Tools Overview¶

The SolidWorks MCP Server provides 109 specialized tools for CAD automation. This page is a navigation map, not a tutorial.

Read this first¶

Start with the tool catalog page for the task you are solving.
Use analysis tools after you already have a model or assembly.
Use automation tools when you want a repeatable sequence, macro, or batch run.
Treat mock-mode results as simulated outputs from the mock adapter, which is the test/dev stand-in for SolidWorks COM. It keeps the suite runnable without SolidWorks, but it does not prove the CAD result is physically correct.

Tool Categories¶

Modeling Tools

Core 3D modeling operations including part creation, features, assemblies, and configurations.

11 tools available
Sketching Tools

Complete 2D sketching toolkit with geometry creation, constraints, and dimensions.

19 tools available
:material-technical-draw:{ .lg .middle } Drawing Tools

Technical drawing creation, view management, dimensions, and annotations.

12 tools available
Analysis Tools

Mass properties, interference checking, structural analysis, and validation.

5 tools available
Export Tools

Multi-format export including STEP, IGES, STL, PDF, DWG, and image formats.

7 tools available
VBA Generation

Dynamic VBA code generation for complex operations exceeding COM parameter limits.

10 tools available
Template Management

Template creation, extraction, application, comparison, and library management.

6 tools available
Macro Recording

Macro recording, playback, analysis, optimization, and library creation.

7 tools available
Drawing Analysis

Quality analysis, dimension checking, compliance verification, and reporting.

8 tools available
Automation Tools

Workflow orchestration, batch processing, and automated file operations.

8 tools available

Tool Statistics¶

Category	Tool Count	Complexity Level	Primary Use Case
Modeling	9	High	Part/assembly creation and modification
Modeling	11	High	Part/assembly creation and modification
Sketching	19	Medium	2D geometry and constraint management
Drawing	12	Medium	Technical documentation creation
Drawing Analysis	8	Medium	Quality assurance and compliance
Analysis	5	High	Engineering validation and analysis
Export	7	Low	File format conversion and sharing
Automation	8	High	Workflow orchestration and batch processing
File Management	14	Low	File operations and organization
VBA Generation	10	Very High	Complex operation automation
Template Management	6	Medium	Standardization and reuse
Macro Recording	7	High	Workflow capture and optimization
Docs Discovery	2	Medium	API and COM discovery workflows

Total: 109 Tools

Tool Design Principles¶

1. Intelligent Parameter Handling¶

Each tool chooses the simplest compatible execution path:

@mcp.tool()
async def create_extrusion(
    sketch_name: str,
    depth: float,
    direction: str = "Blind",
    reverse_direction: bool = False,
    # 20+ additional parameters...
) -> dict[str, Any]:
    """Create an extrusion feature.

    Automatically routes to VBA generation for complex parameter sets.
    """

2. Comprehensive Error Handling¶

Tools return structured errors instead of silent failures:

Parameter Validation: Pydantic models ensure type safety
SolidWorks Integration: Graceful handling of COM failures
Fallback Strategies: Automatic retry with alternative approaches
Detailed Logging: Complete audit trail of all operations

3. Security-First Design¶

Tools respect the configured security level and omit unsafe actions when locked down:

# Example security enforcement
@security_check(level="elevated")
@mcp.tool()
async def batch_export(...):
    # Only available in development/restricted modes
    pass

@security_check(level="safe")  
@mcp.tool()
async def calculate_mass_properties(...):
    # Available in all security modes
    pass

Common Patterns¶

Async/Await Support¶

All tools are fully asynchronous for optimal performance:

# Non-blocking tool execution
result = await create_part("MyPart", template="Part Template")
mass_props = await calculate_mass_properties("current")

Result Standardization¶

Consistent return format across all tools:

{
    "status": "success",
    "message": "Operation completed successfully",
    "data": {
        "feature_id": "Extrude1",
        "geometry": {...},
        "properties": {...}
    },
    "execution_time": 0.234,
    "adapter_used": "VBA Generator"
}

Progress Tracking¶

Long-running operations provide real-time progress:

# Tools support progress callbacks
async def progress_callback(progress: float, message: str):
    print(f"Progress: {progress:.1%} - {message}")

result = await batch_process_files(
    files=file_list,
    on_progress=progress_callback
)

Tool Selection Guide¶

By Use Case¶

Getting Started¶

Simple modeling: create_part(), create_sketch(), create_extrusion()
Basic analysis: calculate_mass_properties(), check_interference()
File operations: save_document(), export_step()

Intermediate Usage¶

Complex features: create_sweep(), create_loft(), create_pattern()
Drawing creation: create_technical_drawing(), add_drawing_view()
Batch operations: batch_export(), batch_process_files()

Advanced Automation¶

Workflow orchestration: execute_workflow(), generate_vba_code()
Template management: extract_template(), apply_template()
Macro optimization: optimize_macro(), analyze_macro()

By Security Level¶

Development (All Tools)¶

Full access to all 109 tools for local development.

