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Displaying a Kit Using Illustrations

Use SBOM data and an illustration to represent a kit without a CAD model.
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Applicable to:
Zea Parts
Zea Illustrations
Organization Owners and Admins

Overview

You can represent a kit in Zea by importing an SBOM and linking it to an illustration. This approach is useful when the kit itself doesn't have a CAD file, but its components do.
When an end user opens the kit in the catalog, they will see a 3D illustration of the parts you included—allowing them to inspect, select, and interact with the contents just like a CAD model. The thumbnail shown in the catalog is based on the saved view from the illustration.
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Note: Zea Illustrations must be activated for your account. Contact sales@zea.live to enable this feature.

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Step 1: Import the SBOM

Open the Zea Sync desktop app.
Import a
Service Bill of Materials (SBOM)
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for the kit where:
The top-level row is the kit (a unique part number with no CAD model).
The child parts are the components of the kit, each with a part number and quantity
Once imported, the kit will appear in the Parts tab with a populated BOM, but no associated 3D model.
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Example: A kit BOM (8001) composed of two components (2036-A and 2039), each with defined quantities.
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Example: Kit part 8001 has no associated CAD model, but includes components 2036-A and 2039 in its BOM.
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Step 2: Create an Illustration Project

Go to Zea Illustrations.
Create a new illustration project for the kit.
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Add the 3D Models
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that make up the kit and position them as needed.
Save a view — this will be used as the thumbnail in the catalog.
💡 You can use any features in Zea Illustrations, such as callouts, to improve clarity for catalog users.
Go to File > Settings, select the Publish tab, and click Publish to make the illustration available in Zea Parts.
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Example: An illustration showing kit components with a saved view (used as the catalog thumbnail).
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Step 3: Link the Illustration to the Kit

Go to Zea Parts.
Find and open the kit part in the Parts tab.
In the part details, below the BOM, locate the field Service Part Display Type and set it to Illustration. ​
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Click Browse and select the illustration project you created in the previous step.
Once linked, opening the kit in the catalog will display the illustration project. End users will be able to explore the 3D view and interact with the individual components as normal.
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Example: The kit (8001) displays the linked illustration.
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Example: Searching for the kit in the catalog displays the item with its custom thumbnail, ready to be opened and explored.
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Related Articles

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Importing a Service Bill of Materials (SBOM)
Import Service Bill of Materials (SBOMs) into Zea Parts.
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Create an Illustrations Project
Create your first technical illustration.
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Overview
Step 1: Import the SBOM
Step 2: Create an Illustration Project
Step 3: Link the Illustration to the Kit
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