Examination of 3D models on a 2D platform like PowerPoint can make the development of products difficult, but AR / VR can change this.
At Collins Aerospace, a main manufacturer of aerospace equipment, engineers and designers can now use AR / VR headsets to display CAD files in real time, letting them display and modify conceptions much faster than before. Thomas Murphy, chief engineer of manufacturing programs at Collins Aerospace, told Business Insider that the change was like Sears going from a catalog to electronic commerce.
To make this possible, the company has exploited a relatively young AR / VR collaboration tool called Campfire.
Jay Wright, the CEO of Campfire, considers the use of the platform in companies like Collins Aerospace as the beginning of the AR / VR collaboration. Unlike many competitors from Campfire, who often target cases of close use, Wright hopes to make the collaboration AR / VR as popular and accessible as video conferencing platforms as a zoom.
“People can just start. They can download something for free, then they can go to a paid plan when they feel that they have exhausted the features of what is free,” said Wright. “Just like a zoom, a team, a soft, a miro, a figma. It’s exactly the same with campfire.”
Jay Wright is the CEO of Campfire. With the kind authorization of Campfire
Take the AR / VR collaboration.
The adoption of AR / VR collaboration has been slowly because most of the tools are difficult to download and use. Many do not have a free trial, or if you are offered, it can only be available for a limited period. Material requirements, such as a powerful helmet or computer, and the compatibility of devices are additional obstacles. This can increase obstacles to businesses and individuals seeking to explore technology before making a full investment.
Like many AR / VR collaboration applications, Campfire is designed for real -time 3D collaboration in an AR / VR environment. Users can load 3D files and visualize them on a precise scale, zoom and go out to see the components in more detail and make changes on the fly.
But unlike most competitors, Campfire also provides a complete free level. As part of this plan, users can consult up to five projects with up to five employees and receive 5 GB of total file storage. The free level has no time. Campfire also offers large compatibility of devices, including Windows, Mac, Varjo Headsets, etc.
“It is a model similar to other software as a service, where people can download something for free,” said Wright. “People can use models up to a certain size, in some formats, and it’s really good. They can see what the collaboration experience looks like, they can put their own data.”
Even with the recent release of more affordable and accessible helmets, such as Meta’s Quest 3, flexibility is the key to the company’s strategy. Wright said that around 80% of Campfire users connect via a computer, tablet or phone. If the employees of a project do not have a helmet, they can always use a laptop to see the prospect of a member of the team that carries the device.
Thomas Murphy is chief engineer of manufacturing programs at Collins Aerospace. With the kind authorization of Thomas Murphy
From ideation to the air
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, built components for commercial and defense aviation, navigation equipment and the landing train with passenger seats. The company began using campfire in 2023.
Murphy told Bi that he saw the opportunity for technology to reinvent the company’s complicated examination process. Employees generally see 3D models, take detailed notes, create elements of action, make changes, come together to discuss updates and repeat until they finalize the product.
“We have design criticisms, and we stick 3D models in two -dimensional powerpoint slides and passing through these transversal views on a zoom call,” said Murphy.
Campfire, on the other hand, allows direct collaboration and in real time. Murphy said users can display 3D CAD files that offer a much clearer representation of what a final product will look like. Employees can also change the file in real time, which allows you to share iterations on site and experience new ideas.
The demanding deadlines for the aerospace industry make a rapid collaboration particularly precious. Murphy said Collins Aerospace has to go into step with the main customers. “From the point of view of Boeing and Airbus, they are looking for us to have agility,” he said.
Although technology has been successfully used at Collins Aerospace and companies like Datafusion and Whirlpool, Campfire could face potential adoption obstacles while technology giants remain undecided on AR / VR technology. Microsoft, for example, has grown widely withdrawn from Windows Mixed Reality and Hololens, the holographic helmet he presented to engineers, and Meta Reality Labs reported a loss of $ 4.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025.
Despite this, Wright told Bi that the time had come for the Ar / VR collaboration to become the general public.
“Everything is not easy until it is very obvious,” he said. “The promise has been there for a long time, and it’s just about reaching this tilting point where you have the price, performance and a user experience that makes it simple.”
businessinsider
