PrintPal

Measured conclusion: Deep-tested. L2 outcome: tools_ok.

3D printing: printable models, calculators, troubleshooting wiki, build guides, AI 3D + CAD design.

Add to your agent

Copy this into your MCP client config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "PrintPal": {
      "url": "https://printpal.io/mcp",
      "transport": "streamable-http"
    }
  }
}

Measured tools (16)

• search read-only

  Search everything on PrintPal for a 3D-printing query: community 3D models, free tools and calculators, wiki troubleshooting articles, OpenSCAD/AI-CAD docs, video tutorials, build guides and Academy courses. Returns ids accepted by `fetch` for the full content. Suited to general 3D printing questions such as "why is my first layer not sticking", "PETG temperature" or "3D printed phone stand".

  Parameters:

  • query (required) — string — Natural-language search query.

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• fetch read-only

  Fetch the full content of a PrintPal item returned by `search` (or any id of the form `model:<uid>`, `tool:<slug>`, `wiki:<slug>`, `doc:<slug>`, `resource:<slug>`, `project:<slug>`, `course:<slug>`). Returns the complete text (article body, transcript, build steps, BOM, model description and files) plus the canonical URL for citation.

  Parameters:

  • id (required) — string — Item id from `search`, e.g. "wiki:stringing-and-oozing".

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• search_3d_models read-only

  Find printable 3D models (STL/3MF/OBJ) in the PrintPal community library by keyword — e.g. "articulated dragon", "headphone stand", "Raspberry Pi 5 case". Returns cards with thumbnail, author, tags, likes and a link to the model page where the files can be downloaded. Searches existing uploads only; new models are made by `generate_3d_model` (AI mesh) or `design_parametric_cad` (exact dimensions).

  Parameters:

  • query (required) — string — What the user wants to print, 1–6 words works best.
  • limit — integer
  • category — string — Optional category filter.

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• get_3d_model read-only

  Get full details for one PrintPal model by uid: description, license, file formats, author, stats, and the page URL to download it. Accepts a uid from `search_3d_models` results or a printpal.io/model/<uid> URL.

  Parameters:

  • uid (required) — string — Model uid from search results or a printpal.io/model/<uid> URL.

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• find_3d_printing_tool read-only

  Recommend the right free PrintPal browser tool for a task: print cost / resin cost / layer height (magic numbers) / E-steps / flow rate / volumetric flow / filament spool / drying / shrinkage / Vref / Etsy profit calculators; generators for lithophanes, vases, name plates, 3D text, QR codes, bins, puzzles, mold boxes, flexi models, fidget clickers, Desk Pal, terrain maps, Minecraft maps; mesh repair, model splitter, converter, viewer, G-code viewer, AMS/multicolor painters; AI generators. Returns matching tools with links. Pass an empty task to list every tool.

  Parameters:

  • task — string — What the user is trying to do, e.g. "split a big model to fit my bed".
  • limit — integer

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• calculate_print_cost read-only

  Estimate what an FDM print costs (material, electricity, machine wear, labor, failure allowance) and a suggested selling price. Needs the print weight in grams and time in hours from the slicer; all other inputs have sensible defaults (1 kg spool at $20, 120 W printer, $0.12/kWh, 5% failures).

  Parameters:

  • print_weight_grams (required) — number — Filament used, from the slicer.
  • print_time_hours (required) — number — Print time in hours (e.g. 3.5).
  • quantity — integer
  • labor_minutes — number — Hands-on time: slicing, removal, post-processing.
  • markup_percent — number — Profit markup to compute a selling price.
  • spool_price_usd — number
  • spool_weight_kg — number
  • printer_cost_usd — number — Printer purchase price, for depreciation. 0 to skip.
  • labor_rate_per_hour — number
  • printer_power_watts — number
  • failure_rate_percent — number
  • printer_lifespan_hours — number
  • electricity_cost_per_kwh — number

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• calculate_filament_usage read-only

  Convert filament grams to metres (and back), compute volume and cost, and estimate how much is left on a spool from its gross weight. Knows densities for PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, Nylon, PC, CF blends. Give either `grams` or `meters`.

  Parameters:

  • grams — number
  • meters — number
  • material — string — pla, petg, abs, asa, tpu, nylon, pc, pla-cf, petg-cf, pa-cf …
  • diameter_mm — number
  • density_g_cm3 — number — Override density if known.
  • spool_price_usd — number
  • spool_weight_kg — number
  • empty_spool_weight_grams — number — Weight of the empty spool (typ. 130–250 g).
  • spool_gross_weight_grams — number — Weight of spool + remaining filament, to estimate what is left.

