kernelcad-mcp

name: kernelcad-mcp description: kernelCAD MCP server (kernelcad mcp) — introspect a running model, list features, run edit ops, fetch diagnostic codes. Use when you need to inspect a live model dynamically rather than re-evaluate from source.

kernelCAD — MCP companion

When to load this skill

Load when kernelcad mcp is available and you need to inspect or edit a live model without re-running the full CLI on every change. The MCP server exposes dynamic introspection tools that operate on evaluated in-memory state.

MCP tool surface

When you have kernelcad mcp available, use the MCP tools for dynamic introspection rather than re-running the CLI. The MCP server exposes the current tool registry, including:

Evaluation and introspection

• evaluate_script({ file? code?, dryRun? }) — pass/fail + featureCount + diagnostics; plus a parts summary { count, names } when the scene is assembly-built (absent for single-shape / non-assembly scripts). dryRun: true is the fast iteration mode: transpile + capture + capture-light checks WITHOUT OCCT lowering, DFM gates, or meshing — milliseconds instead of seconds. A dry run catches script throws, capture-time API misuse, and assembly validity-gate failures, but NOT lowering failures (failed booleans, oversized fillets) or dfmSpec diagnostics, and it leaves the active session untouched — finish with a full evaluate_script before using session-dependent tools.
• diff_scripts({ baseFile? baseCode?, file? code? }) — structured geometric delta between a baseline script and a revision. Returns per-part added/removed/renamed/changed (volume mm³ + exact bbox deltas; numbers match inspect({ of: 'part-stats' })), interference totals per side + deltaMm3 with per-pair detail, mate-graph changes (type, connectors, pose, limits), and param changes (value/min/max). Single-shape scripts diff as one (root) pseudo-part. Use after editing a script to verify exactly what changed physically before re-rendering; read-only, never touches the active session.
• inspect({ of: 'features', file? code? }) — array of feature summaries (kind/id/params/inputs)
• inspect({ of: 'assemblies', file? code? }) — captured assembly intent: assemblies, parts, named connectors, fixed connections, joints, and aggregate models
• inspect({ of: 'assembly', file? | code?, assembly? }) — physical assembly inventory for agents: named parts, bboxes, connectors, mates, mechanical review facts, disconnected solids, unexplainedGeometry, and a next-action prompt. Run this before accepting visually suspicious mechanisms; random/floating geometry must be repaired or explicitly justified by the original prompt.
• inspect({ of: 'step', file }) — inspect a STEP file directly, without evaluating a script ({ file } is required; no { code } mode): solid tree (index + best-effort name), per-solid exact bounding box + volume + face count, and detected cylindrical holes (axis origin + direction, diameter, depth, blind/through; co-axial seam-split faces merge into one bore). Run this before placing an imported vendor part — find mounting-hole positions and verify the part-local frame from exact geometry instead of measuring renders. CLI equivalent: kernelcad inspect step <file.step>.
• inspect({ of: 'shape', file? code?, feature_id? }) — volume/surfaceArea/bbox of a feature (default: last)
• inspect({ of: 'topology', file? code?, feature_id? }) — canonical face names + edge count
• inspect({ of: 'face-edges', file? code?, feature_id?, face_name }) — boundary edges of a face (centroid, length, isClosed)
• inspect({ of: 'edges', file? code?, feature_id? }) — enumerate all edges (index, centroid, length, isClosed)
• inspect({ of: 'faces', file? code?, feature_id? }) — enumerate all faces with area and centroid
• inspect({ of: 'face-labels', file? code?, feature_id? }) — canonical face names resolvable on a feature
• query({ mode: 'lineage', file? code?, feature_id, ref }) — walk the HistoryMap chain that produced a named face/edge ref; returns { chain, usedFallback }.

Diagnostics

• why_did_this_fail({ file? code?, feature_id? }) — walk the upstream chain of a failing feature; returns each upstream feature's id/kind/health/diagnostics in topological order (per-code hints already inline on every diagnostic). Use when code is recompute.input.missing to find the root cause.
• lookup_diagnostics({}) — return the full diagnostic catalogue with hint templates, structured next-actions, and per-code metadata (one-shot; useful at session start to pre-populate retry strategies).
• lookup_api({}) — full curated API surface (globals, Shape methods, Sketch methods, constrained-sketch capability)
• lookup_cookbook({ query, k? }) — retrieve up to k canonical pattern snippets ranked by BM25; returns { ok, hits[] }. Empty hits is a valid success ("no canonical pattern; proceed without cookbook help").

Source edit operations

All edit tools return the modified source plus diagnostics. Re-run kernelcad evaluate on the returned source before committing.

