Catia V5 MCP Server

What is Catia V5 MCP Server about?

Catia V5 MCP Server enables Claude Desktop or Claude Code to control CATIA V5 on Windows by sending JSON‑RPC calls over stdio. The server translates these calls into COM automation commands that perform document management, sketching, part design, assembly, measurement, export, and view‑control tasks.

How to use Catia V5 MCP Server?

1. Install

   git clone https://github.com/daiemon12/catia-v5-mcp-server.git
   cd catia-v5-mcp-server
   bash setup.sh   # or `pip install -e .`
   

2. Configure Claude – add an MCP entry in claude_desktop_config.json (Windows) or use claude mcp add for Claude Code:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "catia-v5": {
         "command": "python",
         "args": ["-m", "catia_mcp"]
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Start CATIA V5 – the server will connect to the running instance or launch it if needed.
4. Talk to Claude – issue natural‑language instructions (e.g., “Create a new part, draw a 100x60 mm rectangle, extrude 40 mm”). Claude translates them to MCP calls and the server executes them in CATIA.

Key Features

• 50+ CAD tools covering document handling, 2D sketching, part design, assembly constraints, measurements, and exports.
• Windows‑only COM automation via pywin32 for direct interaction with CATIA V5.
• Seamless Claude integration (Desktop & Code) using standard MCP JSON‑RPC over stdio.
• Automatic CATIA launch if not already running (requires COM registration).
• Extensible architecture – tools are modular (catia_mcp/tools/*.py) and can be extended.

Use Cases

• Rapid prototyping – designers can describe geometry in plain English and obtain a fully modeled part.
• Training & education – students experiment with CAD commands without learning the full CATIA UI.
• Automated reporting – generate measurements, inertia data, or export files for downstream processes.
• Assembly automation – script the insertion of components and constraint definition for large assemblies.
• AI‑assisted design review – Claude can query parameters, propose modifications, and apply them instantly.

FAQ

Q: Does this work on macOS or Linux? A: No. The server relies on Windows COM automation, so it runs only on Windows where CATIA V5 is installed.

Q: What CATIA versions are supported? A: Any licensed CATIA V5 release from R2016 onward that registers cnext.exe as a COM server.

Q: Which Python version is required? A: Python 3.10 or newer.

Q: How are errors reported back to Claude? A: The server returns JSON‑RPC error objects containing the exception message; Claude displays them as textual feedback.

Q: Can I use a different backend like pycatia? A: The project welcomes contributions; a pycatia‑based backend can be added as an alternative implementation.

Q: How do I add new tools? A: Create a new module under catia_mcp/tools/, register the function in server.py, and implement the COM calls.

CATIA V5 MCP Server

Connect Claude AI to Dassault Systemes CATIA V5 via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

The first open-source MCP server for CATIA V5. Drive CATIA V5 CAD modeling from Claude Desktop or Claude Code using natural language.

What it does

This MCP server exposes 50+ tools that let Claude:

• Create and manage documents — new Part, Product (assembly), open, save, close
• 2D Sketching — lines, rectangles, circles, arcs, splines, points, constraints
• Part Design — Pad, Pocket, Shaft, Groove, Fillet, Chamfer, Hole, Shell, Draft, Thickness, Patterns (rectangular/circular), Mirror
• Assembly — add components, Fix/Coincidence/Offset/Angle constraints, move/rotate
• Measurement — distance, inertia, bounding box, parameters
• Export — STEP, IGES, STL, 3DXML, VRML, screenshots
• View control — set standard views, fit all, capture screenshots

Requirements

• Windows (COM automation is Windows-only)
• CATIA V5 installed and licensed (R2016+)
• Python 3.10+
• Claude Desktop or Claude Code

Quick Install (Recommended)

git clone https://github.com/daiemon12/catia-v5-mcp-server.git
cd catia-v5-mcp-server
bash setup.sh

The script handles everything: dependencies, Claude Desktop config, and verification.

Manual Installation

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/daiemon12/catia-v5-mcp-server.git
cd catia-v5-mcp-server

2. Install dependencies

pip install -e .

Or manually:

pip install mcp pywin32

3. Configure Claude Desktop

Edit your Claude Desktop config file:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Add the server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "catia-v5": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "catia_mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Or with an absolute path:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "catia-v5": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["C:/path/to/catia-v5-mcp-server/catia_mcp/server.py"]
    }
  }
}

4. For Claude Code

claude mcp add catia-v5 python -- -m catia_mcp

5. Start CATIA V5

Make sure CATIA V5 is running before asking Claude to interact with it. The server will automatically connect to the running instance.

If CATIA V5 is not running, the server will attempt to launch it (requires CATIA to be registered as COM server: cnext.exe /regserver).

Usage Examples

Once configured, just talk to Claude:

Create a simple part

"Create a new CATIA part. Draw a 100x60mm rectangle centered at the origin on the XY plane, then extrude it 40mm."

Design a bracket

"Design a mounting bracket: start with a 120x80mm base plate, 5mm thick. Add 4 M6 mounting holes at the corners with 10mm edge distance. Then add two vertical ribs 30mm tall."

Parametric modification

"Show me all parameters of the active part. Then change the pad height to 60mm."

Export for manufacturing

"Export the current part to STEP format at C:/export/bracket.stp and take a screenshot of the isometric view."

