SoftCube

What SoftCube does

SoftCube Co., Ltd. (ソフトキューブ株式会社) is a Japanese 3D technology specialist founded in March 1991 in Moriguchi, Osaka, and currently headquartered in Chuo-ku, Osaka with development centers in Shin-Osaka and Yokohama. The company develops software across two primary verticals: manufacturing engineering — including the Virtual NC machining simulator (supporting FANUC, MELDAS, OSP, and HEIDENHAIN CNC controls), VR-based safety training systems, CAD customization for AutoCAD, Inventor, CATIA, SolidWorks, and REVIT, and the PhotoARC photo-based 3D modeling tool — and medical applications, anchored by ATHENA, a Class II certified managed medical device for 3D pre-operative planning of knee and hip arthroplasty. Supporting offerings include the RIET VR radiation safety training system and a post-operative motion analysis service for implant evaluation.

The company's underlying technology stack spans C, C++, C#, Java, and VB.NET, with integration of OpenGL, OpenCV, Unity, Unreal Engine, HALCON, MATLAB, and Matrox Imaging Library. ATHENA processes CT DICOM data to build 3D bone models and simulate implant positioning, while Virtual NC verifies G-code programs on virtual machining centers with collision detection and 5-axis tool angle optimization. SoftCube holds ISO 13485:2016 (medical device QMS), ISO 9001:2015 (QMS), and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (ISMS) certifications, plus a 2012 patent on artificial joint replacement surgery support.

Revenue derives from three streams: subscription software (Virtual NC freemium/subscription tiers, ATHENA maintenance contracts), custom software development services for enterprise clients (Kyocera, Panasonic, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimizu Corporation), and one-time licenses (RIET). Go-to-market is primarily direct, supplemented by trade show presence at Manufacturing World, INTERMOLD, JIMTOF, and Japanese orthopaedic conferences, with R&D collaborations through Kobe University, Ritsumeikan University, Kitamura Machinery, and Kubota Systems under Japan's SIP innovation program. With 11-50 employees and no external funding rounds, SoftCube remains a privately held, bootstrapped niche specialist with 30+ years of accumulated 3D technology expertise and registered capital of 15 million JPY.

Name

SoftCube

Legal name

ソフトキューブ株式会社 (SoftCube Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://softcube.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SoftCube is a Japanese 3D technology specialist (founded 1991) that develops software for manufacturing engineering (Virtual NC machining simulation, VR training, CAD customization) and medical applications (ATHENA, a certified 3D pre-surgical planning tool for joint replacement).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering and Medical 3D Software

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Industrial Design Services (541420), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing (IMAAACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dimensional Inspection Software (GD&T, SPC, Reporting) (IMAAAHAD), Scan-to-CAD & Reverse Engineering Software (IMAAAHAE), Medical & Dental Prototyping (Models, Guides, Pre-Op Planning) (IMAAAFAI)

Keywords

• 3D simulation software
• NC machining simulation
• Surgical planning software
• CAD/CAM solutions
• VR training systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Moriguchi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing - Virtual NC: Virtual NC NC machining simulator is sold via subscription model with tiered pricing (Free, Standard, Professional, Ultimate). Main revenue driver for standalone product line. Free version available for initial customer acquisition.
2. Medical Software - ATHENA: ATHENA joint replacement planning software sold to medical institutions with annual maintenance contracts. Requires ongoing implant data updates and support services.
3. Custom Software Development: Bespoke software development services for specific customer requirements in VR, 3DCG, CAD/CAM, and medical applications. Projects include custom VR training systems, CAD customization, and specialized engineering software.
4. RIET - Radiation Education Training System: VR-based radiation safety training system sold to universities, research institutions, and medical facilities for compliance training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SoftCube develops and sells proprietary 3D technology software products spanning manufacturing engineering and medical applications. Core product lines include Virtual NC, a 3D NC machining simulator for verifying CNC programs, and ATHENA, a Class II certified medical software for 3D pre-operative planning of joint replacement surgery. The company also offers PhotoARC for photo-based 3D building modeling, RIET for VR-based radiation safety training, and bespoke custom software development services in VR, 3DCG, and CAD/CAM.

Product overview

SoftCube is a 3D technology specialist company offering a portfolio of engineering and medical software products. The core product lines include ATHENA (medical planning software for joint replacement surgery) and Virtual NC (NC simulation software for machining). Supporting products include PhotoARC (photography-based 3D modeling), RIET (radiation safety training), and motion analysis services. Virtual NC is offered in multiple editions (Free, Standard, Professional, Ultimate) for both machining and lathe applications, while ATHENA provides specialized knee and hip surgical planning. The products are sold directly with annual subscription options and include professional support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Virtual NC: 3D cutting NC simulator for NC program verification
• ATHENA
• PhotoARC
• RIET

