OpenSCAD vs TechDraw AI
A side-by-side look at the OpenSCAD and TechDraw AI MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose OpenSCAD for architecture & design work as a local process; choose TechDraw AI for architecture & design as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose OpenSCAD when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
render_scad_png, cameraPreset, cameraPosition.
Choose TechDraw AI when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
TECHDRAWAI_API_KEY. - You want tools like
generate_technical_drawing, text_to_technical_drawing, render_product.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Architecture & Design | Architecture & Design |
| Quality signal | 55/100 · Good | 61/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | TECHDRAWAI_API_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 6 | 3 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 4 | 9 |
| Full listing | View OpenSCAD | View TechDraw AI |
Tools & capabilities
OpenSCAD tools 4
render_scad_pngRenders a PNG preview image from SCAD source.cameraPresetone of `isometric`, `front`, `back`, `left`, `right`, `top`, `bottom`cameraPosition`{ x, y, z }`export_scad_stlExports an STL generated from SCAD source.
TechDraw AI tools 9
generate_technical_drawingTurn a photograph of a physical object into a dimensioned, standards-compliant 2D technical drawing (orthographic views, dimension lines, projection symbol). Supply the photo as a local file path, an http(s) URL or a data URL. Either let the model estimate real-world dimensions, or pass measurements you actually took so the drawing is anchored to real sizes. Choose the drafting standard (ISO/ANSI), sheet size, projection angle, drawing type and which views to include. Costs 5 credits. The drawing image is saved to disk and its path returned — feed that path to `image_to_dxf` for CAD geometry, or to `render_product` for a photoreal render.text_to_technical_drawingTurn a description of a part, with its sizes, into a dimensioned 2D technical drawing: orthographic views plus an isometric, dimension lines, centre lines and the projection symbol. No photo needed. Every number in the prompt is drawn as given; sizes the prompt leaves out are estimated and the sheet says UNSTATED DIMENSIONS NOMINAL. So put every size you know in the prompt. The image is the views only, with no border or title block. It is a picture, not CAD geometry: the drawn lines are not to exact scale. Costs 5 credits and takes about 30 to 60 seconds. The drawing is saved to disk and its path returned.render_productThe reverse of drafting: take a 2D technical drawing and produce a photorealistic image of the finished, manufactured product. The geometry is reconstructed from the views in the drawing, so the render matches the design rather than inventing a new one. Choose the look (photoreal, studio, matte clay, lifestyle), the background, the camera angle and the material/finish. Costs 5 credits. The render is saved to disk and its path returned.image_to_dxfTrace a raster image — a generated technical drawing, a scan, a sketch, a logo — into real CAD vector contours and write a DXF file. The DXF opens in AutoCAD, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Onshape, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, Inkscape and the common laser/CNC tools. Set `width_mm` to bring the geometry in at a real-world size instead of one unit per pixel. Set `dwg: true` to also get AutoCAD's native DWG. Free — no credits. Returns the paths of the files written.image_to_stlTrace a raster image — a logo, a sign, a stencil, a line drawing — and extrude it into a solid, watertight binary STL ready to slice and print. The shape is flattened artwork given a thickness, not a reconstruction of a real object: use `photo_to_3d` for that. `size_mm` sets the longest side of the finished model and `thickness_mm` how tall it stands. Free — no credits. Returns the path of the .stl written.photo_to_3dTurn a photograph of a single object into a textured 3D mesh, downloadable as GLB (and FBX, OBJ, USDZ, STL). Reconstruction is asynchronous on the server and typically takes one to three minutes — the call blocks until the mesh is ready. Needs a clear photo of one object, as JPG or PNG. Costs 80 credits and requires the Studio plan. The GLB is downloaded to disk and its path returned.drawing_to_3dTurn a technical drawing — orthographic views, the kind `generate_technical_drawing` produces — into a textured 3D mesh, downloadable as GLB (and FBX, OBJ, USDZ, STL). A drawing is line art and nothing reconstructs 3D from line art, so the server first renders the object the views describe and reconstructs that render; both happen in one call and are charged once. Chaining `render_product` into `photo_to_3d` yourself does the same work and pays for the render on top — 85 credits instead of 80, because here the render is a step of the reconstruction rather than a second purchase. The model follows the proportions of the drawing, not its dimensions — for a mesh that honours the numbers, the drawing has to be modelled in CAD. Typically one to three minutes; the call blocks until the mesh is ready. Costs 80 credits and requires the Studio plan. The GLB is downloaded to disk and its path returned.identify_productName the main object in a photo with a short, specific label (e.g. "L-shaped wall bracket"). Free — no credits. Use it to fill in `product_name` before generating a drawing, which improves both the title block and the estimated dimensions.check_creditsThe authenticated account's credit balance, plan, and what each operation costs. Call it before a batch so you know how far the balance goes.
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.
OpenSCAD
{
"mcpServers": {
"openscad": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"openscad-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
TechDraw AI
{
"mcpServers": {
"techdraw-ai": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"techdrawai-mcp"
],
"env": {
"TECHDRAWAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_TECHDRAWAI_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
OpenSCAD is categorized under Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. TechDraw AI belongs to Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick OpenSCAD for architecture & design work and TechDraw AI for architecture & design.
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.
OpenSCAD has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. TechDraw AI 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 openscad and techdraw-ai as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, OpenSCAD has a quality signal of 55/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 6 GitHub stars. TechDraw AI has 61/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 3 GitHub stars.