ProtoTwin Industrial Simulation Software
ProtoTwin helps small machine builders and industrial designers simulate equipment behavior and test control logic. It is designed for teams that may need to perform virtual commissioning without extensive local software installations.
At a glance
- Category
- Operations
- Best for
- Small machine builders, Industrial automation engineers, Educational institutions, Robotics developers
- Pricing
- Paid plans are tiered by functionality: Motion ($300/year), Simulate ($1,500/year), and Connect ($3,000/year). Free licenses are available for educational institutions during the beta period.
- Key use cases
- Virtual Commissioning, Robot Simulation, Physics-Based Animation, Machine Learning Training
- Integrations
- Onshape CAD sync, GLTF import, Siemens S7, Allen-Bradley Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP
- Official website
- prototwin.com
ProtoTwin is an industrial simulation platform that allows users to build and test digital twins of robotics and automation systems via a web browser. It supports physics-based animations and machine simulations designed to handle a high volume of moving objects in real time.
The platform is intended for small machine builders, industrial companies, and educational institutions. It helps these users prove CAD designs, test control logic via a script editor or SoftPLC, and identify potential mechanical issues before physical prototypes are built.
Buyers should note that while the core simulation is browser-based, the 'Connect' tier requires a local application installation to enable communication with physical PLCs. Hardware performance may impact the ability to run large models in real time.
Key Features
Allows users to view, modify, and collaborate on digital twin projects from a web browser without software installation.
Supports connections to various PLCs using protocols such as Siemens S7, Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, and OPC UA for virtual commissioning.
Supports inverse kinematics for industrial robots, allowing users to program movements through the UI or scripts.
Includes rigid body physics, dynamic joints, and custom colliders to simulate mechanical interactions.
An AI assistant that helps users with coding, creating scripted components, and general software guidance.
Provides a scripting environment with code auto-completion for developing machine control logic.
Use Cases
Connecting digital twins to physical PLCs to test control logic before a physical machine is constructed.
Creating digital prototypes of industrial robots to test kinematics and motion paths.
Developing videos and VR experiences of mechanisms using physically based materials.
Using a Python API and Gymnasium environments to train robots via reinforcement learning.
Best For
Integrations
Pricing
Paid plans are tiered by functionality: Motion ($300/year), Simulate ($1,500/year), and Connect ($3,000/year). Free licenses are available for educational institutions during the beta period.
FAQ
The Motion and Simulate tiers run entirely in a web browser. ProtoTwin Connect must be installed to communicate with physical PLCs or use the Python API.
The Connect plan, priced at $3,000/year, is designed for users needing PLC connectivity and virtual commissioning.
Yes, it supports direct imports and synchronization from Onshape as well as GLTF file uploads.
Source category: Operations
Source subcategory: Digital Twin Platform
