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2D versus Real Time 3D Simulations

The rise of Real-Time 3D Simulations

Real-Time 3D simulations are getting more and more indispensable in the manufacturing industry. They are mainly used for virtual simulation and monitoring of machines and production lines. Monitoring and testing in a digital environment isn’t a new concept, but what is quite new is doing this in Real-Time 3D. 

In this blog we’ll dive into the question: Why would you want to use RealTime 3D over 2D?

For those who are reading and have no idea what we mean with RealTime3D simulations, let us explain: Real-time 3D gives you the power to visualize in 3 dimensions plus the factor of time, thus introducing motion and events on the 3D model. Giving you a lively and working model of a machine or system. 

2D versus Real-Time 3D Simulations

We all know 2D tools like Excel and traditional CAD layout software and those 2D-tools are really good at solving 2D problems. 

In industry and manufacturing we move and place things in this 3D space. In the past it was hard to visualize them and easily put motion to it, so we could see and understand the implications of choices in this 3D + time model. 

What do we mean with the fact that the challenges in industry are 3D + time related?

For example; We see this in the use of robots. These are objects that are in full 3D and can move anywhere anytime inside the parameters of a cubicle. So choices in design and flow are done in this domain.

If there are 2 robots in a setup, the arms of those robots can’t both be at the exact same place at the same moment. This would be a deadlock in the setup. These kinds of errors could only be easily visualized in a 3D environment.

In 2D sheets you can’t see the “hidden dimensions”. It is hard to understand how 3D works within a 2D space. So the closer we can get to this paradigm within our engineering and design, the better we can communicate over what’s happening. As a human being it’s easier to translate a 3D layout to a 2D layout, than the other way around.

In 3D CAD software we are already working with the 3D images. But in more integral discussions with multiple disciplines, like clients and software engineers we miss the animations, simulations, behaviors as the 4th dimension of time.

Set up 4D models doesn’t cost that much time and effort anymore and they solve a lot of our communication problems we used to have.

The RealTime 3D simulations help sales engineering, design, engineering and software testing. The software can be used to connect multiple disciplines in an earlier stage to get a complete understanding of the product. 

So in short:

  • Most of the challenges in engineering and manufacturing are 3D+time related
  • We now have the tools to setup up complete models
  • Due to the authoring tools and using the data that is available we can use time

Do you also want to start visualizing your machines in Real Time 3D? Our expert Prespective team can help you!

Author: Omar-Karim Ajouz