# text-to-cad

> MIT agent CAD plugin — STEP/STL/3MF, DFM checks, drawings via local MCP

**Category:** AI Agents  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://www.texttocad.dev  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/earthtojake/text-to-cad  
**Added:** 2026-10-05

---

## The Hook

text-to-cad gives a coding agent a real CAD seat: describe a part, get STEP/GLB/STL/3MF out of a local build123d/Open CASCADE pipeline, then run manufacturability checks and engineering drawings before you ever open a CAD app.

## What's Good

MIT (earthtojake/text-to-cad). Free path end to end: `claude plugin marketplace add earthtojake/text-to-cad` + `claude plugin install text-to-cad@earthtojake` (Codex, Cursor, Gemini, Grok Build plugins too), or `npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad` for skills-only agents. CAD runs through uv and the PyPI `cadgen` package (v0.7.14); the plugin starts a local MCP server (`cadgen mcp`) with an in-chat/browser CAD viewer. Skills cover CAD, off-the-shelf STEP parts, DXF, engineering drawings, URDF/SRDF/SDF robot files, DfAM/DFM checks, and G-code via OrcaSlicer. Useful when an agent has to hand you a printable or machinable file, not a screenshot of one. ★~16,955.

## The Catch

Runtime: needs uv and a network on first start (downloads the cadgen runtime); pin the cadgen version in your MCP config or updates land silently. Fabrication connectors (SendCutSend checks, Bambu Lab send) are optional skills — the core CAD/MCP path has no account wall, but anything you actually order is your spend. Stars grow fast (~184 a week) but look organic. Fills an empty CAD/fabrication seat — vs awwwards-mcp/open-design, which are visual/design, not solid geometry. Generated geometry still needs a human tolerance pass before you cut metal. For the raw Python CAD library under the hood, see build123d — this gem is the agent plugin/MCP seat on top of it.

## Verdict

MIT local CAD MCP when an agent must ship STEP/STL with DFM checks — free through uv/cadgen; fab connectors are optional, your orders are not free.