← all parity reports

Mechanical

Kerf vs SOLIDWORKS

30 years of Parasolid-kernel polish — compared honestly against MIT open-core.

59/59in Kerf today
21/59in SOLIDWORKS (included)
10behind a paid tier
2026-05-19last reviewed
CapabilityKerfSOLIDWORKS
Constraint sketcher (geo + dim)D1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/sketch.py yes source ↗
Pad / pocket / revolveD1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/analysis.py yes source ↗
Fillet / chamfer (constant)D1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/analysis.py yes source ↗
Variable-radius filletD1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/analysis.py yes source ↗
Sweep (1 & 2 rail)D1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/analysis.py yes source ↗
Sheet metalD1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/construction_verbs_tools.py yes source ↗
NURBS surfacing (blend/network/patch)D1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geom/network_srf.py yes source ↗
Assemblies — matesD1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/assembly/mates.py yes source ↗
Assembly interference (clash)D1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/clash/detect.py yes source ↗
Assembly motion studyD1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/assembly/model.py yes source ↗
2D drawings (views/dims/sections)D1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/drawings/auto_dimension.py yes source ↗
GD&T on drawings / MBD / PMID1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gdt/tools.py yes source ↗
Configurations / family variantsD1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/family/model.py yes source ↗
Large assembly performance modeD1 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/assembly/perf.py yes source ↗
Standard parts library (ISO/DIN fasteners, bearings, profiles)D1 yes packages/kerf-parts/src/kerf_parts/tools.py yes source ↗
FE — linear static (native)D2 yes packages/kerf-fem/src/kerf_fem/linear_static.py yes source ↗
FE — fatigue (S-N)D2 yes packages/kerf-fem/src/kerf_fem/fatigue_fem.py source ↗
Modal / buckling / nonlinear FEAD2 yes packages/kerf-fem/src/kerf_fem/buckling.py source ↗
AISC 360 / ACI 318 member designD2 yes packages/kerf-structural/src/kerf_structural/aisc_member.py no source ↗
Spur/helical gear rating (AGMA/ISO 6336)D3 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gearstrength/iso6336.py no source ↗
Bearings — ISO 281 L10 / ISO/TS 16281D3 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/bearings/select.py no source ↗
Shaft stress + critical speedD3 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/shaft no source ↗
Weldments structural frameworkD3 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/weldment_profiles.py yes source ↗
CFD (internal/external flow)D4 yes packages/kerf-fem/src/kerf_fem/cfd_navier_stokes.py source ↗
HVAC duct sizing (SMACNA)D4 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/hvac/ducts.py no source ↗
Heat exchanger (LMTD/ε-NTU)D4 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/heatxfer/shell_tube_bell.py no source ↗
Airfoil / wing aerodynamics (VLM)D5 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/aero/flow.py no source ↗
Orbital mechanics (Kepler/Hohmann/Lambert)D5 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/aero/flow.py no source ↗
Schematic capture + PCB layoutD6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/drc.py source ↗
Signal integrity (Z0/crosstalk/eye/IBIS)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/eye no source ↗
EMC (radiated/shielding/limits)D6 yes packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics/emc no source ↗
Wiring / harness routingD6 yes packages/kerf-wiring source ↗
3-axis CAM (profile/contour/pocket/face)D7 yes packages/kerf-cam/src/kerf_cam/worker.py yes source ↗
Multi-axis CAM (5-axis)D7 yes packages/kerf-cam/src/kerf_cam/five_axis/constant_tilt.py source ↗
Feeds & speeds + tool-life (Taylor/Gilbert)D7 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/cuttingtool partial source ↗
Nesting (2D part layout)D7 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/nesting/nfp.py no source ↗
Moldflow / injection fill simulationD7 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/forming no source ↗
FDM slicingD7 yes packages/kerf-slicing no source ↗
Road alignment (horizontal/vertical/clothoid)D8 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/civil/alignment.py no source ↗
Geotech (bearing/settlement/slope/liquefaction)D8 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/geotech/liquefaction.py no source ↗
Planar MBD (Lagrange/DAE)D9 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/dynamics/rigidbody.py source ↗
Controls — classical (Routh/Bode/PID)D9 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/controls/statespace.py no source ↗
Vibration (SDOF/n-DOF modal/FRF)D9 yes packages/kerf-fem/src/kerf_fem/harmonic.py source ↗
PLC IEC 61131-3 (ST/Ladder/FB)D10 yes packages/kerf-plc/src/kerf_plc no source ↗
Solar PV (system + partial shading)D10 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/solarpv/shading.py no source ↗
AC load-flow (Newton-Raphson)D10 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/elecpower/loadflow.py no source ↗
GD&T data model (ASME Y14.5)D11 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gdt/datums.py yes source ↗
Tolerance stackup — 1D (WC/RSS)D11 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/tolstack/stack.py source ↗
Tolerance stackup — 3D vector loopD11 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/tolstack/tol3d.py source ↗
Limits & fits (ISO 286)D11 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/tolfits/fits.py yes source ↗
SPC control charts (Shewhart/CUSUM/EWMA)D11 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/spc/charts.py no source ↗
Paraxial ray tracing / Gaussian beamD12 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/optics/lens.py no source ↗
Acoustics (ISO 9613 / RT60 / mass-law TL)D12 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/acoustics/sound.py no source ↗
Jewelry design toolingD13 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/jewelry no source ↗
BIM / IFC authoringD13 yes packages/kerf-bim/src/kerf_bim no source ↗
Material selection (Ashby / multi-objective)D14 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/matsel/db.py no source ↗
Should-cost / DFM estimationD14 yes packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/costing/estimate.py no source ↗
LCA (ISO 14040/44 full 4 phases)D14 yes packages/kerf-lca/src/kerf_lca no source ↗
Scripting / automation APID14 yes packages/kerf-sdk yes source ↗
  • yes shipped
  • partial works with limits
  • present, but behind an add-on or meter
  • no not available

Corrections welcome. These rows are read off published documentation on the date shown and go stale as products ship. If a row is wrong, open an issue — the source file is public/compare/solidworks.md and every claim in it carries a link.