AI-Powered
3D Print Design

/// What is this?

An AI agent that designs 3D-printable objects from your descriptions. You tell it what you want — "a wall bracket for a 22mm pipe" or "a cable organizer for my desk" — and it writes the CAD code, renders a preview, checks its own work, and iterates until the model is ready to slice and print.

It's not magic — you'll still supply real-world measurements and review the designs — but it turns hours of manual CAD into minutes of conversation.

/// How it works

The AI doesn't generate a mesh blob — it writes real parametric code with actual dimensions you can read and tweak. If a wall should be 2mm thicker, change one number and re-render.

/// Setup · 15 minutes

01 — Install OpenSCAD

Download from openscad.org/downloads — free, runs on Windows/macOS/Linux. Make sure openscad is on your PATH.

02 — Install Claude Code

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

You'll need a Claude Pro subscription ($20/mo) — this is the AI engine. Sign up at claude.ai.

03 — Clone the agent

git clone https://github.com/iancanderson/openscad-agent.git
cd openscad-agent

That's it. Three skills + a CLAUDE.md. You're ready.

/// First design session

Start Claude Code in the openscad-agent directory:

cd openscad-agent
claude

Then talk to it:

/openscad Make a wall-mounted hook for a 25mm diameter pipe.
The hook should be open at the top so the pipe drops in.
Wall mounting plate: 40mm wide, 60mm tall, two M4 screw holes.
Material: PLA, so keep walls at least 2mm thick.

What happens:

1. Agent writes wall_hook_001.scad
2. Renders wall_hook_001.png and inspects it
3. Iterates to _002, _003... until correct
4. Asks you to review the render

Your job: Look at the PNG. Wrong? Say "screw holes should be 30mm apart, not 20mm" and it fixes. When satisfied:

/export-stl

Validates geometry (manifold, no holes, no floaters) → open in slicer → print.

/// Example prompts

• "Phone stand, 15° viewing angle, USB-C pass-through, fits phones up to 80mm wide"
• "Replacement potentiometer knob, 6mm D-shaft, 20mm diameter, pointer line"
• "Wall plate for 68mm European electrical box, 45×45mm module cutout"
• "Cable clip that snaps onto a 30mm desk edge, holds 3 cables up to 8mm"
• "Two-part RPi Zero W enclosure, micro-USB cutout, 4 vent slots, snap-fit"
• "Stackable storage bin, 100×60×40mm interior, interlocking side tabs"

/// Pro tips

/// Level up: ClawSCAD

A desktop app with a live 3D viewport, checkpoint branching, and auto-error feedback:

git clone https://github.com/levkropp/ClawSCAD.git
cd ClawSCAD && npm install && npm start

/// Bonus: Artistic prints

For figurines, miniatures, terrain — use text-to-mesh AI:

• Meshy (meshy.ai) — 100 free credits/month
• Tripo (tripo3d.ai) — 200 free credits/month

Generate → Repair Printability → export STL → slice → print.

/// Quick reference