# PrintPal for Claude: a 3D printing connector for Claude.ai, Desktop and Code

> A remote MCP connector for Claude.ai, Claude Desktop and Claude Code with models, calculators, a cited wiki and CAD hand-off.

Page: https://printpal.io/integrations/claude
Updated: 2026-10-27

**PrintPal for Claude** is a free remote MCP connector from [PrintPal](https://printpal.io/) that gives Claude a full 3D printing workbench. Claude can search PrintPal's community library of printable models, calculate print costs and calibration values, read and cite PrintPal's vendor-neutral troubleshooting wiki, follow Arduino and ESP32 build guides, and hand off to the [AI CAD agent](https://printpal.io/ai-cad-modeler) or [AI 3D generator](https://printpal.io/3dgenerator) with a prefilled prompt.

It is one URL, `https://printpal.io/mcp`, with no OAuth and no account. The same server works as a custom connector in Claude.ai, in Claude Desktop, and in Claude Code with a single `claude mcp add` command.

## At a glance

- **Works in:** Claude.ai, Claude Desktop, Claude mobile, Claude Code
- **Price:** Free. AI 3D generation uses PrintPal credits and is optional.
- **Account needed:** No
- **Connector URL:** `https://printpal.io/mcp`
- **Transport:** Streamable HTTP (remote MCP)
- **Tools / prompts:** 16 tools, 3 prompts
- **Registry name:** `io.printpal/printpal`

## Where to get it

- Claude connector directory: coming soon
- Official MCP Registry: io.printpal/printpal: https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0/servers?search=io.printpal/printpal

## Features

- **Answers with citations:** Claude searches the PrintPal wiki, fetches the full article and cites the URL, so fixes for stringing, warping or thermal runaway come with a source.
- **Printable model search:** Find STL, 3MF and OBJ models by keyword with author, license and stats, then open the model page to download.
- **Four 3D printing calculators:** Print cost and selling price, filament weight and spool remaining, magic layer heights, and hotend volumetric flow.
- **Three ready-made prompts:** `troubleshoot_print`, `design_a_part` and `plan_a_build` give Claude a structured starting point for the three most common maker jobs.
- **Claude Code in one command:** `claude mcp add` connects the server to Claude Code, so it can look up models, docs and print costs while it works on your repo.
- **CAD and AI 3D hand-off:** Claude turns a part description into a CAD brief for PrintPal's AI CAD agent, or hands an organic shape to the AI 3D generator.

## How to add PrintPal to Claude

1. On claude.ai, open **Settings → Connectors** and click **Add custom connector**.
2. Enter the name **PrintPal** and the URL `https://printpal.io/mcp`. Leave the OAuth fields empty and click **Add**.
3. In a chat, open the tools menu and make sure **PrintPal** is switched on. Connectors added on claude.ai also appear in Claude Desktop.
4. Ask something like "Use PrintPal to find a printable Raspberry Pi 5 case with a fan mount."

Custom connectors are available on Claude plans that support them; on Team and Enterprise plans an owner may need to add the connector first.

### Claude Code

Run this once in your terminal. Add `--scope user` to make it available in every project.

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http printpal https://printpal.io/mcp
```

### Claude Code with an API key

Only needed if you want Claude to run AI 3D generation on your credits.

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http printpal https://printpal.io/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer pp_live_YOUR_KEY"
```

### Claude Desktop config file

For setups that use `claude_desktop_config.json` instead of connectors. Requires Node.js 18+.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "printpal": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://printpal.io/mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

## Prompts to try

- Use PrintPal to find a printable Raspberry Pi 5 case with a fan mount.
- What will a 120 g PETG print that takes 6 hours cost if electricity is $0.18/kWh?
- Why are my first layers not sticking on a textured PEI sheet? Cite PrintPal's wiki.
- Find a beginner Arduino build guide with a 3D printed enclosure.
- Draft a CAD brief for a 25 mm pipe clamp with an M4 slot and open it in PrintPal's CAD agent.
- My Klipper printer shows "MCU shutdown: thermal runaway". What do I check first?

## The 16 PrintPal tools

Every AI assistant integration exposes the same tools from the PrintPal MCP server. Fifteen are read-only; only `generate_3d_model` can spend credits, and only when you add your own API key.

| Tool | What it does | API key? |
|---|---|---|
| `search_3d_models` | Find printable STL, 3MF and OBJ models in the PrintPal community library, with thumbnail, author, license and stats. | No |
| `get_3d_model` | Details, files, license and the download link for one model. | No |
| `calculate_print_cost` | Material, electricity, machine wear, labor and failure allowance, plus a suggested selling price. | No |
| `calculate_filament_usage` | Filament grams to metres to cost, and how much is left on a spool. | No |
| `calculate_layer_heights` | Z-axis "magic number" layer heights for your printer's leadscrew and stepper. | No |
| `calculate_volumetric_flow` | Check a print speed and layer height against your hotend's volumetric flow limit. | No |
| `search_learning_resources` | Search the vendor-neutral 3D printing wiki, OpenSCAD and AI CAD docs, video tutorials and Academy courses. | No |
| `search_build_guides` | Find Arduino / ESP32 + 3D-printed project guides by idea, difficulty, time and cost. | No |
| `get_build_guide` | Bill of materials, downloadable files and every step of one build guide. | No |
| `design_parametric_cad` | Turn a part description into a precise CAD brief and a link that opens PrintPal's AI CAD agent prefilled. | No |
| `generate_3d_model` | AI text-to-3D and image-to-3D. Without a key it returns a prefilled link to printpal.io; with your API key it starts the generation on your credits. | Optional |
| `check_3d_generation` | Poll a generation started with your key and get the download link. | Yes |
| `find_3d_printing_tool` | Recommend the right free PrintPal browser tool or calculator for a task. | No |
| `get_pricing_and_plans` | What is free, how credits work and which plan fits. | No |
| `search` | Search everything on PrintPal at once: models, tools, wiki, docs, videos, guides and courses. | No |
| `fetch` | Read any search result in full (for example a wiki article) so the assistant can quote and cite it. | No |

