FAQ: Automate 3D data workflows with Unity Pipeline Automation
Unity Pipeline Automation (currently in beta) lets teams turn the repetitive steps in converting CAD files to 3D assets into a predictable, scalable process. Instead of manually importing, converting, optimizing, and integrating every file, define a rule once and let Pipeline Automation process new assets automatically in the background.
This FAQ is based on the video Unity Industry Cloud: Unity Pipeline Automation. You’ll learn about the three parts to a pipeline, how to access Unity Pipeline Automation, and build your first pipeline from the Optimize and Convert template. It also covers running a pipeline manually to validate it, connecting it to an event-based automation that triggers when a 3D model is submitted, mapping event fields to pipeline parameters, and finding the resulting optimized asset in Unity Asset Manager. Finally, it shares best practices for reliable automations.
Unity Pipeline Automation is in beta. Features and UI might change.
Key takeaways
- Pipeline Automation turns repetitive CAD processing into an automated, scalable background process.
- The model has three parts: Pipelines (sequences of steps), automations (triggers), and jobs (individual runs).
- Users with the Automation Developer role can build a pipeline from the Optimize and Convert template.
- Event-based automations run a pipeline automatically when a 3D model asset is submitted.
- Follow best practices: Separate input and output folders, filter to target assets, and test with sample files first.
What is Pipeline Automation, and why use it?
Pipeline Automation removes the manual overhead of repetitive CAD processing. When teams work with CAD files, the workflow is usually the same: import, convert, optimize, integrate. That work is repetitive, time-consuming, and error-prone. Learn more about automating 3D production pipelines with Unity.
- For a single asset, the work might take about 10 min. Across dozens of files, it becomes hours every week.
- With Pipeline Automation, define the rule once, and the pipeline handles processing automatically in the background.
- Pipeline Automation converts, optimizes, and prepares new CAD files to project standards without manual intervention.
Timestamps:
(0:27): What this episode covers
(0:46): The repetitive CAD workflow
(1:05): How automation removes the overhead
Unity documentation:
What are pipelines, automations, and jobs?
Pipeline Automation has three main components. Understanding them gives you a mental model before you use the UI.
- Pipelines are sequences of steps that process assets.
- Automations set when pipelines run.
- Jobs are individual pipeline runs.
In this workflow, you create one pipeline, connect it to an event-based automation, and run the job from start to finish.
Timestamps:
(1:19): The three main pieces
(1:22): Pipelines
(1:27): Automations and jobs
Unity documentation:
How do I access Pipeline Automation and what role do I need?
Pipeline Automation is available from the Unity web dashboard. You need the Automation Developer role before you can create automations.
To set up access, follow these steps:
1. Log in to the Unity Dashboard.
2. Click the + button next to Shortcuts and select Pipeline Automation to add quick access.
3. Confirm you have the Automation Developer role, which is required to create pipelines and automations.
4. If you don't have the role, ask an organization administrator to grant it in the Members section of Administration.
Timestamps:
(1:39): Start in the Unity Dashboard
(1:45): Add Pipeline Automation to shortcuts
(1:50): The automation developer role
(1:55): Admins grant the role
Unity documentation:
How do I create my first pipeline?
Start from a template, then review or adjust its steps. In Pipeline Automation, open the Templates view and choose the Optimize and Convert template. This template includes four steps. You can modify it by selecting the plus button to add a step. Each step uses an app to trigger an action.
The Optimize and Convert template's four steps are:
1. Download the source file from Unity Asset Manager into the pipeline workspace, a temporary area that exists only for the job.
2. Optimize and convert the model. This step applies polygon reduction and converts the model to a format such as FBX.
3. Create a new asset entry in Unity Asset Manager.
4. Upload the optimized file into that asset.
Name the pipeline, for example “CAD optimize and convert,” then select Create to save it. Learn more about how to optimize complex models with Asset Transformer Toolkit.
Timestamps:
(2:18): Open templates and choose the Optimize and Convert template
(2:22): The four template steps
(2:49): Optimize and convert step
(3:03): Name and create the pipeline
Unity documentation:
How do I run a pipeline manually to validate it?
Run the pipeline manually first to confirm it works before automating it. A new pipeline appears in Draft status. You can edit and use a Draft pipeline. Promote it to Available before further changes to help the automation return consistent results.
To run and check a pipeline, follow these steps:
1. Select Run on the pipeline and select the project that contains your CAD assets.
2. Choose the asset to transform and enter a name for the result, for example by adding the suffix “optimized.”
3. Leave optional parameters at their default values and start the pipeline run. This creates a job.
4. Open the Jobs view. Open the job to see the four steps and their status, and access the logs to debug errors.
5. When the job succeeds, return to Unity Asset Manager and view the resulting optimized asset.
Pipeline Automation can run many jobs concurrently, so your workload scales automatically.
Timestamps:
(3:12): Draft status
(3:20): Promote to available
(3:30): Run and select project and asset
(3:54): Job steps, status, and logs
(4:07): View the optimized asset
Unity documentation:
How do I connect a pipeline to an event-based automation?
An automation runs your pipeline automatically when it detects a chosen event that meets its conditions. Open the Automations view and create a new automation, then choose Event-based.
To configure the automation, follow these steps:
1. Select Unity Asset Manager as the app that sends the event, and select the event Asset version is submitted.
2. Keep the filter fields set to Any, except for the Asset Type filter, which should be set to 3D Model so only 3D models trigger the automation.
3. Select the pipeline to run. The most recently updated pipelines appear at the top. Confirm the version and status.
4. Map event fields to the pipeline parameters, for example Project ID to Project ID, Asset ID to the Asset to transform, and a name pattern for the new asset.
5. Assign an automation bot. This service account uses the Unity Asset Manager Admin role to run the pipeline on behalf of your organization.
Timestamps:
(4:21): Create a new automation
(4:31): Choose the Asset version submitted event
(4:34): Set the 3D Model filter
(4:55): Map event fields to parameters
(5:12): Assign an automation bot
Unity documentation:
How do I trigger the automation and find the result?
After the automation is enabled, submitting a matching asset triggers the pipeline automatically. Learn more about getting started with Asset Transformer for Unity for Industry.
1. In Unity Asset Manager, create or update a 3D model asset, for example, by uploading a new version of a CAD model and saving it.
2. When you confirm the change, the Asset version submitted event fires.
3. The automation listens for that event. When the asset type is 3D model, it triggers a new job for your optimization pipeline.
4. When the job finishes, find the newly created optimized asset in your dataset. It's ready for downstream workflows or Unity projects.
Timestamps:
(5:27): Upload a new version of a 3D model
(5:37): The event fires
(5:49): Find the optimized asset
Unity documentation:
What are the best practices for reliable automations?
Three practices help keep automations reliable.
- Keep folder structures organized: Use separate input and output folders instead of mixing automated assets with manual ones.
- Use filters to target assets: Not every asset needs every step, so focus automations on the assets that benefit most to save time and resources.
- Test with sample files first: Run the pipeline on a small set of representative assets to catch configuration issues early.
Timestamps:
(6:04): Keep folder structure organized
(6:13): Use filters strategically
(6:25): Test with a sample file first
Unity documentation:
