The phrase covers two very different things, and buyers waste months talking past each other because of it.
Two kinds of twin
A simulation twin is connected to live machine data and used for engineering, monitoring and predictive maintenance. A visual twin is a photoreal, accurate 3D replica of the machine, used for marketing, sales, training and documentation. We build the second, and it is the one most manufacturers actually need first.
What a visual twin includes
- An optimised, accurate model of the machine, built from your CAD
- Materials and finishes that match the real unit
- Configurations, options and colourways
- Web and AR versions light enough to load on a phone
- A reusable master file that every later asset comes from
What it costs
Preparing one machine starts at $1,190 as a standalone project. It is also included in every render and film price, and everything afterwards reuses it. See CAD to marketing assets and pricing.
What you can do once it exists
- Produce catalogue renders of every configuration without a photo shoot
- Animate the process or a single feature
- Put an interactive viewer on your product page
- Place the machine at full scale on a customer floor in AR
- Train operators in VR before the machine is commissioned
Why it saves money over time
Most manufacturers pay to model the same machine several times: once for a brochure render, again for a video agency, again for a configurator. A visual twin is paid for once. Repeat projects on a prepared machine typically cost 20 to 40 per cent less.
Where to start
One machine, usually the flagship. Prepare it, produce a render set and one feature film, and you will have the assets to judge whether the rest of the range is worth doing. Send a CAD file for a free assessment.
Send one CAD file for a free assessment.
We open it, tell you what is usable, and return a fixed price and delivery date within one working day. NDA first if you need it.
