dxf Skill (text-to-cad) for Claude: What It Does and How to Install It

Lets Claude write and export 2D DXF drawings, such as gaskets, panels and laser-cut layouts, as validated Python scripts.

Installs: 10K; on skills.sh
Stars: 24.7K; on GitHub
Files: 4; besides SKILL.md
Updated: Nov 2026; last repo commit

This skill makes Claude write a 2D drawing as a Python file with one @model function that returns flat build123d geometry, then run it and export a DXF with the cad command. It covers three workflows: drafting a shape from scratch, flattening a 3D part this project already models, and flattening an imported STEP file.

It needs the text-to-cad server and its cad command line tool installed on your machine; the skill opens that tool, it does not bundle it. Every export runs validation checks (closed cut profiles, no duplicate or zero-length entities) and refuses to write a bad DXF, naming the failing check.

Good for

Makers who need a gasket, panel or cut-layout DXF
Engineers deriving a flat pattern from a 3D part they already modeled
Anyone preparing files for laser, plasma, waterjet or CNC routing
People importing a vendor STEP file to flatten for cutting

Install dxf

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the dxf skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

claude plugin marketplace add earthtojake/text-to-cad#latest
claude plugin install text-to-cad@earthtojake

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires uv, Claude Code.

The plugin brings all 12 skills in the text-to-cad repo and starts the cad MCP server through uvx (pinned to cad-mcp 0.10.0, per claude.mcp.json). Its first start downloads CAD's runtime, so it needs a network connection. docs/install.md says to install the plugin or the skills in an app, not both. The skill runs the cad command, which the plugin's server and the installer provide; the skill folder alone is not enough. The installer script is the fallback: it sets text-to-cad up in every agent app on the machine. By default text-to-cad sends usage stats and crash reports tagged with a random ID, never your files, paths or prompts (README); the installer takes --no-telemetry.

From the vendor's docs. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Generates, regenerates and validates 2D DXF drawings from Python build123d models, exported by cadgen. Use for DXF files, `.py` drawing scripts, 2D profiles, outlines, templates, gaskets, panels, flat patterns, laser/plasma/waterjet cut layouts, and 2D drawing exports of CAD geometry. Opens and visually reviews existing DXF files in the CAD Viewer.

Sections in SKILL.md

Setup
Purpose
The contract
The three DXF workflows
Use this skill when
Defaults
Tool
Workflow
Show the model
Validation
Handoff

Key facts

Author: earthtojake (repo owner of text-to-cad)
License: MIT
Installs on skills.sh: 10,012 (Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 24,721 for the whole text-to-cad repo (Nov 2, 2026)
Last repo commit: Nov 1, 2026
What it includes: 4 files: LICENSE, SKILL.md, agents/openai.yaml and references/generator-templates.md (no scripts)
Part of: The text-to-cad plugin (version 0.10.0), which also bundles the cad command line tool and its server
Needs: The text-to-cad cad command installed and its server running; Python with build123d, set up by the installer
Works in: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini and Grok, per the repo README

What it includes

A model with no 3D part behind it
Gaskets, panels, templates and cut layouts: a Python file with one @model function that builds and returns 2D sketches.
Try: “Draw a 60 by 40 mm gasket with a 4.5 mm center hole, cut layer only.”
Write · Draft from scratch
Derives the drawing from a 3D model in the same project
Imports the part model, calls it, and flattens its top face with cad.flatten so the drawing tracks the 3D model's own geometry.
Try: “Flatten this bracket part into a laser-cut DXF with 0.15 mm kerf.”
Write · Flat pattern of a modeled part
Reads a vendor file with no Python source
Reads a .step or .stp with read_step, or a converted .xbf with read_xbf, and flattens it the same way.
Try: “Flatten this vendor STEP panel for waterjet cutting.”
Write · Flat pattern of an imported STEP
Builds the model and writes the DXF
cad run builds the model in the server and writes nothing; cad export runs the drawing checks and writes the DXF, or refuses it and names the failing check.
Runs code · cad run / cad export
Renders a PNG of the drawing
Draws a drawing or an imported DXF as the CAD Viewer would, for review before handoff.
Runs code · cad snapshot
Closed-profile and duplicate-entity checks on export
Every export checks units, closed cut profiles, no duplicate or zero-length entities, and that something is drawn, and can run again on any existing DXF with validate_dxf_file.
Runs code · Validation

