Step-by-step guide

How to use PiqoAR

From creating an account to placing a 3D model at real scale in your living room, workshop or job site — in under five minutes.

1. Create an account

Register here — just an email, display name and a password (8+ characters). The first person to register becomes the admin and can browse the module documentation at /admin/docs.

2. Create a project

A project is a container for related 3D objects. Think "Kitchen renovation", "New shed layout", "Client presentation — Unit 4B" or "Thingiverse haul preview". Open the editor and click New project.

3. Get your 3D files

PiqoAR accepts .obj and .stl files. Here's where to get them:

🖨 Thingiverse Click Download All Files on any model page to get the STL. Millions of free designs.

🖨 Printables Prusa's model library — high quality STL files, huge selection of functional prints.

🖨 MyMiniFactory Curated STL library, great for decorative and character models.

⚙️ Fusion 360 File → Export → OBJ or STL. Exports your full design with geometry.

⚙️ FreeCAD / SolidWorks File → Export → STL. Works with all major parametric CAD tools.

🎨 Blender / SketchUp File → Export → OBJ (with .mtl) or STL. Full mesh export in seconds.

🏗 Revit / ArchiCAD Export massing or room volumes as OBJ for quick AR previews.

🔪 PrusaSlicer / Cura Already uses STL natively — just upload the same file you're sending to the printer.

4. Upload to your project

In the editor, open your project and click Upload object. You can add as many objects as you like — a full room layout, a structural assembly, an entire site model. Each object is stored on the server and streamed to your browser and AR view.

5. Set real-world scale

3D files have no inherent units — a door exported from CAD might be 2.1 units tall or 2100 units, depending on the export settings. PiqoAR solves this with the Real height field in the editor:

Select an object in the scene list
Find Real height in the panel on the right
Type the height of the object in millimetres — e.g. 1800 for a 1.8 m door, 450 for a kitchen unit, 75 for a small printed part
Press Enter — PiqoAR automatically scales the model so that 1 Three.js unit = 1 metre in AR

The scale is saved to the database and carried through to the AR view automatically.

6. Arrange the scene

Use the transform gizmo to position and rotate objects relative to each other. Switch between Translate, Rotate and Scale modes with the T / R / S buttons. Everything auto-saves after each drag. Use the group transform to set the overall position and orientation of the whole scene.

7. Enter AR on your phone

Open the editor URL on an Android device running Chrome. ARCore must be installed — it is pre-installed on most modern Android phones, or available free from the Play Store. Tap Enter AR, point the camera at a flat surface (floor, table, ground), wait for the reticle ring to stabilise, then tap to place your scene. Use the nudge controls to fine-tune position, rotation and scale after placement.

8. Share your project

Use Share in the editor to generate an invite link. Choose the role (viewer or editor) and optionally set an expiry date or max use count. Or toggle Public to create a permanent public URL — anyone can open it in AR on their phone without a PiqoAR account. Perfect for client handoffs.