Build Preparation: From Ordered Parts to Builds

This guide covers how to create and manage builds in CO-AM's Build Preparation workflow.

1. Overview and Concepts

The following table explains the core objects in the Build Preparation workflow.

The workflow

Customer order received
        │
        ▼
Create Ordered Part (repeat for each part)
        │
        ▼
Select ordered part(s)
        │
        │  drag
        ▼
     Builds
        │
        │  drop onto 'Create build' or existing build
        ▼
Build Created / Updated
        │
        ▼
Build Preparation (Magics) → Labeling (optional) → Ready for Processing (optional) → Processing (optional) → Ready for Build Cycle
        │
        ▼
Upload to Machine → On Machine → Building → Built

2. Creating an Ordered Part

Navigate to Build Preparation and click + Ordered Part (top-right) to create a new ordered part.

2.1 Selecting a part

You have two options for selecting the part file.
Option A — Upload a new file
Drag and drop a 3D file onto the upload zone, or click the upload area to browse. A 3D preview renders once CO-AM processes the file.
Option B — Pick from the library

1. Click Pick Part to open the part library side panel.
2. Browse or search the list of existing parts (thumbnails included).
3. Select a part and click Confirm to associate it with this order.

2.2 Filling in the order details

The following fields are available when creating an ordered part.

2.3 Assigning a part specification

After you select a part, use the Part Specification section to choose the technology (for example, Powder Bed Fusion SLS) and material. CO-AM displays existing specifications for this part.

2.4 Submitting

Click Create to save the ordered part and return to the Build Preparation page. The new ordered part appears in the Ordered Parts panel with the status Unplanned.

2.5 Bulk creation via drag-and-drop

You can register multiple ordered parts at once by following these steps.

1. On the Build Preparation page, drag one or more 3D files from your file explorer and drop them anywhere on the page.
2. CO-AM uploads all files in parallel (up to 3 simultaneously) and navigates to the creation form.
3. A queue badge (for example, "3 remaining") appears in the header.
4. Fill in the order details for the first part and click Create.
5. The form automatically resets and pre-populates the next part in the queue.
6. Repeat until all parts are submitted. The queue clears when you leave the page.

Tip: Bulk drag-and-drop is the fastest way to register a batch of new customer orders when you receive multiple files at once.

3. The Build Preparation Page

The Build Preparation page shows all ordered parts with relevant information and a list of builds.

3.1 Layout

The page uses a resizable split layout.

• Bottom panel — Ordered Parts: the list of all ordered parts.
• Top panel — Build Tiles: builds in preparation.
  Drag the divider bar between the two panels to resize them. If you drag a panel below its minimal height, it snaps to a compact header (showing only the section title). Click the title to restore it to full size.

4. Ordered Parts Panel

This panel lists all ordered parts and is the starting point for scheduling.

4.1 What each row shows

Each row displays the following information.

• Part thumbnail image
• Part name and ID (links to the part detail page)
• Technology and material
• Due date — color-coded urgency:
  • Red = overdue
  • Orange = due within the next 3 days
  • Green = on schedule
• Build due date — same color-coded urgency
• Order ID (links to the external order if available)
• Customer name
• Ordered quantity
• Production summary chips (see Ordered part statuses): Unplanned / Assigned / Planned / Building / Built — counts shown with color-coded icons
  To view the part design, right-click the ordered part and open its Part Details page in the current tab or a new tab.

4.2 Filtering

The filter bar at the top of the panel lets you narrow the list. The following filters are available.

4.3 Sorting

Click the Sort button in the panel header to order the list by any of the following.

• Due date, Build due date, Creation date
• Quantity
• Geometrical information (volume, surface area, XY projected surface, and corresponding unplanned values)
  Each column supports an ascending and descending toggle.

4.4 Selecting demands for scheduling

• Single-click a row to select it (highlighted in blue). The list is filtered by the ordered part's technology and material.
• Use Ctrl+click, Shift+click, or checkboxes for multi-select.
• The panel header shows a summary — for example, "X parts / Y orders selected" — when items are selected.
  When you select parts, the build tiles are automatically filtered to show builds with the same technology and material.

4.5 Pagination

The panel loads 25 demands at a time. Scroll to the bottom and click Load more to fetch the next page.

5. Printer Timeline / Build Tiles Panel

This panel shows all machines and their schedule, or builds in preparation. Use the toggle in the panel header to switch between views.

5.1 Tile View (default)

Shows builds as cards in a grid.
Each tile shows the following information.

• Platform thumbnail image
• Build ID
• Status (see Build statuses)
• Machine name
• Material and technology
• Number of parts
• Geometrical information
• Links to the build detail page, platform detail, and machine settings
• Option to open the build detail page in a new tab
• Option to open the build in Magics
  Status filter chips (in the tile view header)
  Use the status filter chips to toggle which build statuses are visible.
• Created / Preparing / Ready for Processing / Labeling / Processing

Note: When you have ordered parts selected in the bottom panel, the tile view automatically switches to showing only Created builds — highlighting the builds you can still add parts to.

Other tile view controls

5.2 Schedule View (Gantt / Calendar)

The Schedule View is available in the Enterprise plan.

5.3 Build context menu

Right-click a build tile to open its context menu. Available actions depend on the build's status. The default actions are Open, Open in new tab, and Open in Magics.

6. Creating or Updating a Build — Drag-and-Drop Workflow

The primary way to create a build is to drag ordered parts from the bottom panel and drop them onto Create Build or an existing build.

Step 1: Select parts

Click one or more demand rows in the Ordered Parts panel. The tile panel updates to show only compatible builds.

Step 2: Drag from the Ordered Parts panel

Hold down the mouse button on a selected row (or use the drag handle ⠿ in the panel summary bar) and begin dragging. A floating drag info window follows your cursor, showing how many parts and orders you are dragging.

Step 3: Drop onto a target

Step 4: After build creation or update

The ordered part status moves from Unplanned to Assigned. A new build appears or the existing build is updated.

7. Create / Edit Dialog

This dialog opens when you drop onto the placeholder tile or onto an existing build.
Summary
Summarizes the technology, material, and machine. For new builds, you must select a machine. The list is filtered to machines compatible with the selected technology.
For each technology/material group of selected parts:

8. Build Detail Page

Navigate to a build's detail page by clicking Open build from any build tile or context menu.

8.1 Layout

The page has a two-column layout.

• Left: 3D viewer rendering the build platform with all parts. Click a part in the viewer to highlight it in the list.
• Right: Tabbed info panels — Build Info and Inventory.

8.2 Sharing a build

Click the Share button (link icon) in the page header to copy a direct URL to this build to your clipboard.

9. Reference: Build statuses

The following table describes all possible build statuses.

10. Reference: Ordered part statuses

Each unit of an ordered part independently moves through the following statuses.

Example: An order for 10 parts might show: Unplanned: 3 / Planned: 4 / Building: 2 / Built: 1 — meaning 1 is finished, 2 are currently printing, 4 are scheduled, and 3 still need to be scheduled.