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• calculate_layer_heights read-only

  Compute the Z-axis "magic number" layer heights for a printer from its stepper step angle, microstepping and lead-screw pitch/starts, filtered to what suits the nozzle. Defaults match most Ender/Prusa-style printers (1.8°, 1/16, T8 2 mm × 4 starts → 0.04 mm steps).

  Parameters:

  • microstepping — integer
  • lead_screw_starts — integer
  • nozzle_diameter_mm — number
  • step_angle_degrees — number
  • lead_screw_pitch_mm — number
  • max_layer_height_mm — number

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• calculate_volumetric_flow read-only

  Check whether a hotend can keep up: volumetric flow (mm³/s) = layer height × line width × speed, compared against the hotend limit, plus the maximum safe speed. Accepts a hotend preset name (stock, v6, bambu, volcano, rapido, high-flow, goliath…) or an explicit max flow.

  Parameters:

  • print_speed_mm_s (required) — number
  • hotend — string — Preset: stock, v6, ender3, prusa-mk3, prusa-mk4, bambu, volcano, rapido, dragon-hf, high-flow, chc-pro, goliath, voron
  • line_width_mm — number
  • layer_height_mm — number
  • max_volumetric_flow_mm3_s — number

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• search_build_guides read-only

  Find step-by-step PrintPal build guides: Arduino/ESP32 electronics + 3D-printed enclosures, robots, functional prints, printer mods, STEM classroom projects, props and toys. Each result lists difficulty, time, cost, part/file/step counts. Filter by category (electronics-robotics, functional-prints, home-workshop, stem-education, printer-mods, art-props, toys-games) or difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced). Leave query empty to browse featured guides.

  Parameters:

  • sort — string
  • limit — integer
  • query — string
  • category — string — Category slug or name.
  • difficulty — string

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• get_build_guide read-only

  Read a full PrintPal build guide by slug: summary, bill of materials with quantities and links, downloadable files (STL/3MF/code), every build step, callouts and code blocks. Use when the user wants to actually follow or adapt a project.

  Parameters:

  • slug (required) — string — Project slug from search results or a printpal.io/projects/<slug> URL.

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• search_learning_resources read-only

  Search PrintPal's how-to content: the vendor-neutral 3D printing wiki (print quality, filaments, slicer settings, maintenance, error codes, safety), OpenSCAD + AI-CAD docs, short video tutorials with transcripts, and free Academy courses with certificates. Use `type` to narrow. Results include ids accepted by `fetch` for the full article text.

  Parameters:

  • query (required) — string
  • type — string
  • limit — integer

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

• generate_3d_model

  Turn a text prompt or an image into a print-ready 3D mesh (STL/GLB/OBJ geometry) with PrintPal's AI generator. Without a PrintPal API key this returns a link that opens the generator on printpal.io with the prompt prefilled; nothing is generated until the user clicks it. With an API key header (`Authorization: Bearer pp_live_…`) it submits the job to the user's own account, spends that account's credits, and returns a `generation_uid` that `check_3d_generation` accepts. Suited to organic/sculptural objects (figurines, animals, props); exact-dimension mechanical parts are handled by `design_parametric_cad`.

  Parameters:

  • prompt (required) — string — What to generate, e.g. "low-poly fox figurine, sitting".
  • format — string
  • quality — string — default/high/ultra for text or image; super*/superplus* tiers are image-only high-res.
  • image_url — string — Optional public PNG/JPEG/WebP URL for image-to-3D (API-key mode only).

  Hints: read-only no · destructive no · idempotent no · open-world yes

• check_3d_generation read-only

  Poll a PrintPal AI generation started with `generate_3d_model` in API-key mode. Returns status (queued/processing/completed/failed) and, when completed, a time-limited download URL for the mesh.

  Parameters:

  • generation_uid (required) — string

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world yes

• design_parametric_cad read-only

  For mechanical / functional parts with exact dimensions — brackets, enclosures, adapters, gears, bins, knobs, mounts — open PrintPal's AI CAD agent with a ready-to-run brief. The agent writes editable OpenSCAD with parameter sliders, live 3D preview and STL/3MF/STEP export. This tool improves the user's description into a precise CAD brief (dimensions, tolerances, mounting, print orientation) and returns the link; the user clicks it to generate.

  Parameters:

  • description (required) — string — What the part is and what it must fit/do.
  • material — string — Intended filament (affects tolerances), e.g. PLA, PETG, TPU.
  • dimensions — string — Known dimensions in mm, e.g. "60 x 40 x 20 mm, M3 holes 50 mm apart".
  • export_format — string

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world yes

• get_pricing_and_plans read-only

  Explain what is free on PrintPal, how AI generation credits and the CAD agent are priced, API access and the on-demand 3D printing service — with links to sign up, buy credits or subscribe. Call when the user asks about cost, limits, subscriptions or how to get more generations.

  Hints: read-only yes · destructive no · idempotent yes · open-world no

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