SolidWorks MCP Server

MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that lets AI assistants control SolidWorks — create parts, sketch, extrude, assemble, run FEA simulations, export files — all through natural language.

Architecture

AI Client (Claude/Cursor)  ←→  MCP (SSE/stdio)  ←→  SolidWorks API
                                                     ├── 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud
                                                     └── COM Desktop (Windows)

Quick Start

Local (stdio)

pip install -e .
python -m solidworks_mcp_server --backend dxp --transport stdio

Claude Desktop config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "solidworks": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "solidworks_mcp_server", "--backend", "dxp"],
      "env": {
        "DXP_BASE_URL": "https://your-platform.3dexperience.3ds.com",
        "DXP_SPACE_ID": "your-space-id",
        "DXP_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Local (SSE)

$python -m solidworks_mcp_server --backend dxp --transport sse --port 8000

Connect at http://localhost:8000/sse

Apify Actor

$apify push

Input:

{
  "backend": "dxp",
  "dxpApiKey": "your-api-key",
  "dxpBaseUrl": "https://your-platform.3dexperience.3ds.com",
  "dxpSpaceId": "your-space-id",
  "mcpTransport": "sse",
  "mcpPort": 8000
}

Prerequisites

3DEXPERIENCE Works (Cloud — Any OS)

Required	Source
API Key	3DEXPERIENCE Platform → Profile → API Keys
Base URL	Platform URL from 3DS admin
Space ID	Collaborative Space ID

SolidWorks Desktop COM (Windows Only)

Required	Source
SolidWorks 2022+	Professional or Premium license
pywin32	pip install pywin32

38 MCP Tools

Part

Tool	Description
sw_list_open_documents	List all open documents
sw_create_part	Create a new part
sw_open_part	Open an existing part file
sw_save_part	Save a part (SLDPRT / STEP / IGES / STL / PDF)
sw_close_part	Close a part
sw_get_part_info	Get material, mass, volume, bounding box

Sketch & Feature

Tool	Description
sw_create_sketch	Create a 2D sketch on a plane (front / top / right)
sw_draw_line	Draw a line
sw_draw_circle	Draw a circle
sw_draw_rectangle	Draw a rectangle
sw_add_dimension	Add a dimension constraint
sw_extrude	Extrude a sketch into a solid
sw_revolve	Revolve a sketch
sw_cut_extrude	Cut extrude (remove material)
sw_fillet	Fillet / round edges
sw_hole_wizard	Create standard holes

Assembly

Tool	Description
sw_create_assembly	Create a new assembly
sw_insert_component	Insert a part into an assembly
sw_add_mate	Add a mate constraint
sw_list_components	List all components
sw_create_exploded_view	Create an exploded view

Simulation (FEA)

Tool	Description
sw_apply_material	Apply a material (e.g. AISI 304, 6061-T6)
sw_apply_fixture	Apply a fixture / constraint
sw_apply_force	Apply external force (fx, fy, fz in N)
sw_run_static_study	Run static stress analysis
sw_get_simulation_results	Get stress, displacement, factor of safety

Export

Tool	Description
sw_export_step	Export to STEP
sw_export_iges	Export to IGES
sw_export_stl	Export to STL (3D printing)
sw_export_pdf	Export drawing to PDF
sw_export_dwg	Export to DWG/DXF
sw_take_screenshot	Capture viewport screenshot

Measure

Tool	Description
sw_measure_distance	Measure distance between entities
sw_get_mass_properties	Mass, center of gravity, moments of inertia
sw_get_bounding_box	3D bounding box dimensions

Config

Tool	Description
sw_set_units	Set document units (mm / inch / meter)
sw_list_materials	List available materials
sw_set_document_template	Set document template

Environment Variables

Variable	Default	Description
SW_BACKEND	dxp	Backend: dxp or com
MCP_TRANSPORT	stdio	Transport: stdio or sse
MCP_PORT	8000	Port for SSE transport
DXP_BASE_URL	—	3DEXPERIENCE platform URL
DXP_SPACE_ID	—	3DEXPERIENCE space ID
DXP_API_KEY	—	3DEXPERIENCE API key
DXP_TENANT	—	Optional tenant ID

Example

User: Create a mounting bracket — 100mm x 80mm x 10mm plate
      with four 8mm holes at the corners

AI:
  → sw_create_part("mounting_bracket")
  → sw_create_sketch("mounting_bracket", "front")
  → sw_draw_rectangle("sketch_1", 0, 0, 100, 80)
  → sw_extrude("mounting_bracket", "sketch_1", 10)
  → sw_create_sketch("mounting_bracket", "top")
  → sw_draw_circle("sketch_2", 10, 10, 4)
  → sw_draw_circle("sketch_2", 90, 10, 4)
  → sw_draw_circle("sketch_2", 10, 70, 4)
  → sw_draw_circle("sketch_2", 90, 70, 4)
  → sw_cut_extrude("mounting_bracket", "sketch_2", 10, true)
  → sw_apply_material("mounting_bracket", "AISI 304")
  → sw_export_stl("mounting_bracket", "bracket.stl")
  ✅ Done

Project Structure

solidworks-mcp-server/
├── .actor/                    # Apify Actor config
├── src/solidworks_mcp_server/
│   ├── server.py              # MCP server entry point
│   ├── backends/
│   │   ├── base.py            # Abstract interface
│   │   ├── dxp_backend.py     # 3DEXPERIENCE REST API
│   │   └── com_backend.py     # SolidWorks COM API (Windows)
│   ├── tools/                 # 38 MCP tools (7 modules)
│   └── utils/                 # Geometry & unit helpers
├── Dockerfile
├── pyproject.toml
└── requirements.txt

License

MIT