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Design & Simulation

Optical design and simulation, entirely in your browser

Lay out real optics from a catalog of off-the-shelf parts, watch rays update as you drag, then run full GPU wave-optics analysis with PhotonCore. Nothing to install, no per-seat viewer licences.

Start designingWatch a tutorial

No installation · 7-day Professional trial · designs shareable by link

Design studio · beam pathfast rays on
The 3DOptix design studio tracing a beam path through an optical layout
Real-time
layout re-trace
1B rays
per source, paid plans
Zero install
runs in the browser
Workflow

Four steps from blank scene to signed-off design

The same loop whether you are prototyping a relay on a lab bench or specifying a production imaging module.

Optical elements being positioned on a 3D bench
Step 1

Build the layout

Drag real catalog optics onto a 3D bench. Mounts, posts and breadboards included, so the model matches the setup you will actually assemble.

Traced rays beside a live spot diagram
Step 2

Trace interactively

Fast Rays re-traces the system as you move elements – immediate feedback while you tune spacings, angles and apertures.

The same design assembled on a physical optical bench
Step 3

Analyse, then build it

Send the scene to PhotonCore for spot, PSF, MTF, wavefront, polarization and stray-light analysis at billions of rays – then order the parts and assemble the bench you modelled.

A published design in the 3DOptix Warehouse
Step 4

Share & hand off

Publish to the Warehouse, send a link a colleague opens in their browser, export the part list, or carry the assembly into CAD with OptiTwin.

Capabilities

Everything the design loop needs

Real component catalog

Off-the-shelf lenses, mirrors, filters, gratings and opto-mechanics with vendor part numbers – design with parts you can order today.

More information

True 3D, non-sequential

Fold mirrors, off-axis geometry and free-space paths without surface ordering constraints – the scene is the model.

Coherent & polarized light

Amplitude, phase and polarization state carried per ray through coatings, waveplates and birefringent elements.

AI agent plugins

Drive the platform from Claude Code, Codex or Cursor over MCP – build scenes, run analyses and read the results back.

More information

Warehouse community

Open published setups – interferometers, spectrometers, microscopes – clone one and adapt it to your own bench.

More information

Shareable by link

Reviews happen in the browser. No file versions in email, no viewer licences for colleagues or clients.

Works with what you have

Full CAD connectivity, and Zemax .zmx and CODE V .seq files upload straight into a scene – bring an existing design across instead of rebuilding it.

AI agent plugins

Design optical systems from your coding agent

The 3DOptix plugin bundles our MCP server with the skills that teach an agent to use it well. Your agent builds setups, places optics and detectors, runs GPU ray traces and reads the analysis back – against the real physics engine, not a language model's guess about optics.

Get the pluginHow the engine works

Requires a 3DOptix account

github.com/3doptix/skills Agent Skills standard

Claude Code

claude plugin marketplace add 3doptix/skills
claude plugin install 3doptix@3doptix

Codex

codex plugin marketplace add 3doptix/skills
codex plugin add 3doptix@3doptix

Also works in Cursor and any other client that speaks the Agent Skills standard. Want the tools without the workflow guidance? Add the MCP server on its own.

Analysis outputs

What you get back from a run

AnalysisOutputTypically used for
Spot diagramRMS & geometric radius

Focus quality across field and wavelength – the first check on any imaging design.

PSF & MTFcontrast vs lp/mm

Resolution specification and sensor matching for cameras and instruments.

WavefrontOPD map, Zernike terms

Aberration budgeting for diffraction-limited and adaptive-optics systems.

Irradiance & powerdetector maps

Illumination uniformity, throughput budgets and damage-threshold checks.

Stray light & ghostsscatter path ranking

Finding the surface responsible for flare before the hardware is built.

Discover the powerful capabilities of 3DOptix

Diffraction

The 3DOptix ray tracing and computational optics engine enables precise modeling and analysis of optical systems, making it a valuable tool for understanding and optimizing the impact of diffraction phenomena in intricate optical designs.
Download sample setup

Interferometer

A comprehensive toolset for modeling and analyzing interferometric optical systems. Leveraging its advanced features, 3DOptix enables precise simulation of interferometric setups, providing valuable insights into interference patterns and aiding in the optimization of interferometer performance for diverse applications
Download sample setup

Aberration

Model and analyze various aberrant optical systems comprehensively with advanced simulation tools, encompassing different kinds of optical aberrations, from spherical and chromatic aberrations to coma aberration, wavefront, and axial chromatic aberration. 3DOptix enables precise characterization of these optical aberrations, facilitating a deeper understanding and effective correction strategies for optical systems in diverse applications.
Download sample setup