Products and services

• ATHENA (ATHENA KNEE and ATHENA HIP) 3D pre-operative planning software for artificial joint replacement surgery (knee and hip). Uses CT DICOM data to create 3D bone models and simulate implant sizing, alignment, and positioning. Certified as a Class II managed medical device in Japan under ISO 13485, with annual maintenance contracts and ongoing implant data updates for orthopedic hospitals and joint replacement centers.
• Virtual NC (Machining and Lathe editions) 3D NC machining simulator that verifies CNC programs on a virtual machine tool before actual machining, detecting tool collisions and visualizing cutting results. Supports FANUC, MELDAS, OSP, and HEIDENHAIN CNC control systems. Available in Free, Standard, Professional, and Ultimate subscription editions for both machining centers and lathes, sold directly via the company website.
• PhotoARC Software that creates 3D building models and 2D drawings from digital camera photographs in approximately 10 minutes, with automatic roof shape generation for complex geometries and texture mapping from photos. Used by architectural firms and construction companies for rapid building modeling.
• RIET (Radiation Education and Training System) VR-based radiation safety training system using 3DCG that provides interactive training for handling unsealed radioactive isotopes, including entry procedures, experiments, and disaster response scenarios. Sold to universities, research institutions, and medical facilities for compliance training.
• Motion Analysis (Dynamic Analysis Service) Post-operative motion analysis service that reconstructs 3D joint movement from fluoroscopy (X-ray video) or multiple X-ray still images. Analyzes flexion angles, varus/valgus alignment, rotation, and contact point coordinates for implant evaluation.
• PointGetter DXF file hole extraction tool sold as a separate product in the Virtual NC family. Extracts hole coordinates and elongated hole positions from DXF drawings to reduce errors in NC machining. Sold via subscription at 29,000 JPY per 6 months or 56,000 JPY per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATHENA achieves 100% accuracy in tibial plate sizing prediction (50/50 cases)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kobe University (神戸大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing R&D collaboration in manufacturing engineering and medical applications. Joint research on CAM-CNC integration and 5-axis machining optimization (SIP project). Research on 3D vision sensor applications for robotic control. Multiple joint publications and government-funded research projects.
• Ritsumeikan University (立命館大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative R&D on 3D vision sensor applications for industrial robotics. Joint research on automatic program generation for bin picking systems. Academic-industry collaboration for robot control software development.
• Kubota Systems Corporation (クボタシステムズ株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 5-axis machining process optimization. Joint development for shortest machining path calculation and automatic process planning research.
• Kusakawa Precision Machinery (株式会社草川精機)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in 5-axis machining optimization research. Contributes manufacturing expertise for practical validation of developed technologies.
• 3D Media Corporation (株式会社三次元メディア)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development on 3D vision sensor systems for robotic applications. Collaboration on industrial robot control program generation technology.
• Kitamura Machinery (キタムラ機械株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on CAM-CNC integration for intelligent machine tools. Joint development of real-time machining control technology. Partner in SIP (Strategic Innovation Promotion Program) for innovative design and manufacturing technology.
• AutodeskcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Autodesk dealer and developer. Provides customization services for AutoCAD, 3DS MAX, REVIT, CIVIL 3D, and other Autodesk products. Deep integration partner for CAD solutions.
• Dassault Systèmes (SolidWorks)coreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller and customization developer for SolidWorks. Provides custom application development and integration services for SolidWorks users.
• Japanese Virtual Reality Society (日本バーチャルリアリティ学会)minorOthersSupporting member since December 1998. Active participation in VR academic community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Materialise: Materialise provides 3D-printed surgical planning and patient-specific medical solutions, including orthopedic planning software directly competitive with SoftCube's ATHENA platform, using CT-based 3D modeling and certified medical device workflows.
• CNC Software (Mastercam): Mastercam from CNC Software is one of the most widely installed CAM systems worldwide for CNC milling, turning, and wire EDM — directly comparable to Virtual NC's target use case of NC program verification and machining simulation.
• ModuleWorks: ModuleWorks provides CAM software components and toolpath simulation technology used by major CNC vendors — directly comparable to SoftCube's Virtual NC simulation and 5-axis tool posture optimization capabilities.
• CGTech (VERICUT): CGTech develops VERICUT, a leading NC verification and simulation software for CNC machining — directly comparable to SoftCube's Virtual NC product in functionality (tool path verification, collision detection) and target customers (CNC programmers and machine shops).

Broad incumbents

• Stryker (Mako): Stryker's Mako robotic-arm-assisted surgery system includes CT-based 3D pre-operative planning for knee and hip arthroplasty, directly competing with ATHENA but bundled with Stryker's hardware implants and robotic platform globally.
• Brainlab: Brainlab offers a broad surgical planning and navigation software portfolio including orthopedic modules. It competes with ATHENA in pre-operative 3D planning but serves a wider range of surgical specialties (neuro, spine, orthopedics) globally.
• Dassault Systèmes (SolidWorks): Dassault provides SolidWorks and CATIA — SoftCube is an authorized reseller and customization developer. Dassault competes broadly in CAD/CAM/CAE and could erode SoftCube's value-added integration services through native product enhancements.
• Autodesk: Autodesk is SoftCube's primary CAD platform partner (AutoCAD, Inventor, REVIT, 3DS MAX) and a broad incumbent offering competing CAD/CAM/3D design tools that SoftCube customizes on top of, posing channel risk if Autodesk bundles similar features natively.

Emerging players

• Pixee Medical: Pixee Medical develops AR-based surgical navigation for joint replacement, overlapping with ATHENA's orthopedic surgical planning market but using augmented reality rather than CT-based 3D planning — an emerging alternative approach.
• SolidWorks Visualize / nTopology: nTopology provides advanced 3D modeling and engineering software for complex geometries, partially overlapping with SoftCube's PhotoARC photo-to-3D and CAD customization capabilities for engineering and architecture workflows.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SoftCube