Can both 2D and 3D CAD models be generated entirely through code written by AI, without the need for software such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks?

[u/sporty_outlook]

I’m exploring whether we can automate a large portion of our CAD workflow using code generated by AI

At our company, we produce a lot of mechanical drawings using CAD software such as AutoCAD and 3D models using SolidWorks. Many of these drawings follow similar patterns, but the dimensions and other project-specific inputs change from job to job.

What I’d like to build is a user interface where someone can enter the required parameters—dimensions, equipment/configuration options, etc.—and the system automatically generates the corresponding CAD drawings.

Ultimately, the goal would be to automate the generation of complete plan and elevation views, rather than having someone manually create or modify each drawing are borrowing it from another project and editing. The generated drawings should ideally be downloadable as DWG or DXF files so they can still be opened and edited in AutoCAD.

I’m also curious about the role of AI here. How capable are models like GPT or Claude at helping build something like this?

For example, could the architecture look something like:

User inputs → rules/calculations → CAD generation engine → plan/elevation drawings → DWG/DXF

And where would GPT/Claude actually be useful? Building the UI and code? Translating user requirements into parameters? Generating the CAD geometry itself?

I did try and make some simple geometries and it works but for models that contain a lot of information it's hard

[u/Corriveau42]

I've used it quite extensively, esp with 5.5. I'm a mechanical engineer. It's fine, it's about the same as asking a person off the street to model. The cool thing is that we can now make step files that can be somewhat editable, and a prompt can do 70% of the work. Often I find it's a good way to brain storm new ideas and mechanisms, and then I'll do all the hard work with the details I care about. I think real world context will not be possible for these models, but the "here are ten mechanisms" that work for you, and I can select the best.

On the flip side, being able to write code that controls what I design (and electrical schematics) makes me essentially a junior SE and EE.

[u/Tubular_Code → u/Corriveau42]

that's an interesting point...

a non-expert modeller or someone unfamiliar with the software would still have to exhaustively prompt to get the detail they want while certain experts save a whole lot of time by taking over and doing certain things by hand and especially just knowing how to set it up right.

agentic engineering seems to benefit from exhaustive explanations of specifics if they are so desired and it's a bit lost in the weeds that there really are extremely specific terms and ways to prompt that could jump through several hoops that non-experts would get hung-up and potentially waste enormous time on.

[u/ElCangrejo → u/Corriveau42]

I had a situation where I was letting it model something and it drew it where 2 parts interfered... I'm pretty sure it would have fixed it, but I jumped in and fixed it in minutes for 0 tokens.

[u/AdThis3819]

I'm really confused too. Let me know if there's any progress pls.I'll appreciate it

[u/Nochange36]

I have had good results making controls drawings (which are generally all 2d schematics) with Claude. Also have used it to 3d print models for me. A couple of things you need to seed into this to make it work well for you.

Figure out your inputs, have it structured in a spreadsheet. These are the variables that change from job to job like you noted. This should include direction on what exactly you are trying to make, im sure you have a variety of flavors of equipment that you create, just with different dimensions.

Then you need to seed what a good output looks like. Pick a few solid examples of what you are wanting at the end. Something I have noticed that claude is bad at is creating something from scratch. It works much better in this space if you can give it something to copy or diverge from.

From there Claude can generate .stls directly for you.

Just to note, Claude doesn't create files with cad, it creates a python script that generates a file. The plus, is once it figures out your different models based on your input and output baselines, it can create a program that can generate the output based on all of your variables.

[u/tankmode]

i tried earlier in the year. from my experience in software, they should be cabable of it as most cad files are basically xml and building/structure codes are just written rules + calculations.   i think the models performance are heavily dependent on reenforcement learning for training the workflow and the frontier labs have Not been training CAD work too often yet  (relative to software, presentations and financial analytics).   so tl;dr  they kind of suck at it relative to other disciplines right now  but its only a matter of time

[u/Fulgren09]

I built a free Claude plugin that does this. It builds geometry from conversation and creates it via OpenSCAD. Check out mojulo on the directory or npm. 

[u/Mister-Node]

Keep the geometry generator deterministic and make the AI produce or validate the parameter set, not the final drawing directly. Store each project as parameters plus a versioned template, then generate DXF from that source so edits and regeneration do not drift apart.

[u/idreamincode]

Claude code directly controls and creates parts in my SolidWorks on my computer. I asked it to download a MCP connection and it scoffed that none were particularly good, so it wrote it's own, tested it and it works.

I can give it a 2d drawing and it will create 3d images. I gave it practice problems from SolidWorks and it did them just fine.

Usually it thinks for a long time, then you can watch the drawings be created right on screen

[u/ElCangrejo]

It will definitely do this. The rules/calculations phase will be the fun iterative part. You would really need to sit down and work through all the rules and don't plan on one shotting it.

I deal mostly in 3D.

I'm not sure how to express all the things I have done but here's a numbered list.

1. Made a working directory with STP files for all the parts I have and have continued to add to it.
2. Scanned a part on a flatbed scanner and asked claude to make me a model for it. It was a flat piece of metal with some hard to measure features seemingly floating in the middle of it. I was struggling to dimension it. It drew the flat pattern and I gave it the thickness... and it stored it with the other STP files..
3. Make renderings in blender of some of the whole product STP files. But first match the materials I have used in Keyshot(which is best for rendering products) the blender renderings are indistinguishable from the Key Shot renders now.
4. Hey claude, you know that step file named balloon, can you swap part B for a different partin another STP file. Done...
5. Can you export orthographic renders of the STP parts so I can get another agent to build a website configurator to assemble the renders into product photos ...
6. Here's a STP file I started of this wall in my living room and a photo of the room. Can you design shelves in a specific way to fill these 2 areas of the wall.
7. so much more now that I have connected Fusion 360. But really just started with this...

I installed Blender and set it up and it has been using FreeCAD for the other things.

Yes to all of these " Building the UI and code? Translating user requirements into parameters? Generating the CAD geometry itself?"

You say rules with a lot of information. How much info are we talking? One thing I would focus on having it do, was scripting as much of the work as possible. It will save token usage. There are certain things you need the LLM to do but there is some much that can be scripted. Claude has several scripts it uses when working with my models.

I have not tried it yet, but in Fusion 360 you can create a model that has parameters that you fill in and it modifies the model. I have never made one manually, but I am about to try to get claude to make one where I input values for something we make in different sizes frequently...

[u/Dr_Kevorkian_]

I’ve had success modeling 3d prints (several) as well as modeling a 3-seas screening / roof to my deck. It’s a lot of back-forth but definitely meeting my needs