I recently came across machineering and their simulation platform iPhysics at a trade fair, and it caught my attention, so I wanted to learn a bit more about it from people who have actually used it in real projects.
I’d be really interested to hear how your overall experience with iPhysics has been in everyday use, what you mainly use it for, and how easy it is to work with in practice. I’m also curious about how quickly teams can get familiar with it, whether it fits well into existing workflows, and if there are any drawbacks or challenges that became noticeable over time.
If anyone has also worked with similar platforms, I’d love to hear how iPhysics compares and what you think its strengths and weaknesses are.
Any honest feedback or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

10 hours ago, Zerbo said:

I recently came across machineering and their simulation platform iPhysics at a trade fair, and it caught my attention, so I wanted to learn a bit more about it from people who have actually used it in real projects.
I’d be really interested to hear how your overall experience with iPhysics has been in everyday use, what you mainly use it for, and how easy it is to work with in practice. I’m also curious about how quickly teams can get familiar with it, whether it fits well into existing workflows, and if there are any drawbacks or challenges that became noticeable over time.
If anyone has also worked with similar platforms, I’d love to hear how iPhysics compares and what you think its strengths and weaknesses are.
Any honest feedback or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

From a quick look at the company website it seems very specialised to small, perhaps intricate, machine tools.

Simulation software has been around a long time and, depending upon the enormously wide range of processes (probably almost all process) that can be simulated as well as the type of simulation required, may or may not be suitable for any given application.

I don’t use iPhysics myself on a daily basis, but my employer is familiar with it, particularly with regard to virtual commissioning. The exciting part, I've learned, isn't the attractive 3D view, but whether the mechanics, control systems, material flow and operational behaviour all fit together. If you only use it to make a machine move smoothly, the benefits are limited. However, it becomes more interesting in practice if you can observe things beforehand, before it gets expensive or if you get the timing wrong. What I would advise against, though, is modelling the entire line right from the start. It makes much more sense to use a smaller model or a proof of concept in the initial phase. This will also help you to see how well it fits into the team and existing processes. What kind of systems do you want to simulate?

On 5/29/2026 at 10:28 PM, studiot said:

From a quick look at the company website it seems very specialised to small, perhaps intricate, machine tools.

Simulation software has been around a long time and, depending upon the enormously wide range of processes (probably almost all process) that can be simulated as well as the type of simulation required, may or may not be suitable for any given application.

So far, I’ve only seen the company at a trade fair and then watched a few videos of it on YouTube. The iPhysics software is supposed to be able to create a digital twin of the machine. This allows you to view the entire process on a PC. If any errors occur, you can quickly make changes before the machine is actually installed in the factory. LIke a virtual commissioning.
That would obviously be great, as it would mean less downtime or allow staff to be trained in advance. That would be interesting. The question is also how quickly you can get to master the software.

4 minutes ago, aliceinwonderland said:

I don’t use iPhysics myself on a daily basis, but my employer is familiar with it, particularly with regard to virtual commissioning.

This will also help you to see how well it fits into the team and existing processes. What kind of systems do you want to simulate?

Can one employee take care of that, or is it a whole team?
How long did it take him to get to master the software?
Did he teach himself, or are there any training courses available?

We are mainly interested in simulating automated production and material-handling systems before they are built or modified. Our goal is to create a digital representation of the planned equipment, including robots, conveyors, sensors, and control logic, so that we can test different operating scenarios in a virtual environment. This would allow us to identify potential bottlenecks, collisions, or sequencing issues at an early stage, reducing the risk of costly changes during commissioning.
Another important use case is the validation of automation concepts and PLC programs before deployment. By connecting the control software to a virtual model, we can verify that machines behave as expected and optimize processes without interrupting production. In addition, we see value in using the simulation for operator training and for evaluating future production changes, such as new product variants or increased throughput requirements. Overall, the main reason for considering iPhysics is to reduce engineering risks, shorten commissioning times, and improve confidence in design decisions before investing in physical equipment.

24 minutes ago, Zerbo said:

So far, I’ve only seen the company at a trade fair and then watched a few videos of it on YouTube. The iPhysics software is supposed to be able to create a digital twin of the machine. This allows you to view the entire process on a PC. If any errors occur, you can quickly make changes before the machine is actually installed in the factory. LIke a virtual commissioning.
That would obviously be great, as it would mean less downtime or allow staff to be trained in advance. That would be interesting. The question is also how quickly you can get to master the software.

Can one employee take care of that, or is it a whole team?
How long did it take him to get to master the software?
Did he teach himself, or are there any training courses available?

We are mainly interested in simulating automated production and material-handling systems before they are built or modified. Our goal is to create a digital representation of the planned equipment, including robots, conveyors, sensors, and control logic, so that we can test different operating scenarios in a virtual environment. This would allow us to identify potential bottlenecks, collisions, or sequencing issues at an early stage, reducing the risk of costly changes during commissioning.
Another important use case is the validation of automation concepts and PLC programs before deployment. By connecting the control software to a virtual model, we can verify that machines behave as expected and optimize processes without interrupting production. In addition, we see value in using the simulation for operator training and for evaluating future production changes, such as new product variants or increased throughput requirements. Overall, the main reason for considering iPhysics is to reduce engineering risks, shorten commissioning times, and improve confidence in design decisions before investing in physical equipment.

Staff training like a flight simulator for pilots, rather than a design tool ? A good use, but pretty expensive to set up for multiple machines.