Guide · AI + OpenSCAD
Using ChatGPT and other chatbots for OpenSCAD
Large language models are surprisingly good at OpenSCAD syntax and surprisingly bad at geometry. They never see what their code produces, so the typical result looks plausible in text and wrong in the viewer.
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Typical failure modes
- Axis confusion: the part is built lying down but the holes point the wrong way.
- Floating geometry: features that touch the body at an edge or not at all.
- Missing clearance: a 6 mm hole for a 6 mm shaft (it won't fit when printed).
- Wrong pivot: rotate() around the origin moves a feature far away from where it belongs.
- Unprintable: overhangs and flat ceilings that need supports.
- Syntax and runtime errors (undefined variables, wrong module arguments).
A workflow that works
- 01Ask for a plan first: which components, where, how they connect, how the part is used.
- 02Keep every dimension as a named parameter at the top.
- 03Model the real object the part fits (phone, screw, shaft) and check it doesn't intersect the part.
- 04Render, measure the bounding box, and feed errors and measurements back to the model.
- 05Iterate until it renders, measures right and the object fits — then print a test piece.
FitPrint automates exactly this loop: it renders every version in your browser, checks size, fit, insertion path and floating pieces, and sends concrete feedback to the AI.
Frequently asked questions
Can ChatGPT make STL files?
Not directly — it can write OpenSCAD code, which you then render and export to STL in OpenSCAD. Tools like FitPrint do the rendering, checking and export automatically.
Is OpenSCAD good for AI?
Yes: it is plain text, parametric and deterministic, so an AI can write it and a program can verify it.
Related
Updated · Generated parts are a starting point — always test-fit before relying on a part.