ODA’s Solution for SolidWorks Interoperability
Open Design Alliance continues to expand its MCAD SDK, delivering a powerful solution for SolidWorks interoperability, officially released in June 2025.
A New Level of Independence for SolidWorks Users
The MCAD SDK for SolidWorks files enables companies and developers to work with SolidWorks data safely and efficiently - to read, analyze, visualize, and edit files without relying on proprietary software.
The SDK supports all major SolidWorks formats (.sldprt, .sldasm, .slddrw) and provides full access to model geometry, assemblies, properties, and external references.
It supports loading and saving files from SolidWorks 2011 through 2024, with backward-compatible writing to the same opened version.
This technology is now a core part of ODA’s open MCAD ecosystem, providing secure, cross-platform interoperability for mechanical design workflows.
Developed in Close Collaboration with Members
The SolidWorks integration within MCAD SDK is being developed in close collaboration with ODA Members, ensuring constant feedback and alignment with real engineering requirements.
In partnership with Synergis, over 90% of requested functionality has already been successfully delivered - demonstrating the maturity and real-world applicability of the solution.
Core Capabilities
Geometry and Visualization – Access and render 3D geometry directly in ODA Viewer, with 2D drawing and texture visualization coming soon.
Assemblies and Components – Structured access to parts and assemblies, including hierarchy, suppression states, transformations, and configurations.
Properties and Metadata – Manage document, configuration, and custom properties with robust validation for data consistency.
External References – Identify and access linked or embedded content such as Inventor, Excel, PDF, and image files.
Continuous Growth and Future Plans
MCAD SDK for SolidWorks files is under active development, with new capabilities added in every release.
Upcoming updates will include extended annotation rendering, improved SLDDRW visualization, and textured 3D rendering in ODA Viewer - strengthening ODA’s commitment to open, reliable interoperability for MCAD developers worldwide.
If your company works with SolidWorks data and needs a long-term, independent interoperability solution, learn more about ODA MCAD technologies.
https://www.opendesign.com/products/mcad-sdk
