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Introduction

Logo of PLC-Lab 3D Studio

With PLC-Lab 3D Studio, a 3D model of a mechatronic system can be converted into a digital twin, which can be coupled with a real PLC, a software PLC, or other systems.

This digital twin makes it possible to create any learning scenarios or to test control programs before commissioning.

Learning scenarios are virtual mechatronic systems or machines that are realistically simulated. The main purpose of these scenarios is to learn PLC programming: Learners – such as students or apprentices – are given the task of developing a PLC program for the system. With the help of the 3D model, the created program can then be tested and optimized in a practical way – all without real hardware. This allows for analyzing errors, checking functions, and vividly understanding control sequences.

Typical places where the software is used are schools, training departments in companies, PLC training courses, as well as internal and external training related to automation technology.


Image: Logo 'Blender' and Logo 'PLC-Lab 3D Studio'

For creating the 3D model, we recommend the free 3D software Blender, as PLC-Lab 3D Studio does not have its own 3D editor. If you already have 3D models, you can import them into Blender (file formats OBJ, FBX, or 3MF) and use them as a basis for your 3D model. In the near future, we will also offer tutorials for other CAD software (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Inventor, FreeCAD).

Image: A Blender 3D model is converted into a digital twin

Included with PLC-Lab 3D Studio is a 3D library and a plugin for Blender, which provides a variety of useful 3D objects – such as switches, lamps, control panels, conveyor belts, cylinders, pick-and-place stations, water tanks, and much more. With the Blender plugin, skills can be inserted into the selected objects at the push of a button.

PLC-Lab 3D Studio is particularly aimed at use in education and training – for example, for learning factories or smaller mechatronic training models.

Examples:

  • Learning factories from Festo, Fischertechnik, Köster Systemtechnik, Lucas Nülle
  • Festo MPS stations
  • Sled model from the IHK final examination for mechatronics technicians, part 1/2
  • Conveyor belt model from the IHK final examination for electronics technicians for automation technology, part 2

System Requirements

  • Windows 10 or 11
  • Dedicated graphics card
  • Processor with at least 4 cores
  • At least 16 GB RAM
Light Theme Dark Theme

Image: PLC-Lab 3D Studio with Skill Manager (left) and Properties window (right). Click on the image to enlarge it. The theme (Light or Dark) can be switched via the status bar (bottom of the screen) with the mouse.

Compatibility

Supported import formats:

  • FBX (particularly suitable for use with the free 3D modeling software Blender)
  • ... other formats will follow

Blender Logo PLC-Lab 3D Studio Logo

Requirements for the CAD file.

Using CAD construction software.

The created 3D simulation can be coupled with the following systems:

  • Siemens controllers (S7-300/400/1200/1500, LOGO!)
  • Siemens software PLCs (PLCSIM S7-300, PLCSIM S7-1200, PLCSIM S7-1500, PLCSIM Advanced)
  • Controllers with OPC/UA interface
  • Controllers with MQTT support
  • Python code via MQTT
  • Allen-Bradley controllers
  • Grafcet-Studio by MHJ-Software
  • WinSPS-S7 (STL, FBD, LAD) by MHJ-Software

How does it work?

The 3D construction of the model is done in a suitable CAD software. If you want to equip 3D objects with skills (abilities), they receive a corresponding tag in the object name. This tag can be added to the existing object name. For the software Blender, we offer a plugin. With this plugin, the various skills can be inserted without typing.

Examples of object tags:

  • Indicator light: {Lamp}
  • Cylinder rod: {Drive-2-Point} (enables linear movement)
  • Conveyor belt surface: {Conveyor}

Symbol File

To connect the 3D objects with a controller, a symbol file is needed. This contains the variables (tags, symbols) through which the skills are linked to input and output operands. The file can be created manually or imported.

The Workflow

This is how a runnable 3D simulation is created from a CAD file:

  1. Create a new project folder on your hard drive.
  2. Create a symbol file in it with the required inputs and outputs.
  3. Construct your mechatronic model with Blender and tag relevant objects with skills.
  4. Export the construction as an FBX file.
  5. Open the file with PLC-Lab 3D Studio.
  6. Configure the skills in 3D Studio. Once an object has been configured with skills, the object name should no longer be changed in Blender. Otherwise the configurations will be lost.
  7. Select a suitable device (PLC or soft PLC) and start the simulation in RUN mode for functional testing.

In the tutorials, all steps are explained and carried out in a practical manner.