Requirements

What you need to run Nesting Expert

Nesting Expert is a COM add-in, not a separate program. It appears as a tab on the ribbon and works on the assembly you already have open.

The short version

SOLIDWORKS 2019–2026, 64-bit
Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit
.NET Framework 4.8, already present on every supported Windows
Administrator rights to install (the add-in registers with Windows)
Under 40 MB of disk space

No server and no cloud account. 32-bit SOLIDWORKS is not supported.

What it reads from your model

Sheet metal parts in the open assembly, with their flat patterns
Outer contour and holes from the flat pattern
Quantity, material and thickness

A 2 mm and a 3 mm part cannot come off the same sheet, so thickness is matched to the sheet. Bodies that are not sheet metal, and suppressed components, are skipped rather than guessed at.

Installing

Close SOLIDWORKS. The installer registers a COM add-in and cannot replace files SOLIDWORKS is holding open.
Run the installer as administrator.
Start SOLIDWORKS and open an assembly. The Nesting Expert tab appears on the ribbon.

If the tab does not appear, that is nearly always a stale registration from an earlier build. Write to support@nestingexpert.com.

Internet access

To activate or release a licence: yes. Air-gapped machines use offline activation instead.
To run a nest: never. Your CAD data does not leave your computer — see privacy.

Uninstalling

Standard Windows uninstall. Your settings stay in place, so reinstalling later does not lose your tool diameter, gaps and prices. Remove %APPDATA%\NestingExpert if you want them gone too.

Interface languages

English and Turkish. By default the add-in follows your SOLIDWORKS interface language.

Download the free trial · v0.1.0.196 Help & FAQ