Sample Models Guide¶

This guide describes the SolidWorks 2026 learn samples shipped with SolidWorks and explains which MCP tools and prompting strategies best recreate each part from scratch. Reference files live at:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2026\samples\learn\

Sample Path Detection (Integration Harness)¶

The integration harness now auto-discovers sample paths in this order:

1. SOLIDWORKS_MCP_SAMPLE_MODELS_DIR (explicit override)
2. C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2026\samples\learn
3. C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2025\samples\learn
4. C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2024\samples\learn
5. C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2023\samples\learn
6. C:\Users\Public\Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 2022\samples\learn

Set the override for non-standard installations:

$env:SOLIDWORKS_MCP_SAMPLE_MODELS_DIR = "D:\CAD\SOLIDWORKS Samples\learn"
pytest tests/test_all_endpoints_harness.py -k "TestLevelCRealCOM and c09" -v

Complexity Tiers¶

The four tiers determine which MCP tools are needed. Choose your starting point based on how many features the model requires:

flowchart LR
    A(["Start here"])
    T1(["Tier 1\nSimple"])
    T2(["Tier 2\nIntermediate"])
    T3(["Tier 3\nAdvanced"])
    T4(["Tier 4\nAssembly"])
    A --> T1 --> T2 --> T3 --> T4

    T1 -. "create_sketch\nadd_rectangle/circle\ncreate_extrusion" .- T1
    T2 -. "set_dimension\nadd_sketch_constraint\nmulti-feature" .- T2
    T3 -. "generate_vba_part_modeling\nexecute_macro" .- T3
    T4 -. "create_assembly\nload_part\ngenerate_vba_assembly_insert" .- T4

Baseball Bat — Tier 1 (Revolve)¶

File: Baseball Bat.SLDPRT
Core feature: Profile revolved 360° around centerline
Dimensions: ~83 cm long, 7 cm max diameter

Feature sequence¶

0. get_model_info + list_features + classify_feature_tree — confirm it is a revolve family
1. create_sketch on Right plane
2. add_centerline along Y-axis (revolution axis)
3. add_line / add_arc — half-profile (handle, taper, barrel, knob)
4. exit_sketch
5. create_revolve with 360°

Key LLM prompt¶

Create a baseball bat model:
0. inspect the original sample and confirm `classify_feature_tree` recommends `direct-mcp-revolve`
1. create_part with name "Baseball Bat"
2. create_sketch on the "Right" plane
3. add_centerline from (0,0) to (830,0) — the revolution axis
4. Trace the half-profile with add_line and add_arc:
   - Knob: add_arc center at (0,17) radius 17 from (0,34) to (17,17)
   - Handle: add_line from (17,17) to (17,22) → at y=22 taper to (680,35) → barrel
   - Barrel top: add_arc center at (680,0) from (680,35) to (680,-35) (semicircle)
   - Return to origin on the axis
5. exit_sketch
6. create_revolve with sketch_name="Sketch1", axis_entity="Line1", angle=360.0

Paper Airplane — Tier 3 (Sheet Metal)¶

File: Paper Airplane.SLDPRT
Core feature: Sheet metal base flange with downstream flanges and bends

Feature sequence¶

1. Read the real feature tree and confirm the sheet metal root feature.
2. Identify the base flange sketch and the downstream bend/flange operations.
3. Route reconstruction through a VBA-aware plan if direct sheet metal tools are unavailable.

Key LLM prompt¶

Open the original `Paper Airplane.SLDPRT` and inspect `list_features(include_suppressed=True)`.
If the tree shows `Sheet-Metal`, `Base-Flange`, `Edge-Flange`, `Sketched Bend`,
`Unfold`, or `Fold`, generate a reconstruction plan that preserves that sequence.
Do not teach this model as a single-sketch extrusion example.

Garden Trowel — Tier 2¶

File: Garden Trowel/Garden Trowel_Garden_Trowel_Spade.SLDPRT
Core feature: Spade is a swept-lofted surface; handle is a revolved rod

Recommended MCP approach (two-sketch extrude approximation)¶

For an LLM, a 2-sketch loft is the practical path:

1. create_part "Garden Trowel Spade"
2. create_sketch on "Front" plane — spade cross-section ellipse
   add_ellipse center_x=0, center_y=0, major_radius=40, minor_radius=15
3. exit_sketch
4. create_extrusion sketch_name="Sketch1", depth=160
5. create_sketch on "Top" plane — taper reference
6. add_rectangle x1=-15, y1=0, x2=15, y2=160
7. exit_sketch

