forgecad-reconstruct-cad-file

name	forgecad-reconstruct-cad-file
description	Reconstruct a readable parametric ForgeCAD model from an existing CAD or mesh file such as STL, OBJ, 3MF, STEP, or STP.
forgecad-public	true

Reconstruct CAD File

The reference asset is evidence, not the deliverable. The deliverable is a readable, parametric .forge.js model that runs, renders, and scores well against the source. Never return Import.mesh()/Import.step() of the source as the final model unless the user explicitly asks for an import wrapper — imports are for measurement, rendering, and scoring only.

Routing: user wants to KEEP the file as a live component and design around it (bracket, enclosure, mating assembly) → forgecad-build-model (Imported Parts section), not this skill; prepared benchmark/RL episodes → use the task-local benchmark instructions, not the public skill library; inspection-bundle interpretation → forgecad-inspect-model; independent grading after reconstruction → forgecad-grade-model; API and command reference → forgecad skill + CLI.md.

Workflow

1. Inspect the source directly — the CLI reads CAD/mesh files as inputs, no wrapper script. Gather four evidence types: ls --long stats, an iso render, per-object views, sampled sections (invocations in CLI.md; when sharing a renderer server via --port, run renders sequentially).

2. 3MF: enumerate every build item before scoring — hidden multi-part structure is a common miss. Item ref syntax: Import.mesh docs.

3. Reconstruction Brief before modeling: what must be exact vs. approximate vs. parametric; symmetry, origin, key reference planes; likely manufacturing process; scoring tolerance and alignment policy.

4. Blockout first. Match bbox and main masses, then add features. Model real geometry with blueprint-first APIs — never vertex-chase a faceted copy.

5. Compare numerically — the core loop:

   forgecad compare 3d path/to/source.stl path/to/candidate.forge.js \
     --samples 3000 --json --output /tmp/<slug>-score.json
   

6. Iterate coarse to fine: bbox/placement → main volumes/silhouette → holes/bosses/ribs/shells → edge treatments → small details.

Reading the Score

Alignment: start --align none. Use --align center only when origins clearly differ but scale and orientation match. Use --align center-scale only for exploratory diagnosis — it hides dimensional errors.

Signal	Diagnosis
Low coverage	Missing or extra surface
High RMS	Broad proportional mismatch
High p95/max	Localized outlier feature (protrusion, hole)
Bounds delta	Size, origin, or scale mismatch
Volume delta	Mass, shell, cutout, or scale mismatch

Calibration: 95+ simple prismatic/revolved parts, 90+ ordinary mechanical parts with fillets/cutouts, 80+ acceptable for organic, faceted, or underdetermined sources. Always report raw rms, p95, max, coverage, bounds delta, and volume delta — a high overall score with a large max can hide a missing local feature.

Faceted sources: decide whether tessellation itself is evidence. Matching low-poly faceting raises the score but reduces parametric clarity — prefer analytic intent unless faceting is part of the artifact or required by the acceptance criteria.

Done Criteria

The final model must run, render, re-compare at --samples 5000, and pass an inspect compare overlay. Add targeted inspects (forgecad-inspect-model) when the object is multi-part, hollow, thin-walled, or surface-sensitive. Report: source and candidate paths, score JSON path, final metrics, and every known mismatch classified as intentional simplification or remaining work.