# A tool to convert CAD models for importation into Geant4

## TL;DR

SW2GDML is a tool that converts SOLIDWORKS CAD models into compact GDML files for efficient import into Geant4, streamlining detector simulation workflows.

## Contribution

The paper introduces SW2GDML, a novel tool that produces human-readable, shape-based GDML from SOLIDWORKS models, improving upon existing tessellation-based conversion methods.

## Key findings

- Produces compact, human-readable GDML files
- Uses standard geometric shapes for better performance
- Facilitates rapid detector design and simulation cycles

## Abstract

The engineering design of a particle detector is usually performed in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) program, and simulation of the detector's performance can be done with a Geant4-based program. However, transferring the detector design from the CAD program to Geant4 can be laborious and error-prone. SW2GDML is a tool that reads a design in the popular SOLIDWORKS CAD program and outputs Geometry Description Markup Language (GDML), used by Geant4 for importing and exporting detector geometries. Other methods for outputting CAD designs are available, such as the STEP format, and tools exist to convert these formats into GDML. However, these conversion methods produce very large and unwieldy designs composed of tessellated solids that can reduce Geant4 performance. In contrast, SW2GDML produces compact, human-readable GDML that employs standard geometric shapes rather than tessellated solids. This paper will describe the development and current capabilities of SW2GDML and plans for its enhancement. The aim of this tool is to automate importation of detector engineering models into Geant4-based simulation programs to support rapid, iterative cycles of detector design, simulation, and optimization.