• set_param({ code, param_name, new_value }) — edit a param() default value and return modified code plus diagnostics
• add_feature({ code, feature_code }) — insert one source line before the last top-level return and return modified code plus diagnostics
• add_part({ code, assembly_binding, part_name, shape_expression, binding_name?, at? }) — insert const <binding> = <assembly>.part(...) and return modified code plus diagnostics. Use the returned/bound part ref for connector edits.
• add_connector({ code, part_binding, name, type, origin, axis?, normal? }) — insert <partBinding>.connector(...) durably in source. Side-effect-free.
• add_mate({ relation, code, assembly_binding, ... }) — author a mate-graph relationship durably in source. relation: 'mate' → { name, a, b, type, pose?, limitsDeg?, limitsMm? } inserts <assembly>.mate(...); relation: 'coupling' → { driven, source, ratio, offset? } inserts <assembly>.coupleMates(...); relation: 'transmission' → { name, kind, sourceMate, drivenMates, path, actuator?, input?, output?, ratio?, notes? } inserts <assembly>.transmission(...) (kinds: direct-horn, link-rod, four-bar, gear-pair, belt, tendon).
• add_workspace_target({ code, assembly_binding, connector_ref, reachable, toleranceMm? }) — insert <assembly>.workspace(...) so solvedModel(..., { posesGate: 'envelope' }) / review_cad can check reachability.
• set_scene_return({ code, assembly_binding, mode, poses?, options? }) — replace the final top-level return with <assembly>.model() or <assembly>.solvedModel(poses, options?). Use solvedModel({}) for mate-authored mechanisms so FK and validation run.
• add_surface({ kind, code, ... }) — author a NURBS Surface; returns modified code + diagnostics. Chain .thicken(t) / .toShape() via the existing add_feature tool on the returned binding name. Select the path with kind:
  • add_surface({ kind: 'nurbs', code, controls?, degree?, weights?, knots?, periodic?, section_sketch_ids?, binding_name? }) — insert a nurbsSurface(...) or surfaceFromCurves(...) call.
  • add_surface({ kind: 'boundary', code, curve_bindings, continuity?, sampling?, binding_name? }) — insert a surfaceFromBoundary([c1, c2, c3, c4], opts?) declaration: one NURBS filling face through 4 boundary Curve3D refs. curve_bindings must be a tuple of 4 Curve3D variable names declared earlier in exact loop order: [0] bottom, [1] right, [2] top, [3] left; each is regex-validated. continuity accepts a single grade ('C0' | 'C1' | 'C2') applied to all 4 edges or a length-4 per-edge array; defaults to 'C0'.
  • add_surface({ kind: 'trim', code, surface_binding, by_binding, op?, binding_name? }) — insert a <surface>.trimTo(<by>) call (op: 'trim') or <surface>.split(<by>) tuple (op: 'split'). surface_binding and by_binding must be existing Surface variables. trimTo keeps the largest imprinted piece; split returns both halves as [Surface, Surface]. Use to align coincident patch edges before calling sew. Emits feature.surface-trim.no-intersection if the cutter does not intersect the surface.
  • add_surface({ kind: 'sew', code, surface_bindings, tolerance?, require_closed?, binding_name? }) — insert a sew([...], opts?) top-level call. surface_bindings is an array of Surface variable names (from nurbsSurface, surfaceFromBoundary, or prior .trimTo() calls); edges within tolerance mm (default 1e-6) are merged. Set require_closed: true when authoring a closed solid — the lowerer emits feature.surface-sew.open-shell immediately if the result is still open, catching seam gaps early. The result is a Shape flowing into booleans and export.
  • add_surface({ kind: 'draft', code, target_binding, angle_deg, face, neutral_plane?, pull_dir?, binding_name? }) — insert a <shape>.draft(angleDeg, opts) chained call. target_binding must be an existing Shape variable. face accepts a canonical name, label, or FaceQuery (same selector as shell()). neutral_plane sets the parting-line face (defaults to face); pull_dir is the demoulding direction [x, y, z] (defaults to face normal at lower time). Use after sew or on any Shape whose faces must release from a mold. Emits feature.draft.failed if OCCT cannot draft the selected faces at the requested angle.
• add_curve({ kind, code, ... }) — author a 3D Curve3D before the last top-level return; consumable by variableSweep as a spine and by surfaceFromBoundary as a boundary edge. Select the path with kind:
  • add_curve({ kind: 'nurbs', code, controlPoints, degree?, weights?, knots?, closed?, binding_name? }) — insert a nurbsCurve(...) declaration. Validates Vec3 + control-point count; full validation re-runs via the post-edit evaluateScript pass.
  • add_curve({ kind: 'hermite', code, a, b, binding_name? }) — insert a hermiteG2(a, b) declaration, where each endpoint is { point: Vec3, tangent: Vec3, curvature?: Vec3 }. Use to bridge two existing curves with G2 continuity — tangent magnitude is the first derivative (not unit length); typical magnitude ~ chord length between endpoints.
