Overview
To enhance customer experience and product visualization, we built an interactive 3D equipment configurator for RCR Mining Technologies.
The goal was simple:
Let users rotate, explore, and customize mining equipment directly on the website.
This project improved engagement and set a new benchmark for digital product experiences in the mining industry.

Challenges We Faced

Building a high-performance web-based 3D configurator came with several hurdles:

Technical Compatibility Issues

• Conflicts between different Node.js versions
  
• Integrating smoothly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (msdyn365)
  
• Ensuring the 3D engine worked consistently across all browsers and devices
  

Performance & Optimization

• Large 3D models were slowing down loading time
  
• Need to maintain high visual quality while achieving smooth rendering
  
• Complex state management for interactions like rotate, zoom, highlight, etc.
  

Cross-Platform Consistency

• Behavior differences on Windows vs. macOS
  
• UI responsiveness on mobile, tablet, and desktop
  

Our Solution

To overcome these challenges, we implemented a modern, optimized architecture:

1. Switched to Three.js + @react-three/fiber

This gave us:

• Cleaner React-based 3D code
  
• Better control over rendering
  
• Faster loading and improved performance
  

2. Added Interactive Hotspots

Users can click on parts of the machine to:

• View details
  
• Explore components
  
• Understand key functionalities
  

3. Improved Model Performance

We used Blender, model decimation, and texture compression tools to:

• Reduce model size
  
• Improve loading times
  
• Maintain visual clarity
  

4. Fully Responsive Design

The configurator was designed to provide a seamless experience on:

• Mobile
  
• Tablets
  
• Desktop screens
  

Results

The new 3D configurator delivered impressive outcomes:

•  Smooth integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365
  
•  Highly interactive and engaging user experience
  
•  40% increase in time spent on the configurator
  
•  Positive feedback from users on clarity and navigation
  

Impact on RCR Mining Technologies

The project significantly boosted RCR’s digital presence:

• Enhanced customer trust and understanding of products
  
• Positioned RCR as an innovation leader in mining equipment visualization
  
• Strengthened brand visibility in a competitive market
  

Provided a modern, tech-driven customer experience.