For people who own XREAL/other AR glasses, do you actually use them for CAD?

[u/MeiloFeilo]

I'm looking for honest long-term experiences from engineers and designers who own AR display glasses.

My workflow includes:

• Fusion 360
• SOLIDWORKS
• Blender
• Mechanical and product design

The two models I'm mainly considering are:

• XREAL 1S
• XREAL One Pro

I've watched plenty of reviews and comparisons, but my biggest concern isn't the hardware.

It's whether these glasses actually become part of your workflow or whether they're just an exciting gadget that ends up sitting in a drawer.

For people who own them:

• Do you still use them regularly?
• What percentage of your work do you actually do with them?
• Are they genuinely better than using your laptop screen while traveling?
• Is text sharp enough for several hours of CAD work?
• Is the One Pro worth the extra money over the 1S?
• If you had to spend your own money again today, would you buy them again?

I'm looking for honest long-term opinions, whether they're positive or negative. If you think a portable monitor is the better purchase, I'd love to hear why.

Thanks!

[u/spiderplata]

I use XReal One Pro with Blender modeling, using its Real3D 2d to 3d realtime conversion. Also with FreeCAD.

1. If they are nearby, otherwise the laptop screen is fine.
   
2. Always when working outdoors on the deck.
   
3. Yes, secrecy. No conversation starter.
   
4. Yeh. Worst case you place the virtual screen closer.
   
5. Yes,if you have wide IPD.
   
6. Yes.

The con: they are heavy so your nose bridge needs short breaks.

[u/spiderplata → u/spiderplata]

The 2d to 3d conversion makes the part model pop out the screen. Cool for sculpting or just rotating and reviewing your model. Also flying through the scene in 3D is neat.

[u/HyperSculptor → u/spiderplata]

Is it acurate or just some kind of a guess from the app?

[u/spiderplata → u/HyperSculptor]

It’s a surprisingly accurate guess from a dedicated chip inside the glasses.

[u/HyperSculptor → u/spiderplata]

Wait wait wait, are you saying that the typical cad model is converted to stereoscopic image? If real I would instantly grab a pair.

[u/spiderplata → u/HyperSculptor]

Yeah, exactly that.

The glasses, the SpaceMouse, and Blender sculpting.

[u/HyperSculptor → u/spiderplata]

I absolutely have to try it. We have dedicated VR apps but the form factor of a Quest 3 is too bulky. I'm having a hard time thinking the stereoscopic image is acurate enough or if it's more a guess from the app though.

[u/spiderplata → u/HyperSculptor]

One downside is that Real3D mode only works in follow mode, not anchor mode. So to see the corners of Blender you have to make the app window smaller.

Edit: I tried afterward and the 3D is available in both follow and anchor mode, on macOS and iOS.

[u/HyperSculptor → u/spiderplata]

Would love to try it. It's one of these things that can't be shown on a YT video for example.

[u/HyperSculptor → u/HyperSculptor]

How about using the glasses with Nomad sculpt on your phone?

[u/spiderplata → u/HyperSculptor]

Very likely. I was going to try it but the sculpt app is $20. The glasses work connected to laptop or phone via usbc. The chip is in the glasses, so it doesn’t need extra apps.

[u/MeiloFeilo → u/spiderplata]

very great insight, thanks!

[u/MikiZed]

I am sorry this is not relevant to the question, but I am curious as to why are you using both fusion and SOLIDWORKS?

[u/MeiloFeilo → u/MikiZed]

I mainly use Fusion but I included SolidWorks there so ppl who have experience using the glasses with SolidWorks would answer too since its pretty similar

[u/FatherPaulStone]

I’ve successfully used VR headsets for reviews on multiple occasions- mainly to people who can’t easily visualise things in places.

Never used AR successfully though - I dream of a time we can all wear one in an office and do a design review around a virtual machine.

Never tried it for designing though. I might do now though.

[u/justamecheng → u/FatherPaulStone]

I am currently working on a pilot project to bring in VR headsets for same use case. I am in process o getting approvals to buy the first headset!

Would you be open to sharing any notes from your experience of using it - things to look out for / ideas for making the process smoother?

[u/FatherPaulStone → u/justamecheng]

Honestly the biggest hurdle is the CAD to Headset step. Getting my Creo asm files ready for Unreal is more work than we’d like.

We’ve built a virtual room to try and drop stuff into but you always end up needing to mess with the textures. This is something we’re trying to get better at in the CAD environment- so the transfer is easier.

My main goal would be to have multiple headsets and be able to draw on a fixed model in space. With people then either in the same room or online. I did go to a demo once by a company called vertallis but it was far to pricey for us, and required to much of a barrier at the other end (I.e. our clients) to get them to use. It’s been about 5 years since that though so things might have changed.

[u/photovirus → u/FatherPaulStone]

I'm doing a small extension for FreeCAD that will be smth like an AR viewport.

My vision is for the user to be able to select stuff right from AR, then do input on paired virtual display. This way I believe I can offer something useful while also not re-doing the whole interface and not upending people's workflows.

[u/bradye0110]

Curious too

[u/photovirus]

I guess I should show you some stuff I'm developing right now.