Restricted (74 Tools)¶

Safe and moderate tools excluding system-level operations:

✅ All modeling and sketching tools
✅ Drawing tools and analysis
✅ Export and file management
❌ System VBA execution
❌ Advanced macro recording

Secure (45 Tools)¶

Read-only and analysis tools for production environments:

✅ Analysis and measurement tools
✅ Read-only property access
✅ Export operations
❌ Modeling modifications
❌ File system write access

Locked (15 Tools)¶

Minimal analysis tools for public interfaces:

✅ Mass properties and measurements
✅ Basic geometric analysis
❌ All modification operations
❌ File system access

Performance Characteristics¶

Operation Speed¶

Tool Category	Avg Response Time	Complexity Factor
Property Queries	50-100ms	1x
Simple Geometry	100-300ms	2x
Complex Features	300-800ms	5x
Batch Operations	1-10s	20x
VBA Generation	200-500ms	3x

Resource Usage¶

Memory: 50-200MB per SolidWorks instance
CPU: Varies by operation complexity
Disk: Minimal for operations, substantial for exports
Network: None (local SolidWorks integration)

Detailed Tool Categories¶

Modeling Tools¶

11 Tools | 3D modeling and part creation

Core Tools¶

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`create_part`	Create new part document	Low	New part creation from templates
`create_assembly`	Create new assembly document	Low	Multi-part assembly setup
`create_extrude`	Create extrusion features	Medium	Basic 3D geometry creation
`create_revolve`	Create revolution features	Medium	Rotational geometry
`create_sweep`	Create swept features	High	Complex path-based geometry
`create_loft`	Create lofted features	High	Advanced surface modeling
`create_cut`	Create cut features	Medium	Material removal operations
`create_fillet`	Apply fillet/round features	Low	Edge finishing
`manage_configurations`	Handle design configurations	High	Design variant management

Example Usage¶

# Create a new part
result = await create_part(
    name="Motor Housing",
    template="Part Template",
    units="millimeters"
)

# Add an extrusion
extrude = await create_extrude(
    sketch_name="Base Profile",
    depth=50.0,
    direction="Blind"
)

Sketching Tools¶

19 Tools | 2D geometry and constraints

Geometry Creation¶

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`create_sketch`	Initialize new sketch	Low	Start 2D design
`sketch_line`	Draw line segments	Low	Basic geometry
`sketch_rectangle`	Draw rectangles	Low	Rectangular profiles
`sketch_circle`	Draw circles	Low	Circular features
`sketch_arc`	Draw arcs	Medium	Curved geometry
`sketch_spline`	Draw splines	Medium	Complex curves
`sketch_polygon`	Draw polygons	Low	Multi-sided shapes

Constraints & Dimensions¶

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`add_dimension`	Add sketch dimensions	Medium	Size control
`add_constraint`	Add geometric constraints	Medium	Shape relationships
`constraint_coincident`	Coincident constraint	Low	Point alignment
`constraint_parallel`	Parallel constraint	Low	Line relationships
`constraint_perpendicular`	Perpendicular constraint	Low	Right angles
`constraint_tangent`	Tangent constraint	Medium	Smooth transitions
`constraint_equal`	Equal constraint	Low	Size matching
`constraint_symmetric`	Symmetry constraint	Medium	Balanced geometry
`sketch_pattern`	Pattern sketch entities	High	Repeated geometry

Example Usage¶

# Create and populate a sketch
sketch = await create_sketch(plane="Front")
await sketch_rectangle(
    center_x=0, center_y=0,
    width=100, height=50
)
await add_dimension(
    entity="Rectangle",
    dimension_type="width",
    value=100
)

Drawing Tools¶

:material-technical-draw: 12 Tools | Technical documentation

View Management¶

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`create_drawing`	Create new drawing document	Low	Technical documentation
`insert_model_view`	Insert 3D model view	Medium	Show part/assembly
`create_section_view`	Create section views	High	Internal details
`create_detail_view`	Create detail views	Medium	Magnified areas
`arrange_views`	Auto-arrange drawing views	Medium	Layout optimization

Annotations¶

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`add_dimensions`	Add drawing dimensions	Medium	Size specification
`add_annotations`	Add notes and symbols	Low	Documentation
`create_title_block`	Manage title blocks	Medium	Drawing standards

Example Usage¶

# Create drawing with views
drawing = await create_drawing(
    template="A3 Landscape",
    part_path="Motor Housing.SLDPRT"
)
await insert_model_view(
    view_type="Isometric",
    scale=0.5
)