• add_path_segment({ kind, code, chain_anchor, ... }) — append a curved segment to an EXISTING PathBuilder chain on the named chain_anchor variable, injected immediately before any .close() in the chain (or before the statement terminator if absent). Select the segment with kind:
  • add_path_segment({ kind: 'spline', code, chain_anchor, points, tension?, startTangent?, endTangent?, binding_name? }) — inject a .spline(points, opts?) call. points is a Vec2[] (mm) ≥ 2; the path interpolates through every waypoint. Use for freeform 2D outlines authored from measured waypoints (eyewear brow, ergonomic handles). 2D analogue of add_curve({ kind: 'nurbs' }) for the path-builder lane.
    • startTangent?: [number, number] — optional 2D tangent vector at the first waypoint. Direction matters; magnitude is normalised internally.
    • endTangent?: [number, number] — optional 2D tangent vector at the last waypoint. Same semantics as startTangent.
    • Tangent-constrained fits route through the JS interpolator and round-trip through the kernel so authoritative geometry stays canonical. When both tangent fields are omitted, the call lowers through the existing fast path unchanged.
  • add_path_segment({ kind: 'nurbs', code, chain_anchor, controlPoints, degree?, weights?, knots?, binding_name? }) — inject a .nurbsSegment(controlPoints, opts?) call. controlPoints[0] must match the current pen position within 1e-6 mm; default degree: 3. Use when the control net is the natural mental model (programmatic profile generation, NURBS round-tripping).
  • add_path_segment({ kind: 'hermite', code, chain_anchor, a, b, binding_name? }) — inject a .hermiteG2(a, b) call. Each endpoint is { point: Vec2, tangent: Vec2, curvature?: Vec2 }; a.point must match the current pen position. Use for G2-continuous transitions between adjacent path runs (eyewear bridge ↔ brow). 2D analogue of add_curve({ kind: 'hermite' }).
• trace_from_image({ imageUrl, hint?, features?, maxWaypointsPerFeature?, backend? }) — trace pixel-space features from a reference photo into normalized [0..1] waypoints feedable to add_path_segment({ kind: 'spline' }) / add_path_segment({ kind: 'nurbs' }) after a scale-anchor conversion to mm. Three backends are dispatched: opencv (deterministic; uniform-bg silhouette only), vision-llm (Claude vision; caller-supplied ANTHROPIC_API_KEY), hybrid (opencv silhouette + LLM-labeled named points); default backend: 'auto' routes by corner-color stddev. Per-feature confidence is reported. Pair with the kernelcad-trace-from-image sub-skill (under kernelcad-from-reference/) for the conversion-to-mm pipeline.
• add_variable_sweep({ code, spine_binding, sections, closed?, continuity?, binding_name? }) — insert a variableSweep(spine, [{t, profile}, ...], opts?) declaration before the last top-level return. spine_binding and each sections[i].profile_binding must already exist as variable names in code (regex-validated by the tool). sections is a { t: number; profile_binding: string }[] array with strictly increasing t, anchored at t=0 and t=1. Orientation is not exposed by MCP until runtime orientation support is wired.
• add_text({ mode, code, ... }) — author text before the last top-level return; returns modified code plus diagnostics. Select the path with mode:
  • add_text({ mode: 'sketch', code, content, size, font?, align?, position?, rotation?, bindAs? }) — insert a sketch.text(...) call. Pair with subsequent .extrude(...) / cut(...) edits to land an engraved or raised text feature.
  • add_text({ mode: 'emboss', code, target, textContent, size, depth, face, fontFamily?, align?, anchorU?, anchorV?, rotation?, scaleMode?, bindAs? }) — insert a <shape>.embossText({...}) chained call. depth > 0 raises text out of the face (fuse); depth < 0 engraves text into it (cut). UV anchors are face-local in [0, 1]. Use for branded consumer products (Ray-Ban temple, CE compliance marks, appliance model numbers).
• project_curve({ code, target, commands, face, scaleMode?, bindAs? }) — insert a <shape>.projectCurve({ source: { kind: 'sketchCommands', commands: [...] }, face }) chained call before the last top-level return. commands is the closed 2D path as plain-number segments (start with moveTo, end with close). Wraps the curve onto a 3D face along the face normal; returns a Sketch — pair with .extrude(d) for raised silhouettes or with the parent's .subtract(...) for engraved logos. Open-wire asEdge: true is deferred (BRepProj_Projection not bundled) and is rejected at edit time.
• remove_feature({ code, match }) — remove one uniquely matched non-return line and return modified code plus diagnostics

