Creating and Managing Custom Tools
Guide to Custom Tools in frontline.io
Custom Tools are reusable 3D assets that content creators can upload, edit, and organize across a frontline.io workspace. Once created, these tools behave like any standard asset in your library, and can be deployed across 3D Procedures, the Animation Builder, and Immersive Rooms.
Key Capabilities
Global Availability: Create once, use across all modules in your workspace.
Unified Library: Custom uploads appear alongside standard frontline.io tools for a seamless experience.
Dynamic Updating: Changes made in the Tool Editor can be propagated to instances across the workspace.
- Category Management: Deep organizational control through custom-defined categories.
Creating a Custom Tool
Relevant role: (Advanced) Content creator is required
Opening the Tool Editor
The functionality to create a new Custom Tool can be found in the Digital Twin Editor.
There are two ways to initiate the creation process:
Method A: Right-Click Conversion
Best for turning existing parts of a larger model into standalone tools.
- Open a model in the Digital Twin Editor.
- Select a part or group of components in the 3D scene.
- Right-click and select Add to Tools Library from the context menu.
Method B: The "+" Menu (Import Tool)
Best for bringing entirely new 3D assets into your library.
- In the Digital Twin Editor, click the "+" icon located in the bottom-center of the screen.
- Select Import Tool.
- Choose Create Tool to launch the editor.
Note: Both methods will automatically open the Tool Editor window over your current scene, allowing you to refine the asset before saving.
Using the Tool Editor
The Tool Editor is a dedicated workspace with three tabs designed to refine your 3D asset’s properties and appearance, and a parts catalog to outline the components that make up your tool.
- Tool Settings: Set the Tool Name, Description, and Category. Capture a custom thumbnail here.
- Part Properties: Manipulate the transform values and pivot control of individual components.
- Materials: Apply or modify textures and materials to ensure visual consistency.
- Parts Catalog: Add, remove, or organize the components that make up your tool.
Each component within the tool can be freely manipulated using the scene gizmos or the transformation values for fine tune positioning.
Finally, the Action Bar at the bottom of the screen allows you to add additional models to the tool, create further tools via the 'Create New' button, and save your current tool to the Tool Editor.
After closing the Tool Editor, you are automatically returned to the scene you started from (Knowledge Base, Digital Twin Editor, or Immersive Room), ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted workflow.
Best Practices
- Use clear names and metadata to make tools easy to find.
- Preview models before publishing them.
- Maintain version control for important assets.
- Keep scale transform values locked using the padlock icon when not in use.
Managing Tools in the Toolbox
The Toolbox is your workspace-wide library. Only users with (Advanced) Content Creator roles can manage these assets.
- Search and Preview: Use the search bar to find tools quickly. You can interact with a 3D preview before adding a tool to your content.
- View Tool Info: Right-click a tool and select 'Show Info' to view the tool author, description and upload date.
- Edit: Right-click a custom tool and select 'Edit Tool' to reopen it in the Tool Editor.
- Delete: Permanent removal of custom tools. If a tool is already used in a procedure or immersive room, it will remain in that specific content to prevent breakage but will no longer be available for new projects.
Tools can only be edited within the workspace where they were originally created.Organizing Tools with Categories
Custom categories in the Toolbox allow you to group tools in ways that align with your workflow, training structure, or equipment types, making it easier to find and manage assets as your projects grow. By default, at least one custom category must exist in order to store user-created tools.
Only users with permission to edit digital twins can create, rename and delete custom categories.
Default system categories are locked and cannot be renamed or deleted.
To keep your library manageable, frontline.io uses a category-based organization system. At least one custom category must exist to store user-created tools.
Default Categories: System-provided categories are locked; they cannot be renamed or deleted.
Custom Categories: You can create, rename, or delete these to match your workflow (e.g., "Hand Tools," "Heavy Machinery," "V2 Parts").
Bulk Deletion Warning: Deleting a custom category will permanently delete all tools stored within it. Always confirm the tool count in the warning popup before proceeding.
Custom Tool Animations
When animating tools, only Custom Tools that have been animated using the Animation Builder are able to be edited.
Any tools that have pre-existing or baked-in animations cannot be edited using frontline.io by default.
If you would like to edit imported tool animations, please contact the frontline.io support team.
Known Issues
Duplicating the highest object in the Parts Catalog Hierarchy will not render any objects except for the highest
Example Use Cases
Reusable Assets for Maintenance Training
Scenario
An advanced content creator is developing a maintenance training module for a complex machine. They already have 3D models of individual machine parts and want to create reusable tools to streamline animations, step-by-step procedures, and immersive training experiences.
Workflow with Custom Tools
1. Upload 3D Models
The content creator uploads multiple 3D files (e.g.,
.fbx, .obj) directly into the workspace. These models represent individual machine components or assemblies.2. Automatic Thumbnail Generation
After upload, the system automatically generates visual thumbnails for each model. These thumbnails are displayed in the Custom Tool Library, making it easy to identify and select tools during content creation.
3. Organize and Tag
To keep the workspace structured, the creator adds metadata such as:
- Machine type
- Component category
- Version number
This tagging system improves searchability and enables quick reuse across projects.
4. Create Composite Tools
Using the digital twin hierarchy, parts are grouped and combined into composite tools—representing larger assemblies or functional units. These can be saved as a single tool for repeated use.
5. Insert into Content
Custom tools can now be seamlessly inserted into various content formats:
- 3D Procedures – for step-by-step maintenance or repair guides
- Animation Builder – for creating instructional or explainer videos
- Immersive Room – to enable realistic, hands-on training simulations
6. Manage Tool Versions
When updates are made to models:
- New versions are uploaded with minimal effort
- Thumbnails and metadata are automatically refreshed
- Existing content using older tools can be updated to reference the latest version
Benefits
- Time-saving: Create once, reuse many times
- Consistency: Standardized animations and interactions
- Scalability: Update tools across the workspace without manual changes
- Flexibility: Easily adapt tools for different machine types or training contexts
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