CAxTools

CAxTools is an open-source software library and toolkit intended to support computer-aided technologies (CAx) workflows across CAD, CAM, and CAE. It provides modular components for geometry processing, data interoperability, file I/O, and workflow automation, enabling developers to build tools that read, manipulate, and exchange CAx data.

The library includes architecture for multiple geometry kernel backends, adapters for common CAD formats (for example STEP, IGES, STL, and OBJ), and data structures for solids, surfaces, and assemblies. It offers mesh processing utilities, feature extraction support, and scripting interfaces to automate tasks. Language bindings are available for Python and C++ to facilitate rapid development.

CAxTools emphasizes extensibility through a plugin-based design and a clean API. The core provides a neutral, format-agnostic representation of CAx data, while optional backends enable specialized processing or vendor-specific features. The project aims to facilitate interoperability between tools from different vendors and research environments.

Development and reception: the project is community-driven and maintained by contributors from academia and industry. It follows open development practices with public issue trackers, continuous integration, and regular releases. It is used in academic studies and by smaller CAx tool developers to prototype workflows.

Licensing and availability: CAxTools is distributed under an open-source license, with code hosted on public repositories and accompanying documentation, tutorials, and example projects.