Assembly

"Create a new assembly. Add the bracket from C:/parts/bracket.CATPart and the base from C:/parts/base.CATPart. Fix the base, then create a coincidence constraint between the two."

Architecture

catia-v5-mcp-server/
├── catia_mcp/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── __main__.py          # python -m catia_mcp entry point
│   ├── server.py            # MCP Server — tool registration & routing
│   ├── connection.py        # COM connection manager (win32com)
│   └── tools/
│       ├── __init__.py
│       ├── document.py      # Document management (9 tools)
│       ├── sketcher.py      # 2D Sketch tools (11 tools)
│       ├── part_design.py   # 3D Part Design features (15 tools)
│       ├── assembly.py      # Assembly/Product tools (9 tools)
│       ├── measurement.py   # Measurement & analysis (6 tools)
│       └── export.py        # Export & view control (4 tools)
├── pyproject.toml
├── requirements.txt
└── README.md

How it works

Claude (Desktop/Code)
    │
    │ stdio (MCP JSON-RPC)
    ▼
catia_mcp/server.py (MCP Server)
    │
    │ Tool routing
    ▼
catia_mcp/tools/*.py (Tool modules)
    │
    │ win32com.client (COM Automation)
    ▼
CATIA V5 Application

1. Claude sends MCP tool calls over stdio
2. The server routes each call to the appropriate tool module
3. Each tool module uses win32com.client to drive CATIA V5 via COM
4. Results (JSON, text) are returned to Claude

Tool Reference

Document Tools (9)

Tool	Description
catia_connect	Connect to CATIA V5
catia_disconnect	Disconnect from CATIA V5
catia_new_part	Create a new Part document
catia_new_product	Create a new Product (assembly)
catia_open_document	Open an existing document
catia_save_document	Save / Save As
catia_close_document	Close active document
catia_list_documents	List all open documents
catia_get_active_document_info	Get detailed info about active document

Sketcher Tools (11)

Tool	Description
catia_create_sketch	Create sketch on XY/YZ/ZX plane
catia_close_sketch	Close sketch, return to Part Design
catia_sketch_line	Draw a line
catia_sketch_rectangle	Draw a rectangle (2 corners)
catia_sketch_centered_rectangle	Draw a centered rectangle
catia_sketch_circle	Draw a circle
catia_sketch_arc	Draw an arc
catia_sketch_spline	Draw a spline through points
catia_sketch_point	Create a point
catia_sketch_constraint	Add dimensional/geometric constraint
catia_sketch_get_geometry	List sketch geometry elements

Part Design Tools (15)

Tool	Description
catia_pad	Pad (extrusion)
catia_pocket	Pocket (cut extrusion)
catia_shaft	Shaft (revolution)
catia_groove	Groove (revolution cut)
catia_fillet	Fillet (edge rounding)
catia_chamfer	Chamfer (edge bevel)
catia_hole	Hole (simple, counterbored, countersunk)
catia_rect_pattern	Rectangular pattern
catia_circ_pattern	Circular pattern
catia_mirror	Mirror about a plane
catia_shell	Shell (hollow out)
catia_draft	Draft angle
catia_thickness	Thickness offset
catia_list_features	List features in body
catia_list_edges	List edges for fillet/chamfer

Assembly Tools (9)

Tool	Description
catia_add_component	Add existing part to assembly
catia_add_new_part	Create new part in assembly
catia_fix_constraint	Fix a component in place
catia_coincidence_constraint	Coincidence constraint
catia_offset_constraint	Offset constraint
catia_angle_constraint	Angle constraint
catia_move_component	Move/rotate a component
catia_list_components	List assembly components
catia_list_constraints	List assembly constraints

Measurement Tools (6)

Tool	Description
catia_measure_distance	Measure distance between elements
catia_get_inertia	Volume, area, mass, center of gravity
catia_get_bounding_box	Bounding box dimensions
catia_get_parameters	List all parameters
catia_set_parameter	Modify a parameter value
catia_update_part	Force rebuild

Export Tools (4)

Tool	Description
catia_export	Export to STEP/IGES/STL/3DXML/VRML
catia_screenshot	Capture 3D view to image
catia_set_view	Set view orientation
catia_fit_all	Fit all in view

Troubleshooting

"pywin32 is not installed"

pip install pywin32

This server requires Windows. It will not work on macOS or Linux.

"Failed to connect to CATIA V5"

1. Make sure CATIA V5 is running
2. Register CATIA as COM server: navigate to C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B<version>\<os>\code\bin\ and run cnext.exe /regserver
3. Check that no modal dialog is blocking CATIA

"No active document"

Create or open a document first using catia_new_part or catia_open_document.

COM ByRef array limitations

Some measurement methods may not work with late binding. If you encounter issues, try using pycatia as an alternative backend (contribution welcome).

Contributing

This project is open-source. Contributions welcome:

• Wireframe & Surface (GSD) tools
• Drawing tools (2D drafting)
• Knowledgeware (formulas, rules, check)
• pycatia backend as alternative to raw win32com
• Tests with COM mocking
• 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA support

License

MIT

Credits

Inspired by:

• SolidWorks-MCP
• freecad-mcp
• abaqus-mcp-server
• pycatia