CATIA V5 MCP Server

Connect Claude AI to Dassault Systemes CATIA V5 via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

The first open-source MCP server for CATIA V5. Drive CATIA V5 CAD modeling from Claude Desktop or Claude Code using natural language.

What it does

This MCP server exposes 50+ tools that let Claude:

• Create and manage documents — new Part, Product (assembly), open, save, close

• 2D Sketching — lines, rectangles, circles, arcs, splines, points, constraints

• Part Design — Pad, Pocket, Shaft, Groove, Fillet, Chamfer, Hole, Shell, Draft, Thickness, Patterns (rectangular/circular), Mirror

• Assembly — add components, Fix/Coincidence/Offset/Angle constraints, move/rotate

• Measurement — distance, inertia, bounding box, parameters

• Export — STEP, IGES, STL, 3DXML, VRML, screenshots

• View control — set standard views, fit all, capture screenshots

Requirements

• Windows (COM automation is Windows-only)

• CATIA V5 installed and licensed (R2016+)

• Python 3.10+

• Claude Desktop or Claude Code

Quick Install (Recommended)

git clone https://github.com/daiemon12/catia-v5-mcp-server.git
cd catia-v5-mcp-server
bash setup.sh

The script handles everything: dependencies, Claude Desktop config, and verification.

Manual Installation

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/daiemon12/catia-v5-mcp-server.git
cd catia-v5-mcp-server

2. Install dependencies

pip install -e .

Or manually:

pip install mcp pywin32

3. Configure Claude Desktop

Edit your Claude Desktop config file:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Add the server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "catia-v5": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "catia_mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Or with an absolute path:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "catia-v5": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["C:/path/to/catia-v5-mcp-server/catia_mcp/server.py"]
    }
  }
}

4. For Claude Code

claude mcp add catia-v5 python -- -m catia_mcp

5. Start CATIA V5

Make sure CATIA V5 is running before asking Claude to interact with it. The server will automatically connect to the running instance.

If CATIA V5 is not running, the server will attempt to launch it (requires CATIA to be registered as COM server: cnext.exe /regserver).

Usage Examples

Once configured, just talk to Claude:

Create a simple part

"Create a new CATIA part. Draw a 100x60mm rectangle centered at the origin on the XY plane, then extrude it 40mm."

Design a bracket

"Design a mounting bracket: start with a 120x80mm base plate, 5mm thick. Add 4 M6 mounting holes at the corners with 10mm edge distance. Then add two vertical ribs 30mm tall."

Parametric modification

"Show me all parameters of the active part. Then change the pad height to 60mm."

Export for manufacturing

"Export the current part to STEP format at C:/export/bracket.stp and take a screenshot of the isometric view."

Assembly

"Create a new assembly. Add the bracket from C:/parts/bracket.CATPart and the base from C:/parts/base.CATPart. Fix the base, then create a coincidence constraint between the two."

Architecture

catia-v5-mcp-server/
├── catia_mcp/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── __main__.py          # python -m catia_mcp entry point
│   ├── server.py            # MCP Server — tool registration & routing
│   ├── connection.py        # COM connection manager (win32com)
│   └── tools/
│       ├── __init__.py
│       ├── document.py      # Document management (9 tools)
│       ├── sketcher.py      # 2D Sketch tools (11 tools)
│       ├── part_design.py   # 3D Part Design features (15 tools)
│       ├── assembly.py      # Assembly/Product tools (9 tools)
│       ├── measurement.py   # Measurement & analysis (6 tools)
│       └── export.py        # Export & view control (4 tools)
├── pyproject.toml
├── requirements.txt
└── README.md

How it works

Claude (Desktop/Code)
    │
    │ stdio (MCP JSON-RPC)
    ▼
catia_mcp/server.py (MCP Server)
    │
    │ Tool routing
    ▼
catia_mcp/tools/*.py (Tool modules)
    │
    │ win32com.client (COM Automation)
    ▼
CATIA V5 Application

1. Claude sends MCP tool calls over stdio

2. The server routes each call to the appropriate tool module

3. Each tool module uses win32com.client to drive CATIA V5 via COM

4. Results (JSON, text) are returned to Claude

Tool Reference

Document Tools (9)

Sketcher Tools (11)

Part Design Tools (15)

Assembly Tools (9)

Measurement Tools (6)

Export Tools (4)

Troubleshooting

"pywin32 is not installed"

pip install pywin32

This server requires Windows. It will not work on macOS or Linux.

"Failed to connect to CATIA V5"

1. Make sure CATIA V5 is running

2. Register CATIA as COM server: navigate to C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B<version>\<os>\code\bin\ and run cnext.exe /regserver

3. Check that no modal dialog is blocking CATIA

"No active document"

Create or open a document first using catia_new_part or catia_open_document.

COM ByRef array limitations

Some measurement methods may not work with late binding. If you encounter issues, try using pycatia as an alternative backend (contribution welcome).

Contributing

This project is open-source. Contributions welcome:

• Wireframe & Surface (GSD) tools

• Drawing tools (2D drafting)

• Knowledgeware (formulas, rules, check)

• pycatia backend as alternative to raw win32com

• Tests with COM mocking

• 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA support

License

MIT

Credits

Inspired by:

• SolidWorks-MCP

• freecad-mcp

• abaqus-mcp-server

• pycatia