AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

January 12

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere today. From chatbots to image generation, it can feel like AI is transforming every industry overnight. Naturally, many engineers and designers are asking the same question:

 

What does AI really mean for SOLIDWORKS?

Let’s cut through the hype and look at what AI in SOLIDWORKS actually does — and just as importantly, what it does not do.

 

What AI in SOLIDWORKS Is (and What It Isn’t)

AI in SOLIDWORKS is not a magic “design button” that replaces engineers or automatically produces perfect designs. Instead, it focuses on something far more practical and valuable:

 

👉 Helping you work smarter, faster, and more consistently

 

Think of AI in SOLIDWORKS as a co-pilot, not an auto-pilot. Engineers still make the decisions, apply judgment, and ensure designs meet functional, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements. AI simply accelerates repetitive tasks, and provides intelligent assistance where it makes sense.

 

Assistive vs Generative AI

Generally, there are two main types of AI: Assistive and Generative.

 

Assistive AI

Assistive AI analyzes existing data to:

  • Suggest actions
  • Automate repetitive steps
  • Resolve common modeling issues
  • Improve efficiency without creating new content

 

It is smarter, reliable, and has been embedded in SOLIDWORKS for years — often without users even labeling it as “AI”.

Generative AI

Generative AI goes a step further by creating new outputs, such as:

  • Suggest actions
  • Automate repetitive steps
  • Resolve common modeling issues
  • Improve efficiency without creating new content

 

While it is flashier and more creative, it is resource-intensive, less reliable, and introduces more risk. Generative AI is fairly new.

 

What AI in SOLIDWORKS Actually Looks Like

If you’ve been using SOLIDWORKS for some time, you may already be benefiting from AI-driven functionality without realizing it.

Xpert Tools – Helping You Work Like an Expert

Xpert tools automatically resolve common CAD problems, especially helpful for newer users:

  • SketchXpert – Resolves sketch conflicts and over-definitions
  • FeatureXpert – Reorders features to make failed features solvable
  • DraftXpert – Simplifies neutral plane draft creation
  • FilletXpert – Manages multiple fillets and size adjustments
  • MateXpert – Diagnoses and fixes mate conflicts in assemblies

 

These tools are classic examples of assistive AI — powerful, fast, and reliable.

 

  • SketchXpert – Resolves sketch conflicts and over-definitions

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

  • FeatureXpert – Reorders features to make failed features solvable

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

 

 

  • DraftXpert – Simplifies neutral plane draft creation

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

  • FilletXpert – Manages multiple fillets and size adjustments

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

  • MateXpert – Diagnoses and fixes mate conflicts in assemblies

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

Assembly Tools – Smarter Automation in Context

SOLIDWORKS assembly tools recognize geometry and intent to automate repetitive tasks:

  • Auto Repair Mates – Repairs broken mates after component replacement
  • SmartMates – Applies logical mates during drag-and-drop
  • Smart Fasteners – Automatically inserts Toolbox fasteners based on hole geometry
  • Smart Components – Inserts associated components and features automatically

All of these tools run locally and help eliminate tedious manual steps.

 

  • Auto Repair Mates  –  automatically repairs missing mate references to resolve mate errors caused by components getting replaced.

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

  • SmartMates  –  auto-applies logical mates during drag-and-drop in place.

Hold “Alt” while dragging an edge, surface, vertices to desire entities

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

  • Smart Fasteners  –  inserts and mates suitable fasteners from the Toolbox based on hole geometry.

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

  • Smart Components  –  is a configured component that automatically inserts other associated components and features when inserted.

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

AI Tools – New Capabilities in SOLIDWORKS 2025 and Beyond

SOLIDWORKS 2025 introduces new AI-driven capabilities that will continue to evolve.

AI Fastener Recognition

  • Identifies nuts, bolts, and washers from non-Toolbox geometry
  • Automatically applies SmartMates during insertion

With Fastener Recognition, AI identifies nuts, bolts, and washers from non-Toolbox parts and applies SmartMates when inserted.

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

Command Predictor (BETA)

  • Anticipates your next command based on modeling context
  • Relevant tools to reduce searching and clicks

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

Auto-Generate Drawings (BETA)

  • Automatically creates drawings from parts or assemblies
  • Adds standard views, sections, dimensions, annotations, BOMs, and tables
  • Handles the setup — engineers finalize and refine

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

AURA (BETA)

AURA (BETA) is a virtual, conversational AI assistant that operates within your designs and data to provide SOLIDWORKS help, information on internal data, and automation, all while protecting company IP.

AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

 

Common Concerns: Security, Connectivity

Security & Connectivity

Not all AI tools work the same way.

 

  • Local (on-premise)
    • SOLIDWORKS Xperts
    • Assembly tools
    • Fastener Recognition
    • Command Predictor
  • Cloud-based (3DEXPERIENCE required)
    • Auto-Generate Drawings
    • AURA

 

The Future of AI in SOLIDWORKS

We are only at the beginning.

Upcoming and conceptual capabilities include:

  • AI-guided sketching and modeling
  • Image-to-sketch and image-to-mesh workflows
  • Mesh-to-parametric CAD conversion
  • Text-to-CAD interactions
  • AI-generated renders and design suggestions

Even with these advancements, one thing remains clear:

CAD design will never be fully automated.

AI will not replace engineers — and relying on AI alone would be risky, introducing compliance issues, rework, and potential product failures. Responsibility and accountability will always rest with professionals.

What AI can do is helping engineer work without disruption, handle setup, and give engineers a faster, smarter starting point.

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Start Exploring AI in SOLIDWORKS Today

If you’re running the latest version of SOLIDWORKS, you already have access to many AI-driven tools today.

To get the most value:

  • Update to the latest version and service pack
  • Keep an eye on beta tool enhancements
  • Explore 3DEXPERIENCE-enabled workflows

AI in SOLIDWORKS is here to support designers and engineers — not replace them. By automating low-value, repetitive tasks, it frees you to focus on what matters most: better design decisions and better products.

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