ChatToSTL – AI text-to-CAD for 3D printing
Hey HN, I'm a beginner at CAD so I built an app that does it for me ;) Describe a part and ChatToSTL writes the OpenSCAD code, shows a live render with size sliders, then exports the STL/3MF file. Because the output is parametric, it's easy to modify (unlike mesh models like Shap-E or DreamFusion). Try it (needs your own OpenAI key): https://huggingface.co/spaces/flowfulai/ChatToSTL How it works: Text prompt → o4-mini generates OpenSCAD code → live render + sliders → refine in chat → export. Examples & Code: * Walkthrough + real prints (bowl, hook, box, door…
In plain words
ChatToSTL converts text descriptions into 3D-printable CAD files for users without CAD experience. Users describe a part, and the tool generates OpenSCAD code, displays a live preview with adjustable size sliders, and exports STL or 3MF files. The parametric output allows easy refinement through chat before exporting. The tool requires an OpenAI API key and is designed for 3D printing hobbyists and beginners who want to create custom parts without learning traditional CAD software.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hey HN, I'm a beginner at CAD so I built an app that does it for me ;) Describe a part and ChatToSTL writes the OpenSCAD code, shows a live render with size sliders, then exports the STL/3MF file. Because the output is parametric, it's easy to modify (unlike mesh models like Shap-E or DreamFusion). Try it (needs your own OpenAI key): https://huggingface.co/spaces/flowfulai/ChatToSTL How it works: Text prompt → o4-mini generates OpenSCAD code → live render + sliders → refine in chat → export. Examples & Code: * Walkthrough + real prints (bowl, hook, box, door stop): https://medium.com/@nchourrout/vibe-modeling-turning-prompts... * 90-sec demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK_IDaNn1Mk * MIT repo: https://github.com/nchourrout/chat-to-stl Current limitations (it's not replacing Fusion 360 anytime soon): - Simple shapes only. Even a mug can end up with a misplaced handle - Works best with CAD-style language ("extrude 5mm") - AI can't see the render, so no self-correction yet I'm particularly interested in feedback on improving the 3D generation quality: should I add vision feedback so that it can self critique? use CADQuery instead of OpenSCAD? use a different model? Thanks! Nico
Does the same job
all alternatives →- OSOpen-sourcing our text-to-CAD app2025 · github.com · ▲179
Hey HN! I'm Zach from Adam (https://adam.new/). We’re building an AI co-pilot for mechanical CAD software. As part of our broader research, we built a browser-based Text-to-CAD app (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44182206) and are now open sourcing it. This is a React SPA with a Supabase backend. What it does: * Generates parametric 3D models from natural language descriptions, with support for both text prompts and image references * Outputs OpenSCAD code with automatically extracted parameters that surface as interactive sliders for instant dimension…
- CAChatblade – A CLI Swiss Army Knife for ChatGPT2023 · github.com · ▲315
integrate chatGPT into your scripts or terminal work. Supports piping text, saving prompts, estimating costs, and some basic json/yaml extraction. I've added some elaborate examples on the readme of how to use it with pictures, that may provide a better overview.
- HTHow to use ChatGPT+ARKit to script experiences with natural language2022 · github.com · ▲54
Video demonstration: https://youtu.be/bJFa5HOmhl4 I created a demo involving ChatGPT, OpenAI's Whisper running on-device for speech-to-text (because why not?), and ARKit. By defining a custom JavaScript environment with JavaScriptCore and describing it to ChatGPT, I was able to get it to produce functioning scripts that instantiate and manipulate 3D objects. Sketchfab is used to import 3D assets on the fly. Google Poly had a much better catalog of assets for this sort of thing but sadly, it's no longer available. The README.md describes how it all works but the gist of it is…
More ai this month
the category →
I trained a 125M-parameter transformer to autocomplete piano performances in real time (~108 notes/sec on an iPhone 15). The idea is basically GitHub Copilot or Tabnine, except instead of prompting it with code, you prompt it by playing a few notes on a MIDI piano. The model then continues what you played, entirely on-device. The app is free if anyone wants to try it. Happy to answer questions about the model, training, Core ML, or the many things that didn't work.
AI · 17d ago · simedw.com
Astute▲585Automate your B2B brand going viral, with new media creators
AI · 18d ago · company-app.joinastute.com
Hey HN, Henry from Cactus here! We previously released Cactus Needle, a 14MB agentic LLM for tool call, device use, and structured extraction for phones, wearables, smart homes, small robots and microcontrollers. We got really great feedback here, and have now incorporated the suggestions to release Needle 2. The whole model is a single 14MB binary that runs a full session in 28MB of RAM; 45m parameters at 2bit compression. Needle hits 500 tokens/sec decode speed on a Raspberry Pi 5, sits between 400-1,500 tokens/sec on VR devices like Meta Quest 3S and Apple Vision Pro, and ranges…
AI · 27d ago · cactuscompute.com
Launched alongside, June 2025
the whole month →- IM
Hey HN! Pilots everywhere are required to keep a logbook of all their flying hours, aircraft, airports, and so on. Since I track everything digitally (some people still just use paper logbooks!), I put together some data visualizations and a few 3D globes to show my flying history. This globe is probably my favourite so far: https://jameshard.ing/pilot/globes/all If you’ve got ideas for other graphs or ways to show this kind of data, I’d love to hear them!
Life & fun · 2025 · jameshard.ing
Stunning presentations with AI. No design skills required.
AI · 2025 · chroniclehq.com
Build native mobile apps for iOS and Android without code.
Dev tools · 2025 · bble.io
All your connections, across all your socials.
AI · 2025 · pally.com
- WC
I was the main contributor to workout.lol, an open-source fitness app to easily build a workout routine. The project had traction (1.4k GitHub stars, 95 forks, ~20K visits/month), but was eventually sold due to video licensing hurdles. The new owner stopped maintaining it, and the repo went abandoned. Over the next 9 months, I sent 15 emails to try to save it : no replies. Feature requests & issues were ignored. The community was left with a "broken" tool let's say. I couldn't just let it die So I built the new version from scratch with the same open-source spirit, but a better…
Dev tools · 2025 · github.com