20-sim

With the advancement in technology rapidly evolving, computers quickly became more or less a necessity in every environment. What's more, nearly any machine or device can be connected to a computer for manipulation and processing. When it comes to heavy industries, specialized applications like 20-sim let you create various simulations and test them out to get a glimpse how machines and various dynamic systems behave in different circumstances.

The application is packed with a heavy set of features, giving you full control over every technical and visual detail. Implementation of functions and tools is cleverly done, with a decent amount of system resources used. However, you might want to check your DirectX version for a smooth worflow since you also get to work with 3D rendering and processing.

Although the application mainly targets specialized environments, research and development, anyone can take advantage of its features thanks to the intuitive design. There are also various templates and examples, packed with helpful descriptions and instructions to get you quickly up and running.

Through various combinations of drawing utilities, models, math expressions and other calculus, the application lets you create simulations for mechanics, hydraulics, signal processing, thermal appliances, electric motors and a lot more.

The amount and diversity of creation tools put at your disposal is nothing but impressive. You get to use all common drawing tools such as lines and geometric shapes, but with customizable anchor points, as well as tools to insert images, text and external objects.

Leave worries aside, because you don't need to draw each detail of your representations. The application comes equipped with a rich library of specialized objects you can easily import. These are found in a side panel, stored in categories like bond graphs, iconic diagrams for electrical, hydraulic, mechanical and thermal components, as well as multiple types of signal elements.

With some degree of programming knowledge you can write down scrips for each object in order to tweak or create new behaviors. This provides a new perspective on your overall design, further enhancing flexibility.

Just like you do when creating applications, your design can be put to the test in order to identify any possible flaws. An integrated debugger checks all variables and functions, displaying results in an output window so you know if and where adjustments need to be made.

You might be wondering why DirectX is needed, but the application's set of features does not end here. If your project passes testing and debugging, you can trigger a fully functional simulation, with the possibility to view your project in a 3D environment.

Coming to this, editing and creation options are cleverly implemented in the actual simulation as well. As such, you get to manage a handful of specialized mechanical components defined by thorough algorithms and expressions that make them twist, turn, rotate, push, pull, send and receive signals and a lot more.

The application also keeps you busy for a good amount of time in the simulation mode. With multiple controls, you can set speed for careful analysis. This comes in handy, because the output window is fitted with a real time updating graph, displaying corresponding forces, velocities, energies and other attributes you need to track.

Compatibility is also a plus, both when it comes to import and export options. A large variety of 2D and 3D models or objects can be used in your design. You can also grab data in multiple formats, which let you save pictures, models, as well as values and text in a decent amount of commonly used file formats.

On an ending note, 20-sim is packed with an abundance of features, taking probably a day just to name them all. A lot of effort was put into visual design and functionality, letting you quickly accommodate and start planning schematics, in spite of the complexity and diversity of functions.

Import and export options let you use and gather various types of data, making it suitable for nearly any specialized field of activity. If you want or need to build machines and other systems, it's recommended to create a virtual representation and test it out, and this application is just the right environment to do so.