How we made a calculator (3D designer) for stairs in a niche, and what difficulties we encountered

How the idea was formed

In our niche, there were no simple solutions that would allow us to conveniently visualize the staircase in 3D, determine as accurately as possible the required number of staircase parts and quickly calculate its cost. Basically, there were either simple calculators or very technical solutions with a limited number of parameters, understandable only to designers. And requiring further refinement and updating of the results obtained.

To do this, clients needed to accurately measure their opening in advance, go to meetings with the contractor and additionally spend time on detailed calculations and preparation of estimates. Many adjustments were made along the way.

We wanted to introduce an innovative solution with a modern visual. Moreover, our desire and work experience allowed us to go further in the development of our niche as a whole.

What were our goals and objectives?

• significantly save clients’ time on calculating the stairs for their opening,

• optimization of business processes: simplify the work of managers and our partners,

• increase the authority and recognition of the company,

• increase the number of sales by reducing the number of steps users take before purchasing,

• attract new customers to the company and to the website due to the presence of convenient functionality.

Search for a contractor

Interestingly, we eventually found the key developer at a conference on construction topics. We met and decided to chat, as a result of which it became clear that we were already familiar with a number of his team’s developments known to us. It was decided to focus on these specialists.

Initial data

What we already had in our arsenal:

• Your own calculation formulas;

• A number of our own 3D models;

• Lots of your own drawings;

• Many years of experience and a thorough understanding of staircase design and construction.

Drawing up technical specifications

We have our own internal estimate for stairs, based on a number of parameters (example: length and width of the opening, thickness of the floors, ceiling height, etc.). In the case of developing our new solution, there was a need to significantly deepen the calculation and systematize all our calculation criteria and experience. It’s one thing when a manager competently determines on the fly, for example, that for a staircase, according to the client’s wishes and based on the characteristics of his room and opening, additional balusters or fastenings are required to ensure the reliability of the structure and ease of access to the stairs. In the case of a 3D model, this should be automatically calculated by the system itself.

Since the calculator allows you to enter any values ​​into the characteristics fields, we had to work through more than 300 different combinations of building a model and determining the number of parts required for them in order to correct and eliminate possible errors in the future. After which, on the basis of the obtained and debugged calculation formulas, our calculator began to calculate as accurately as possible the set of necessary steps, railings, balusters, fasteners and all the elements of the future structure.

Also, at the moment, it prohibits the construction of a model if any parameters contradict the safety or convenience of lifting a person, including based on his height. Another option is that the design according to the given parameters is, in principle, technically impossible to implement. All this immediately informs the user that either errors were made in data entry, or it is necessary to change the opening parameters.

Technical features of the development

Below we will provide information from our partners – the solution developer company:

The modular staircase designer implemented for the factory is the flagship in the series of future staircase designers of this factory.

The graphic part of the staircase designer is implemented using WebGL technology, designed for drawing and displaying interactive graphics in web browsers. No third-party plugins are required to work with this technology. All work of web applications using WebGL is based on JavaScript code, and some code elements – shaders – can be executed directly on video cards, significantly increasing performance.

If the creation of desktop applications working with 2D and 3D graphics is often limited by the target platform, then our designers are available anywhere in the world with the Internet, regardless of the platform used.

You already have an amazing opportunity to design your future staircase, choosing the necessary parameters and materials, and you can see the result immediately, in your browser, in the form of an interactive 3D model. It is worth emphasizing that this is not just an approximate model, but an exact copy of the future staircase, which can be transferred to production with a couple of mouse clicks. The designer will generate control programs for CNC machines, drawings and components.

We always follow the development of technology and use every new opportunity to improve our tools. In particular, we plan to use the possibilities of mixed reality, which allows us to “place” the future staircase in your room at the design stage.

Key advantages of our solution over competitors

• Simple and beautiful. High-quality 3D model in high resolution, with the ability to view and move around it. Maximum detail of the model.

• Exact price and set of output elements. Not an approximate, but an accurate calculation of details due to the elaboration of a large number of variations. There is no need for additional approvals or waste of time.

• There is no need to further convert data formats. Automation of uploading and sending all data in convenient formats (pdf, MRL, special format for a CNC machine and others). Save time at all stages of interaction with the designer.

Implementation deadlines

It took us approximately 1 year to develop the solution in its current form.

results

• At the moment, we have obtained a fast-working calculator with the construction of a 3D model of the desired staircase, accurate calculation of all necessary parts, automated preparation and uploading of estimates based on current prices for parts.

• Implemented automated sending of data from the calculator to CNC machines in a format suitable for them. That is, in fact, based on the user’s calculations, it is possible to automatically produce all the parts for the stairs.

• The calculator can be used by both ordinary users who want to calculate the stairs to suit their needs, and our managers.

• Thus, we are the only ones on the market who have offered the most accurate calculation of the design and its price. This significantly saves the end consumer's time and resources.

• We are also the only ones who provide the opportunity to visually view the future staircase in HD and 3D quality, including the color of all elements and wood texture. The detailing of the elements is as detailed as possible; you can study every screw, plug, and staircase element in a high approximation.

Future plans

• Add other types of stairs and more complex structures to the calculation.

• Integration of augmented reality functionality into the solution.

• Currently, we plan to fully test the developed solution and take into account the wishes and needs of our users and clients.

• Implement the solution for our partners and train them.