# text-to-cad

> Plugin that lets coding agents generate and check 3D CAD models locally

- Repository: https://github.com/earthtojake/text-to-cad
- Category: Agent skills & plugins
- Stars: 22,570 · Forks: 2,202 · Language: Python · License: MIT
- Experience: Some experience
- Page: https://ir.adyog.com/repos/earthtojake/text-to-cad/

Agents are good at writing code but have no built-in way to produce real CAD files. text-to-cad adds that. The agent describes a part in code, and the project turns it into standard 3D formats you can open in other CAD or slicing tools.

It is built on a Python package called cadgen, which uses build123d and the Open CASCADE geometry kernel. It runs through uv, so the first start downloads the runtime. A local server lets the agent show models in a viewer, either as a card in the chat or as a link that opens in your browser.

It ships as a plugin for agents that support plugins, and as plain skills through the Skills CLI for agents that don't. It sends anonymous usage stats and crash reports by default. The README explains how to turn that off.

## What it does

- **Several 3D output formats**: Agents can generate models as STEP, GLB, STL or 3MF files.
- **Manufacturing checks and drawings**: It runs design-for-manufacturing checks and generates engineering drawings.
- **Built-in CAD viewer**: A local server shows models as viewer cards in apps that support them. Terminal agents get a link that opens the model in the browser.
- **Works across many agents**: Plugins exist for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Grok Build and Gemini, plus a Claude Desktop config. Other agents can use the skills alone.
- **Fabrication service connections**: It connects to 3D printing, sheet metal and CNC fabrication services.

## What you could build

- Ask your agent to design a bracket or enclosure and export it as STL for 3D printing.
- Generate STEP files of mechanical parts to open in other CAD software.
- Check a design for manufacturability before sending it to a CNC or sheet metal service.
- Produce engineering drawings from a model your agent built.
- Orbit and inspect generated models in a local viewer while you refine the prompt.

## Who it's for

Suits makers, mechanical engineers and robotics hobbyists who already use an AI coding agent. You should have uv installed and be comfortable with the command line.

## Get started

Make sure uv is installed. Then either ask your agent to install it from the GitHub URL, or run the commands for your app. The Claude Code commands are the first two. The last is for agents without plugins. Restart the app, since the first start downloads the CAD runtime.

```
claude plugin marketplace add earthtojake/text-to-cad#latest
```
```
claude plugin install text-to-cad@earthtojake
```
```
npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad#latest
```

Tags: cad, agent-skills, 3d-printing, mcp, build123d