KISSsoft

KISSsoft is a specialized engineering software platform for gear design, transmission analysis, and machine element calculation, developed by KISSsoft AG. It is widely used in industries where precision drivetrain design and standards-compliant calculations are critical, including automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, and power transmission systems.

At its core, KISSsoft focuses on analytical and standards-based engineering calculations rather than geometry modeling. It supports internationally recognized standards such as ISO, DIN, AGMA, and others, allowing engineers to design gears, shafts, bearings, and entire transmission systems with confidence in compliance and performance.

The software includes modules for spur gears, helical gears, bevel gears, worm gears, shafts, bearings, springs, and full gearbox system analysis. Engineers can evaluate load capacity, efficiency, safety factors, micro-geometry modifications, and durability across complete drivetrain assemblies.

One of KISSsoft's core strengths is its ability to connect component-level calculations with system-level behavior. Users can simulate how gears, shafts, and bearings interact under real operating conditions, enabling more accurate design validation than isolated component analysis allows.

KISSsoft is often used alongside CAD tools like SolidWorks or NX, with integrations that support geometry generation and bidirectional workflows between calculation and design environments. This makes it a critical part of workflows where analytical validation must directly inform CAD geometry.

Because of its depth and standards coverage, KISSsoft is considered a reference-grade tool for gearbox engineering and power transmission design, particularly in industries where engineering failure carries serious consequences.

Key Features

• Gear calculations for all common types including cylindrical, bevel, hypoid, worm, crossed helical, face gears, planetary systems, and rack and pinion
• Strength and service life calculations based on ISO, DIN, AGMA, VDI, and ANSI standards with documented safety factor output
• Loaded tooth contact analysis including micro-geometry optimization and transmission error evaluation
• Shaft strength calculation under DIN 743 with torsion and bending-critical eigenfrequency determination for multiple coaxial shafts
• Rolling bearing rating life calculation incorporating internal geometry under ISO TS 16281
• Shaft-hub connection verification for shrink fits, keys, splines, and polygonal profiles
• KISSsoft System Module for complete gearbox and drivetrain modeling with load spectrum, efficiency, thermal balance, and modal analysis
• Manufacturing and inspection tools for hobbing, grinding, measuring report generation, and the Design-Manufacturing-Inspection Loop
• 3D model generation from calculation data with CAD export and housing geometry import for collision checking
• Direct CAD integration with SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo, NX, and CATIA
• Gleason GEMS interface for closed-loop bevel and hypoid gear design and manufacturing
• Modular structure allowing organizations to license only the calculation modules they require

Best For

Mechanical design engineers, transmission engineers, and drivetrain specialists at gearbox manufacturers, automotive suppliers, wind energy companies, industrial machinery manufacturers, and aerospace organizations who need calculation software that implements international gear and machinery standards directly, produces documented verification reports, and integrates gear sizing and optimization with shaft, bearing, and housing analysis in a unified environment. Particularly suited to teams that need a single connected environment covering individual component sizing through complete gearbox evaluation.

Who It's Not For

Engineers who need general-purpose finite element analysis for structural components, fluid dynamics, thermal simulation, or multi-physics analysis outside the machine element domain. KISSsoft is a specialist tool for mechanical drivetrain components and is not a substitute for ANSYS, Abaqus, or similar general-purpose simulation platforms for problems that fall outside gear, shaft, bearing, and related machine element calculations.

Platform

Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit.

Available in multiple languages including English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, and Russian.

CAD interfaces are available for SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo, NX, and CATIA. A Gleason GEMS interface supports bevel and hypoid gear manufacturing integration.

Single-user, network floating, and educational license configurations are all available.

Pricing

Enterprise pricing through modular licensing.

Organizations license the specific calculation modules they require, which allows smaller teams to start with the gear types and machine elements relevant to their work and expand coverage as needed.

Single-user, floating network, and classroom licensing configurations are available. Contact KISSsoft AG or a regional sales partner for current pricing by module selection and license type.

A trial version is available through the KISSsoft website. Educational licensing is available for universities at significantly reduced rates.

Pros

• Implements international gear and machinery standards directly, including ISO, DIN, AGMA, and VDI, without requiring engineers to interpret and apply the standards themselves
• Documented calculation reports provide the engineering verification evidence that quality and certification processes require
• Loaded tooth contact analysis and micro-geometry optimization go beyond standard calculations to evaluate real-world gear mesh behavior under operating loads
• KISSsoft System Module evaluates complete gearboxes including modal analysis and thermal balance in a single connected model
• Active participation in international standards committees reflects genuine technical depth and direct influence on the standards the software implements
• Gleason Corporation ownership connects KISSsoft's design environment to Gleason's gear manufacturing and metrology equipment through direct interfaces
• Annual release cycle with established versioning and a support portal provides organizational deployment stability

Cons

• Specialist scope covering machine elements with particular depth in gears, but not a general-purpose simulation or CAD tool
• Enterprise pricing requires direct engagement before cost evaluation is possible
• Steep learning curve for engineers without a background in gear design and the international standards the software is built around, as the tool amplifies existing expertise rather than substituting for it
• Windows only with no Mac or Linux support
• Modular licensing model requires careful module selection to avoid paying for capabilities that are not needed or missing capabilities that are required

Rating

⭐ 4.6 / 5

Editorial Take

KISSsoft sits deep in the professional engineering stack and is not a tool used casually. For engineers designing gearboxes or drivetrain systems where failure is not acceptable, it is difficult to justify using anything less rigorous.

It is not a beginner-friendly tool and carries a real learning curve, but it is extremely reliable, standards-driven, and trusted in the engineering environments where precision matters most.

Alternatives

Romax Nexus, MASTA (Smart Manufacturing Technology), Dontyne Gear Production Suite, MITCalc, ANSYS Motion, Siemens Simcenter Drivetrain, Autodesk Inventor (gear generator)

Used In

• Industrial gearbox design and verification
• Automotive transmission and EV drivetrain development
• Wind turbine gearbox sizing and service life assessment
• Aerospace gearbox and actuator design
• Cable car and ropeway drive system design
• Motorsport transmission development
• Marine propulsion gearbox design
• Agricultural machinery drivetrain engineering

Founded

1986 (KISSsoft AG, Bubikon, Switzerland)