Complex systems

3DOptix demonstrates exceptional capabilities in simulating complex optical systems, offering advanced tools for modeling intricate setups with precision. The simulation platform provides a comprehensive environment for analyzing and optimizing a wide range of optical configurations, empowering researchers and engineers to explore and enhance the performance of complex optical systems for various applications.
Download sample setup

Scattering

3DOptix GPU ray tracing engine, excelling in the precision of tracing scattered light. This advanced feature within the 3DOptix platform not only accurately models and analyzes the intricate behavior of scattered light in optical systems but also offers the capability to deploy various scattering models, including Gaussian, Lambertian, and others. This versatility provides researchers with powerful tools for in-depth exploration and optimization of diverse scattering phenomena.
Download sample setup

Analysis and Simulation

High-end, fast and precise non-sequential optical simulations, allowing for the modeling of complex optical systems with efficiency. 3DOptix advanced simulation tools not only facilitate the rapid execution of simulations but also enable thorough analysis of the results, providing researchers and engineers with valuable insights for optimizing intricate optical designs.
Download sample setup

Polarization

Robust optical simulation and computation capabilities, particularly in the realm of 3D polarization. Leveraging advanced algorithms, 3DOptix enables accurate modeling and analysis of intricate polarization effects within optical systems. This capability empowers researchers to explore and optimize the intricate interplay of light polarization in three-dimensional spaces, offering valuable insights for a wide range of applications in optics and photonics.
Download sample setup


The 3DOptix ray tracing and computational optics engine enables precise modeling and analysis of optical systems, making it a valuable tool for understanding and optimizing the impact of diffraction phenomena in intricate optical designs.

A comprehensive toolset for modeling and analyzing interferometric optical systems. Leveraging its advanced features, 3DOptix enables precise simulation of interferometric setups, providing valuable insights into interference patterns and aiding in the optimization of interferometer performance for diverse applications.

Model and analyze various aberrant optical systems comprehensively with advanced simulation tools, encompassing different kinds of optical aberrations, from spherical and chromatic aberrations to coma aberration, wavefront, and axial chromatic aberration. 3DOptix enables precise characterization of these optical aberrations, facilitating a deeper understanding and effective correction strategies for optical systems in diverse applications.

3DOptix demonstrates exceptional capabilities in simulating complex optical systems, offering advanced tools for modeling intricate setups with precision. The simulation platform provides a comprehensive environment for analyzing and optimizing a wide range of optical configurations, empowering researchers and engineers to explore and enhance the performance of complex optical systems for various applications.

3DOptix GPU ray tracing engine, excelling in the precision of tracing scattered light. This advanced feature within the 3DOptix platform not only accurately models and analyzes the intricate behavior of scattered light in optical systems but also offers the capability to deploy various scattering models, including Gaussian, Lambertian, and others. This versatility provides researchers with powerful tools for in-depth exploration and optimization of diverse scattering phenomena.

High-end, fast and precise non-sequential optical simulations, allowing for the modeling of complex optical systems with efficiency. 3DOptix advanced simulation tools not only facilitate the rapid execution of simulations but also enable thorough analysis of the results, providing researchers and engineers with valuable insights for optimizing intricate optical designs.

Robust optical simulation and computation capabilities, particularly in the realm of 3D polarization. Leveraging advanced algorithms, 3DOptix enables accurate modeling and analysis of intricate polarization effects within optical systems. This capability empowers researchers to explore and optimize the intricate interplay of light polarization in three-dimensional spaces, offering valuable insights for a wide range of applications in optics and photonics.

What makes 3DOptix different?