Carving Knife — Tier 2¶

Files: Carving Knife/Knife Handle-DEMO.SLDPRT, Left Blade.SLDPRT, Right Blade.SLDPRT

Blade¶

1. create_sketch on Front — blade profile (thin triangle)
2. add_line to draw taper from tang to tip
3. create_extrusion depth = 3 (blade thickness)
4. Chamfer/fillet edges via generate_vba_part_modeling

Handle¶

1. create_sketch on Right plane — handle oval cross-section
2. add_ellipse major/minor for comfortable grip
3. create_extrusion depth = 130

Key LLM prompt¶

Create a carving knife blade:
1. create_part "Knife Blade"
2. create_sketch on "Front" plane
3. add_line (0,0)→(200,0) — spine
4. add_line (0,0)→(0,20) — tang height
5. add_line (0,20)→(200,0) — cutting edge taper
6. exit_sketch
7. create_extrusion sketch_name="Sketch1", depth=3

Mouse Bottom Housing — Tier 3¶

File: Mouse/Bottom Housing.SLDPRT

This is a complex injection-molded shell with:

• Outer shell extruded from an ergonomic profile
• Multiple boss features for PCB standoffs
• Snap-fit tabs on edges
• Multiple through-holes for USB / scroll wheel

Recommended MCP approach¶

Use generate_vba_part_modeling to script the full feature tree, then execute_macro to run it. The granular step-by-step approach (individual MCP tool calls) is impractical for 20+ features.

# Request VBA for multi-feature shell
result = generate_vba_part_modeling(operations=[
    {"type": "sketch", "plane": "Top", "entities": [
        {"kind": "line", "points": [[0,0],[130,0],[130,65],[0,65]]},
        {"kind": "arc", "center": [65,65], "start": [0,65], "end": [130,65]}
    ]},
    {"type": "extrude", "sketch": "Sketch1", "depth": 35},
    {"type": "shell", "thickness": 2, "open_faces": ["top"]},
    {"type": "boss_sketch", "plane": "Top", "features": "pcb_standoffs"},
])
execute_macro(macro_path="generated_mouse_bottom.swp")

Sheet Metal Parts — Tier 2¶

Files: Sheet Metal/Simple Sheet Metal Part.SLDPRT, Complex Sheet Metal Part.SLDPRT

Simple sheet metal bracket prompt¶

Create a simple sheet metal bracket:
1. create_part "Sheet Metal Bracket"
2. create_sketch on "Front" plane
3. add_line (0,0)→(100,0)→(100,50)→(0,50)→(0,0) — base flange profile
4. exit_sketch
5. create_extrusion sketch_name="Sketch1", depth=2 — base plate
6. Then use generate_vba_part_modeling to add:
   - Edge flange on right edge, 30mm up, outward
   - Edge flange on left edge, 30mm up, outward
   - K-factor 0.44, bend radius 1.5mm

U-Joint Assembly — Tier 4¶

Files: U-Joint/ — crank-shaft, spider, yoke_male, yoke_female, bracket, pin, crank-arm, crank-knob, retaining ring

Assembly workflow¶

1. create_assembly "U-Joint"
2. generate_vba_assembly_insert component_path="crank-shaft.sldprt"
3. generate_vba_assembly_insert component_path="yoke_male.sldprt"
4. generate_vba_assembly_mates mate_type="coincident"  ← shaft axis ↔ yoke bore
5. generate_vba_assembly_insert component_path="spider.sldprt"
6. generate_vba_assembly_mates mate_type="coincident"  ← spider pins ↔ yoke ears

Sprinkler System Assembly — Tier 4¶

Files: 20+ parts in Sprinkler/

The sprinkler is the most complex assembly in the sample set. Use batch_file_operations to collect all part paths, then load_assembly.

1. load_assembly file_path="Sprinkler\Sprinkler.SLDASM"
2. get_file_properties   ← read material, revision, descriptions
3. calculate_mass_properties  ← total assembly mass
4. check_interference   ← verify no clashes between components
5. export_step file_path="Sprinkler_export.step"

Screenshot Equivalence Validation¶

After recreating any part with MCP tools:

1. Reference image — export from the shipped sample:

open_model file_path="<sample_path>"
export_image file_path="ref_image.jpg" format_type="jpg"
close_model save=false

2. Generated image — export from your MCP-created part:

export_image file_path="gen_image.jpg" format_type="jpg"

3. Compare using the src/utils/screenshot_compare.py utility (see Screenshot Equivalence).

The done criterion for each model is a pixel-difference score below 5% at 1920×1080 isometric view.

All Sample Parts Reference Table¶