SolidWorks add-in that creates tab & slot features on intersecting weldment tubes. Select two tubular weldment bodies, click the toolbar button, and the add-in generates extruded tabs and matching slot cuts at the intersection.
Tube.Tab.Slot.mp4
- Open a part with weldment tube bodies
- Select two bodies — first is the tab tube, second is the slot tube
- Click Tab & Slot in the toolbar (or menu)
- Choose placement (both sides, near only, or far only) and tab depth
- Click OK
Requires Visual Studio 2017 Build Tools (or later) and SolidWorks installed.
MSBuild.exe TubeTabSlot.csproj /p:Configuration=Debug /nologo
Build from an admin command prompt — the post-build step runs regasm /codebase to register the COM add-in.
After building, restart SolidWorks. The add-in appears in Tools → Add-Ins as "Tab & Slot". Enable it and the toolbar button appears in Part documents.
Re-registration is only needed if you change the GUID, move the DLL, or switch between Debug/Release.
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
SwAddin.cs |
Add-in entry point, command manager, toolbar setup |
TabSlotPMP.cs |
Property Manager Page handler (UI options) |
TabSlotRunner.cs |
Orchestrates feature creation |
SelectionHelper.cs |
Validates and reads the two-body selection |
GeometryHelper.cs |
Intersection geometry, plane computation, vector math |
TabSketchHelper.cs |
Draws tab cross-section profiles on sketch planes |
FeatureHelper.cs |
Extrude tab boss and cut slot operations |
DebugHelper.cs |
Debug visualization (behind #if DEBUG) |