Params

• inspect({ of: 'params' }) — list symbolic parameters declared on the active evaluated session, including current value, default, type, and metadata.
• set_param({ code, param_name, new_value }) — edit a param() default in the source string (source-only; no active-session mutation) and return modified code plus diagnostics.

Constrained sketches

• solve_sketch({ entities, constraints }) — solve a 2D POINT/LINE/CIRCLE sketch constraint set; returns { ok, entities, constraints } or validation errors. Side-effect-free.
• add_constraint({ constraints?, constraint }) — validate and append one sketch constraint to a constraint list; returns the updated list. Side-effect-free.
• inspect({ of: 'constraints', constraints? }) — list supported sketch constraint types (COINCIDENT, DISTANCE, HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, PARALLEL, PERPENDICULAR, EQUAL_LENGTH, TANGENT, RADIUS, ANGLE, CONCENTRIC, SYMMETRIC) and echo the provided constraint list.

Sheet metal and SDF probes

• flatten_pattern({ file? | code?, feature_id? }) — return an unfolded sheet-metal Region as JSON with outer ring, holes, and bend lines. Use before CAM/nesting assumptions.
• inspect({ of: 'bend-table', file? | code?, feature_id? }) — list sheet-metal bend records with K-factor bend allowance, axis line, and parent options.
• evaluate_sdf({ file? | code?, fieldName, point }) — sample a bound SDF field at [x, y, z]; returns distance/inside/AABB/kind without materializing the field.

Assembly and mate tools

• inspect({ of: 'mates', assembly? }) — return the declared mate records on the active assembly: { mates: [{ name, a, b, type, pose?, limitsDeg?, limitsMm? }, ...] }.
• verify({ check: 'assembly', assembly? }) — run the mate-aware validator on the active assembly; returns { status, diagnostics, partCount, jointCount } where each diagnostic carries code and hint for recovery.
• solve_mates({ assembly?, poses? }) — run the mate-graph solver on the active assembly; returns { status, poses, iterations? } with each pose serialized as { translation, rotateAxis, rotateDeg }. The poses input overrides mate pose values by mate name; coupled driven mates are expanded from their source mate before solve.
• review_cad({ file? | code?, assembly?, includePoseEnvelope?, includeInterference?, samplesPerMate?, combinatorial?, epsilonMm3?, trackConnectors?, gripperAperture? }) — evaluate a script, validate its assembly/mate graph, check that mate connectors touch modeled material, sample declared mate limits, optionally run BREP interference checks at those samples, report connector workspace bounds, optionally report gripper aperture between two fingertip connector refs, and return raw diagnostics plus a fitness summary (fitness.functional, fitness.blockingReasons, fitness.mechanismSummary) after an assembly is selected. samplesPerMate (integer ≥ 1, default 1) is the total sample count per declared-limit mate — 1/2 = corners only, >=3 adds samplesPerMate - 2 uniform interior points. combinatorial (default false) emits all 2^M min/max corner-tuples across mates with declared limits and is capped at M <= 8 (M=9 throws with combinatorial sampling capped at 8 mates with declared limits). review_cad always returns repairContext: RepairContext (see below).
• design_loop({ goal, attempts, assembly?, preserveInterfaces?, includePoseEnvelope?, includeInterference?, samplesPerMate?, combinatorial?, epsilonMm3?, trackConnectors?, gripperAperture?, stopOnPass?, allowReviewWarnings?, requireVisualReview?, outputRecordPath?, recordTitle? }) — review ordered design attempts, return repair prompts, and optionally write a Studio-compatible replay record. samplesPerMate / combinatorial are forwarded to review_cad with the same semantics (corners-only at 1, interior coverage at >=3, full-corner sweep at combinatorial: true, cap of 8 limited mates). nextActionPrompt is rendered from each attempt's repairContext — blocking reasons first, then the top three diagnostics with explicit widen by N / narrow by N directives when a suggestedDelta is present. Accepted visual reviews must include screenshotPath, non-empty findings, and passing checks; otherwise assembly.visual.review-incomplete, assembly.visual.review-evidence-weak, or assembly.visual.review-check-failed keeps the attempt from passing. Set requireVisualReview: false only for explicit non-visual batch checks.
• review_paint_peek_latest({ freshness_sec?, extra_roots?, paths_only? }) — return the newest Studio inpainting-style review packet (screenshot + red mask + raycast-resolved struck-part list) the user painted from MarkingOverlay within the freshness window. PNGs are inlined base64 by default; pass paths_only: true for paths + metadata only. Mirrors what the Claude Code UserPromptSubmit hook auto-attaches, but works from any MCP-capable client (Cursor, Claude Desktop, ChatGPT-with-MCP) on the same machine. Returns { ok, packet?, empty?, scanned_roots, scanned_candidates }.

review_cad returns this repairContext on both the ok: true and ok: false branches so a calling agent always has a structured handle on what to fix and what to preserve:

interface RepairContext {
  readonly blockingReasons: readonly string[];    // formatted "code: message" from fitness.blockingReasons
  readonly topDiagnostics: ReadonlyArray<{
    readonly code: string;
    readonly sampleName?: string;
    readonly mateName?: string;
    readonly suggestedDelta?: { mate: string; widenBy?: number; narrowBy?: number };
  }>;
  readonly preserveInterfaces: readonly string[];
  readonly designGoal: string;
}

suggestedDelta.widenBy / narrowBy are in degrees for revolute / cylindrical / pin_slot mates and mm for prismatic mates — the same unit as the diagnostic's limits field. topDiagnostics is capped at three entries, ordered by severity. preserveInterfaces and designGoal echo the inputs so the repair agent doesn't drop them between attempts.

