andrewbartels1 · Nov 8, 2026 · Nov 7, 2026 · Nov 7, 2026 · Nov 7, 2026 · Nov 7, 2026
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,21 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Added
 
+- **Tools the U-joint needed** (#209), each checked on SolidWorks 2026:
+  - `add_mate` takes a face as a point on it (`face_a`, `face_b`) in that
+    part's own coordinates, so a pin mates concentric in its hole;
+  - `set_component_state` (new) fixes or floats a component and makes a
+    sub-assembly rigid or flexible, keeping its other settings;
+  - `create_reference_plane` makes planes at an angle about an `axis`, and
+    from a face (`face_point`), sloped or not; `create_axis` now names the
+    axis it made;
+  - `add_chamfer` takes an `angle` and `flip`;
+  - `create_extrusion` takes `thin_side` for thin walls, and an open
+    outline makes a bent plate.
+- **Every tool accepts a plain dict** (#209). A script calling a tool
+  function with a dict gets the same validation as an MCP client; the
+  export file tools no longer need `format_type`.
+
 - **Support levels for every tool** (#79). Each tool is `stable` (checked
   live, no known fault), `beta` (a known fault or partial COM coverage),
   `experimental` (not yet checked live) or `planned` (not implemented),
@@ -79,6 +94,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- **`create_extrusion`'s reply says what was built** (#209): the end
+  condition SolidWorks used (`MidPlane` for `both_directions`), and the
+  thin wall. It used to echo `direction: blind`, so an agent concluded
+  `both_directions` was ignored.
+
 - **One failed call could pause a tool for good** (#208). The server's router
   fell back to the VBA adapter, which called back into the router, so one
   failed `create_extrusion` counted as many failures and opened the circuit

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 [![SolidWorks](https://img.shields.io/badge/tested%20on-SolidWorks%202026-red)](https://www.solidworks.com/)
 [![Coverage](https://codecov.io/gh/andrewbartels1/SolidworksMCP-python/branch/main/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/andrewbartels1/SolidworksMCP-python)
 
-Python MCP server for SolidWorks automation with 155 tools, plus an optional agent/prompt-testing layer for AI-assisted workflows.
+Python MCP server for SolidWorks automation with 156 tools, plus an optional agent/prompt-testing layer for AI-assisted workflows.
 
 [![155 MCP tools by support level, and how much of the core SolidWorks COM API they reach](docs/assets/progress/progress.svg)](https://andrewbartels1.github.io/SolidworksMCP-python/progress/)
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Python MCP server for SolidWorks automation with 155 tools, plus an optional age
   await adapter.create_extrusion(ExtrusionParameters(depth=10))
   ```
 
-- **An MCP tool server on top of it.** The same calls, exposed as 155 MCP tools, so an agent such as Claude Code can build parts, assemblies and drawings from a description. Each tool carries a support level (stable, beta, experimental or planned), so the agent knows how far to trust it.
+- **An MCP tool server on top of it.** The same calls, exposed as 156 MCP tools, so an agent such as Claude Code can build parts, assemblies and drawings from a description. Each tool carries a support level (stable, beta, experimental or planned), so the agent knows how far to trust it.
 
 ## See it work
 
@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ Each GIF is a live test driving SolidWorks 2026 through the MCP tools, with the
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td width="33%" valign="top"><a href="https://andrewbartels1.github.io/SolidworksMCP-python/demos/#custom-property"><img src="docs/assets/demos/engineering-data/test_custom_property_round_trip.gif" alt="Custom properties" width="100%"></a><br><sub>Custom properties</sub></td>
+<td width="33%" valign="top"><a href="https://andrewbartels1.github.io/SolidworksMCP-python/demos/#face-mate"><img src="docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_pin_mates_concentric_in_its_hole_by_two_faces-motion.gif" alt="A pin seated in its hole by two face mates" width="100%"></a><br><sub>A pin seated in its hole by two face mates</sub></td>
+<td width="33%" valign="top"><a href="https://andrewbartels1.github.io/SolidworksMCP-python/demos/#thin-plate"><img src="docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_thin_wall_from_an_open_sketch_makes_a_bent_plate-motion.gif" alt="A bent plate from an open outline" width="100%"></a><br><sub>A bent plate from an open outline</sub></td>
 </tr>
 </table>
 
@@ -300,7 +302,7 @@ Add this to `%APPDATA%\Code\User\mcp.json`:
 }
 ```
 
-Run **MCP: List Servers** from the Command Palette and start `solidworks`. Its output should end with `Discovered 155 tools` (the count grows as tools are added).
+Run **MCP: List Servers** from the Command Palette and start `solidworks`. Its output should end with `Discovered 156 tools` (the count grows as tools are added).
 
