Mandatory information for 3D modeling:

The list of your part numbers , including information about your products in a spreadsheet (Excel): – Dimensions table for each product – Any specifications allowing end users to choose the product part number matching their needs. Dimensional drawings or links to datasheets with dimensional drawings to provide the dimensions and geometric data needed to create the 3D model. In case of products that need to be configured , the configuration rules must be supplied for user input purposes, along with the minimum and maximum values. The rule for calculating the unique product part number , based on the configuration must also be provided.

Recommended information for 3D modeling:

The classification for your products : this corresponds to the contents of your catalog. It generally comprises a directory structure with one or more levels of depth, which can be presented in an Excel file, such as with a tab for each language in which you want to publish your catalog. If 2D plans are available in DXF or DWG format, they can simplify the 3D modeling process, firstly by helping measure any effective dimensions that are not displayed on the dimensional drawings, and secondly by improving the modeling speed by reusing the 2D contour lines

Mandatory information to publish your catalog:

Your 3D files (ideally in STEP format) for each product part number to be published STEP models must be in 3D volume format, with no surface entities (SURFACE) or linear (WIRE) entities. Your metadata : an XLS file containing information about your products: – Product family name – Product part number , – Description of the product part number – Dimensions and specifications allowing users to choose the required part number – Name of the STEP file corresponding to each product part number (the same STEP file can be used by several product part numbers if they share the same geometry) Your company’s logo – on a white background with a minimum height of 40 pixels

Recommended information to publish your catalog:

- If available, the product information (metadata) translated into every language in which you want your catalog to be created. - Images of your product ranges/classification . Supported formats: png, jpeg, bmp, gif, tif. - The images corresponding to each part number and product family , and the different classification categories. Supported formats: png, jpeg, bmp, gif, tif. If you do not have images for your products, an image will be automatically generated from the 3D model of the first part number in the product range. - Description of your line of business – in every language in which you want to publish your catalog. - Your company’s geographic addresses - Your website’s URL address (or several addresses if your company has a localized URL for each geographic area) - An email address (or one for each geographic area) - The classification for your products : this corresponds to the contents of your catalog. It generally comprises a directory structure with one or more levels of depth, which can be presented in an Excel table, such as with a tab for each language in which you want to publish your catalog. - Any link to a PDF datasheet, product webpage or “Buy now” button .

How to optimize your product data for catalog modeling

Quality of your product data really matters!

TraceParts has a unique expertise to help you build the most effective product catalog featuring rich metadata and very precise CAD models.

Product data required to create 3D models for your catalog
Information required to create and publish your catalog
Examples of product data published on www.traceparts.com

Product data required to create 3D models for your catalog

I don’t have any 3D models for my products, so I need TraceParts to model them

Mandatory information for 3D modeling:

The list of your part numbers, including information about your products in a spreadsheet (Excel):
– Dimensions table for each product
– Any specifications allowing end users to choose the product part number matching their needs.

Dimensional drawings or links to datasheets with dimensional drawings to provide the dimensions and geometric data needed to create the 3D model.

In case of products that need to be configured, the configuration rules must be supplied for user input purposes, along with the minimum and maximum values. The rule for calculating the unique product part number, based on the configuration must also be provided.

Recommended information for 3D modeling:

The classification for your products: this corresponds to the contents of your catalog. It generally comprises a directory structure with one or more levels of depth, which can be presented in an Excel file, such as with a tab for each language in which you want to publish your catalog.

If 2D plans are available in DXF or DWG format, they can simplify the 3D modeling process, firstly by helping measure any effective dimensions that are not displayed on the dimensional drawings, and secondly by improving the modeling speed by reusing the 2D contour lines

Information required to create and publish your catalog

I already have the 3D models for my products and I want to publish them with TraceParts:

Mandatory information to publish your catalog:

Your 3D files (ideally in STEP format) for each product part number to be published
STEP models must be in 3D volume format, with no surface entities (SURFACE) or linear (WIRE) entities.

Your metadata: an XLS file containing information about your products:
– Product family name
– Product part number,
– Description of the product part number
– Dimensions and specifications allowing users to choose the required part number
– Name of the STEP file corresponding to each product part number (the same STEP file can be used by several product part numbers if they share the same geometry)

Your company’s logo – on a white background with a minimum height of 40 pixels

Recommended information to publish your catalog:

– If available, the product information (metadata) translated into every language in which you want your catalog to be created.

– Images of your product ranges/classification. Supported formats: png, jpeg, bmp, gif, tif.

– The images corresponding to each part number and product family, and the different classification categories. Supported formats: png, jpeg, bmp, gif, tif. If you do not have images for your products, an image will be automatically generated from the 3D model of the first part number in the product range.

– Description of your line of business – in every language in which you want to publish your catalog.

– Your company’s geographic addresses

– Your website’s URL address (or several addresses if your company has a localized URL for each geographic area)

– An email address (or one for each geographic area)

– The classification for your products: this corresponds to the contents of your catalog. It generally comprises a directory structure with one or more levels of depth, which can be presented in an Excel table, such as with a tab for each language in which you want to publish your catalog.

– Any link to a PDF datasheet, product webpage or “Buy now” button.

Examples of product data published on TraceParts.com

1. Classification

A classification for your product catalog can be created to accurately mirror the structure of your own catalog.

The TraceParts team can help you build your classification.

The classification can also be defined using photos that illustrate the different product categories.

2. Product families

Each product family must be defined with a title and provided in all the languages in which you want to publish your catalog.

TraceParts needs to know the classification category in which each product must be listed.

A photo or image must be supplied for each product family.

Otherwise, a photo will automatically be generated from the 3D model of the first part number in the product family.

3. 3D models

A 3D model must be supplied for each part number (preferably in STEP format).

If several part numbers share the same geometry, the same 3D model (ideally in STEP format) can be provided for all compatible part numbers.

3D models must be less than 10 MB and exclude surface entities.

4. Dimensions table

A dimensions table must be supplied for each product family, containing all the attributes (characteristics) for each part number, as well as the name of the 3D model corresponding to the part number.

The “text” attributes (language-dependent) must be supplied in all the languages in which you want to create your catalog.

5. Dimensional drawings

One or more images for dimensional drawings may be provided (to help with the selection process), showing the dimension attributes displayed in the selection table.

6. Description

The Short description appears in the search page and the product page. This text is used to complete the titles and the short description of the products. This text is indexable by the TraceParts.com search engine.
The long description appears only in the product page, below the selection table or configurator. This text is used to have a complete description of a product. The long description is indexable by Google but not by the TraceParts.com search engine.

7. Contact information

A description of your company and your different geographic offices

Your website URL and email address(es)

Technical links

Any link to a PDF datasheet, product webpage, “Buy now” button, video, stock availability, and so on, can also be supplied.