Export

• export({ target: 'model', file? | code?, output_path, format, feature_id?, options?, no_verify? }) — write the script geometry to a file server-side. format is one of stl, step, dxf, 3mf, glb, svg-drawing (the reserved urdf, srdf, sdf-gazebo slots ship in a follow-up slice and return a structured *.not-implemented diagnostic today). STL exports run a watertight verify by default; a failing mesh still writes the file (so the broken mesh can be inspected) but the call returns ok: false with export.mesh.not-watertight (open-edge count + up to 5 crack-cluster locations). Pass { no_verify: true } only to skip the gate. Returns { ok, output_path, byte_count, feature_count, format, diagnostics }. feature_count is the total features in the script, not the count contributing to the exported shape.

  Per-format options (passed via options):

  • stl — verify?: boolean (default true): the watertight verify gate. Equivalent to the top-level no_verify: true when set to false.
  • step — unit?: 'mm' | 'cm' | 'in'.
  • dxf — unit?: 'mm' | 'cm' | 'in' (default mm); tolerance?: number (chord tolerance for polyline flattening; mm; default 0.05); layers?: DxfLayerSpec[] (named layers for cut profiles; bend lines always emit on a dedicated BEND layer). Output is LWPOLYLINE-only; the input must be planar — non-planar geometry fails with export.dxf.non-planar and a inspect({ of: 'faces' }) next-action.
  • 3mf — printUnit?: 'mm' | 'cm' | 'in' (default mm); embedSource?: boolean (when true, the source script is attached to the 3MF under Metadata/source.kcad.ts). Watertightness is verified before write; non-manifold meshes fail with export.3mf.not-watertight.
  • glb — axis?: 'y-up' | 'z-up' (default y-up; world-units convention is mm). draco?: false is reserved for a follow-up slice; passing draco: true is a static type error today and a runtime export.glb.draco-glass-conflict if the type is widened upstream.
  • svg-drawing — third-angle engineering-drawing sheet (front/top/left + isometric, hidden edges dashed, tangent edges thin, overall bbox dimensions, title block). sheet?: 'a4' | 'a3' (default a4 landscape); modelName?: string (title block; defaults to the script file name); date?: string (title block; defaults to a placeholder for deterministic output). Accepts single bodies and assembly Scenes — parts project together so inter-part occlusion renders as hidden lines. See kernelcad-drawings for the full sheet anatomy.

  PBR materials propagate from .material({...}) calls in the script through MeshPhysicalMaterial into the glTF KHR_materials_* extensions (transmission / clearcoat / anisotropy / sheen / volume / ior). 3MF carries the baseColor only (the format has no rich PBR slot). DXF carries no material.

• export({ target: 'part', file? | code?, part?, output_path?, output_dir?, no_verify? }) — export solved-assembly parts as individual binary STL files in their modeled (world-frame) positions. The script must return assembly.solvedModel(...) / assembly.model(). Pass { part, output_path } for one part, or { output_dir } (with part omitted or 'all') for all parts — files land at <output_dir>/<part>.stl. A watertight verify runs on every exported mesh by default; a failing part still writes its file (so the broken mesh can be inspected) but fails the call with export.mesh.not-watertight (open-edge count + up to 5 crack-cluster locations). Pass { no_verify: true } only to inspect broken meshes. Unknown part names fail with export.part.not-found listing the valid names. Returns { ok, written: [{ part, output_path, byte_count, watertight }], diagnostics }.

• inspect({ of: 'part-stats', file? | code? }) — list solved-assembly parts with print-prep stats: name, exact world-frame bounding box (from the export tessellation), volume (mm³), surface area (mm²), and export triangle count (same mesher as the STL exporter, so the numbers match export({ target: 'part' }) exactly). Returns { ok, parts: [{ name, bbox, volumeMm3, surfaceAreaMm2, triangleCount }], diagnostics }.

• capture_animation({ file, output_path?, frames_dir?, fps?, no_verify?, verify_every?, focus?, hide? }) — capture the script's animationView({...}) timeline (see kernelcad-authoring) to an MP4 (default) or a PNG frame sequence (frames_dir, zero external dependencies; mutually exclusive with output_path). File-only — there is no { code } mode (the capture engine renders from a file on disk so relative lib.fromSTEP(...) imports resolve); passing { code } is refused with cli.invalid-args. Animation-pose interference verification runs by default (keyframe times + segment midpoints, plus every n-th frame time with verify_every); no_verify: true skips it. focus / hide (arrays of feature ids or assembly part names, mutually exclusive — same semantics as kernelcad render) isolate parts in the rendered frames for cutaways; visibility is render-only and does NOT affect the pose verification, which always runs against the full model. Returns { ok, output_path, frame_count, duration_ms, fps, verified, verify_skipped?, collisions: [{ t_ms, a, b, volume_mm3 }], diagnostics }. Collisions do NOT flip ok: a captured artifact with interfering poses is still ok: true with verified: false and collisions[] populated (animation.collision diagnostics) — the artifact is the evidence. Only a could-not-capture fault (bad file, build error, no animationView record, unsolvable pose, ffmpeg missing, browser bootstrap failure) returns ok: false with a failure_kind of model or environment. Like kernelcad render, capture drives a headless browser against a running studio dev server (VITE_PORT / localhost:5173). CLI equivalent: kernelcad animate <file.kcad.ts> [out.mp4].

Visual preview

• render_preview({ code? | file?, views?, pose?, focus?, hide?, out_dir?, width?, height?, environment?, no_watermark?, no_mechanism_check?, base_url? }) — render a script to deterministic PNG views and look at them: the visual half of the evaluate → render → inspect → fix loop, with no studio / dev-server precondition. Pass exactly one of { code } (inline source; relative imports resolve against a temp dir — use { file } for scripts with relative lib.fromSTEP(...) imports) or { file }. Renders the canonical engineering views (front, right, top, iso; pass views: ['iso'] for fastest iteration) plus an optional pose: '<az>,<el>' arbitrary camera angle. The render is served from a prebuilt static player on an ephemeral local port automatically (a running studio dev server is used as fallback; base_url forces one) — the only environment dependency is playwright chromium (npx playwright install chromium). focus / hide isolate parts, same semantics as kernelcad render --focus/--hide. PNGs land in out_dir (default: a fresh temp session dir) and come back as absolute paths with per-view camera descriptions (kernelCAD is Z-up: front looks along +Y, right along -X, top straight down, iso from the front-right-above octant). Mechanism truth runs first with kernelcad render parity: a broken mechanism still renders but every tile is watermarked MECHANISM BROKEN (KERNELCAD_RENDER_STRICT=1 refuses instead) — read { mechanism, mechanism_failure_codes }. The probe runs full BREP interference sweeps and can dominate latency on large assemblies — pass no_mechanism_check: true for fast visual iteration (the preview then reports mechanism: 'unverified'; ignored under strict mode, where the gate always runs). Returns { ok, images: [{ name, path, description }], out_dir, bounds, mechanism, render_source, render_ms, diagnostics }. Paths are local to the machine running the MCP server: local stdio clients read them directly; hosted/remote clients should use open_in_studio instead. CLI equivalents: kernelcad render <file> (composite), kernelcad render inspect <file> <outDir> (manifest bundle + mask/depth/normals channels).

DFM gates

• verify({ check: 'dfm', file? | code? }) — run the print-readiness gates declared by dfmSpec() in the script: part-pair clearance (exact BREP distance), minimum wall thickness (inward ray sampling), and void/channel topology (voxel flood-fill). Returns the flattened report { ok, clearance, walls, voids, timings, diagnostics }; errors if the script declares no dfmSpec. Iteration notes:
  • Enforcement is inherited. ANY evaluate_script call on a script that declares a dfmSpec(...) runs the same gates and fails on the same diagnostics (the CLI surface is kernelcad dfm <file>). verify({ check: 'dfm' }) exists to surface the full report struct — clearance[] pair statuses, per-part walls[]/voids[], timings — which the evaluate_script envelope omits; it is not an opt-in switch.
  • Gates re-run on every evaluate call — budget up to ~10 s extra per call on large assemblies (per-phase wall time is in timings).
  • Dfm-only failures keep the MCP session alive: when the build succeeded and only gate diagnostics are fatal, the active session is retained/refreshed, so the session-dependent tools stay usable while iterating on a fix. Genuine build failures still clear it.
  • 'unknown' clearance entries mean the measurement failed (kernel error) — warn-only, never flips ok. Locations embedded in diagnostics are world-frame; the raw walls[]/voids[] structs are part-local.

Topology references — the @kc[...] grammar

kernelCAD addresses faces, edges, vertices, and connectors as stable string references that survive most upstream edits. The grammar is kernelCAD's topology-reference language; it is emitted by introspection tools and accepted by every tool that consumes a face / edge / connector handle.

Form

ref       ::= '@kc[' path ']'
path      ::= owner ( '/' kind ( '/' segment )* )?
owner     ::= name | name '[' digit+ ']'
kind      ::= 'face' | 'edge' | 'vertex' | 'connector' | 'sketch' | 'part' | 'solid'
segment   ::= name | name '[' digit+ ']'
name      ::= [A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_-]*
modifier  ::= '#' ( 'normal' | 'axis' | 'center' )

The seven kinds carry distinct semantics:

Three v1 modifiers attach a sub-aspect of the named entity:

segment and owner accept an optional [N] index — used by batched feature emitters (mountingHoles[2]) and by indexed array entries inside the path. Spec §3.1 indexed segments survive round-tripping through formatTopoRef.

Reserved characters

These characters are reserved by the grammar wrapper and the path separators; the capture-time uniqueness validator rejects any face label, part name, connector name, or feature name containing one of them:

. / * ? , # [ ] @ <whitespace>

Renaming offenders is the recovery path; the gate does not loosen.

Examples

@kc[base/face/top]                      # canonical face on a primitive
@kc[base/face/lid]                      # user-declared faceLabel
@kc[base/edge/top-front]                # canonical box edge
@kc[shoulder-servo/connector/flange]    # connector on a named part
@kc[hole1/face/wall]                    # ordinal feature ref: hole #1's wall
@kc[mountingHoles[2]/face/wall]         # indexed access into a batched feature
@kc[base/face/top#normal]               # sub-aspect modifier — face-normal vector
@kc[servo/edge/top#axis]                # cylinder cap edge as an axis vector
@kc[base/part]                          # bare part ref (kind defaults to 'part')

When to use refs vs structured forms

The structured forms remain valid escape hatches. The @kc[...] string form is the preferred handoff because it survives the resolver's two-path lookup (lineage first, then geometry snapshot) and round-trips cleanly through MCP tool envelopes.

Tools that emit refs

Tools that accept refs

Capture-time Connector.origin (the script API on partRef.connector(name, opts)) also accepts origin: '@kc[<part>/face/<name>]' directly; the ref is normalised to a structured ConnectorOrigin at capture-time so downstream review tools see the same shape they always did.

Resolution semantics

When a ref is consumed, the resolver tries two paths in order:

1. Name-propagation (primary). The ref's <owner>/<kind>/<name> tuple matches against the lineage map carried on every shape — canonical names, user-declared faceLabels, feature-kind + ordinal + label combinations.
2. Geometry-snapshot fallback. When lineage returns zero hits but a snapshot captured at the ref's original creation still matches a current face within tolerance, the resolver recovers the entity geometrically and surfaces an info-severity warning.

Three diagnostic codes surface through KernelError.hint and the MCP error envelope:

• feature.face-ref.not-resolvable — both paths returned zero. Hint lists nearest current-face candidates.
• feature.face-ref.ambiguous-after-split — lineage matched N >= 2 surviving descendants. Hint lists the N candidate refs.
• feature.face-ref.snapshot-fallback-used — info-severity; resolution went through the snapshot path and is provisional. Tighten the ref or accept the warning.

Read the hint — it carries the recovery move (paste a candidate ref, narrow the selector, or accept provisional resolution).

query({ mode: 'resolve' }) — discovery primitive

query({ mode: 'resolve', file? | code?, ref }) is the tool an agent calls when it already holds a ref (typically from a prior inspect({ of: 'faces' }) / inspect({ of: 'edges' }) / inspect({ of: 'assembly' }) call) and wants to confirm the ref still resolves on the current geometry, or wants to inspect what an upstream tool emitted.

{
  "name": "query",
  "input": { "mode": "resolve", "code": "<.kcad.ts source>", "ref": "@kc[base/face/top]" },
  "output_ok": {
    "ok": true,
    "ref": "@kc[base/face/top]",
    "entity": { "kind": "face", "hash": "...", "path": "lineage" }
  },
  "output_ambiguous": {
    "ok": false,
    "errorCode": "feature.face-ref.ambiguous-after-split",
    "candidates": ["@kc[base/face/top-1]", "@kc[base/face/top-2]"],
    "errorHint": "..."
  }
}

entity.path reports which resolver path succeeded — 'lineage' (preferred, stable) or 'snapshot' (geometric fallback, provisional). Use the ambiguity / not-resolvable hint to repair the ref, then re-call.

Notes on script API vs MCP tools

arm.transmission(name, { kind, sourceMate, drivenMates, actuator?, input?, output?, path, ratio?, notes? }) is script API and can be authored durably through add_mate({ relation: 'transmission' }). Use it when coupleMates(...) declares a driven mate. review_cad emits assembly.transmission.missing-for-coupled-mate if a coupled mate has no matching transmission path, and assembly.transmission.path-disconnected when consecutive transmission path parts are separated at the current or any sampled mate-limit pose.

For the full mechanism build loop (robot arms, grippers, linkages), see kernelcad-assemblies.

Query DSL — the @kcq[...] grammar

@kcq[...] is the string surface for composed Queries. Use @kc[...] when one entity is addressable by <owner>/<kind>/<name>; use @kcq[...] when set algebra or filter composition matters. Both surfaces dispatch through the same evaluator (strings-as-sugar), so the resolved entity set is identical regardless of which form the agent reaches for.

Grammar

queryRef    ::= '@kcq[' expr ']'
expr        ::= union | intersection | subtraction | filter | empty
empty       ::= 'nothing()' | 'everything(' entityKind ')'
union       ::= 'union(' exprList ')'
intersection::= 'intersection(' exprList ')'
subtraction ::= 'subtraction(' expr ',' expr ')'
filter      ::= entityKind '(' filterList? ')'
entityKind  ::= 'face' | 'edge' | 'vertex' | 'connector' | 'part' | 'solid'
filterList  ::= filterExpr (',' filterExpr)*
filterExpr  ::= 'createdBy(' string (',' entityKind)? ')'
              | 'ownedByPart(' expr ')'
              | 'ownerPart(' expr ')'
              | 'containsPoint([' x ',' y ',' z '])'
              | 'closestTo([' x ',' y ',' z '] (',' k)?')'
              | 'geometryType(' geomType ')'
              | 'withLabel(' string ')'
              | 'withFeatureName(' string ')'
              | 'nthElement(' expr ',' integer ')'
              | expr

Examples

@kcq[face(createdBy("arm"))]                           # equivalent to kc.q.face(kc.q.createdBy('arm'))
@kcq[face(createdBy("arm"), closestTo([0,0,10]))]      # narrowed face
@kcq[union(face(createdBy("a")), face(createdBy("b")))]
@kcq[subtraction(face(createdBy("a")), face(withLabel("lid")))]
@kcq[nothing()]                                        # empty
@kcq[everything(face)]                                 # all faces

Coexistence with @kc[...]

The MCP-boundary dispatcher (parseAnyTopologyInput) distinguishes by prefix:

• @kc[...] → parseTopoRef → topoRefAsQuery → Query<unknown> (simple-ref path)
• @kcq[...] → parseQuery → Query<unknown> (composed-query path)
• JSON-AST object → reconstructed from ast → Query<unknown>
• Query value → passthrough unchanged

Both surface syntaxes resolve through the same evaluator; the kernel sees one type either way. Diagnostic prose pins on the @kc[...] form by default (more compact and prose-pasteable); reach for @kcq[...] when the build needs set algebra or multi-filter narrowing. Query.toString() always serialises to the canonical @kcq[...] form, so parseQuery(q.toString()) round-trips structurally.

Cookbook — Query DSL inspect-first pattern

Q-S6 — Inspect first, build after

The canonical agent flow whenever the expected entity count is uncertain: express the Query, inspect the AST or the canonical @kcq[...] descriptor via .toString(), then narrow or consume. Query<T> values are lazy — construction is cheap and side-effect-free, so an agent can build many candidate Queries and reason over their descriptors before committing.

// 1. Express the candidate Query.
const candidates = q.face().and(q.withFeatureName('box1'));

// 2. Inspect the descriptor without resolving. `.toString()` emits the
//    canonical `@kcq[<expr>]` form per the grammar above. For
//    `q.face().and(q.withFeatureName('box1'))` the descriptor is
//    `@kcq[intersection(everything(face), withFeatureName("box1"))]`,
//    which round-trips via `parseQuery(...)` to a structurally-equal AST.
const descriptor = candidates.toString();

// 3. The AST is plain data; the agent can walk it to read the filters at
//    each level.
candidates.ast;     // { op: 'intersection', queries: [...] }

// 4. Narrow further or consume — both stay on the same Query value.
const narrowed = candidates.and(q.withLabel('lid'));

// 5. JSON.stringify round-trips cleanly; chainable methods are
//    non-enumerable so the wire form carries only data fields. The
//    `query({ mode: 'evaluate' })` MCP tool (ships in a follow-on slice) consumes
//    exactly this JSON shape from outside the script.
JSON.stringify(narrowed);   // { "_kind": "kc.query", "target": "face", ... }

See cookbook/snippets/Q-S6-inspect-first-build-after.kcad.ts.

Verification gates

Related skills

• kernelcad-authoring — the API surface MCP operates on.
• kernelcad-params — set_param({ code, param_name, new_value }) is the source-edit path for symbolic parameters.
• kernelcad-features — face-ref queries and add-feature edits route through MCP.
• kernelcad-assemblies — assembly-specific MCP tools (inspect({ of: 'assembly' }), review_cad, design_loop) and the mechanism build loop.