Analysis Tools¶

5 Tools | Engineering analysis and validation

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`calculate_mass_properties`	Mass, volume, center of mass	Low	Weight analysis
`interference_detection`	Check part collisions	Medium	Assembly validation
`measure_entities`	Distances, angles, areas	Low	Geometric measurements
`validate_geometry`	Check model integrity	High	Quality assurance

Example Usage¶

# Analyze part properties
props = await calculate_mass_properties(
    entities=["Part1", "Part2"],
    include_hidden=False
)
mass = props.data["mass"]
volume = props.data["volume"]

Export Tools¶

7 Tools | File format conversion

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`export_step`	Export to STEP format	Low	CAD data exchange
`export_iges`	Export to IGES format	Low	Legacy CAD systems
`export_stl`	Export to STL format	Low	3D printing
`export_pdf`	Export drawings to PDF	Medium	Documentation
`export_dxf`	Export 2D DXF files	Medium	2D fabrication
`export_images`	Export to image formats	Low	Presentations
`batch_export`	Export multiple files	High	Mass conversion

Example Usage¶

# Export for 3D printing
await export_stl(
    file_path="Motor Housing.stl",
    resolution="Fine",
    units="Millimeters"
)

VBA Generation¶

10 Tools | Automatic VBA code generation

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`generate_macro`	Create VBA macro code	High	Complex operations
`optimize_macro`	Optimize existing macros	High	Performance tuning
`macro_to_api`	Convert macro to API calls	High	Code modernization
`validate_syntax`	Check VBA syntax	Medium	Code validation
`execute_vba`	Run VBA code safely	High	Custom operations
`macro_library`	Manage macro collections	Medium	Code organization
`parameter_mapping`	Map API to VBA params	High	Translation layer
`error_handling`	Add robust error handling	Medium	Reliability
`performance_analysis`	Analyze macro performance	High	Optimization
`code_documentation`	Generate macro docs	Low	Documentation

Template Management¶

6 Tools | Standardized workflows

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`create_template`	Create document templates	Medium	Standardization
`apply_template`	Apply templates to docs	Low	Consistency
`extract_template`	Extract template from doc	Medium	Template creation
`validate_template`	Check template integrity	Medium	Quality control
`template_library`	Manage template collections	High	Organization
`compare_templates`	Compare template versions	Medium	Version control

Macro Recording¶

7 Tools | Macro automation

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`start_recording`	Begin macro recording	Low	Capture workflows
`stop_recording`	End macro recording	Low	Save captured actions
`playback_macro`	Execute recorded macro	Medium	Automation replay
`edit_macro`	Modify macro code	High	Customization
`optimize_recording`	Improve macro efficiency	High	Performance
`macro_analysis`	Analyze macro quality	Medium	Code review
`create_macro_library`	Build macro collections	High	Organization
`share_macros`	Export/import macros	Medium	Collaboration

Drawing Analysis¶

8 Tools | Quality assurance

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`check_dimensions`	Validate drawing dimensions	Medium	Quality control
`analyze_tolerances`	Check tolerance stack-up	High	Engineering analysis
`verify_standards`	Check drawing standards	Medium	Compliance
`detect_errors`	Find drawing issues	High	Error detection
`generate_reports`	Create analysis reports	Medium	Documentation
`compare_revisions`	Compare drawing versions	High	Version control
`validate_symbols`	Check symbol usage	Medium	Standard compliance
`measure_complexity`	Analyze drawing complexity	Medium	Metrics
`audit_properties`	Check document properties	Low	Metadata validation
`compliance_check`	Full compliance validation	High	Certification

Automation Tools¶

8 Tools | Workflow orchestration

Tool Name	Description	Complexity	Use Case
`batch_process`	Process multiple files	High	Mass operations
`workflow_builder`	Create custom workflows	High	Process automation
`schedule_tasks`	Schedule automated tasks	Medium	Background processing
`file_operations`	Automated file management	Medium	File organization
`data_extraction`	Extract data from models	Medium	Data mining
`report_generation`	Create automated reports	High	Documentation
`integration_apis`	Connect external systems	High	System integration
`monitoring_tools`	Monitor automation health	Medium	System management

Best Practices¶

Tool Selection¶

Use the right tool: Choose the most specific tool for your task
Consider security: Select appropriate security level for deployment
Handle errors: Always check return status and handle failures
Monitor performance: Track execution times for optimization

Batch Operations¶

Group similar operations: Batch similar tasks for efficiency
Manage resources: Consider SolidWorks memory usage
Implement progress tracking: Provide user feedback for long operations
Error recovery: Handle partial failures gracefully

Security Considerations¶

Least privilege: Use the lowest security level that meets requirements
Validate inputs: Always validate user-provided parameters
Audit operations: Log all operations for compliance
Monitor access: Track tool usage patterns

Getting Started

Ready to explore? Jump to any tool category above or check out the Quick Start Guide for hands-on examples.

Development Status

All 109 tools are implemented and ready for use. Documentation and examples are continuously being expanded.