Install the Simscape Multibody Link Plug-In

R2026b

Simscape™ Multibody™ Link is a plug-in for CAD applications that exports assembly models to Simscape Multibody. The plug-in generates an XML file and part geometry files that you can import into Simscape Multibody to automatically create an equivalent multibody model for simulation and analysis.

Supported CAD applications:

• SolidWorks^®

• Autodesk Inventor^®

• PTC^®Creo™

Software Requirements

Make sure your software meets the requirements:

CAD Software	Release Supported	MATLAB Release	Simscape Multibody Release
SolidWorks	2023 to 2026	R2008b and later	3.0 and higher
Creo	9.0 to 12.0	R2008b and later	3.0 and higher
Autodesk Inventor	2018 to 2021	R2009b and later	3.0 and higher

Note

Plug-ins for earlier versions of CAD software remain available for download. See the Simscape Multibody Link download page.

Installation

To install and use Simscape Multibody Link, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download Installation Files

1. Visit the Simscape Multibody Link download page.

2. Complete the prompts on the page.

3. Select the ZIP and MATLAB^® files that match your MATLAB release and system architecture, such as release R2026a and Win64 (PC) Platform. Save the files without extracting the ZIP.

Step 2: Install Using MATLAB

1. Start MATLAB as administrator. For more information, see How to Make a Shortcut to Run MATLAB as Administrator.

2. Add the folder that contains the installation files to the MATLAB path using the addpath function.

3. In the MATLAB Command Window, enter installaddon('zipname'). Replace zipname with the actual ZIP file name, such as smlink-r2026a-win64.zip.

Step 2 (Alternative): Install Without MATLAB

If your system does not have Microsoft^® Visual C++ Redistributable 2022 installed, install Redistributable 2022 before you install Simscape Multibody Link.

1. Download Simscape Multibody Link 26.2 -- Release 2026b.

2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file in the working folder.

3. Keep all extracted files in their original directory structure.

   • Executable and binaries are in the bin folder.

   • Supporting and source files are in the resources folder.

   • Toolbox files for integrations are in the toolbox folder.

Step 3: Enable Simscape Multibody Link in a CAD Application

Before exporting a CAD assembly, you must enable the Simscape Multibody Link plug-in in the CAD application.

• Enable Simscape Multibody Link in SolidWorks

• Enable Simscape Multibody Link Plug-In in Creo-Pro/E

• Enable Simscape Multibody Link in Inventor Plug-In

Importing CAD Files from Other Applications

You can also import CAD files from applications that are not supported by Simscape Multibody Link. For example, you can use the smimport function to import models from sources including Onshape^® models, URDF files, or models created with the Robotics System Toolbox. You can also create a custom model export application based on the Simscape Multibody XML schema. This approach requires knowledge of XML. For more information, see the Schema Web Page.