# PrintPal for Cursor: 3D printing, OpenSCAD and maker builds in your editor

> Download printable models into your repo, write printable OpenSCAD, check meshes and price G-code from the Cursor agent.

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

**PrintPal for Cursor** brings 3D printing into Cursor projects. It has two parts: the PrintPal MCP server, which gives the agent 16 tools for model search, calculators, the troubleshooting wiki, build guides and AI design, and the PrintPal plugin, which adds skills, rules, slash commands, a research subagent and three local helper scripts so the agent can download models, write printable OpenSCAD, inspect meshes and read G-code on your machine.

Everything except AI generation is free and needs no account. Files are only ever written inside your project, with the license and author recorded next to each downloaded model.

## At a glance

- **Works in:** Cursor IDE and Cursor CLI
- **Price:** Free. AI 3D generation uses PrintPal credits and is optional.
- **Plugin contents:** 8 skills, 7 slash commands, 2 rules, 1 subagent, 3 scripts
- **MCP server:** `https://printpal.io/mcp`, 16 tools
- **Requirements:** Python 3.8+ for the scripts. OpenSCAD and PlatformIO are optional.
- **License:** MIT

## Where to get it

- Cursor Marketplace (full plugin): coming soon
- Add to Cursor (MCP server): cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=printpal&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3ByaW50cGFsLmlvL21jcCJ9

## Features

- **Models straight into your repo:** Search the PrintPal library and download the model you pick into `models/`, with title, author and license saved next to it.
- **Printable OpenSCAD:** The agent writes parametric OpenSCAD that follows design-for-printing rules (tolerances, wall thickness, overhangs, orientation), renders it and checks size and watertightness.
- **AI meshes for organic shapes:** Turn a prompt or photo into a mesh. Without a key you get a prefilled link; with your API key the result lands in `models/generated/`.
- **Mesh check, scale and convert:** Size in mm, volume, watertight and non-manifold checks, unit mix-ups and bed fit for STL, OBJ, PLY, 3MF and GLB, all run locally.
- **Price prints from G-code:** Read time, grams per filament slot and key settings from Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer and Cura files, including `.gcode.3mf` and `.bgcode`.
- **Fix failed prints:** Describe the problem or attach a photo and get ordered fixes with concrete values, cited from the wiki and checked against your G-code settings.
- **Maker builds that compile:** Find an Arduino or ESP32 build guide, download its firmware, code and print files, and get the PlatformIO project compiling.
- **Safe by default:** Downloads only from PrintPal hosts with zip-slip, symlink and size guards. Downloaded executables are never run.

## How to add PrintPal to Cursor

1. Click **Add MCP server to Cursor** above. Cursor opens its MCP settings with PrintPal filled in; click **Install**.
2. Or add the JSON below to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (one project).
3. Optional: add your PrintPal API key as an `Authorization` header to run AI generation with your own credits.
4. Ask the agent something like "Find me a headphone stand model and download it into models/."

The full plugin, with skills, rules, slash commands and helper scripts, is in review for the Cursor Marketplace. Once it is listed you can install it from **Customize** in Cursor's sidebar.

### mcp.json

Works in the Cursor IDE and the Cursor CLI.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "printpal": {
      "url": "https://printpal.io/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### mcp.json with an API key

