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SimScale

SimScale

Overview

What is SimScale?

SimScale is an engineering simulation platform that aims to revolutionize the way engineers, designers, scientists, and students design products. The SimScale platform is fully cloud-based and is accessible completely via a standard web browser. The easy-to-use interface supports numerous simulation…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Most User-Friendly Option: Users found SimScale to be the most user-friendly option compared to other programs they researched. They …
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Pricing

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What is SimScale?

SimScale is an engineering simulation platform that aims to revolutionize the way engineers, designers, scientists, and students design products. The SimScale platform is fully cloud-based and is accessible completely via a standard web browser. The easy-to-use interface supports numerous…

Entry-level set up fee?

  • Setup fee optional
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.simscale.com/product/pricing

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Details

What is SimScale?

SimScale is an engineering simulation platform that aims to revolutionize the way engineers, designers, scientists, and students design products. The SimScale platform is fully cloud-based and is accessible completely via a standard web browser. The easy-to-use interface supports numerous simulation types including Structural Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and more.

The vendor says that SimScale eliminates many of the hurdles that accompany traditional simulation tools: high installation costs, licensing fees, deployment of high-performance computing hardware, and required updates and maintenance, by harnessing the power of cloud computing. Users always have the latest version of SimScale. Integrating SimScale into your workflow enables you to virtually test and validate preliminary designs instead of relying on costly physical prototyping.

SimScale Screenshots

Screenshot of Thermodynamics: Gearbox Thermal SimulationScreenshot of Finite Element Analysis (FEA): Gantry Crane Stress AnalysisScreenshot of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): HVAC Internal Flow Analysis

SimScale Videos

SimScale Official Video
SimScale's Managing Director talking about Cloud-based Simulation

SimScale Integrations

SimScale Competitors

SimScale Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo
Supported CountriesWorldwide
Supported LanguagesEnglish
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Reviews and Ratings

(5)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Most User-Friendly Option: Users found SimScale to be the most user-friendly option compared to other programs they researched. They appreciated the intuitive GUI, simplified workflow, default mesher, and scalable computational power that allowed them to obtain quick results.

Convenient Cloud-Based Software: Users liked that SimScale is a cloud-based software, as it allowed them to access their work from anywhere and eliminated the need for expensive workstations or PCs. They also mentioned that the meshing and simulation could run even if the internet or computer was turned off.

Helpful Customer Support: Users praised the prompt response from the technical support team and found them helpful in troubleshooting simulations to find bugs. They also mentioned the knowledgeable and responsive assistance they received from the SimScale application engineers, highlighting specific instances where they received solutions with video tutorials made on weekends.

Difficult User Interface for Beginners: Some users have found the user interface of SimScale to be slightly challenging, especially for beginners. They have mentioned that it takes time to navigate and understand the various features and functions.

Limited Functionality for Certain Simulation Types: Several users have expressed that SimScale has limited functionality when it comes to certain simulation types and boundary conditions. While they acknowledge the continuous updates and expected improvements, they feel that there are still areas where the software falls short in meeting their specific needs.

Dependence on Internet Connection: A downside mentioned by some users is the high dependence on a good internet connection while using SimScale. They have highlighted occasional slowness due to internet connection as an annoyance, which can affect their workflow and overall experience with the software.

Users commonly recommend using SimScale for beginners or those working on a thesis due to its easy UI. They suggest starting with the Community license of SimScale for a painless software trial. Users also encourage creating a free account on SimScale to solve engineering simulation problems with the help of courses and support.

Another common recommendation is to try SimScale, as it runs smoothly even with a poor internet connection and provides a SimScale Academy for learning. Users suggest taking advantage of SimScale's tutorials and resources for easier learning. They also recommend exploring SimScale's videos, workshops, and community for learning and support.

Users also highlight SimScale as an excellent platform for advanced computing and thermal simulation, with affordable pricing. They think SimScale offers great usage plans and is affordable compared to other software options. The benefit of storing simulation data in the cloud with SimScale is also emphasized, saving overhead for IT infrastructure and human resources.