## Built-in prompts

Clients that support MCP prompts (Claude, Cursor and others) list these as one-click starting points.

| Prompt | Arguments | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| `troubleshoot_print` | problem, printer, material | Diagnoses a failed print and cites the PrintPal wiki articles it used. |
| `design_a_part` | what, dimensions | Checks the library for an existing model, otherwise drafts a CAD brief and opens the AI CAD agent. |
| `plan_a_build` | idea, skill_level | Finds a matching build guide with its bill of materials and steps. |

## Who it is for

- **Diagnosing failed prints:** Describe the symptom, printer and filament and get ordered fixes with real values and a source link.
- **Hardware projects in Claude Code:** Pull a build guide, its firmware notes and enclosure files while Claude writes the code.
- **Quoting print jobs:** Turn slicer numbers into a cost breakdown and selling price, with your own electricity and spool prices.
- **Designing functional parts:** Check whether a part already exists before Claude drafts a dimensioned CAD brief.

## Privacy and data

- No account, sign-in or OAuth. The server is public and stateless, so nothing is stored between calls.
- PrintPal only sees the tool inputs the assistant sends (search text, calculator numbers, a model id). It does not see your conversation.
- No personal data is collected and nothing is used for AI training.
- Links back to printpal.io carry a `utm_source` tag so we can see which assistant sent the visit; no identifier is attached.
- Your optional API key is only sent to printpal.io and only unlocks credit-based AI generation.

## FAQ

### What is the PrintPal connector for Claude?

It is a free remote MCP server at https://printpal.io/mcp that you add to Claude as a custom connector. It gives Claude 16 tools for 3D printing: model search, print cost and calibration calculators, a cited troubleshooting wiki, Arduino and ESP32 build guides, and hand-offs to PrintPal's AI CAD agent and AI 3D generator.

### How do I add a custom connector to Claude?

On claude.ai open Settings, then Connectors, click Add custom connector, enter the name PrintPal and the URL https://printpal.io/mcp, and click Add. No OAuth client ID or secret is needed.

### Does PrintPal work with Claude Code?

Yes. Run: claude mcp add --transport http printpal https://printpal.io/mcp. Add --scope user to use it in every project, or --header "Authorization: Bearer <key>" to let Claude Code run AI 3D generation with your PrintPal credits.

### Does it work in Claude Desktop?

Yes. Connectors you add on claude.ai are available in Claude Desktop. If you manage servers in claude_desktop_config.json instead, use npx mcp-remote https://printpal.io/mcp as shown on this page.

### Is the PrintPal connector free?

Yes. All search, calculator, wiki and build-guide tools are free and anonymous. AI 3D generation either returns a link to printpal.io or, with your API key, uses your PrintPal credits.

### What are the PrintPal prompts in Claude?

The server ships three MCP prompts: troubleshoot_print (problem, printer, material), design_a_part (what, dimensions) and plan_a_build (idea, skill level). Claude lists them in the prompt menu so you can start a structured request in one click.

### Can Claude write OpenSCAD with PrintPal?

Claude can write OpenSCAD itself, and PrintPal adds the OpenSCAD and design-for-printing docs it can search and cite. For a ready parametric part with a live preview and STL, 3MF or STEP export, the design_parametric_cad tool opens PrintPal's AI CAD agent with Claude's brief.

### What data does PrintPal receive from Claude?

Only the tool arguments Claude sends, such as a search phrase or calculator inputs. The server is stateless, does not see your conversation, collects no personal data and does not use requests for training.

## Related integrations

- [PrintPal for ChatGPT](https://printpal.io/integrations/chatgpt): Search printable models, price prints, fix failed prints and hand off to AI 3D or CAD design, right inside ChatGPT.
- [PrintPal for Cursor](https://printpal.io/integrations/cursor): Download printable models into your repo, write printable OpenSCAD, check meshes and price G-code from the Cursor agent.
- [PrintPal for Gemini](https://printpal.io/integrations/gemini): Use PrintPal as a custom app in Gemini, in the Gemini CLI, or in agents built with Google's Agent Development Kit.
- [PrintPal MCP Server](https://printpal.io/integrations/mcp-server): One free remote MCP endpoint with 16 tools for 3D printing. Works in any client that speaks Streamable HTTP.

## More

- All integrations: https://printpal.io/integrations
- PrintPal for LLMs: https://printpal.io/llms.txt