Only needed for direct AI 3D generation.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "printpal": {
      "url": "https://printpal.io/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:PRINTPAL_API_KEY}" }
    }
  }
}
```

## Slash commands and prompts to try

- Find a headphone stand on PrintPal and download it into models/. Will it fit a Bambu A1 mini?
- /printpal-design-part wall bracket for a 60 x 40 mm PSU, M3 holes 50 mm apart, PETG
- /printpal-generate low-poly fox figurine sitting, flat base
- /printpal-print-cost path/to/plate.gcode.3mf with a $22 spool and 50% markup
- My PETG prints are stringy on a Bambu A1. Here's the G-code. What should I change?
- /printpal-build-guide slab eyes: download it and get the firmware compiling
- /printpal-check-mesh models/generated/fox.glb for a Prusa MK4

## What the plugin adds

These ship with the PrintPal plugin. The MCP server alone gives you the 16 tools; the plugin teaches the agent how to use them well.

| Slash command | What it does |
|---|---|
| `/printpal-find-model` | Search, check the license, download into `models/` and check bed fit. |
| `/printpal-design-part` | Write printable OpenSCAD, render it and verify size and watertightness. |
| `/printpal-generate` | AI text or image to 3D. Shows the credit cost and waits for your OK first. |
| `/printpal-check-mesh` | Size, volume, watertightness, units and printer-bed fit for a mesh. |
| `/printpal-print-cost` | Read a G-code file and price the print. |
| `/printpal-troubleshoot` | Diagnose a failed print with cited wiki fixes and your G-code settings. |
| `/printpal-build-guide` | Download a build guide's files and get its firmware compiling. |

## 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 |

## Who it is for

- **Game and web 3D devs:** Pull a licensed model into your scene folder with attribution already written.
- **ESP32 and Arduino builders:** Firmware, enclosure and bill of materials in one repo, compiling with PlatformIO.
- **Hardware engineers:** Parametric OpenSCAD parts that live in version control next to the code they hold.
- **Print farms:** Batch-price sliced plates and keep mesh checks in your scripts.

## Privacy and data

- The plugin talks only to printpal.io and PrintPal's signed download links. There is no telemetry.
- Files are written only inside your project: `models/`, `projects/` and `models/generated/`. Nothing outside the workspace, no settings files.
- Your optional API key stays in Cursor's plugin settings and is only sent to printpal.io.
- Credit spending is opt-in twice: you must add a key, and the agent must get your confirmation before each generation.
- Rules are scoped to 3D files and `.scad` files, so they only load when they are relevant.

## FAQ

### What is the PrintPal plugin for Cursor?

It is a free, open-source (MIT) Cursor plugin plus MCP server that lets the Cursor agent find and download printable 3D models, write and verify printable OpenSCAD, generate AI meshes, check and convert meshes, price prints from G-code, troubleshoot failed prints with cited sources, and build Arduino and ESP32 projects from PrintPal build guides.

### How do I add the PrintPal MCP server to Cursor?

Click Add MCP server to Cursor on this page, or add {"mcpServers": {"printpal": {"url": "https://printpal.io/mcp"}}} to ~/.cursor/mcp.json or .cursor/mcp.json in your project. No authentication is needed.

### Can Cursor write OpenSCAD for 3D printing?

Yes. With the PrintPal plugin the agent follows printable-design rules for wall thickness, tolerances, overhangs and print orientation, renders the part with OpenSCAD if it is installed, and checks the result is watertight and the right size before handing it to you.

### Where does the plugin save files?

Only inside your project: downloaded models go to models/<title>-<id>/ with a printpal-model.json file recording title, author and license, build guides go to projects/<slug>/, and AI generations go to models/generated/.

### Is PrintPal for Cursor free?

Yes. Everything except AI 3D generation is free and anonymous. Generation returns a prefilled printpal.io link, or uses your PrintPal credits if you add an API key, and the agent always asks before spending credits.

### Does it run code it downloads?

No. The download script restricts hosts to PrintPal and its signed storage links, guards against zip-slip, symlinks and oversized files, and flags executables without running them.

### Does it work outside Cursor?

The MCP server works in any MCP client, including Claude Code, Gemini CLI, VS Code and Windsurf. The skills, rules and slash commands are packaged as a Cursor plugin.

## Related integrations

- [PrintPal for Claude](https://printpal.io/integrations/claude): A remote MCP connector for Claude.ai, Claude Desktop and Claude Code with models, calculators, a cited wiki and CAD hand-off.
- [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.
- [PrintPal for Blender](https://printpal.io/integrations/blender): A free Blender add-on with a printable model library, 3MF import and export with colours, print prep and send-to-slicer.
- [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.

## More

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