ecto/vcad/cad-modeling

Name: cad-modeling
Author: ecto

Claude Code and agent skill by ecto/vcad

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By ecto
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ecto/vcad
Plugin claude-code
plugins/claude-code/skills/cad-modeling/SKILL.md
Updated 18 Mar 2026
Version 1.0.0

Source check pending

Checking that the SKILL.md file is still in the repository.

Create 3D CAD models using vcad MCP tools. Use when the user asks to create 3D parts, mechanical components, enclosures, brackets, gears, or any parametric geometry. Supports primitives, sketch-based operations (extrude, revolve, sweep, loft), booleans, patterns, fillets, shell, assemblies, and export to STL/GLB.

Install

npx vskill@latest install ecto/vcad/cad-modeling

SKILL.md

vcad - Parametric CAD for AI Agents

Create 3D CAD models programmatically using the vcad MCP tools. All dimensions are in millimeters.

Available Tools

Tool	Purpose
`create_cad_document`	Build geometry from primitives, sketches, and operations
`export_cad`	Export to STL (3D printing) or GLB (visualization)
`inspect_cad`	Get volume, surface area, bounding box, center of mass, mass
`import_step`	Import geometry from STEP files
`open_in_browser`	Generate shareable vcad.io URL
`get_changelog`	Query recent changes and features

For assembly and physics tools, see the assembly-physics skill.

Output Format

Use "format": "vcode" (default) for token-efficient output (~5x smaller). Use "format": "json" for human-readable debugging.

Part Types

Each part must use exactly ONE base geometry type:

Primitive-based

json

{
  "name": "plate",
  "primitive": {"type": "cube", "size": {"x": 100, "y": 60, "z": 5}},
  "operations": [...]
}

Extrude-based (sketch → solid)

json

{
  "name": "bracket",
  "extrude": {
    "sketch": {
      "plane": "xy",
      "shape": {"type": "rectangle", "width": 40, "height": 20, "centered": true}
    },
    "height": 10
  }
}

Revolve-based (sketch → solid of revolution)

json

{
  "name": "vase",
  "revolve": {
    "sketch": {
      "plane": "xy",
      "shape": {
        "type": "polygon",
        "points": [
          {"x": 10, "y": 0}, {"x": 15, "y": 20},
          {"x": 12, "y": 40}, {"x": 14, "y": 50},
          {"x": 0, "y": 50}, {"x": 0, "y": 0}
        ]
      }
    },
    "axis": "y",
    "angle_deg": 360
  }
}

Sweep-based (sketch along path)

json

{
  "name": "tube",
  "sweep": {
    "sketch": {
      "shape": {"type": "circle", "radius": 5}
    },
    "path": {"type": "line", "start": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "z": 0}, "end": {"x": 50, "y": 0, "z": 30}}
  }
}

Helix path for springs/threads:

json

"path": {"type": "helix", "radius": 20, "pitch": 10, "height": 60}

Optional sweep parameters: twist_deg, scale_start, scale_end.

Loft-based (interpolate between sketches)

json

{
  "name": "transition",
  "loft": {
    "sketches": [
      {"plane": "xy", "at": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "z": 0}, "shape": {"type": "rectangle", "width": 40, "height": 40, "centered": true}},
      {"plane": "xy", "at": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "z": 30}, "shape": {"type": "circle", "radius": 15}}
    ]
  }
}

Sketch Shapes

Sketches are used by extrude, revolve, sweep, and loft operations:

Shape	Parameters
`rectangle`	`width`, `height`, `centered` (bool, default false)
`circle`	`radius`
`polygon`	`points` (array of `{x, y}`), `closed` (default true)

Sketch planes: "xy" (default), "xz", "yz". Origin set with "at": {x, y, z}.

Primitive Origins

Primitive	Origin	Extent
Cube	Corner at (0,0,0)	Extends to (size.x, size.y, size.z)
Cylinder	Base center at (0,0,0)	Height along +Z
Sphere	Center at (0,0,0)	Radius in all directions
Cone	Base center at (0,0,0)	Height along +Z, `radius_bottom`/`radius_top`

Positioning

The at parameter for boolean operations and holes:

Absolute: {"x": 25, "y": 15, "z": 0} — exact coordinates in mm
Named: "center", "top-center", "bottom-center" — relative to base primitive
Percentage: {"x": "50%", "y": "50%"} — percentage of base primitive bounds

Operations

Applied in order after the base geometry:

Operation	Key Parameters
`union`	`primitive`, `at`
`difference`	`primitive`, `at`
`intersection`	`primitive`, `at`
`hole`	`diameter`, `at`, `depth` (omit for through-hole)
`translate`	`offset: {x, y, z}`
`rotate`	`angles: {x, y, z}` (degrees)
`scale`	`factor: {x, y, z}`
`linear_pattern`	`direction: {x, y, z}`, `count`, `spacing`
`circular_pattern`	`axis_origin`, `axis_dir`, `count`, `angle_deg`
`fillet`	`radius` — rounds all edges
`chamfer`	`distance` — bevels all edges
`shell`	`thickness` — hollows the part

Materials

Assign via "material" on each part: "steel" (density 7850), "aluminum" (2700), "default".

inspect_cad reports mass when density is available.

