At Yonezawa Engineering Asia (Thailand), we offer a 3D robot simulator to support production line optimization in the Thai market. In this article, we explore how to visualize and address production line challenges using “icROBOSim,” an add-on module for the 3D CAD software IRONCAD, together with Mr. Ikeda from CreativeMachine, Ltd.
IRONCAD: A Powerful Solution for Designing Custom Equipment and Jigs
IRONCAD is a 3D CAD software developed in the United States. It supports not only product design for consumer electronics and other products, but also the design of factory-specific equipment, production lines, factory automation (FA) systems, and jigs. One of its key strengths—unmatched by other CAD tools—is its capability for conceptual production line design, allowing flexible responses to complex configurations and frequent layout changes. In Japan, over 6,000 licenses have been sold, and adoption is now expanding across Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand. In both Japan and Southeast Asia, CreativeMachine, Ltd. serves as the exclusive distributor, providing comprehensive support—from implementation and training to ongoing operational assistance—closely aligned with on-site needs.
Visualize Jig Design and Robot Interference—All on a Single Screen
“icROBOSim” – A 3D CAD-Integrated Robot Simulator
icROBOSim offers practical, scalable, and user-friendly features designed to meet the complex demands of today’s manufacturing environments.
【ทWhy Choose icROBOSim?】
Traditional robot simulation often requires individual teaching for each robot—an approach that is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. In environments where robots from multiple manufacturers are used, different simulation software must be managed separately, making it difficult to build a unified simulation environment. Furthermore, most existing software is complex, making it challenging to integrate multi-vendor robots or accurately replicate real-world production lines.
icROBOSim enables seamless integration and control of robots from multiple manufacturers within a single environment. It streamlines the design, verification, and optimization of production lines, allowing users to visualize the impact of automation before implementation. Thanks to these capabilities, icROBOSim has been adopted by a growing number of companies.
“In the manufacturing industry, automation, labor savings, and improved design accuracy are key challenges,” says Mr. Ikeda of CreativeMachine, Ltd.
“As the need grows to reduce the burden of robot teaching and operate simulations more efficiently, IRONCAD supports engineers on the shop floor—not just as a CAD tool, but as a comprehensive simulation platform. It’s a 3D solution that helps answer key questions such as, ‘Where should we place the robots?’ and ‘Which processes should we automate?’”
User-Friendly and Convenient Features of icROBOSim
✔ รSupports Approximately 290 Industrial Robot Models
icROBOSim is compatible with major robot manufacturers and also enables motion verification for peripheral devices such as AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and robot hands. New models are continuously added based on user requests, ensuring broad compatibility with virtually all robot brands and types.
✔ Intuitive Operation
Easily define robot actions through intuitive visual interfaces—no specialized expertise required. Simulate entire production lines, even those with robots from different manufacturers, all in a single environment.
▲ Perform equipment design and robot verification directly within CAD
▲ Simple and user-friendly interface
✔ Easy Visualization of Interference and Collision Checks
Potential interference and collisions between robots and surrounding equipment can be detected in 3D space in advance, helping to reduce errors and minimize accident risks during the line design phase.
▲ Precise motion control with a timeline interface
✔ High Compatibility with Other CAD Data
icROBOSim supports importing CAD files from other software, enabling seamless use of existing 3D data without the need for rework. This significantly lowers the barriers to adoption.
In this way, icROBOSim is not merely a CAD add-on, but a highly functional, practical robot simulation software that delivers real value for implementation.
“icROBOSim is proprietary software developed exclusively by Creative Machine. It can be used for a wide range of applications, including design reviews, on-site staff training, and automation planning for manual tasks. Its versatility is one of its key strengths, enabling tasks such as generating data for line testing, on-site verification, and reverse simulation to explore how specific operations can be automated,” says Mr. Ikeda of Creative Machine.
The IRONCAD software, including the icROBOSim features, is available as a free 30-day trial.
Interview Cooperation: Creative Machine, Ltd.
