Comparison
AiCadGen vs SolidWorks
SolidWorks is an industry-standard parametric CAD package built for detailed mechanical design, large assemblies and drawings. AiCadGen is not trying to replace it — it is the fast way to create a starting solid from a description. Because AiCadGen exports AP242 STEP, the result drops straight into SolidWorks, where FeatureWorks can rebuild an editable feature tree.
| AiCadGen | SolidWorks | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Plain-English description | Manual sketching & features |
| Time to first model | Seconds | Minutes to hours |
| Learning curve | None | Steep |
| Output | STEP (AP242), STL, DXF, OBJ | Native + all common exports |
| Editable in SolidWorks | Yes — import STEP, run FeatureWorks | Native |
| Cost to start | Free tier | Paid licence |
| Best for | First models, parts, prototypes | Production design & drawings |
Which should you use?
Use AiCadGen to generate a part from a description in seconds and export STEP; use SolidWorks to take that solid into full production design. The two are complementary, not either/or.