Yobi3D – Free 3D Model Search Engine

Suggestion; I use 3D models almost everyday for mechanical engineering projects and here is a challenge that, perhaps the Yobi3D creators could address:

When I work on an engineering project, I source parts from all sorts of different suppliers depending on price, reputation and previous relationships.

In order to quote well on a project we generally model as much as possible in 3D beforehand. However, this can get expensive as a huge chunk of my time is taken up finding 3D files of supplier's components (generally hidden on some obscure part of their website) and converting those files to a format we can use.

Would it not be possible to scrape (I don't know the terminology - I'm not a codey person) the web and find any kind of 3D files distributed freely on supplier's websites, download these files to a central repository, automatically convert them into a range of usable formats, auto generate an image (like, it appears, Yobi3D has done) and auto generate some meta-data (if none exists) from the page/site the 3D file was found on?

I could then go on a site like Yobi3D, search a supplier's name or a particular product's name, and have the file well presented, easily found, in a format I can use, on a robust and reliable website.

I'd pay good money for this service if it was done well and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

1. The site doesn't load at all when NoScript is active,

2. Once NoScript is deactivated and search results are displayed the middle mouse button to open something in a new tab doesn't work,

3. It uses the latest scourge of the internet: web icon fonts.

My point: the site leans too heavily on JavaScript to the detriment of its usability.

Search for "pixel".