SolidWorks MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables Claude to create and manipulate SolidWorks CAD models through natural language commands.

Overview

This MCP server bridges Claude AI with SolidWorks, allowing you to create 3D CAD models by simply describing what you want. Claude can create sketches, draw shapes, and extrude features directly in SolidWorks.

Related MCP server: FreeCAD MCP

Features

• Automated Part Creation - Creates a new part document for each design request

• Sketch Creation - Create sketches on Front, Top, or Right planes

• Drawing Tools - Draw rectangles and circles with precise dimensions

• Extrusion - Extrude sketches into 3D features with custom depth

• Natural Language Interface - Describe what you want, and Claude builds it

Requirements

• Windows OS (SolidWorks only runs on Windows)

• SolidWorks 2022 or later (tested on SolidWorks 2024)

• Python 3.8+

• Claude Desktop App

Installation

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/solidworks-mcp.git
cd solidworks-mcp

2. Install Python Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

requirements.txt:

mcp>=0.9.0
pywin32>=306

3. Configure Claude Desktop

Add the server to your Claude Desktop configuration file:

Location: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "solidworks": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": [
        "C:\\path\\to\\solidworks-mcp\\server.py"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Replace C:\\path\\to\\solidworks-mcp\\server.py with the actual path to your server.py file.

4. Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen Claude Desktop to load the MCP server.

Usage

Basic Examples

Create a simple cube:

Create a 100mm cube in SolidWorks

Create a cylinder:

Create a cylinder in SolidWorks with a 50mm radius and 200mm height

Create a rectangular prism:

Make a box in SolidWorks that's 150mm long, 75mm wide, and 50mm tall

How It Works

1. Claude creates a sketch on the specified plane (Front, Top, or Right)

2. Claude draws shapes (rectangles, circles) with your dimensions

3. Claude extrudes the sketch to create a 3D feature

4. A new part is created for each request automatically

Available Tools

The MCP server provides these tools to Claude:

Testing

Run the included test script to verify your setup:

python test_solidworks.py

This will:

1. Connect to SolidWorks

2. Create a new part

3. Draw a 100mm x 100mm rectangle

4. Extrude it 100mm to create a cube

If successful, you'll see a cube in SolidWorks!

Troubleshooting

SolidWorks doesn't launch

• Ensure SolidWorks is installed and activated

• Try launching SolidWorks manually first

"Failed to connect to SolidWorks"

• Check that SolidWorks is running

• Run Claude Desktop as Administrator

• Verify pywin32 is installed: pip install pywin32

"No Part template found"

• Check that SolidWorks templates exist at: C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2024\templates\

• Update the template path in server.py if your templates are elsewhere

Tool errors in Claude

• Check the log file: solidworks_mcp.log

• Restart Claude Desktop

• Verify the config file path is correct

Project Structure

solidworks-mcp/
├── server.py              # Main MCP server
├── test_solidworks.py     # Test script
├── requirements.txt       # Python dependencies
├── README.md             # This file
└── solidworks_mcp.log    # Log file (generated)

Technical Details

Units

• Input dimensions are in millimeters (mm)

• SolidWorks API uses meters internally (automatically converted)

Coordinate System

• Origin (0, 0) is at the center of the sketch plane

• Positive X is right, positive Y is up

• Extrusions go in the positive Z direction (unless reversed)

Limitations

• Currently supports basic sketches (rectangles and circles)

• One sketch per part (creates new part for each design)

• Limited to Boss-Extrude features

Future Enhancements

• Additional sketch tools (lines, arcs, splines)

• Sketch constraints and dimensions

• Cut-Extrude features

• Revolve, Sweep, Loft features

• Assembly creation

• Drawing generation

• File save/export functionality

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

Acknowledgments

• Built with Model Context Protocol

• Powered by Anthropic's Claude

• Uses SolidWorks API

Support

For issues and questions:

• Open an issue on GitHub

• Check the log file: solidworks_mcp.log

Note: This project is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.