 </details>
 

diff --git a/...ets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_60_degree_chamfer_and_flip_swaps_its_legs-motion.gif b/...ets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_60_degree_chamfer_and_flip_swaps_its_legs-motion.gif
diff --git a/...demos/tool-gaps/test_a_pin_mates_concentric_in_its_hole_by_two_faces-motion.gif b/...demos/tool-gaps/test_a_pin_mates_concentric_in_its_hole_by_two_faces-motion.gif
diff --git a/docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_plane_at_40_degrees_about_an_axis-motion.gif b/docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_plane_at_40_degrees_about_an_axis-motion.gif
diff --git a/docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_plane_offset_from_a_sloped_face-motion.gif b/docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_a_plane_offset_from_a_sloped_face-motion.gif
diff --git a/...os/tool-gaps/test_a_thin_wall_from_an_open_sketch_makes_a_bent_plate-motion.gif b/...os/tool-gaps/test_a_thin_wall_from_an_open_sketch_makes_a_bent_plate-motion.gif
diff --git a/...demos/tool-gaps/test_both_directions_is_symmetric_and_says_mid_plane-motion.gif b/...demos/tool-gaps/test_both_directions_is_symmetric_and_says_mid_plane-motion.gif
diff --git a/...ool-gaps/test_components_fix_float_and_a_sub_assembly_turns_flexible-motion.gif b/...ool-gaps/test_components_fix_float_and_a_sub_assembly_turns_flexible-motion.gif
diff --git a/docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_interference_is_fresh_after_a_mate-motion.gif b/docs/assets/demos/tool-gaps/test_interference_is_fresh_after_a_mate-motion.gif
diff --git a/docs/assets/progress/progress.json b/docs/assets/progress/progress.json
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 {
  "tools": {
-  "total": 155,
+  "total": 156,
   "by_level": {
-   "stable": 81,
-   "beta": 24,
+   "stable": 83,
+   "beta": 23,
    "experimental": 10,
    "planned": 40
   },
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
     "family": "modeling",
     "level": "stable",
     "reason": "",
-    "summary": "Bevel edges of the active part with an equal-distance chamfer at 45 degrees."
+    "summary": "Bevel edges of the active part with a chamfer: `distance` along one face at `angle` (45 by default)."
    },
    {
     "name": "add_circle",
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@
    {
     "name": "add_mate",
     "family": "modeling",
-    "level": "beta",
-    "reason": "mates only reference planes and axes, by name, not faces.",
+    "level": "stable",
+    "reason": "",
     "summary": "Mate two components of the active assembly: coincident, concentric, parallel, perpendicular, tangent, distance or angle."
    },
    {
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@
     "family": "modeling",
     "level": "stable",
     "reason": "",
-    "summary": "Add a reference plane parallel to a plane or flat face, offset by a distance in mm."
+    "summary": "Add a reference plane offset from, at an angle to, or on a plane or flat face."
    },
    {
     "name": "create_reference_point",
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@
     "name": "export_dwg",
     "family": "export",
     "level": "beta",
-    "reason": "the file extension sets the format; `format_type` and `options` are ignored.",
+    "reason": "`options` is ignored; the file extension sets the format.",
     "summary": "Export the active document to DWG, like File > Save As with the DWG type."
    },
    {
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@
     "name": "export_iges",
     "family": "export",
     "level": "beta",
-    "reason": "the file extension sets the format; `format_type` and `options` are ignored.",
+    "reason": "`options` is ignored; the file extension sets the format.",
     "summary": "Export the active document to IGES, like File > Save As with the IGES type."
    },
    {
@@ -530,21 +530,21 @@
     "name": "export_pdf",
     "family": "export",
     "level": "beta",
-    "reason": "the file extension sets the format; `format_type` and `options` are ignored.",
+    "reason": "`options` is ignored; the file extension sets the format.",
     "summary": "Export the active document to PDF, like File > Save As with the PDF type."
    },
    {
     "name": "export_step",
     "family": "export",
     "level": "beta",
-    "reason": "the file extension sets the format; `format_type` and `options` are ignored.",
+    "reason": "`options` is ignored; the file extension sets the format.",
     "summary": "Export the active document to STEP, like File > Save As with the STEP type."
    },
    {
     "name": "export_stl",
     "family": "export",
     "level": "beta",
-    "reason": "the file extension sets the format; `format_type` and `options` are ignored.",
+    "reason": "`options` is ignored; the file extension sets the format.",
     "summary": "Export the active document to STL, like File > Save As with the STL type."
    },
    {
@@ -960,6 +960,13 @@
     "reason": "",
     "summary": "Select a feature, sketch, plane or component by name in the active document."
    },
+   {
+    "name": "set_component_state",
+    "family": "modeling",
+    "level": "stable",
+    "reason": "",
+    "summary": "Fix or float a component of the active assembly, or make a sub-assembly rigid or flexible."
+   },
    {
     "name": "set_custom_property",
     "family": "engineering_data",
@@ -1098,11 +1105,11 @@
  "com": {
   "type_library": "83A33D31-27C5-11CE-BFD4-00400513BB57x0x34x0",
   "core": {
-   "covered": 208,
+   "covered": 214,
    "total": 2838
   },
   "api": {
-   "covered": 232,
+   "covered": 238,
    "total": 5985
   },
   "interfaces": [
@@ -1256,11 +1263,14 @@
      "AddComponent4",
      "AddComponent5",
      "AddMate5",
+     "CompConfigProperties5",
      "FeatureByName",
+     "FixComponent",
      "GetBox",
      "GetComponentByName",
      "GetComponentCount",
-     "GetComponents"
+     "GetComponents",
+     "UnfixComponent"
     ],
     "total": 198
    },
@@ -1345,7 +1355,10 @@
      "GetID",
      "GetModelDoc2",
      "GetPathName",
+     "GetSuppression2",
      "GetType",
+     "IsEnvelope",
+     "IsFixed",
      "IsSuppressed",
      "Select",
      "Select2",

diff --git a/docs/assets/progress/progress.svg b/docs/assets/progress/progress.svg