What it does and how it connects
LuminiCAD is a web-based CAD editor that builds models from text descriptions. It is built on Chili3D with AI-powered text-to-CAD and a scripting interface: type a request such as make a box with a hole and it tries to create it. It also models directly with boxes, cylinders, spheres, booleans, chamfers and fillets, and exports STEP, IGES and BREP.
The AI can run through an OpenRouter key with whatever models OpenRouter supports, or through a self-deployed CadQuery service on Google Cloud Run, which the README recommends for the most reliable geometry. Built-in fallbacks generate the project's own DSL commands, JSON scene descriptions or JavaScript that runs in the browser. The README is candid that the AI text-to-CAD is experimental and not perfect yet, and works for basic shapes.
It is in early development at version 0.2.1, and the README says it should not be used for serious projects yet. The site is luminicad.com and the docs are at docs.luminicad.com. The OpenRouter key is called client-side by default, so the README advises deploying the API proxy in the repository for server-side calls instead.
Alternatives
Compare side by side- CADStudio
An AI-native parametric CAD environment for the web with an editable feature tree and CadQuery export, rather than a Chili3D editor with text-to-CAD.
- open-poly
A browser-based open source CAD tool with a constraint solver and MCP access, rather than a Chili3D editor.
- text-to-cad (salonibalkondekar)
Turns text into CAD models using LLMs with a BadCAD backend, with a live code editor and STL export.
- cad-ai
A web-based CAD assistant pitched as a Cursor-style copilot, built over the OpenAI and KittyCAD APIs, rather than a Chili3D editor.
- parcad
Parametric CAD written as code with its own exact kernel and MCP surface, rather than a web CAD editor.
Sources
Not verified
- Pricing (no price stated; the user brings an OpenRouter API key)
- Real user voices (the repository has no public issues)
- Related Error Index entries (no entry verified for this tool)
- A named individual builder beyond the repository owner handle rasenga223
Last verified November 6, 2026. Listings are informational. The evidence score measures public, verifiable evidence and is not an endorsement or a compatibility claim.