A new open-source project called SolidCraft is offering a parametric 3D computer-aided design (CAD) tool written entirely in Rust. According to its project page on GitHub, the software runs as a desktop program, in a web browser, or through an interface that lets AI agents build and measure models. The project describes itself as early but usable for simple parts, and its maintainers are asking for outside help to close the gaps that remain.
The clearest demonstration in the repository is a Raspberry Pi 4 case built from an empty design. The model starts from a sketch dimensioned with the board's parameters, then gains extrusions, fillets, a shell, an M2.5 standoff pattern, port cut-outs and vent slots. When the height is changed from 24 to 32 mm in the Parameters panel, the whole model rebuilds. GitHub notes that a full recording of the demo is available.
Why parametric modelling matters
Most people meet 3D printing or product design through a model that is either finished or not. Parametric CAD works differently. Each dimension, constraint and feature is recorded as a step in a history, so a designer can go back to an early step and change a value without redrawing the rest of the part. A wall thickness, a hole spacing or an overall height can be adjusted, and every dependent feature updates to match.
That approach is standard in professional engineering software, and it is what makes iterative design practical. A project that can rebuild a model from its recorded history, rather than storing only the final geometry, is doing the core work of this category. SolidCraft's README says its workflows are designed to feel familiar to users of established parametric tools, including constrained sketches, solid features, an editable timeline, parameters and assemblies. It also states clearly that the project is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Autodesk, the company behind Fusion.
What the software can do
The repository lists a broad feature set for an early-stage project. Users can draw sketches on origin planes, offset planes or planar faces, using lines, circles, arcs, splines, text and other shapes. Constraints such as horizontal, parallel, tangent and symmetry can be applied, and dimensions can be driven by parameters that accept unit-aware expressions.
On the modelling side, the timeline supports extrude, revolve, sweep, loft, fillet, chamfer, shell, draft, holes, threads, patterns and mirrors. Features can be edited, suppressed, renamed, reordered and deleted. The project also covers assemblies with joints and motion studies, sheet metal with flanges and flat patterns, and file formats including STEP, IGES, 3MF, STL and OBJ. Import support is listed for STEP and IGES solids, while 3MF, STL and OBJ files come in as mesh bodies that can be measured and exported but cannot take solid features.
- Sketching with a constraint solver built by the project itself
- A parametric feature timeline that rebuilds incrementally
- Export to STEP, IGES, 3MF, STL and OBJ
- A headless command-line tool for scripts, measurements and PNG renders
- Optional support for 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse devices on Windows and Linux
Platforms, installation and the AI agent interface
SolidCraft is distributed for Windows, macOS and Linux, and a browser version can be tried without installing anything. On Windows, the project provides an installer and a portable zip, with builds for ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. macOS users receive a disk image for both Apple silicon and Intel machines. On Linux, the options include an AppImage, Debian and Ubuntu packages, Fedora and openSUSE packages, Flatpak and Snap.
The downloads are not yet code-signed. The repository advises Windows users to choose More info and then Run anyway if SmartScreen shows a warning. On macOS, the first launch requires right-clicking the app in the Applications folder and choosing Open. Readers who prefer to avoid unsigned binaries can build the software from source, which the project's documentation covers.
The most distinctive feature is the MCP server, which lets AI agents work with a model. The Model Context Protocol is an open standard for connecting AI tools to external software. In SolidCraft, the server can run its own headless design session, or it can connect to the desktop app so a user can watch the agent work. The listed tools include commands for executing actions, inspecting designs, measuring parts, setting parameters, taking screenshots, exporting files and undoing changes. The repository gives an example for connecting Claude Code to the server.
Limits and what comes next
The project is open about its limits. Its validation work compares 76 public reference parts against analytic or FreeCAD-computed values for volume, area, centre of mass and bounding box. Of those, 75 match, and the remaining case is recorded as a known bug. The maintainers add that these checks do not prove complete geometric or workflow equivalence with commercial software. Open tasks and bugs are tracked in GitHub issues, and the roadmap describes supported operations and current limitations.
For now, SolidCraft looks most suitable for hobbyists, students and developers who want to experiment with parametric modelling, script their designs or test automated CAD workflows. Engineers who depend on complex assemblies, certified data exchange or long-established industry workflows will need to judge the software carefully. The project's licence is MIT or Apache-2.0, at the user's option, and contributions are invited through the contributing guide. Whether the project matures into a dependable daily tool will depend on how quickly these open items are closed and how many developers join the effort.
Related: Open-Source Port Brings Diablo II: Resurrected to iPhone and Mac · DS Bot: Long-Lived AI Bots Arrive for DeepSeek Harness
Comments (0)