Kiln vs OpenFab
A side-by-side look at the Kiln and OpenFab MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Kiln for industrial & iot work as a local process; choose OpenFab for industrial & iot over a hosted endpoint. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Kiln when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Industrial & IoT domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
KILN_PRINTER_HOST, KILN_PRINTER_API_KEY, KILN_PRINTER_TYPE, KILN_OPENROUTER_KEY. - You want tools like
load_filament, unload_filament, plan_only.
Choose OpenFab when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Industrial & IoT domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You want tools like
discover_capabilities, request_quote, refine_quote.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Industrial & IoT | Industrial & IoT |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 45/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Remote HTTP/SSE |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | KILN_PRINTER_HOSTKILN_PRINTER_API_KEYKILN_PRINTER_TYPEKILN_OPENROUTER_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 92 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 5 | 7 |
| Full listing | View Kiln | View OpenFab |
Tools & capabilities
Kiln tools 5
load_filamentunload_filamentplan_onlyplate_clearlook_at_plate
OpenFab tools 7
discover_capabilitiesrequest_quoterefine_quoteget_lead_timedfm_feedbackestimate_bomcompare_processes
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Kiln
{
"mcpServers": {
"codeofaxel-kiln": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"--from",
"kiln3d",
"kiln"
],
"env": {
"KILN_PRINTER_HOST": "YOUR_KILN_PRINTER_HOST_HERE",
"KILN_PRINTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_KILN_PRINTER_API_KEY_HERE",
"KILN_PRINTER_TYPE": "YOUR_KILN_PRINTER_TYPE_HERE",
"KILN_OPENROUTER_KEY": "YOUR_KILN_OPENROUTER_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
OpenFab
{
"mcpServers": {
"openfab": {
"url": "https://openfab-22100483453.us-central1.run.app/mcp/"
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Kiln is categorized under Industrial & IoT and uses a local stdio subprocess. OpenFab belongs to Industrial & IoT and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Pick Kiln for industrial & iot work and OpenFab for industrial & iot.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Kiln is listed as free. Auth: api key required. OpenFab has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add codeofaxel-kiln and openfab as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Kiln has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 4 views, 0 installs and 92 GitHub stars. OpenFab has 45/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.