# Simulation with 3D CAD

**URL:** <https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/simulation-with-3d-cad/20010>\
**Category:** Technical Questions\
**Created:** [March 21, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/simulation-with-3d-cad/20010 "2022-03-21T14:42:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![anon63330883](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@anon63330883](https://forum.universal-robots.com/u/anon63330883)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/simulation-with-3d-cad/20010/1 "2022-03-21T14:42:52Z")

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I have a manufacturing line in a Solid works assembly. I have been tasked to look for stations and process steps for where a UR 5e could be used. I want to add a 3D file of a UR 5e and simulate programs within the assembly. Does anyone know if this can be done in solid works or a third party software?

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**Author:** ![androidflorent](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.universal-robots.com/androidflorent/32/3314_2.png) [@androidflorent](https://forum.universal-robots.com/u/androidflorent)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/simulation-with-3d-cad/20010/2 "2022-03-21T17:30:46Z")

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I developed exactly this kind of application for another CAD software where no solution existed to interface with UR.  
The equivalent for SolidWorks would be :

- The robot programs run in the URSim simulator
- A Solidworks Addin is developed in .NET: [Welcome - 2020 - SOLIDWORKS API Help](https://help.solidworks.com/2020/English/api/sldworksapiprogguide/Welcome.htm)
  - This Addin uses [this library](https://underautomation.com) to interface with the robot simulated in URSim
  - This Addin is used as a bridge. It drives in real time the concentric mates of the robot CAD model with the joint angles returned by the library.

But another solution is to develop your robot programs in a third party software that can interface with Solidworks, like RobotDK: [RoboDK Add-In for SolidWorks - RoboDK Documentation](https://robodk.com/doc/en/Plugin-SolidWorks.html)

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**Author:** ![anon8732348](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@anon8732348](https://forum.universal-robots.com/u/anon8732348)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/simulation-with-3d-cad/20010/3 "2022-03-22T18:28:46Z")

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Are you looking for rough testing? like reach study / concept generation?

If so, I have done this in a few different ways.

- Solid works, download STP file of UR5, save as assy and add mates for faces & concentric but allow rotation. This lets you move the model in your assy file.
- [Venition.io](http://Venition.io) - Site is designed to build / price 8020 style extrusions, but they have a pretty powerful simulation option built in.
- RoboDK. great reasonably cheap simulation option. Not super pretty / intuitive but powerful.