Show HN: CAD Studio – Describe a part, get parametric CAD you can print (macOS) Developer Filippo Finke released CAD Studio, a native macOS app that turns a text description into parametric CAD models by having a local coding agent (Claude Code or Codex CLI) write and run build123d Python scripts. CAD Studio requires macOS 15 or later, Python 3.10–3.13 or uv, and exports STEP, 3MF, STL, PDF drawings and model.py as a ZIP, with a non-notarized CADStudio.dmg available from the project's latest GitHub release. The app adds a live 3D viewer, physics-based mechanism animation, ISO first-angle technical drawings, a print-plate layout for slicers, and version history that preserves chat and context. Describe a part, get a printable model. A native macOS CAD studio powered by the coding agent on your Mac Claude Code or Codex and build123d. Type "a print-in-place planetary gearbox with four colors, animated with real gear ratios" and CAD Studio has your coding agent write a parametric model.py , run it with build123d and hand you a 3D model, an ISO technical drawing and files ready for your slicer. Every change is a new version you can go back to. Website https://filippofinke.github.io/cad-studio/ · ▶︎ Watch the narrated demo MP4, with sound https://github.com/filippofinke/cad-studio/blob/main/.github/demo.mp4 - Chat with an agent that writes and fixes parametric build123d scripts for you - Live 3D viewer with orbit, zoom, pan, grid, wireframe and multi-color 3MF parts - Measure distances and cut sections through the model - Animate mechanisms with a physics simulation masses, springs, friction and per-frame collision checks - Multi-part models: assembled, exploded or print-plate view, show, hide or keep parts together - Print plate with every part oriented and laid out for printing plate.3mf , opened in your slicer - Floating parameter panel with sliders: tweak dimensions without calling the agent - ISO technical drawings first-angle projection : assembly with parts list plus one sheet per part, as a multi-page PDF - Version history: jump back to any generation, chat and context included, and compare versions in 3D - Attach or paste ⌘V reference images, sketches, PDFs and STEP/STL files to the chat - Export STEP, 3MF, STL, PDF drawing and model.py as one ZIP - Printer-aware design rules for FDM, multi-material, resin and SLS, in mm, cm, m or inches - Drag panels anywhere: chat left, right or at the bottom, layout saved per project - English, Italian, German and French Every screenshot below is from the same project: a print-in-place planetary gearbox, from the first launch to version 2. Set up once, then describe your part. Pick your printer and units on first launch, create a project and type what you need. | First launch | Describe the part | |---|---| | The agent at work | The finished gearbox | Parts, motion and drawings. Explode the assembly, play the simulated motion and flip through the drawing sheets. | Exploded view | Simulated motion | |---|---| | Edit parameters without the agent | Measure distances | | Section view | One sheet per part | | Ask for a change: version 2 | Compare with version 1 | | Chat on the right | Chat at the bottom | Prerequisites - macOS 15 or later - Claude Code https://claude.com/claude-code signed in run claude once in Terminal , or Codex CLI https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli signed in codex login ; pick one in Settings → Agent - uv https://docs.astral.sh/uv/ or Python 3.10–3.13, used to install build123d on first launch Download Grab CADStudio.dmg from the latest release https://github.com/filippofinke/cad-studio/releases/latest and drag CAD Studio into Applications. The app isn't notarized, so the first time macOS blocks it: open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway , or run: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/CAD Studio.app" Build from source needs Xcode 16 or later git clone https://github.com/filippofinke/cad-studio.git cd cad-studio ./build.sh --install This builds a universal CAD Studio.app , copies it to /Applications and launches it. ./build.sh --dmg builds build/CADStudio.dmg . You can also open CADStudio.xcodeproj and press ⌘R. Every project is a folder. CAD Studio runs the agent installed on your Mac in headless mode claude -p --output-format stream-json , or codex exec --json in its workspace sandbox inside that folder, with a CAD system prompt that asks for a single parametric model.py . The agent runs the script with a dedicated Python environment ~/Library/Application Support/CAD Studio/venv , with build123d, matplotlib and numpy until it produces: