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Tools Reference

The FreeCAD Robust MCP Server provides 82+ tools for CAD operations. This page provides a quick reference organized by category.

For detailed documentation including parameters and examples, see MCP Tools Reference.


Tool Categories

Category Tools Description
Execution 5 Python execution, debugging
Documents 7 Document management
Primitives 8 Basic 3D shapes
Objects 12 Object manipulation
PartDesign 19 Parametric modeling
View & Display 11 View control, screenshots (GUI only)
Export/Import 7 File format conversion
Macros 6 Macro management
Utility 7 Undo/redo, parts library

Execution Tools

Tool Description
execute_python Execute arbitrary Python in FreeCAD
get_freecad_version Get FreeCAD version and build info
get_connection_status Check MCP bridge connection
get_console_output Get recent console output
get_mcp_server_environment Get Robust MCP Server environment info

Document Tools

Tool Description
list_documents List all open documents
get_active_document Get currently active document
create_document Create a new document
open_document Open an existing .FCStd file
save_document Save a document
close_document Close a document
recompute_document Recompute all features

Primitive Tools

Tool Description
create_box Create a parametric box
create_cylinder Create a parametric cylinder
create_sphere Create a parametric sphere
create_cone Create a parametric cone
create_torus Create a torus (donut)
create_wedge Create a tapered wedge
create_helix Create a helix curve
create_object Create any object by type ID

Object Tools

Tool Description
list_objects List objects in a document
inspect_object Get detailed object information
edit_object Modify object properties
delete_object Delete an object
boolean_operation Union, cut, or intersect objects
set_placement Set position and rotation
rotate_object Rotate around an axis
scale_object Scale uniformly or non-uniformly
copy_object Create a copy
mirror_object Mirror across a plane
get_selection Get selected objects (GUI)
set_selection Select objects (GUI)
clear_selection Clear selection (GUI)

PartDesign Tools

Bodies and Sketches

Tool Description
create_partdesign_body Create a PartDesign body
create_sketch Create a sketch on a plane/face

Sketch Geometry

Tool Description
add_sketch_rectangle Add rectangle to sketch
add_sketch_circle Add circle to sketch
add_sketch_line Add line to sketch
add_sketch_arc Add arc to sketch
add_sketch_point Add point to sketch

Additive Features

Tool Description
pad_sketch Extrude sketch (additive)
revolution_sketch Revolve sketch around axis
loft_sketches Loft through multiple sketches
sweep_sketch Sweep profile along path

Subtractive Features

Tool Description
pocket_sketch Cut by extruding sketch
groove_sketch Cut by revolving sketch
create_hole Create parametric holes

Edge Operations & Patterns

Tool Description
fillet_edges Add rounded edges
chamfer_edges Add beveled edges
linear_pattern Repeat feature linearly
polar_pattern Repeat feature circularly
mirrored_feature Mirror feature across plane

View Tools

GUI Mode Required

Tools marked with GUI only work when FreeCAD is running in GUI mode.

Tool Mode Description
get_screenshot GUI Capture 3D view screenshot
set_view_angle Both Set camera angle
fit_all Both Fit all objects in view
zoom_in GUI Zoom in
zoom_out GUI Zoom out
set_camera_position GUI Set exact camera position
set_object_visibility GUI Show/hide objects
set_display_mode GUI Set display mode (wireframe, etc.)
set_object_color GUI Change object color
list_workbenches Both List available workbenches
activate_workbench Both Switch workbench

Export Tools

Tool Description
export_step Export to STEP format
export_stl Export to STL (3D printing)
export_3mf Export to 3MF (modern 3D printing)
export_obj Export to OBJ format
export_iges Export to IGES format
import_step Import STEP files
import_stl Import STL files

Macro Tools

Tool Description
list_macros List available macros
run_macro Execute a macro
create_macro Create a new macro
read_macro Read macro source code
delete_macro Delete a user macro
create_macro_from_template Create from predefined template

Utility Tools

Tool Description
undo Undo last operation
redo Redo undone operation
get_undo_redo_status Get undo/redo availability
recompute Force recompute all objects
get_console_log Get console log with levels
list_parts_library List parts library
insert_part_from_library Insert part from library

GUI vs Headless Mode

When running in headless mode, GUI-only tools return structured errors instead of crashing:

{
  "success": false,
  "error": "GUI not available - screenshots cannot be captured in headless mode"
}

To check the current mode programmatically:

result = await execute_python("_result_ = FreeCAD.GuiUp")
is_gui_mode = result["result"]

Next Steps