cli-hub-matrix-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. Matrix plan: docs/cli-matrix/cli-matrix-plan.md.

Install

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.

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.