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Access to millions of 3D CAD models as a basis for virtual commissioning in mechanical engineering

Game4Automation (Link: https://game4automation.com), of the German in2Sight GmbH, as of now offers engineers and designers access to millions of 3D CAD models from over 500 parts catalogs. The original data of the manufacturers is based on the eCATALOGsolutions technology by CADENAS and can be integrated directly into Game4Automation as a free development framework for visualization, virtual commissioning, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in automated environments. The framework Game4Automation for engineering is based on the commercial games development environment Unity and offers the necessary possibilities to bring the digital twin to life in Unity. As usual in games, this allows a very powerful visualization in a photorealistic quality even with large systems.

3D CAD models available with just a few clicks

With the integration of the CADENAS plugin "parts4cad" into Game4Automation, users no longer have to surf the Internet for hours to find the parts needed for their virtual commissioning. Thanks to the plugin, the desired 3D components can be individually configured easily and integrated directly with just a few clicks.

"Our close cooperation with Game4Automation aims also at mutually developing digital twins for a new virtual commissioning and simulation software based on Unity," confirms Jürgen Heimbach, CEO of CADENAS. "The new solution will build on AutomationML and in a further step on FMI / FMU behaviour models."

"The integration of parts4cad of CADENAS into Game4Automation enables engineering companies to easily create visualizations and simulations in Unity based on the CADENAS parts library. The FMU behavior models can then also be used for virtual commissioning, without having to set up and maintain one's own library. This is so far unique and a huge time-saver for our users," adds Dr. Thomas Strigl, CEO of in2Sight. 

The next release of Game4Automation is including a CAD interface. It will be available in the Unity Asset Store in about two weeks. The interface is based on the modern 3MF file format, which most CAD Systems are able to write. We will enhance the interface with additional kinematic export options and deeper integrations for Solidworks and NX soon.

During concept design and sales of new automation concepts, it is often very important to simulate and visualize the planned automation processes. With Unity, Game4Automation Professional and Playmaker interactive simulations for machinery concepts can be developed very easy without any programming skills. You can publish the result as interactive (VR)experience to any platform like Windows, Android or WebGL or you can export it as a movie.

Based on augmented reality important information can be displayed in a very intuitive and transparent way to operators. The information can be displayed as an overlay on top of the camera image on tablets or mobile phones or as an overlay over the real world in augmented reality glasses like the Microsoft Hololens. Game4Automation Professional – an open source framework for simulation, virtual commissioning and 3d human machine interfaces in the machinery and process industry will include in one of the next upcoming releases all necessary components to create ease augmented reality human machine. The communication is done with the in Game4Automation Professional included OPC UA interface. Nearly all available PLC and control systems on the market can be connected. Game4Automation can be compiled to IOs, Android, Linux and Windows devices.