Software developer PTC is enhancing its Onshape cloud-native CAD and PDM platform.
The company is launching the Onshape Labs initiative, which is a new early-access program within the company’s Onshape platform that gives designers and engineers a first look at emerging functionalities. This includes new uses of AI, delivered directly inside the product development workflow.
Early access helps PTC learn from users as they expand the program and AI features.
PTC is one of the industry’s largest providers of Computer Assisted Design (CAD), Product Lifecyle Management (PLM) and related digital solutions.
“Product development is entering a new phase, one where AI moves from disconnected tools into the core systems where products are designed and defined,” the company said in a statement. “But most CAD systems were not built to support that shift. Onshape’s cloud-native architecture changes that by capturing every design decision in real time and creating the structured data and context that enables AI to understand design intent, learn from past work and take action.”
PTC said its Onshape Labs brings these capabilities to its customers quickly, embedding AI into “everyday engineering work rather than layering it on around the edges.” This marks a shift in how engineers and designers had been using AI—more as an add-on instead of being embedded into existing platforms.
The company said that through Onshape Labs, users will be “able to opt in for early access to emerging capabilities and provide feedback that helps shape their development.”
The early access capabilities include an “AI Quick Render” feature that creates high-quality digital renders in seconds with AI prompts. Another feature is the “Onshape to Isaac Sim” workflow where users bring CAD assets into NVIDIA Isaac Sim, which is an open robotics simulation framework that can tap into “Omniverse Libraries.” These are simulation-ready visualizations for robotics teams to test.
Down the road, PTC said there will be additional features and capabilities for Onshape Labs including “AI Agents and Automation.” This technology lets users perform tasks, enforce standards and operate alongside engineers with full visibility and control. There will also be a “Drawing Checker” function, which is an AI-powered validator that ensures drawings conform to standards.
These next-level CAD capabilities will also have a “FeatureScript MCP Server,” which PTC said is a “unique framework offering Text-to-Code-to-CAD, enabling prompt-based CAD geometry creation and CAD customization.”
David Katzman, executive vice president and general manager of Onshape and Arena at PTC, said engineering teams don’t need more disconnected AI tools. Instead, they need AI that understands their products, data and how they actually work.
“With Onshape Labs, we’re putting these capabilities directly in customers’ hands early, learning from how they use them and turning that feedback into meaningful product value,” Katzman said. “Our goal is to move from AI assisting engineers to AI actively participating in the engineering process.”
Madison Huang, director of product marketing at NVIDIA, said AI is central to product development, “helping engineers move faster from design to production. By integrating NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and skills, PTC Onshape Labs puts AI-powered agents inside the engineering workflow so teams can visualize, simulate and improve products as they build.”
