What is beamng.cad?
Implementation snapshot · 2026-10-12 · Sources & update notes
beamng.cad is a SolidWorks COM add-in that turns selected CAD groups into BeamNG structures and vehicle packages. It combines a C# interface inside SolidWorks with Python geometry, calibration and vehicle-generation workers.
It keeps three things separate:
| Layer | What it owns |
|---|---|
| CAD project | Body selections, material observations, saved references and authored joints |
| Physical model | Nodes, beams, constraints, masses, collision and powertrain |
| Appearance | Render meshes, colours and their bindings to the physical model |
That separation lets you change a vehicle’s skin without silently changing its physics. A new physical design, however, needs new inputs, generation and verification.
Choose your starting point
Section titled “Choose your starting point”- A frame: follow Frame preparation to capture geometry, inspect a hull, review fixtures and calibrate a generation.
- A complete CAD vehicle: follow Your first CAD vehicle, beginning with ownership and a reviewed inventory.
- A different appearance on existing physics: read Appearance and templates. This tests the retained physics, even when every visible mesh changes.
- Development: start with Architecture and source layout.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”Read Capabilities and limitations, install the prerequisites, and configure Settings.
Generation, successful recording, and physical qualification are separate outcomes. A ZIP that loads in BeamNG is an important checkpoint, but it does not establish real material, handling or crash accuracy.