ProtoTech Solutions

ProtoTech Solutions, an APS Certified Partner, is a leading provider of 3D software technology solutions. They are experts in 3D visualization, data interoperability, and application development. They provide consulting and custom software development and have developed solutions for agricultural, medical, engineering design, civil, architecture, manufacturing, and many other industries.
 

The Challenge: Integrating data to perform lifecycle assessments

Designers face significant challenges when trying to connect data across different platforms to perform a product lifecycle assessment (LCA). Tools like Fusion contain 3D modeling data, design iterations, and bill of materials. Separately, LCA software like PRé Sustainability’s SimaPro calculates the environmental impact of a design, such as CO2 emissions, water consumption, and land usage. 

To determine a design’s environmental impact, designers had to manually export data from Fusion into CSV and PDF formats and import it into SimaPro. But this method of fetching and importing data between these types of tools was time-consuming and disconnected.

PRé Sustainability worked with ProtoTech Solutions to close the gap. ProtoTech tested traditional REST APIs to transfer data, but this resulted in a 2-3 minute turnaround time and multiple nested calls. With granular access to data through the Manufacturing Data Model APIs, ProtoTech Solutions saw an opportunity to seamlessly integrate these different data sets.

The APS Solution: EcoDesigner tool enables real-time environment impact analysis

ProtoTech leveraged the Manufacturing Data Model API to create EcoDesigner, a tool that allows designers to perform real-time environmental impact analysis. EcoDesigner automates the extraction of component properties, such as material mass, and density from the design in Fusion and sends it directly to SimaPro for lifecycle assessment. The Viewer enables designers to visualize and interact with models alongside LCA data, identifying potential high-carbon hot spots. It also makes complex data accessible to non-technical users like LCA experts or marketers, who can now view the design and recognize each component and its function.   

With the Manufacturing Data Model API’s use of GraphQL, ProtoTech’s solution can quickly query and retrieve only the granular data they need for faster workflows and reduced data transfer. Environmental impact results are achieved five times faster, compared with REST APIs’ bulkier data exchange workflows. Sustainability results can also be written back into the design for ongoing traceability. These seamless workflows enable designers to incorporate LCA analysis into the earliest stages of design, when 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined.
 

Business Outcomes: Faster, smarter, and more sustainable designs

• Designers receive feedback on the environmental impact of their design choices within seconds rather than minutes
• Automated extraction and write-back of data eliminates manual data exchange, saving valuable time and effort
• Designs can be the single source of truth to ensure accuracy across multiple iterations and teams
• Companies can develop more eco-friendly products, meet regulatory standards, and reduce their environmental footprint by conducting sustainability analysis early in the design phase

APIs and Services

Manufacturing Data Model API

Viewer

Authentication

Data Management API

Model Derivative API