3d Cad

---
name: cli-hub-matrix-3d-cad
description: >-
  Capability-based multi-tool matrix for 3D modeling, CAD, point clouds, rendering,
  GPU debugging, and fabrication. Covers mesh/parametric/photogrammetry and the
  path from idea to printed part or game-ready asset.
---

# 3D & CAD Matrix (S3 — v2 capability-based)

Scenario **S3**. Strongest technical scenario in the matrix by depth — Blender + FreeCAD + CloudCompare + RenderDoc is rare coverage. Structural gaps: **texturing** and **fabrication slicing**.

Schema: [`docs/cli-matrix/matrix_registry.schema.md`](../../docs/cli-matrix/matrix_registry.schema.md). Matrix plan: [`docs/cli-matrix/cli-matrix-plan.md`](../../docs/cli-matrix/cli-matrix-plan.md).

## Install

```bash
cli-hub matrix install 3d-cad
cli-hub matrix info    3d-cad
cli-hub matrix preflight 3d-cad --json
```

---

## Provider selection constraints

1. Use preflight as an availability report, not as a provider selector.
2. Treat provider order as documentation order only.
3. Choose from user requirements, output quality bar, offline needs, credential state, install cost, and provider notes.
4. Escalate to paid or metered APIs only when credentials are already present or the user explicitly consents.

Offline context? Most of this matrix is offline-first; rendering and photogrammetry are the exceptions.

---

## Preflight

Run `cli-hub matrix preflight 3d-cad --json` first. Use the manual block below for extra probes or older `cli-hub` versions.

```bash
cli-hub list --json
python - <<'PY'
import importlib.util
for m in ("trimesh","pymeshlab","open3d","cadquery","build123d","solid",
          "pygltflib","laspy","pyvista","bpy","rawpy","pycam"):
    print(m, importlib.util.find_spec(m) is not None)
PY
for b in blender freecad meshroom colmap openmvg openmvs prusaslicer slic3r \
         cura CuraEngine apitrace vulkaninfo renderdoc OpenSCAD; do
  command -v "$b" >/dev/null && echo "$b: yes" || echo "$b: no"
done
for e in POLYCAM_API_KEY LUMA_API_KEY ONSHAPE_ACCESS_KEY FUSION360_TOKEN \
         OCTANE_TOKEN; do
  [ -n "${!e}" ] && echo "$e: set" || echo "$e: unset"
done
```

---

## Suggest-to-user template

```
To enable <capability> via <provider>, please set <ENV_VAR>.
  Cost: <cost notes>
  Quality: <quality tier>
Reply 'skip' to fall back to <next provider>.
```

Example: *To enable cloud photogrammetry via Luma AI, please set `LUMA_API_KEY`. Cost: metered per-scan. Quality: sota. Reply 'skip' to fall back to local `Meshroom` (slower, free).*

---

## Capabilities

### `model.mesh` — mesh modeling / editing

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-blender` | harness-cli | Blender installed | free | sota | yes |
| `trimesh` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `pymeshlab` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `open3d` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `pygalmesh` | python | pkg + CGAL | free | high | yes |

### `model.parametric` — parametric CAD

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-freecad` | harness-cli | FreeCAD installed | free | sota | yes |
| `cadquery` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `build123d` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `OpenSCAD` | native | binary | free | high | yes |
| `SolidPython` | python | pkg + OpenSCAD | free | good | yes |
| Onshape API | api | `ONSHAPE_ACCESS_KEY` | paid | sota | no |
| Fusion 360 API | api | `FUSION360_TOKEN` | paid | sota | no |

### `model.sculpt` — digital sculpting

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-blender` (sculpt mode, scripted) | harness-cli | Blender | free | good | yes |
| ZBrush / Nomad | — | — | — | — | — |

Known gap — agent-driven sculpting is impractical beyond Blender scripts.

### `pointcloud.process` — point cloud ingest / clean / register

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-cloudcompare` | harness-cli | CloudCompare | free | sota | yes |
| `cli-anything-cloudanalyzer` | harness-cli | harness installed | free | high | yes |
| `open3d` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `laspy` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `pdal` | native | binary | free | sota | yes |
| `pyvista` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |

### `photogrammetry.reconstruct` — images → 3D mesh

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `Meshroom` | native | binary | free | high | yes |
| `colmap` | native | binary | free | high | yes |
| `OpenMVG` + `OpenMVS` | native | binaries | free | high | yes |
| RealityCapture | native | commercial license | paid | sota | yes |
| Polycam API | api | `POLYCAM_API_KEY` | metered | sota | no |
| Luma AI | api | `LUMA_API_KEY` | metered | sota | no |

