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earthtojake/text-to-cad

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

★ 2,946JavaScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 4/5LicenseSetup · hard

TLDR

A set of skills that give AI coding agents the ability to generate, export, and review CAD models and robot design files.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Text-to-CAD))
    What it does
      Agent CAD skills
      STEP STL export
      Robot descriptions
    Tech stack
      Python
      build123d
      JavaScript CLI
    Use cases
      Hardware design with agents
      Robotics URDF generation
      Parts sourcing
    Setup
      Install scripts per agent
      Python CAD runtime

Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Have a coding agent generate a CAD model or mechanical part from a plain English description.

USE CASE 2

Generate robot description files like URDF or SDF for use in robotics simulators such as MoveIt2.

USE CASE 3

Find and download off the shelf hardware parts like screws or bearings for a CAD assembly.

USE CASE 4

Prepare a design for laser cutting or fabrication using the SendCutSend preflight skill.

What is it built with?

PythonJavaScriptbuild123d

How does it compare?

earthtojake/text-to-cadnksaraf/vinxiyu9191/wloc
Stars2,9462,7892,754
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Last pushed——2026-06-27
Maintenance——Active
Setup difficultyhardmoderatemoderate
Complexity4/54/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdevelopergeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires installing a Python 3.11+ CAD runtime plus the skill files for your specific coding agent.

MIT: free to use, modify, and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

In plain English

Text-to-CAD, branded as CAD Skills, is a collection of skills that plug into AI coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI, giving them the ability to generate, export, and review CAD models, robot descriptions, and hardware design files. Rather than being a standalone CAD application, it extends the capabilities of coding agents you already use so they can produce real, source controlled design files from a written description. The core CAD skill lets an agent generate and export files in formats including STEP, STL, 3MF, DXF, and GLB, along with URDF, SDF, and SRDF robot description files used in robotics simulation and motion planning tools like MoveIt2. A companion CAD Explorer lets you visually inspect the generated geometry and robot descriptions, and a stable reference syntax lets you point the agent back at specific parts of a model for precise follow up edits. Additional skills cover finding and downloading off the shelf STEP parts, such as screws and bearings, from a hosted catalog, and preparing upload ready files for the SendCutSend fabrication service. Installing the skills is done through per agent scripts, for example a Claude Code install script that places the skills in the standard Claude Code skills directory, along with similar scripts for Codex, Gemini CLI, and OpenClaw. A universal installer command is also provided that can add the skills to any supported agent automatically. Generating actual CAD geometry also requires installing separate Python based CAD runtime dependencies, described in the setup instructions. The typical workflow is to describe a part or mechanism to your coding agent, let it edit the underlying source files, regenerate the specific export targets you need, then inspect the result in CAD Explorer before committing both the source and generated files together. The project includes a benchmark suite of test prompts with expected geometry outputs, and heavier assets are stored using Git LFS to keep normal clones lightweight. It is released under the MIT license.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Install the CAD skill for Claude Code and generate a simple bracket with mounting holes.
Prompt 2
Use the CAD skill to create a 100 by 60 by 20 millimeter block with four through holes and export it as STEP.
Prompt 3
Generate a URDF robot description for a simple two link robotic arm using the URDF skill.
Prompt 4
Help me find an off the shelf M3 screw using the step.parts skill.
Prompt 5
Explain how the @cad reference syntax lets me make follow up edits to generated geometry.

Frequently asked questions

What is text-to-cad?

A set of skills that give AI coding agents the ability to generate, export, and review CAD models and robot design files.

What language is text-to-cad written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes Python, JavaScript, build123d.

What license does text-to-cad use?

MIT: free to use, modify, and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

How hard is text-to-cad to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is text-to-cad for?

Mainly developer.

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