3DOptix

What the 3DOptix MCP server does

The 3DOptix MCP server gives coding agents access to the 3DOptix cloud platform for designing, simulating, and analyzing optical systems. An agent can create optical setups, add and align components, configure light sources and detectors, and work with catalog or custom optics. The platform also supports GPU-based ray-trace simulation, rendering, advanced optical analysis, optimization, Zemax import, and CAD upload.

The repository packages the remote MCP server with Agent Skills that provide workflow guidance. The 3doptix-workflow skill covers common optical design tasks, while 3doptix-setup helps diagnose connection and authentication problems.

How it works

The 3DOptix MCP server runs remotely at https://mcp.3doptix.com and exposes tools for setups, parts, catalogs, simulation, analysis, and rendering. Agents communicate with the service through MCP rather than through a locally built application. The repository also includes MCP Registry metadata under the identifier com.3doptix/optical-design.

The bundled skills are written for the Agent Skills open standard. They supply procedural guidance to compatible coding agents while the MCP server supplies the underlying optical-design operations. For example, an agent can turn a request for a beam expander into setup and component operations, then run a spot-diagram analysis on the resulting system.

Setup and configuration

A 3DOptix account is required. New accounts include a fully functional trial, while continued use requires a subscription. Authentication uses OAuth 2.0 with dynamic client registration; users do not paste an API key into the configuration.

Claude Code users can install the plugin from the 3doptix/skills marketplace and authenticate by opening /mcp, selecting 3doptix, and completing browser sign-in. Codex users can add the marketplace plugin and run codex mcp login 3doptix. The MCP endpoint can also be added directly with an HTTP transport when only the server tools are wanted.

After authentication, ask the agent to list the available setups to verify the connection. The setup skill is intended to activate when connection or authentication errors occur.

Tools and capabilities

The material identifies tools for:

• Creating and managing optical setups
• Adding, positioning, and aligning parts
• Working with optics and optomechanics catalogs
• Defining light sources and detectors
• Using catalog and custom optical components
• Running GPU ray-trace simulations
• Performing optical analysis and optimization
• Rendering optical setups
• Importing Zemax files and uploading CAD

Limitations and notes

The service depends on a 3DOptix account and cloud access. A trial is available for new sign-ups, but ongoing use requires a subscription. OAuth is the supported authentication method, and the provided material does not describe an API-key configuration.

The repository is a plugin bundle rather than a local simulation engine. It includes the MCP connection and workflow skills; the optical design and simulation platform is hosted by 3DOptix. The README names Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and other Agent Skills-compliant clients, but it does not provide detailed client-specific behavior for every supported application.