--- name: solidworks description: "Automate SOLIDWORKS parts and assemblies with COM, Python, and VBA; inspect FeatureManager rebuild errors, configure mates, and batch-export CAD files." category: cad risk: safe source: self source_type: self date_added: "2026-08-26" tags: ["solidworks", "sldworks-api", "parametric-cad", "win32com", "assembly-mates", "claude", "cad-automation"] tools: ["claude", "cursor", "gemini", "codex"] --- # Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS AI Skill Guide (Claude) ## Overview & Engine Architecture Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS is the global standard for mechanical engineering, product design, sheet metal fabrication, and finite element analysis (FEA). Claude functions as a Principal CAD Automation Engineer and Mechanical Systems Architect, specializing in **SOLIDWORKS API COM Python scripting (`win32com`)**, **FeatureManager tree rebuild error diagnosis**, **Large Assembly Performance optimization**, and **headless batch conversion pipelines via Task Scheduler**. ### SOLIDWORKS System Architecture & Parasolid Engine ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ SOLIDWORKS Core Architecture │ │ │ │ Mechanical Design Subsystems │ │ ├── Parasolid B-Rep Modeling Kernel & FeatureManager Tree │ │ ├── Assembly Mate Constraint Solver (D-Cubed 3D DCM Engine)│ │ ├── Sheet Metal Unfolding (K-Factor, Bend Tables, Flat Srf)│ │ └── SOLIDWORKS Simulation (COSMOS FEA / Flow CFD Engine) │ │ │ │ Automation & Development Stack │ │ ├── Windows COM Type Library (`SldWorks.Application`) │ │ ├── VBA Macro Engine (`.swp`) & Standalone .NET Interop │ │ └── Document Manager API (Headless Metadata Extraction) │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` --- ## Operational Capabilities & Agent Directives 1. **Python COM Automation (`win32com.client`)**: Write deterministic scripts to interface with `SldWorks.Application`, traverse assembly hierarchies, inspect custom properties, and trigger silent exports. 2. **FeatureManager Rebuild Diagnostics**: Diagnose and resolve cascading rebuild errors (Yellow warnings and Red errors), healing dangling sketch relations, missing reference planes, and suppressed parent features. 3. **Assembly Mate Conflict Resolution**: Identify over-defined mate loops using the Mate Diagnostics tool and resolve inconsistent geometric constraints. 4. **Large Assembly Optimization**: Configure Lightweight mode, Large Design Review (LDR), and SpeedPak configurations to optimize memory footprint on 10,000+ component assemblies. --- ## Production Python Automation: Batch Mass Evaluator & STEP AP214 Exporter Save and run this script via Python (`pip install pywin32`) to connect to an active SOLIDWORKS session, compute the mass and center of gravity, and export a STEP file: ```python """ SOLIDWORKS Automation: Mass Evaluator & STEP AP214 Exporter Requires: pip install pywin32 """ import sys import os import win32com.client # SOLIDWORKS Document Type Constants swDocPART = 1 swDocASSEMBLY = 2 swDocDRAWING = 3 def process_active_solidworks_document(output_step_path: str): try: # 1. Connect to Active SOLIDWORKS Application sw_app = win32com.client.Dispatch("SldWorks.Application") sw_app.Visible = True except Exception as e: print(f"Error: Could not connect to SOLIDWORKS instance: {e}") sys.exit(1) # 2. Get Active Model Document model = sw_app.IActiveDoc2 if not model: print("Error: No active document found in SOLIDWORKS.") sys.exit(1) doc_title = model.GetTitle() doc_type = model.GetType() print(f"Active Document: {doc_title} (Type: {doc_type})") # 3. Calculate Mass & Center of Gravity (Extension.CreateMassProperty) model_ext = model.Extension mass_prop = model_ext.CreateMassProperty() if mass_prop: mass_kg = mass_prop.Mass volume_m3 = mass_prop.Volume cg = mass_prop.CenterOfMass # Array of [X, Y, Z] in meters print(f"Physical Analysis -> Mass: {mass_kg:.4f} kg | Volume: {volume_m3:.6f} m^3") print(f"Center of Gravity -> X: {cg[0]*1000:.2f}mm, Y: {cg[1]*1000:.2f}mm, Z: {cg[2]*1000:.2f}mm") # 4. Export to STEP AP214 os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(output_step_path)), exist_ok=True) # SaveAs3: 0 = swSaveAsCurrentVersion, 2 = swSaveAsCopy errors = win32com.client.VARIANT(win32com.client.pythoncom.VT_BYREF | win32com.client.pythoncom.VT_I4, 0) warnings = win32com.client.VARIANT(win32com.client.pythoncom.VT_BYREF | win32com.client.pythoncom.VT_I4, 0) success = model_ext.SaveAs3(output_step_path, 0, 2, None, None, errors, warnings) if success: print(f"Successfully exported STEP file: {output_step_path}") else: print(f"Export failed with error code: {errors.value}") if __name__ == "__main__": process_active_solidworks_document("C:/Export/Validated_Assembly.step") ``` --- ## Technical Troubleshooting Matrix | Issue & Failure Signature | Root Cause Analysis | Diagnostic & Resolution Pathway | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Cascading Rebuild Errors (`Yellow & Red Feature Tree Icons`)** | A parent sketch plane or edge was modified/deleted, leaving child sketches with dangling references. | 1. Right-click the top red feature $\rightarrow$ **What's Wrong?**.
2. Edit the sketch $\rightarrow$ Open **Display/Delete Relations**.
3. Filter by **Dangling**; click *Replace* to re-attach to new geometry or delete obsolete relations.
4. Force rebuild using `Ctrl + Q`. | | **Assembly Over-Defined Mate Error (`Red Mate Folder`)** | Two or more mates enforce conflicting geometric degrees of freedom (e.g. Coincident + Distance on parallel faces). | 1. Click **Mate Diagnostics** in the Assembly toolbar.
2. Identify the over-constraining mate loop.
3. Suppress mates one by one to locate the conflicting constraint.
4. Replace rigid coincident mates with flexible slots or width mates. | | **Large Assembly Freezes During Viewport Rotation** | Heavy assemblies loaded fully resolved in GPU RAM with high display image quality settings. | 1. In *Options $\rightarrow$ Performance*, enable **Large Assembly Settings**.
2. Set components to **Lightweight Mode**.
3. Open sub-assemblies and create a **SpeedPak** configuration to simplify geometry. | | **Sheet Metal Flat Pattern Fails to Unfold** | Formed feature or non-planar bend exceeds the material bend allowance limit or contains overlapping corners. | 1. In Flat Pattern feature, verify **Corner Relief** settings (change to *Obround* or *Tear*).
2. Check bend table or K-Factor ($0.33-0.50$).
3. Ensure all non-planar faces are created using standard sheet metal tools. | --- ## Command Line Syntax & Batch Processing ```bash # Windows CLI: Launch SOLIDWORKS with Macro Execution "C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\sldworks.exe" /m "C:\Macros\batch_export.swp" # Launch SOLIDWORKS in Safe Mode (Bypass Tools & Add-Ins) "C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\sldworks.exe" /r # Run Standalone SOLIDWORKS Rx Diagnostic Suite "C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\sldrx.exe" ``` ### Essential File Locations & Registry Keys - **Windows User Settings**: `%APPDATA%\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 20XX` - **SOLIDWORKS System Settings Registry**: `HKCU\Software\SolidWorks\SOLIDWORKS 20XX` - **SOLIDWORKS Document Manager Registry**: `HKLM\Software\SolidWorks\SOLIDWORKS Document Manager` --- ## Agent Operational Directive > **MANDATORY**: Force full geometric rebuilds using `Ctrl + Q` rather than `Ctrl + B` after modifying sketches and equations. When automating SOLIDWORKS via COM, always check `model_ext.SaveAs3` error codes to verify file export integrity.