What can I use text-to-cad for?

Describe a wall bracket with two screw holes and get a STEP file plus an STL ready for a 3D printer; Hand the agent a finished part and get a PDF engineering drawing with views, dimensions and hole callouts; Ask for a manufacturing check on a sheet metal part and get a list of findings with the rule behind each one

Can I run text-to-cad on my computer?

It runs as an add-on inside an AI assistant you already use. Windows 11 Smart App Control can block the CAD engine.

What do I need to use text-to-cad?

An agent that supports plugins or skills, such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini or Grok, plus uv (a Python tool runner). The first start downloads the CAD runtime.

text-to-cad: Describe a part and get a 3D model file from your AI agent

What it does

text-to-cad is a plugin and a set of skills (packaged instructions an AI agent follows) that let the agent write and run CAD code on your computer. It builds on build123d and OpenCascade, open CAD engines, through a local tool called cadgen. The plugin also brings a viewer, so in apps like Claude Desktop or Codex the model appears as a card you can orbit, and elsewhere you get a link that opens it in your browser.

How to use it

Input → action → output: describe a part in plain language, or show an image, and the agent creates a 3D model file, mainly STEP, with STL, 3MF and GLB exports. Other skills turn a part into a dimensioned engineering drawing as a PDF, check whether it can be 3D printed or machined, find stock parts like screws and motors, and prepare files for fabrication services such as SendCutSend.

Common use cases

Describe a wall bracket with two screw holes and get a STEP file plus an STL ready for a 3D printer.
Hand the agent a finished part and get a PDF engineering drawing with views, dimensions and hole callouts.
Ask for a manufacturing check on a sheet metal part and get a list of findings with the rule behind each one.

Can I use this?

Add-on for your coding assistant

Requirements The recommended route is to paste the source's install message into your agent so it installs itself. Otherwise check that uv is installed, run the commands under your app's heading, and restart the app. Install either the plugin or the skills alone in one app, not both. MIT licensed, so it is open source.

Caveat Results depend on the agent and model doing the design; check dimensions before sending a file to a printer or a fabrication service.

Worth knowing Usage stats and crash reports are sent by default, without your files or prompts; uvx cadgen telemetry off stops them. Windows 11 Smart App Control can block the CAD engine.

Why it's here

Not trending this week

Last seen on the GitHub trending list on 22 October 2026. It stays on BuildTube so you can still find it.

25,813 people have starred it on GitHub.

Numbers checked on 8 November 2026; not refreshed since.

Behind it

View source

BuildTube has not run or verified this project. Everything above is written from what the creator published.

Made this?

Quick questions

What is text-to-cad?: text-to-cad is a plugin and a set of skills (packaged instructions an AI agent follows) that let the agent write and run CAD code on your computer.
What can I use text-to-cad for?: Describe a wall bracket with two screw holes and get a STEP file plus an STL ready for a 3D printer; Hand the agent a finished part and get a PDF engineering drawing with views, dimensions and hole callouts; Ask for a manufacturing check on a sheet metal part and get a list of findings with the rule behind each one
Can I run text-to-cad on my computer?: It runs as an add-on inside an AI assistant you already use. Windows 11 Smart App Control can block the CAD engine.
What do I need to use text-to-cad?: An agent that supports plugins or skills, such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini or Grok, plus uv (a Python tool runner). The first start downloads the CAD runtime.
What license does text-to-cad use?: MIT licensed, so it is open source.

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