CAESES vs Plato
CAESES
caeses.comPlato
sandia.govSide by side
| Figure | CAESES | Plato |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 2 |
| Spec score · Generative Design Software | 7.9 (#6) | 7.0 (#15) |
| Headquarters | Potsdam, Germany | Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA |
| Purpose | CAESES is a parametric engineering platform for simulation-driven design, geometry variation, and shape optimization. | Plato is a platform for topology optimization that helps designers generate designs optimized to meet functional requirements. |
| Security | The Advanced Project Security add-on offers project encryption, configurable access rights, user ID restrictions, passphrases, clipboard limits, and feature-definition locking. | The pages reviewed do not state security certifications or compliance claims. |
| Support | CAESES provides online documentation, video tutorials, a user forum, and dedicated engineer helpdesk support for PRO license holders. | The Plato Engine GitHub page invites users to submit questions, bug reports, and feature requests as GitHub issues and lists [email protected] for user support. |
Plans
CAESES
- Batch Mode LicensePriced on request
- Power EditionPriced on request
- Standard EditionPriced on request
In their own words
CAESES
CAESES is a parametric engineering platform for simulation-driven design, geometry variation, and shape optimization. Its NURBS modeling tools support geometry creation and variation, while morphing tools can alter imported geometries. Software connectors can automate workflows spanning geometry generation, meshing, simulation, post-processing, and evaluation. Available methods include parameter studies, sensitivity analysis, single- and multi-objective optimization, and surrogate modeling. Listed integrations include ANSYS Workbench and optimization tools such as HEEDS, Dakota, optiSLang, Optimus, and modeFRONTIER. CAESES does not include simulation solvers, so users connect external CFD or other simulation software. The Standard Edition includes geometry modeling, software connections, design studies, variation and optimization strategies, morphing, design variants, and batch mode. The Batch Mode License adds non-GUI operation and HPC cluster optimization; the Power Edition includes advanced optimization and a maritime, turbo, or propeller add-on. Pricing is available on request, with no free plan. Windows and Linux downloads include a free two-week trial; listed systems include Windows 11 and Linux tested on Debian 12 and Ubuntu 24.04.
Plato
Plato is a Linux command-line platform for topology optimization, helping designers develop geometry that meets functional requirements. It solves topology and shape design problems with adjoint methods for gradient-based optimization. Documented objectives include increasing stiffness or heat flow and reducing stress. Plato coordinates workflows involving geometry, meshing, and physics simulation packages. It includes the open-source physics code Plato Analyze and can also be used with a growing set of internal Sandia physics codes. Research features described for the platform include structural optimization across multiple materials, uncertainty-aware structural optimization, level-set methods, and a massively parallel kernel filter. A graphical interface is in development for selected applications. The open-source version is listed at free, with a limited set of objectives and constraints. A license is required to obtain an installation package.