From the official docs

Permissions

Medium risk

This skill runs a local CAD server set up by a curl-piped installer and writes files you ask for. By default the install sends anonymous usage stats; use --no-telemetry if you want to turn that off.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

Installs and runs a local CAD server
The plugin route starts the cad MCP server through uvx (pinned to cad-mcp 0.10.0, claude.mcp.json) and the plugin manifest adds all 12 skills in the repo. The installer script is curl-piped: it sets up uv, Python 3.14 and the CAD kernel (about 220 MB the first time). If `cad` is missing, SKILL.md itself tells the agent to run that install script, outside a sandbox or with your permission. Read the script first. github.com
Sends anonymous usage stats by default
The README says text-to-cad sends usage stats and crash reports tagged with a random ID by default, and states it never includes your files, paths or prompts. Use --no-telemetry at install time to turn it off. github.com
Writes files into your project
cad export and cad snapshot write DXF and PNG files at the paths you give them. github.com

Security advisories

No published security advisories as of Nov 2, 2026.

Technical details

Turning on read-only	No read-only mode. cad run never writes a file; only cad export and cad snapshot do, and only to the path you give.
Talks to	Anonymous usage stats and crash reports to text-to-cad, unless turned off (README). api.texttocad.dev/v1/versions, an hourly release check (docs/install.md). uv and PyPI downloads of the CAD runtime and kernel on first run (docs/install.md)
Sign-in and keys	SKILL.md names no account or key for this skill.
Scopes	Runs the cad command, a local server process, to build and export models Writes DXF and PNG files into your project at paths you request Reads STEP files you point it at

Questions

What does the dxf skill do?

It makes Claude write a 2D DXF drawing as a Python script, build it with the text-to-cad server, and export a validated DXF file for cutting or review.

How do I install it?

Use the install box at the top of this page. Claude Code, Codex and Cursor each have a plugin route in docs/install.md that brings this skill with the rest of text-to-cad, and the installer script is the fallback. Do not install both the plugin and the loose skills in one app.

Does it need anything besides the skill file?

Yes. It calls the cad command from the text-to-cad server, which the installer sets up along with Python and build123d. The skill file alone cannot export a DXF.

Can it edit a DXF file I already have?

It can open and validate an existing DXF and read it with ezdxf, and SKILL.md says the CAD Viewer never runs drawing scripts on an imported file. Editing an imported DXF's own entities is not part of this skill's contract.

What is a flat pattern, and does it need a 3D model first?

A flat pattern is the unfolded or flattened 2D shape of a 3D part. Workflow 2 needs that 3D model already built in the same project; workflow 3 instead reads an imported STEP file.

Is it safe?

It runs a local CAD server and Python scripts on your machine, and if cad is missing SKILL.md tells the agent to run the install script. By default text-to-cad sends anonymous usage stats and crash reports, which the README says never include your files, paths or prompts; the privacy policy explains the opt-out. The skill writes the DXF and PNG files you ask for into your project.

Does it work with laser, plasma or waterjet services directly?

SKILL.md says this skill covers the drawing, not a cutting service's order preflight. The repo lists a separate sendcutsend skill that checks DXF and STEP files before upload to that service.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: earthtojake/text-to-cad
Folder: skills/dxf

earthtojake/text-to-cad skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 5

dxf SKILL.md · github.com
text-to-cad README · github.com
text-to-cad docs/install.md · github.com
text-to-cad plugin manifest · github.com
text-to-cad claude.mcp.json · github.com