filippofinke/cad-studio

📐 Describe a part, get a printable model: a native macOS CAD studio powered by Claude Code and build123d

Summary

CAD Studio is a native macOS application that pairs a coding agent (Claude Code or Codex CLI) with the build123d Python library. Engineers describe a part in plain language and the agent writes a parametric model.py, runs it, and produces a 3D model, an ISO technical drawing, and print-ready files.

What it is useful for

The app fits iterative mechanical design and rapid prototyping work. Engineers can ask for multi-part assemblies and view them in assembled, exploded, or print-plate layouts, and mechanisms can be simulated with masses, springs, friction, and per-frame collision checks. A floating parameter panel lets you tweak dimensions using sliders without re-invoking the agent, and version history stores every generation (including the chat and agent session) so you can jump back or compare geometry in 3D. Output includes STEP, 3MF, STL, a printable plate (plate.3mf for the slicer), and a multi-page ISO PDF drawing with a parts list plus one sheet per part.

Documented limitations matter here: the app is macOS-only (macOS 15+), is not notarized so it must be opened via System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway or xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/CAD Studio.app", and generation time consumes the user's own Claude Code or Codex plan — a simple part takes 1–2 minutes and a complex mechanism up to half an hour, per the README. By default the agent ignores personal Claude Code hooks, plugins, and MCP servers, which can be changed in Settings → Advanced. Files are stored in millimeters regardless of the unit shown in replies and drawings.

How engineers can use it

1. Install prerequisites: macOS 15+, either Claude Code signed in via claude or Codex CLI signed in via codex login, plus uv or Python 3.10–3.13.
2. Download CADStudio.dmg from the latest GitHub release and drag it into Applications, or build from source with ./build.sh --install (requires Xcode 16 or later).
3. On first launch, pick a printer profile and units, then create a project. Type what you want — for example, "a print-in-place planetary gearbox" — and watch the chat as the agent writes and debugs model.py.
4. Refine by asking for changes (each becomes a new version) or by dragging sliders in the parameter panel. Attach reference images, sketches, PDFs, or STEP/STL files via drag or ⌘V.
5. Export STEP, 3MF, STL, PDF drawing, and model.py as a ZIP, and open plate.3mf in your slicer.