In most projects in technology, offshore, subsea, mechanical design and industry, technical 3D animation will contribute to increased understanding in addition to several other positive effects. Testing a sequence of events as animation means that you discover things that are difficult to see in a 2D drawing or in a written procedure.

3D animation makes it easier to understand a project and can show events that may be impossible to see in real life. Beyond increased understanding, one of the most important benefits of 3D visualization is that one can uncover critical and costly omissions and errors.

It is about showing that a concept, product, or project is as good as you think, that it is physically possible to implement and that you eliminate the possibility of unwanted problems afterwards, for example during assembly or operation. This proves time and time again to be cost saving and a good investment.

We can take existing CAD models from Solid Works, Inventor and more, or build our own 3D models from hand sketches or 2D drawings. Often the substrate is a mix of this. Furthermore, we build a “scene” in our visualization tool that can be used to move objects and make things move easyer than the classic CAD / DAK files.

Technical 3D animation that shows an entire procedure from start to finish is usually recommended since the entire course of events is included. The film can have descriptive text, sound and voice-over that explain what is happening. At important points, you can clarify an extra step by, for example, hiding what is around it or making elements transparent. Logo can be added at the end to link the video to you and your project, so that everyone will know who is behind it.

Even if you are used to working with one of the CAD tools mentioned above, or equivalent, an animation from us will be a double check that your model works and can be mounted and operated in its environment. We experience that very heavy CAD models like a complete ship vessel with equipment can be significantly optimized in 3D animation tools, so that it is easy to work with.

Here are some examples of animated movie screenshots. More animation examples can be found further down in the article.

Procedural animations

Animations based on a procedure document, or a planned operation are a good test to see that you have not forgotten anything. These are some of the things that can be achieved and that can be checked:

• Clash test – You can check if components fit together, even when they move in relation to each other.
• Interface check – You can test whether models from many different disciplines work together.
• Logistics – You can test the order of parts to be installed and things to be in and out of a room.
• Personnel and HSE – You can see if personnel can fit in tight or difficult places and if it is safe to perform the job.
• Timelines – Timely events, or simultaneous operations, can be tested against each other where this is critical.
• Common understanding – Everyone involved in a project quickly gets a good common understanding of what is to be done.

Can be used for many things

Once the full digital 3D scene is in place, it can be used for many different things. We often follow projects from start to finish and update the model along the way.

The end-product can be a series of good step-by-step images (sequence illustrations), a film clip or be viewed in an interactive VR world. Illustrations can be used in manuals, instruction manuals or as a supplement to a tender document. The style can be varied as desired, whether you want a glossy and realistic look or something more like a cartoon.

• Technical 3D animation
• Technical illustrations
• Digital and physical manuals
• Clear and nice pictures for marketing materials and tenders
• VR (Virtual Reality) review

In projects that involve underwater installations that contain templates, manifolds and XMTs, you will be able to show what is going on in a way that is not possible to see, even with ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle).

Examples from reality

 In a previous job, from one of the major Norwegian major players in Subsea and oil, revealed that a built valve tree (Christmas tree / XMT) for the seabed and its installation tool (Running Tool) did not fit together. The models were made by each department in a CAD program, but Interface was not checked. When construction was almost complete, they found out via a 3D animation sequence of parts was clashing. After examining the built components, it was found out that it was a non-fit. If they had been checking even earlier with 3D visualization and animation, they could have seen this long before construction started as well.

In another project, some large drums were to spin standing on a large wheel in a factory. The drums were pointed inwards but did not rotate with the wheel itself. It was difficult to see in 2D drawings how this behaved. Only when an animation showed that these drums riveted on each other during rotation could the project be stopped, and the error corrected before it had gone too far. It could be very expensive to fix in retrospect.

With animation, you can find errors and challenges you do not see on 2D drawings, text descriptions or models in 3D CAD that do not move.

Animation example of installation order

In the following example, we showed the order of installation of critical components in a large research project. We checked that the order in the big “puzzle” could be completed, that personnel reached critical points and that pre-assembled pipes fit together.

The video itself ended up being 15 minutes long, and may not be that exciting to watch for those outside the project, but it turned out to be a useful tool for the customer’s planning

Animation example of a new concept

This animation shows a concept of remotely controlled handling and replacement of filters in an environment with radioactive particles. There was a requirement that this exchange could be carried out without people being physically present in the room.

The tools and the solution have been inspired by Subsea technology from the oil world where many tasks must be performed remotely using remote-controlled craft (ROV) and automatic tools.

Such an animation helps to create an understanding of the principles surrounding the concept, as well as to check that the operation is possible to carry out

Animation example of marketing video

We made this film for Busch Vakuumteknikk AS, who wanted an animation that shows their system for transporting dead fish with vacuum. The goal of the animation was to easily show how one of their products and systems works, primarily for marketing.

Product visualization

Products can be presented beautifully with animation whether they are built or only at the concept stage. Here are two quick examples:

Contact

We at BEIN Engineering have extensive experience with technical 3D animation and visualization. For us, this works hand in hand with traditional engineering work, where one draws benefits from both camps. We see that our own projects also benefit from 3D Viz and are therefore convinced that it is useful for more people as well.

Since we are a technical environment, we can quickly familiarize ourselves with issues, electrical and mechanical principles, and professional expression.

The advantages of 3D animation, as we do it, is that it is much easier to perform than you might think, and that it can thus be both cost-effective and economical.

Contact one of the people in the 3D department to hear more about how we can help you.

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