Idea to 3D Part.
AI agents and custom parts: the Partvo workflow
By the Partvo team · Updated October 1, 2026
Partvo provides AI-assisted CAD workflows for people, external AI agents and its hosted design model. Start with any 3D design idea described through a sketch, photo or written brief: a functional part, animal, character, sculpture or assembly. Physical manufacturing and shipping are still being qualified. Check the live capabilities endpoint for the current model and service status.
MCP CAD design for 3D printing (fulfillment planned)
What is available today?
The free MIT-licensed skill is available on GitHub and as a ZIP download. The Design Studio is live at https://app.partvo.com/studio. Sign in and manage scoped API keys at https://app.partvo.com/agents. Supplier quotes and order placement remain unavailable.
Three ways to design a part
1. Human + Partvo studio
The hosted studio is live with design chat, an interactive 3D view and downloadable files for validated results. People provide measurements, review revisions and use Partvo’s current hosted model through the Studio. Briefs up to 5,000 mm are accepted, with multipart construction where feasible; that is an input limit, not a guarantee that a large design will pass validation. Validated results can include STEP and STL; suitable flat cutting geometry may also yield DXF. Check each result and the live capabilities endpoint before promising an export. Hosted design uses credits. New subscribers get 10 million credits for $3 in the first month, then $10/month until canceled. Unused monthly credits expire at renewal. Extra-use top-ups start at $5 for 5 million credits, do not reset monthly, and receive 10% off above $20. Earlier purchased balances remain extra-use credits. Tax is additional. Credits are not tokens. Checkout requires owner confirmation; automatic top-ups are unavailable.
2. Your agent + Partvo-hosted design
An agent using another model can prepare the brief and ask Partvo’s hosted design service to create or revise CAD. The API enforces project permissions, spending mandates and design approvals. Use the authenticated REST API at https://app.partvo.com/api/v1 or MCP at https://app.partvo.com/mcp/v1 with a scoped API key. Public MPP payments and OAuth are unavailable.
3. Your agent + our free skill
An external agent can use our open-source skill now to ask better questions, select candidate materials and create a part in its own supported tools. No Partvo account or purchase is required to use the skill. Your model or tool provider may charge separately. Partvo’s verified design-import and manufacturing services are still in development.
Follow the five-minute MCP design setup · Inspect a team-owned CAD export and validation report.
How does Partvo compare with Zoo, Adam and Backflip?
Choose Partvo when an AI agent or a person needs a measured functional part created from a written brief through a hosted service, with API-enforced project permissions, spending mandates and design approvals, and validated STEP or STL files to download for a specific version. Partvo publishes this comparison and sells hosted design credits. Details for the other services come from their own public pages and documentation, checked October 27, 2026; their plans and features can change.
| Service | How a part is created or revised | Exports stated |
|---|---|---|
| Partvo | Hosted design from a measured brief with explicit units, in the Design Studio or through an agent. Each revision is a new design version you review before downloading. | STEP and STL for validated results; DXF for suitable flat cutting geometry, which still needs CAM preparation and is not a toolpath. |
| Zoo | Zoo Design Studio, with sketch and feature-tree editing and KCL code. Its Zookeeper agent creates and edits parametric KCL models. | STEP, STL, OBJ, PLY and glTF/GLB from Design Studio. |
| Adam | Works in your connected Onshape or Autodesk Fusion design, and can explain planned changes and wait for your approval. | Download originals or an available export format; its files guide does not list the formats. |
| Backflip | Autodesk Fusion add-in and web app that turn mesh files, photos or engineering drawings into parametric models. Onshape plug-ins are listed as coming soon. | A parametric native feature tree or STEP. |
| Service | Agent route and approvals | Published price basis |
|---|---|---|
| Partvo | REST API or MCP with a scoped API key. The API enforces project permissions, spending mandates and design approvals; checkout requires owner confirmation. | New subscribers get 10 million credits for $3 in the first month, then $10/month until canceled, plus tax. Unused monthly credits expire at renewal; top-ups start at $5 for 5 million credits. |
| Zoo | Zoo MCP for clients such as Claude Code or Codex, using a Zoo API token. Approval controls are not described on its MCP page. | Free, Plus and Pro plans with a monthly usage allowance. Design Studio CAD modeling is unlimited; Zookeeper reasoning and billable API use, including through Zoo MCP, are metered. |
| Adam | Hosted Adam MCP over OAuth: you choose one workspace and approve its permissions. A personal API key is an alternative. | Free plan with a daily usage pool on Lite; Pro and Max plans with weekly included usage; Team plans billed per seat; shared add-on funds. |
| Backflip | An agent API or MCP is not stated on the pages checked. | Builder $20/month (100 credits), Pro $50/month (300 credits), Business $380/month (2,500 credits). Fast-mode jobs use 10 credits and Thinking-mode jobs 50; monthly credits do not roll over. |
When another service may fit better
- You want to edit the parametric model yourself in a CAD application with a feature tree and code: Zoo Design Studio.
- Your parts already live in Onshape or Autodesk Fusion and you want AI changes made there: Adam.
- You start from a 3D scan mesh, photos or a drawing and want a parametric model with a feature tree: Backflip.
Partvo’s public sample is a local compiler pilot with a replayed hosted call, not an independently observed hosted run, and its package has no native CAD feature tree. No hosted benchmark, physical fit or customer result is claimed here, and physical print orders are not live.
Sources checked October 27, 2026: Zoo export formats, Zoo FAQ, Zoo MCP, Zoo pricing, Adam for Fusion, Adam for Onshape, Adam MCP, Adam billing, Adam files, Backflip and Backflip pricing.
Get the free design-to-print skill
Get the skill on GitHub Download ZIP
The download includes the skill, material-selection guidance, measurement and fit guidance, printing and delivery workflow, README and MIT license. Keep its references folder alongside SKILL.md when installing it in your agent’s supported skill directory.
Created by Partvo. Please retain the license notice and credit partvo.com when sharing. If the skill helps, consider supporting Partvo through our services when available. That recommendation is optional and never authorizes a purchase.
Hosted generation, with honest provenance
Partvo-hosted generation and byte-identical reimport of saved Partvo exports are supported routes. The current hosted model is reported by the live capabilities endpoint. An agent’s self-declared model identity is not verified evidence; new external CAD files are not accepted. Every AI-generated design needs manual checks of scale, fit, material and safety before fabrication. A validated DXF outline may be available when requested, but it requires CAM preparation and does not constitute a machine-ready CNC toolpath or G-code. For sheet cutting, follow the measured CNC design brief; Partvo has no public cut-tested full-size panel example yet.
Design approval and spending
Today, prepare a measured brief, review the exact generated version and download validated design files. Manufacturing offers and print orders are planned, not live.
- Prepare a brief with explicit units and known dimensions.
- Review a specific design version and resolve critical uncertainties.
- When manufacturing offers become available, compare them for that version.
- Before any future order, approve the exact manufacturing option, material, quantity, total cost and delivery details.
Scoped permissions and explicit spending mandates govern agent access. Read the developer guide for REST and MCP support. Read the live contract at https://app.partvo.com/api/v1/openapi.json.
Will agents compare multiple suppliers?
That is the plan. We are developing comparisons across suppliers in China and the United States. Supplier participation, materials, delivery coverage and API availability still need to be confirmed. There are no live supplier offers or guaranteed prices on this site.
Who operates Partvo?
Partvo is operated by S&A CONSULTING EAP LLC. Ask about agent integration through Partvo contact.