Common Patterns

Plate with Corner Holes

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "mounting_plate",
    "primitive": {"type": "cube", "size": {"x": 100, "y": 60, "z": 5}},
    "operations": [
      {"type": "hole", "diameter": 4, "at": {"x": 10, "y": 10}},
      {"type": "hole", "diameter": 4, "at": {"x": 90, "y": 10}},
      {"type": "hole", "diameter": 4, "at": {"x": 10, "y": 50}},
      {"type": "hole", "diameter": 4, "at": {"x": 90, "y": 50}}
    ]
  }]
}

Cylinder with Blind Hole

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "bushing",
    "primitive": {"type": "cylinder", "radius": 15, "height": 20},
    "operations": [
      {"type": "hole", "diameter": 10, "depth": 15, "at": "center"}
    ]
  }]
}

L-Bracket

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "bracket",
    "primitive": {"type": "cube", "size": {"x": 40, "y": 40, "z": 5}},
    "operations": [
      {"type": "union", "primitive": {"type": "cube", "size": {"x": 5, "y": 40, "z": 30}}, "at": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "z": 5}},
      {"type": "hole", "diameter": 5, "at": {"x": 20, "y": 20}},
      {"type": "difference", "primitive": {"type": "cylinder", "radius": 2.5, "height": 40}, "at": {"x": 2.5, "y": 20, "z": 20}}
    ]
  }]
}

Flange with Circular Bolt Pattern

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "flange",
    "primitive": {"type": "cylinder", "radius": 40, "height": 10},
    "operations": [
      {"type": "hole", "diameter": 20, "at": "center"},
      {"type": "difference", "primitive": {"type": "cylinder", "radius": 4, "height": 15}, "at": {"x": 30, "y": 0, "z": -2}},
      {"type": "circular_pattern", "axis_origin": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "z": 0}, "axis_dir": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "z": 1}, "count": 6, "angle_deg": 360}
    ]
  }]
}

Linear Pattern of Holes

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "rail",
    "primitive": {"type": "cube", "size": {"x": 200, "y": 20, "z": 10}},
    "operations": [
      {"type": "difference", "primitive": {"type": "cylinder", "radius": 3, "height": 15}, "at": {"x": 20, "y": 10, "z": -2}},
      {"type": "linear_pattern", "direction": {"x": 1, "y": 0, "z": 0}, "count": 5, "spacing": 40}
    ]
  }]
}

Extruded T-Profile

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "t_beam",
    "extrude": {
      "sketch": {
        "plane": "xz",
        "shape": {
          "type": "polygon",
          "points": [
            {"x": -25, "y": 0}, {"x": 25, "y": 0},
            {"x": 25, "y": 3}, {"x": 3, "y": 3},
            {"x": 3, "y": 30}, {"x": -3, "y": 30},
            {"x": -3, "y": 3}, {"x": -25, "y": 3}
          ]
        }
      },
      "height": 100
    }
  }]
}

Shelled Box (Enclosure)

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "enclosure",
    "primitive": {"type": "cube", "size": {"x": 80, "y": 60, "z": 40}},
    "operations": [
      {"type": "shell", "thickness": 2}
    ]
  }]
}

Filleted Part

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "rounded_block",
    "primitive": {"type": "cube", "size": {"x": 30, "y": 20, "z": 15}},
    "operations": [
      {"type": "fillet", "radius": 2}
    ]
  }]
}

Spring (Helix Sweep)

json

{
  "parts": [{
    "name": "spring",
    "sweep": {
      "sketch": {"shape": {"type": "circle", "radius": 1.5}},
      "path": {"type": "helix", "radius": 10, "pitch": 8, "height": 40}
    },
    "material": "steel"
  }]
}

Workflow

Create — create_cad_document to build geometry
Inspect — inspect_cad to verify dimensions, volume, and mass
Export — export_cad to save as .stl or .glb
Share — open_in_browser to generate a vcad.io URL

Tips

Holes default to through-holes; specify depth for blind holes
Use percentage positioning for parametric designs that scale
Cube origin is at corner — add half-size to center operations
Cylinder/cone origins are at base center — no X/Y offset needed for centered holes
Always extend cutting cylinders past the part (the hole operation does this automatically)
fillet and chamfer apply to all edges — use them as the last operation
shell hollows the entire part — combine with difference to remove specific faces
For multi-part designs, define each part in the parts array with a unique name
Use "format": "vcode" (default) to save tokens in the response

Security

Security scanPassed, 93 of 100Pattern checks on the skill's files.
Model reviewNot runA model review is scheduled for the next rescan.

See the full security report

Quality evaluation

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See evaluation results

Source

SKILL.md in the repositoryCheckingplugins/claude-code/skills/cad-modeling/SKILL.md

Popularity

7-day trend score: 0

Refreshed 18 Mar 2026, 7 months ago.

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