How to Create Interactive 3D Models for ThingLink with your Phone

Louise Jones March 23, 2026

3D models are gaining popularity as the process of creating them has become more user-friendly. A few years ago you needed dedicated 3D modelling software, and a lot of time to create a 3D model. Today, everything is just so much easier with your phone, thanks to a technique called photogrammetry. All you have to do is scan the environment, or take photos, and an app will automatically create a 3D model for you. 

What Can You Do With Your 3D Models?

With ThingLink, you can take your 3D models to a whole new level by making them interactive. You can add text, pictures, audio, video, and links to your 3D models, and embed them to your website or LMS. This way you can create replicas of the physical environment, add value to staff training, onboarding, sales, maintenance, customer engagement, and product marketing.

How to Turn Real-World Objects into Interactive Spatial Learning Experiences

With ThingLink Capture 3D scanning app, even complete beginners can scan objects and physical environments with their tablet or phone camera, and turn them into interactive training experiences-using just their phone and ThingLink.

Here’s how the process works.

Step 1: Scan a Real-World Object with Your iPhone or iPad

Start by using a LiDAR-enabled iPhone or iPad to capture a 3D scan of an object or environment.

With ThingLink Capture, you can:

• Walk around the object to record its shape and depth
• Generate a detailed 3D model in minutes
• Upload it directly to the ThingLink platform

This step turns physical equipment, spaces, or tools into digital assets ready for training or education.

Step 2: Add Interactive Learning Layers

Once your 3D model is created, you can enhance it with interactive elements.

Inside the ThingLink platform, you can:

• Add clickable hotspots
• Attach text instructions, images, or videos
• Include links or step-by-step guidance

These annotations transform a static 3D scan into a guided learning experience.

Step 3: Publish and Share Across Devices

After adding content, your interactive model can be deployed across multiple platforms.

You can:

• Share via a link
• Embed into learning management systems (LMS)
• Access on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro

This makes it easy to distribute training materials to teams, students, or remote learners.

Step 4: Enable Real-World Object Recognition (ThingLink for Apple Vision Pro)

For more advanced use cases, open your project in ThingLink for Apple Vision Pro 1.5.

Using spatial tracking and 3D reference models:

• The system can recognize real-world 3D objects
• Digital instructions appear anchored directly onto physical objects
• Content stays aligned as users move around and use at different angles

This creates a hands-on learning experience where guidance appears exactly where it’s needed.

Step 5: Use in Real Training Scenarios

This workflow is particularly valuable in industries where hands-on learning matters.

Common applications include:

• Equipment training in manufacturing
• Procedural guidance in healthcare
• Onboarding for technical roles
• Interactive exhibits in museums
• Vocational and skills-based education

You can even simulate equipment that isn’t physically available by placing virtual objects into real environments.

Read about ThingLink Capture in more detail at our support pages here.

What Makes This Approach Practical

The key advantage is accessibility. Instead of requiring specialized 3D modelling apps or development teams, this workflow uses:

• Standard ios mobile devices with LiDAR
• Simple scanning and editing tools
• Cross-device compatibility

That means you can go from capturing a real-world object to delivering a usable training experience in just a few hours.

Tips for Successful 3D Object Capture

• Scan in a well-lit environment, avoid shadows
• Reflective surfaces are sometimes tricky to 3D model
• If you do a lot of 3D scans, you can consider buying a rotating plate and tripod for the device to create more accurate models

More Ways to Create Immersive Content Using Your Mobile Device and ThingLink:

Pano to 360

NEW! Creating virtual tours, exhibitions, escape rooms and other immersive content just got even easier! ThingLink has now launched Pano to 360 by ThingLink: an easy way to create a 360 photosphere from a panoramic image using any smartphone. For more information, including step-by-step instructions see this helpful support article.

ThingLink AR

• The ThingLink AR Solution is an augmented reality creator and viewer app that allows you to annotate real-life objects and view those annotations using your phone or tablet (iOS/Android).
• It works by letting you take a photo of a real-world object (such as a painting, poster, or book cover), with your tablet or smartphone camera, upload it to ThingLink, and add interactive hotspots (tags) using the ThingLink media editor. Share with a share code or QR code, and use the ThingLink AR Viewer mobile app to view the tagged object in AR. Read more at the link below:

Ideas and Support

• 3D model tagging in ThingLink
• An easy guide for annotating 3D models
• 5 ways to use interactive 3D models in healthcare