CircuitSweepNearly 8 minutes to 16 seconds: the measured result.
On the assembly-structured PCB labelled Board A, CircuitSweep with a 3 mm filter used 96.6% less time to reach a saved native SolidWorks part than the recorded native-import workflow.
What was compared?
Both workflows started with the same PCB STEP file. Native SolidWorks imported the complete model, broke the 3D Interconnect link and saved the part. CircuitSweep filtered small bodies before import, created a native multibody part without a live STEP link and saved it.
The endpoint was a saved native part, rather than just a model appearing on screen. This includes the first save, which was the largest part of the native workflow on this board.
| Stage | Native SolidWorks | CircuitSweep, 3 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Import + Break Link | 121.9 s | 12.2 s |
| First save | 348.5 s | 4.0 s |
| Total to saved native part | 470.4 s | 16.2 s |
| Bodies in the saved part | 2,480 | 140 |
The total fell by 96.6%, or approximately 29× faster. Import plus Break Link alone used approximately 90% less time. Figures are rounded; percentages are calculated from the recorded averages.
Why the result improved
The filtered part contained 140 bodies instead of 2,480. CircuitSweep gave SolidWorks less geometry to import and save, and its import path did not require a separate Break Link operation.
This is a comparison of two useful workflows with different amounts of retained geometry. It shows the benefit of a lighter model; it does not claim that the same complete geometry was processed 29 times faster. Body counts describe geometry bodies, not electronic components.
What to check on your own board
Start with the geometry your mechanical design needs. Inspect mounting holes, connectors and components close to the housing. If Optimized import leaves out something important, use a lower threshold or choose Complete and review a Simplified configuration instead.
Then compare the operation that matters to you. A fast import does not establish the same improvement in assembly navigation or drawing updates. A Simplified configuration retains source geometry; a separate part from Simplified is the option for delivering only the lighter result.
Benchmark source and campaign context
The July 2026 development test recorded three runs per workflow on Board A, an assembly-structured PCB with 2,480 bodies. The table shows the average of each stage.
The native log records default SolidWorks import settings and a completed Break Link operation. CircuitSweep used a 3 mm filter. These are development-build measurements on SOLIDWORKS 2025. The broader campaign includes different machines and service packs; identical paired environments have not been independently confirmed here.
The example describes this tested board and workflow. Results on other boards vary.
Try it on the PCB that’s slowing you down.
CircuitSweep is a SolidWorks add-in for faster PCB STEP imports and simplified configurations.
Try free for 14 days$79 one-time purchase · No subscription
Why PCB STEP files can be so slow in SolidWorks — findings from our tests