CAD Customization
& Plug-in Development
Extend your CAD platform with custom commands, UI panels, and native automation tools. We build upgrade-safe, maintainable add-ins that enforce your drafting standards and integrate with your PDM/ERP systems.
Generic CAD Software Has Limits
Out-of-the-box CAD platforms are powerful but generic. Your team wastes time on repetitive operations, manual standards checks, and missing domain-specific features—work that should be automated inside the software.
Manual CAD + Workarounds
Reliance on manual drafting and disconnected tools creates friction.
- Repetitive Clicks Wasting hours on identical command sequences daily.
- Standards Drift Inconsistent layers, text styles, and dimensioning.
- Error-Prone Checks Manually verifying naming conventions and clearance rules.
- Broken Scaling Workflows that fall apart when the team grows.
Customized CAD Tools (Add-ins)
Automated workflows deeply integrated into your software.
- Custom Commands Tools tailored to your exact products and drafting standards.
- Guided Workflows UI panels that validate inputs and automate complex drafting steps.
- Deep Integration Hooks into PDM, ERP, and Part Libraries directly from CAD.
What You Can Expect
Native CAD Experience
Custom tools that look and feel like they are part of the software.
Standardization
Enforced layers, naming conventions, and dimensioning rules.
Faster Drafting Tasks
Automate repetitive clicks, view creation, and annotation tasks.
Fewer Errors
Built-in validations catch mistakes before drawings are released.
Development Process
A professional software development lifecycle applied to Engineering tools.
1. Audit & Scope
We analyze your CAD environment to identify bottlenecks and define the API scope, version compatibility, and UI requirements.
2. Development
Coding with native APIs/SDKs (.NET, C#, C++). We implement custom commands, proper error handling, and transactional logic.
3. Testing & QA
Rigorous validation on real assemblies and drawings. We test for version upgrades and edge cases to ensure stability.
4. Deployment
We deliver signed installers (.msi) and documentation for smooth rollout to your entire engineering team.
Why Custom Plug-ins vs. Recorded Macros?
Macros are useful for simple tasks, but they fail in production environments. Professional plug-ins provide the stability, UI, and control that engineering teams require.
Macros / Scripts
- Brittle: Breaks easily with new CAD versions or UI updates.
- Hard to Maintain: Impossible to debug or update for a large team.
- No Validation: Limited UI interaction and error checking.
- Deployment Issues: Copy-paste installs lead to version mismatch.
Professional Plug-ins
- Robust: Built with native CAD APIs for stability and performance.
- Modern UI: Proper dialogs and task panes for user input.
- Maintainable: Version controlled and strictly structured code.
- Deployable: Standard installers (.msi) for easy team updates.
Platforms We Customize
Expertise in the major engineering design SDKs and APIs.
AutoCAD
Custom Commands (LISP/.NET), Ribbon UI, ObjectARX, Standards Enforcement
Revit
Revit API Add-ins, Dynamo Nodes, Family Automation, Data Extraction
Inventor
Inventor API, iLogic Rules, Assembly Config, BOM Automation
SolidWorks
SolidWorks API Add-ins, PDM Pro Tasks, Property Managers, Macro Features
Is CAD Customization Right for You?
This service is ideal for teams that need their CAD platform to do more than it does out of the box.
CAD Administrators & IT Teams
You need custom commands, UI panels, or automated routines built into your CAD platform that work reliably across version upgrades.
Teams Needing System Integration
You want to connect your CAD environment to PDM, ERP, or other enterprise systems—without manual data re-entry.
Companies with Drafting Standards
Your team struggles with inconsistent drawings. You need automated checks and formatting that enforce your standards every time.
Teams Outgrowing Off-the-Shelf Tools
You've tried generic plugins and macros but they don't handle your specific workflows. You need purpose-built tools for your process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which CAD platforms do you develop plugins for?
Will my plugin survive CAD version upgrades?
Can you take over maintenance of an existing plugin?
Do I own the code you develop?
What Engineering Teams Achieve
Saved per engineer per week
Standards compliance enforced automatically
Downtime during CAD version upgrades
"Nag figured out a difficult API that Autodesk couldn't solve. His plugin survived three version upgrades without a single issue. That's the kind of engineering depth you don't find elsewhere."
Industries Using This Service
Unleash Your CAD Software's Potential
We review your workflows, propose a customization roadmap, and deliver a clear plan with estimates and timelines.