Why use 3DOptix

At the heart of 3DOptix is a state-of-the-art GPU ray-tracing engine that operates in the cloud. This unique engine empowers users to perform complex photonics computations effortlessly. It calculates billions of rays per second in parallel, ensuring that simulated lighting is not only fast but also physically accurate. The result is a true-to-life scene with realistic outcomes, providing confidence in the optical designs.
3DOptix’s cloud-based approach means that it’s accessible via any web browser, eliminating the need for specific hardware or software installations. Users can seamlessly access the tool, work on optical designs, and run simulations from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.
One of the standout features of 3DOptix is its intuitive user experience. Whether you’re creating a simple optical apparatus or tackling a complex optical system, the software’s innovative UX simplifies the entire process. The sleek user interface (UI) coupled with an intuitive analysis portal ensures that users can easily verify the optical accuracy of their designs.
3DOptix offers an extensive library of optical elements and components sourced from leading industry vendors. Users have access to a wide range of options, including off-the-shelf optomechanical assemblies, common light sources, and even the flexibility to integrate their own customized optics. This versatility allows engineers to explore various optical configurations and solutions.
The integration of 3DOptix with CAD tools streamlines the workflow for testing virtual optical prototypes. This integration not only saves time but also shortens the design cycle significantly. Engineers can quickly plan and test optical designs, validate feasibility, and perform optical analyses with ease.
3DOptix serves as an interactive optomechanical, non-sequential cloud-based ray tracing software. It caters to various optical applications, including optical layout benches, optical system designs, feasibility validation, and optical analysis. Its versatility makes it an invaluable tool for optical engineers across industries.
  • Novelty Ray-Tracing and Optical Computation Engine
At the heart of 3DOptix is a state-of-the-art GPU ray-tracing engine that operates in the cloud. This unique engine empowers users to perform complex photonics computations effortlessly. It calculates billions of rays per second in parallel, ensuring that simulated lighting is not only fast but also physically accurate. The result is a true-to-life scene with realistic outcomes, providing confidence in the optical designs.
  • No Hardware Requirements
3DOptix’s cloud-based approach means that it’s accessible via any web browser, eliminating the need for specific hardware or software installations. Users can seamlessly access the tool, work on optical designs, and run simulations from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Intuitive User Experience (UX)
One of the standout features of 3DOptix is its intuitive user experience. Whether you’re creating a simple optical apparatus or tackling a complex optical system, the software’s innovative UX simplifies the entire process. The sleek user interface (UI) coupled with an intuitive analysis portal ensures that users can easily verify the optical accuracy of their designs
  • Diverse Optical Elements and Components
3DOptix offers an extensive library of optical elements and components sourced from leading industry vendors. Users have access to a wide range of options, including off-the-shelf optomechanical assemblies, common light sources, and even the flexibility to integrate their own customized optics. This versatility allows engineers to explore various optical configurations and solutions.
  • Enhanced Productivity
The integration of 3DOptix with CAD tools streamlines the workflow for testing virtual optical prototypes. This integration not only saves time but also shortens the design cycle significantly. Engineers can quickly plan and test optical designs, validate feasibility, and perform optical analyses with ease.
  • Comprehensive Optical Design Tool
3DOptix serves as an interactive optomechanical, non-sequential cloud-based ray tracing software. It caters to various optical applications, including optical layout benches, optical system designs, feasibility validation, and optical analysis. Its versatility makes it an invaluable tool for optical engineers across industries.

What our clients are saying about us

What I love about the 3DOptix platform is it interactive platform where the 3D model of the design is fully and realistically (!) integrated into the optical simulation. Moreover, the simulation and analysis capabilities are very impressive on par with leading tools on the market. The support is very responsive and they are eager to provide a thorough solution to whatever requirement the customer might have.
Michael MrejenSenior Physicist, Q (cue) ltd
Michael Mrejen
A clear GUI, simple Drag&Drop functions and useful analysis tools make it easier to me to enter the world of optic design compared to other common softwares.
Paul ZschornackGraduate of Technical Physics, ROBUST AO
Paul Zschornack
Having worked with Zemax for research projects for some time, the discovery of 3DOptix seemed like a very promising addition from the start. For example, the intuitive and lab-like software provides a wonderful tool for planning new experiments and as a digital lab book. We are very happy to follow the development of 3DOptix and to make it useful for our research area of Nonlinear Quantum Optics through an ongoing fruitful exchange of experiences.
Marthe ZejaHumboldt-University, Berlin
Marthe Zeja
Since using 3DOptix I have been able to increase my productivity by using the simple and easy to use visual interface and various tools.  I can quickly prototype optical systems, use readily available optics from the included catalog, and share designs with clients instantaneously.  The web based platform really is a unique and easy way for optical engineers and designers to get the job done.
Keith MeyersKim Consultings
Keith Meyers
Using 3DOptix has been a game-changer for my optical system development needs. Their intuitive design and assembly solutions allowed me to build and modify complex optical trains quickly and efficiently, significantly simplifying the typically time-consuming process. It's a highly user-friendly platform, making even the most complicated tasks manageable.
Ameed HashmiFluxergy
Ameed Hashmi
We started to use 3DOptix simulation software in the Quantum Photonic group led by Prof. Dirk Englund about a year ago. It has proven to be invaluable to our research efforts, allowing us to create "digital twins" of our complicated optical setups, and by doing so improving our understanding and repeatability of our experiments. We found the software very aesthetic, easy to use and has allowed us to easily analyze our optical systems. Over 5 people in the group are active users of the software, and more are interested in incorporating it in their experiments.
Dr. Sivan TrajtenbergPostdoctoral Researcher, MIT
Dr. Sivan Trajtenberg

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Open a scene and trace it in the next five minutes

Try all Professional features free for seven days – the full component catalog, Fast Rays and the AI agent plugins included. Upgrade when you need cloud GPU analysis at scale.

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Available on January 30th, 2023