any axis within the viewer.

    • Minimize Bounding Box: Automatically recalculates and rotates the part to its optimal orientation to minimize total volume and stock material required.
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  5. Mirror & Duplicate: Duplicate parts or generate mirrored geometry directly inside the viewer without opening external CAD software.
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  6. Additive DFM & Support Structure Generation:

    • Overhang Visualization: Color-codes overhang angles on additive manufacturing parts to identify print risks proactively.

    • Support Generation: Adjust support radius and spacing parameters to generate custom support structures, creating a new print-ready file version with recalculated support volume for precise pricing.
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    1. You can find more information about this feature in the DFM: Visualize Overhangs and Generate Support Structures article.
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  7. Automated DFM Risk Warnings: Automated diagnostic checks flag difficult-to-machine features on screen and in the feature list. Hovering over or clicking a warning icon opens a detailed rule definition:

    • Sharp 90° internal corners

    • Deep pocket depth-to-width ratios

    • Tight hole aspect ratios

    • Thin wall sections
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Integrated 2D PDF Inspection Pane

The central inspection workspace supports side-by-side verification of 2D technical drawings beneath the 3D model canvas.

Opening and Interacting with the PDF Viewer

  • Default State: The PDF viewer is hidden by default when opening a ticket or order.

  • Launching the Viewer: In the Part details (screen 1) or Production Parameters sidebar (screen 2), click directly on any active PDF attachment link. This expands the PDF viewer pane beneath the 3D model canvas.

  • Customer Portal Visibility (Eye Icon): The Eye icon next to a PDF file controls visibility on the front-end customer portal. If the eye icon is scratched out, the file is hidden from the Quotes tab on the portal.

  • Multi-Tab Browsing: Opening additional PDF attachments loads them into separate tabs within the viewer pane for rapid document switching.

  • Window Controls: Expand, reduce, or minimize the PDF viewer pane at any time using the header controls.

  • Non-CAD Workflow: When an order or ticket contains a 2D PDF drawing without a 3D CAD model, the 3D canvas hides automatically, giving full focus to the PDF viewer.

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