Then, silence. The fans wound down.
The is the ultimate gateway for timber engineers, BIM managers, and software developers to extend, automate, and customize cadwork, the world's leading 3D CAD/CAM software for wood construction.
Below is a detailed guide on the architecture, requirements, and practical usage of the cadwork API.
print("Processed", len(selected), "elements.") cadwork api
If you want to dive deeper into the code, check the official or the documentation files located in your local Cadwork installation directory ( \cadwork\exe\...\api\doc ).
At its core, the cadwork API is the "digital wiring" that allows external programs to communicate directly with the cadwork 3D engine. Think of it as a bridge. On one side, you have the powerful modeling capabilities of cadwork; on the other, you have the unlimited logic and processing power of a programming language like Python or C++.
: While it supports professional-grade development, it is primarily built for Python , a language known for being beginner-friendly yet powerful. Key Technical Features Then, silence
// You often need to regenerate the screen to see changes _api.regen();
Implementing API solutions inside a wood construction workflow provides immediate compounding returns for mass timber, timber frame, and modular manufacturers.
Cadwork API provides programmatic access to cadwork’s BIM/CAD software (primarily for timber/construction workflows), enabling automation, data exchange, custom extensions and integration with other tools. It exposes model geometry, elements, attributes, project metadata, and export/import capabilities; supports scripting, plugin development, and common construction workflows (quantity takeoff, fabrication data, CNC output). Typical users: architects, structural/timber engineers, fabricators, and integrators. Below is a detailed guide on the architecture,
For a multi-building residential complex, the architect required separate IFC files for each building, each filtered by level. The cadwork API opened the master model, looped through each building (using a custom attribute "BuildingID"), and exported a clean IFC file. What would have been a tedious 4-hour manual process became a 2-minute automated batch.
Manually placing thousands of dowels, bolts, or steel plates in massive timber structures is error-prone. A Python script can identify steel-to-timber connection zones, calculate the required fastener array based on predefined load parameters, and model the hardware and bolt holes instantly. Getting Started: A Conceptual Workflow