Show HN: 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 stop): https://medium.com/@nchourrout/vibe-modeling-turning-prompts...

* 90-sec demo: " rel="nofollow">

* 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

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Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44260649

Points: 3

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https://huggingface.co/spaces/flowfulai/ChatToSTL