What it is
OpenSCAD MCP gives AI assistants tools to design 3D-printable parts and assemblies in OpenSCAD, the code-based CAD program. Beyond rendering a script, the agent can render at a stated scale, measure exact geometry, check assemblies for interference and clearance, extract holes and features, judge printability and export for printing. An assembly check can also run from a shell or Makefile with exit codes 0, 1 or 2.
It is published on PyPI as openscad-mcp, built on FastMCP, supports OpenSCAD 2021.01 and later, and doubles as a Claude Code plugin with a bundled skill. It is MIT-licensed with 164 stars; v0.6.1 shipped on 10 September 2026.
Install
uvx openscad-mcpOur review
Language models are poor at spatial reasoning, and a generated OpenSCAD file that compiles can still produce a bracket whose holes miss the screws. This server closes that loop by letting the agent measure what it made.
The useful tools are the checks: exact geometry measurements, interference and clearance between parts in an assembly, hole and feature extraction, and a printability judgement before export. The same assembly check runs from a Makefile with exit codes, so a part library can be tested in CI like code.
Setup is light. uvx openscad-mcp runs it with no clone, versions can be pinned (uvx openscad-mcp@0.6.1), and Claude Code users can add it in one command or install it as a plugin with a skill that teaches the workflow. It needs OpenSCAD installed and on the PATH or set via OPENSCAD_PATH.
It is one developer's project with 164 stars, and the README is the main documentation. For mechanical parts with real tolerances it is the most capable option we found; the alternative with more stars, jhacksman's OpenSCAD-MCP-Server, describes itself as Devin's attempt and generates models from prompts rather than verifying them.
Where it earns its place
A hobbyist designing a Raspberry Pi enclosure
Get a case where the board, ports and screw holes actually line up
claude mcp add openscad -- uvx openscad-mcp; the agent models the case, checks clearance against the board and exports STL. Free.
A hardware startup keeping a library of printed jigs in git
Catch a design change that makes two parts collide
Run the assembly check from a Makefile in CI; a non-zero exit fails the build.
Before you commit
- Setup
- Install OpenSCAD and uv, then claude mcp add openscad --transport stdio -- uvx openscad-mcp, or the same uvx command in any client config.
- Integrations
- Claude Code (also as a plugin), Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf and VS Code via stdio.
- Data and privacy
- Runs locally against your OpenSCAD install; nothing is sent elsewhere by the server. MIT.
- Limits
- OpenSCAD 2021.01 or newer required; constructive solid geometry suits mechanical parts better than organic shapes.
What's good
- Measures geometry and checks clearance and interference
- Assembly checks run in CI with exit codes
- One-command install via uvx; versions pinnable
- Also a Claude Code plugin with a skill
What's not
- Needs OpenSCAD installed locally
- Single maintainer
- Only as good as OpenSCAD for organic shapes
Best for
Makers and engineers designing functional 3D-printed parts with an AI assistant.
Alternatives
OpenSCAD MCP: common questions
- Is OpenSCAD MCP worth it?
- The difference between an agent that writes a CAD script and one that checks whether the parts actually fit. We rate it 3.9 out of 5.
- How much does OpenSCAD MCP cost?
- Free and open source under MIT; OpenSCAD is free.
- What are the downsides of OpenSCAD MCP?
- Needs OpenSCAD installed locally; single maintainer; only as good as OpenSCAD for organic shapes.
- Who is OpenSCAD MCP best for?
- Makers and engineers designing functional 3D-printed parts with an AI assistant.
- Is OpenSCAD MCP safe for company data?
- Runs locally against your OpenSCAD install; nothing is sent elsewhere by the server. MIT.
- What are the best OpenSCAD MCP alternatives?
- The closest alternatives we have reviewed are MCP for Blender.
Answers checked Oct 24, 2026.