### `material.texture` — PBR texturing

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-blender` (shader nodes, scripted) | harness-cli | Blender | free | good | yes |
| `bpy` PBR synthesis | python | pkg | free | good | yes |
| `Pillow` procedural maps | python | pkg | free | basic | yes |
| Substance 3D / Polycam Materials / Adobe Sampler | — | — | — | — | — |

**Known gap** — no agent-native path approaches Substance quality.

### `render.preview` — fast viewport renders

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-blender` (Eevee) | harness-cli | Blender | free | high | yes |
| `cli-anything-godot` (viewport screenshot) | harness-cli | Godot | free | good | yes |

### `render.offline` — path-traced / final renders

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-blender` (Cycles) | harness-cli | Blender + GPU | free | sota | yes |
| `bpy` + Cycles | python | pkg + GPU | free | sota | yes |
| Octane Cloud | api | `OCTANE_TOKEN` | paid | sota | no |
| RenderMan on offline farm | — | license + farm | paid | sota | depends |

### `gpu.debug` — capture / inspect GPU frames

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-renderdoc` | harness-cli | RenderDoc installed | free | sota | yes |
| `apitrace` | native | binary | free | high | yes |
| `vulkan-tools` | native | binary | free | good | yes |

### `fabricate.slice` — 3D print slicer (mesh → gcode)

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `PrusaSlicer` CLI | native | binary | free | sota | yes |
| `CuraEngine` | native | binary | free | high | yes |
| `slic3r` | native | binary | free | good | yes |
| Bambu Studio / OrcaSlicer (API-driven) | — | — | — | — | — |

**Known gap** — no agent-native harness, though the natives are scriptable.

### `fabricate.cam` — CAM / CNC toolpaths

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-freecad` (Path workbench, scripted) | harness-cli | FreeCAD | free | good | yes |
| `pycam` | python | pkg | free | good | yes |
| `kiri:moto` | native | binary | free | good | yes |
| Fusion 360 CAM / Onshape CAM | api | tokens | paid | sota | no |

### `export.engine` — handoff to game / viz engine

| Provider | Kind | Requires | Cost | Quality | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cli-anything-godot` | harness-cli | Godot | free | high | yes |
| `cli-anything-blender` (glTF/FBX export) | harness-cli | Blender | free | sota | yes |
| `pygltflib` | python | pkg | free | high | yes |
| `trimesh` glTF writer | python | pkg | free | good | yes |
| Unity Asset Pipeline / Unreal Datasmith | — | — | — | — | — |

---

## Recipes

- **`printable-part`** — parametric CAD → mesh → slice → gcode.
  Uses: `model.parametric`, `model.mesh`, `fabricate.slice`.

- **`game-asset`** — model → texture → export to engine.
  Uses: `model.mesh`, `material.texture`, `export.engine`, (optional `render.preview`).

- **`reality-scan`** — photos → photogrammetry → clean mesh → export.
  Uses: `photogrammetry.reconstruct`, `pointcloud.process`, `model.mesh`, `export.engine`.

- **`cnc-part`** — parametric part → CAM toolpath → gcode.
  Uses: `model.parametric`, `fabricate.cam`.

- **`product-viz-still`** — CAD → import → scene → offline render.
  Uses: `model.parametric`, `model.mesh`, `material.texture`, `render.offline`.

- **`gpu-bug-repro`** — capture frame → analyze → patch shader.
  Uses: `gpu.debug`, `render.preview`.

---

## Known gaps

- **`material.texture`** — no open equivalent to Substance; Blender shader nodes are the current ceiling.
- **`fabricate.slice`** — PrusaSlicer/Cura natives work but want a harness-level wrapper.
- **`model.sculpt`** — impractical for agents today.
- **Unity / Unreal export** — only Godot covered on the harness side.

---

## Agent guidance

- **Parametric first, mesh later.** Start in `model.parametric` when the object has dimensions; `model.mesh` when it's organic.
- **Always bake before export.** When handing off to `export.engine`, apply modifiers and bake materials — runtime engines don't read Blender shader graphs.
- **Check manifold before slicing.** `fabricate.slice` fails silently on non-manifold meshes; use `trimesh.Trimesh.is_volume` or pymeshlab's manifold check first.
- **Offline-capable baseline.** This matrix is highly offline-capable — API escalation is rarely needed except for photogrammetry-at-scale.
- **Workspace discipline.** Keep `.FCStd` / `.blend` / `.ply` / `.stl` / `.gcode` in one project folder so the chain of transformations is reproducible.