Overall, users recommend trying SimScale, particularly for beginners or those working on a thesis, utilizing the Community license for a painless trial, and taking advantage of the tutorials, resources, and supportive community available on the platform.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-4 of 4)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
At Raycore we design and manufacture heavy-duty LED work lights for the construction and mining industry. The lights are designed to be bright and robust. When we started using SimScale it was in an effort to validate current thermal designs and to hone in on the most efficient solution. With SimScale I was able to validate empirical data and then apply those models to other products. We were able to improve the thermal efficiency of the light housing and reduce weight.
  • User interface is intuitive and straightforward.
  • It is easy to copy design scenarios and iterate through different design approaches.
  • SimScale was fantastic at providing support throughout the design process. At one point they even ran a couple of simulations for me to verify the proper setup before running a series of large runs.
  • They make it affordable to get access to high-end analysis software via subscription that would otherwise be out of reach for a small company.
  • In certain scenarios, setup information can be dropped from the models. They were working to improve the workflow and once you know the setup routine it was not a big deal but could cause confusion for new users.
For a small company, SimScale is a great fit. It allows me to gain the use and support of higher-end software analysis on demand without the traditional high cost. This is super convenient for a company that does occasional design and analysis. Since the computing is cloud-based it also allows me to process large and detailed models without the high hardware cost that can be required. One potential drawback is that the design information is stored on someone else's server. For some industries and companies this would be a deal-breaker.
  • Subscription service.
  • Cloud based computing.
  • I was able to reduce material required on two different products while improving thermal transfer.
  • I was able to digitally prototype a new product without the expense of physical prototyping several physical models.
I used this software when it was known as CFDesign and in the first couple of years after it was acquired by Autodesk. I was familiar with the workflow of CFDesign and the user interface, the first couple times using SimScale was a bit of a challenge but I quickly became familiar with the interface and in the end thought the learning curve for SimScale software was less than CFDesign. One thing that helps with SimScale is you are able to choose the type of simulation that you want to do right in the beginning, this then serves as a setup guide throughout the remainder of the analysis process.
1
It is just me, I oversee all operations and engineering.
1
Typically the software would require someone with engineer knowledge or background to determine what inputs are required or should be changed in order to get expected or satisfactory results.
  • Product design.
  • Product development.
  • Product improvement.
  • With the cloud-based software I was able to run a series of simulations simultaneously.
  • Other design projects.
I had a great experience with SimScale but we only used the software for a short period of time to complete the current design requirements. It is not a software that we would continually subscribe to. Next subscription event would occur when there is a design requirement to do so.
No
  • Price
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
For us the single most important factor was the cost associated with the software. The subscription was a great value and filled our needs perfectly. It allowed us access to the software for the period of time it was necessary and we do not pay for it when it is not required. Between the hardware and the software requirements, we probably saved about 75% versus the traditional software purchase avenue.
If I were in the same circumstances I think the evaluation and selection process would be the same.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use SimScale to extend our FEA capability to include non-linear analysis. When we were evaluating different software what set SimScale apart was the lower capital cost of a subscription cloud-based software. It eliminated the upfront cost of purchasing a more conventional FEA software as well as the hardware to properly run it. We use SimScale for product failure analysis. The products are pushed to the limit and we need to know how the products will act when they are pushed past the elastic region.
  • Material non-linear analysis.
  • Geometric non-linear analysis.
  • Meshing.
  • Contact non-linear analysis.
  • Cylindrical based boundary conditions.
  • Automatically generated reporting.
SimScale handles analysis with material and geometric types of non-linearity very well. Even large problems are not an issue with the ability to select the size of machine that will solve. The user interface is very user-friendly and the support SimScale provides is unparalleled. It seems like it could improve how it handles problems with multi-body contacts and friction. I often have trouble getting problems like that solved.
  • Non-linear FEA.
  • Cloud based.
  • Great support.
  • It has allowed us to increase our service offering which has lead to additional work.
We chose to go with SimScale based mostly on capital cost. Competitors have a large upfront cost and also require expensive hardware to properly run them. Even their subscription cost is competitive with the annual cost of others.
John T. Winter | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
SimScale is used within our Mechanical Engineering group. We don't use CFD that often, so it was not possible to justify the expensive software packages that exist. SimScale has been a perfect fit for our company. We are able to resolve design iterations in the software to minimize our physical prototypes.
  • It's an online software so you can use any PC with an internet connection.
  • Select up to 96 cores (this number keeps increasing) to run simulations.
  • Superior collaboration with simulation experts at SimScale.
  • Learning from tutorials is great, but limiting. The online help is a must.
  • Some simulations take a lot of time, but at least it's not on your PC.
  • Sometimes the software times out due to the server.
SimScale has a quick learning ramp. This is due to the excellent staff at SimScale. I've had interns in their 2nd year of a BSME degree pick this program up and solve some difficult incompressible flow simulations. They love it and I love that we can iterate so quickly on a tool that doesn't stop their other design work. We can run a simulation and get back to designing in CAD. We get notified when the simulation is done. It's great! Give it a try for free and see for yourself.
  • We saved approximately $30k using this SaaS.
  • Running on the cloud saved us from buying expensive workstations.
  • Easy to use. We didn't need a CFD expert in-house for training. We now have outsourced the training to SimScale for just the membership cost.
Erika Boeing | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are primarily using the CFD functions in SimScale in order to test out several new designs for wind energy generation. It has been critical in formulating several new early design concepts.
  • Amazing support team to help with modeling and troubleshooting
  • Database of example projects is great for gaining ideas on how different scenarios can be modeled within the tool
  • Affordable CFD tool - with computing done in the cloud it allows for complicated modeling to be done without expensive equipment!
  • The browser interface is much more intuitive and faster to learn and use than many other CFD tools. Significantly easier than OpenFOAM, which is its backend.
  • Great training for new users
  • The computing functionality tops out at 32 cores, which is typically more than enough but has caused some limitations in the most complicated CFD scenarios that I wanted to model.
  • There have been a few pieces of open FOAM functionality (which is SimScale's CFD backend) that haven't yet been migrated into SimScale, so flexibility in modeling is slightly reduced from open FOAM. But this appears to be changing and evolving quickly.
  • The viewer for final analysis is somewhat limited. This is ok because the results can be downloaded and analyzed in full in Paraview, which is fully functional but takes more time than viewing in the browser window.
SimScale is awesome for someone who wants to spin up and use CFD, FEA, or Thermal Modeling quickly and with a lot of support. It doesn't require Linux or specialized computing knowledge to use, unlike many other reasonably-priced options for CFD. It also gets rid of the need for expensive computing equipment as the computing is done completely in the cloud. If you are willing to make your models public, they also offer a free version which contributes to the public database of possible models. If you need to model something which needs to have a large amount of customization or requires very extensive computing capacity, SimScale is unlikely to be the best way to go.
  • We've been able to iterate through a large number of designs more quickly than we would have without a CFD simulation, and also compared to the time it would have taken to prepare most other CFD simulations.
  • Affordable price, and it prevented us from needing to invest in expensive computing equipment.
  • Help from the support team also sped up the process of modeling different scenarios!
  • openfoam and ansys CFD
SimScale is much faster to spin up on than OpenFOAM. Ansys CFD tools are much more expensive! Both tools require expensive computing equipment to run, which SimScale does not!
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