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For software developers · 3D InterOp SDK

Convert SLDPRT to 3DXML in your application

3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read SLDPRT files and write 3DXML, generating the 3DXML mesh from the geometry it reads, with tessellation settings your application controls.

Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.

  • Reads SOLIDWORKS part · Writes 3D XML
  • Exact geometry → triangle mesh
  • C++ / C# APIs
bracket.sldprtSOLIDWORKS part · exact B-Rep · PMI
Your application
3D InterOp SDK
SOLIDWORKS readerTessellation3D XML writer
assembly.3dxml3D XML · tessellated · product structure

SLDPRT to 3DXML at a glance

SOLIDWORKS part stores exact geometry; 3D XML stores triangles. The translation is a tessellation, and the settings you choose decide how close the mesh stays to the original.

SOLIDWORKS part (source)3D XML (target)
Full nameSOLIDWORKS Part3D XML
Standard / ownerDassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKSDassault Systèmes
File extensions.sldprt.3dxml
GeometryExact B-RepTessellated geometry
Assemblies / structurePart file (assemblies are SLDASM files)Yes
PMISemantic (DimXpert) and graphical, SOLIDWORKS 2014 and laterGraphical PMI
3D InterOp supportRead onlyRead and write

What's preserved, what changes

Here is what your application can expect to carry across from SOLIDWORKS part to 3D XML.

  • Changes
    Geometry is tessellated
    The exact SOLIDWORKS part B-Rep is replaced by a triangle mesh, generated by 3D InterOp from the exact geometry it reads. Accuracy depends on the tessellation settings your application uses.

Why software vendors add SLDPRT to 3DXML conversion

Lightweight review

3D XML carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.

Sharing outside engineering

Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A 3D XML file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.

Easier handling of large assemblies

Without exact surfaces and feature data, 3D XML files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.

Things to check before you ship

  • Written 3DXML versions: 3D XML 4.3, as static tessellation.
  • Only static tessellation is written, not XML tessellation.
  • Supported SLDPRT input: SOLIDWORKS 98 to 2026.
  • Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
  • Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.

Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.

Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems

Read the Case Study

About the formats

  • Source format

    What is an SLDPRT (.sldprt) file?

    An SLDPRT file is a SOLIDWORKS part: a single component with its exact 3D geometry, feature tree and properties. SOLIDWORKS is built on the Parasolid kernel.

  • Target format

    What is a 3D XML (.3dxml) file?

    3D XML is Dassault Systèmes’ lightweight XML-based format for sharing 3D product data. 3D InterOp reads and writes its tessellated representation, with product structure and graphical PMI.

Frequently asked questions

3D InterOp tessellates the geometry it reads from SLDPRT when it writes 3DXML. Your application sets the tolerances, so it controls the trade-off between accuracy and file size.

The 3D XML writer can write graphical PMI such as views, captures and text.

3D InterOp writes 3D XML 4.3 with static tessellation. XML tessellation isn’t written.

Yes. If your application uses Parasolid, a Parasolid-based SOLIDWORKS reader is available.

Semantic PMI from SOLIDWORKS 2014 to 2026, and graphical PMI from SOLIDWORKS 2014 onwards.

3D InterOp reads SOLIDWORKS 98 to 2026.

3D InterOp writes 3D XML 4.3, as static tessellation.

  • Building software that needs to convert SLDPRT to 3DXML?

    3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read SOLIDWORKS part and write 3D XML alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.