text-to-cad cover with blue lettering and a planetary gear CAD assembly.
Project screenshotsAbout this Skill
Edit URDF XML directly, recording frames, geometry, joint axes, units and assumptions in a design ledger. Compute derived inertial values, validate the saved file, and inspect each movable joint. The Skill covers physical robot structure; SRDF and SDF handle planning and simulation semantics.
Why we picked it
Useful when a robot model needs defensible spatial data: it records a design ledger and distinguishes structural validation from motion review.
What it helps with
- Create or repair a robot description for visualization, ROS tooling or an existing robot project.
How to use this Skill
Establish the design ledger
Identify the target consumer, frame conventions, joint topology, mesh scale and known dimensions before editing XML.
Author and compute
Write URDF XML, keep visual and collision geometry distinct, and compute masses or inertias from supplied physical data.
Validate and sweep joints
Run cadgen urdf validate, resolve findings, then visually sweep movable joints and record unavailable external checks.
Try a first task
Send a concrete brief
Provide the real input files and replace example dimensions or machine details with your own.
Review this URDF against its dimensioned drawing. Check frames, mesh units, joint limits and inertials, validate it, and list any spatial assumptions that still need confirmation.
Install the shared library
Use the official text-to-cad plugin for your agent, or install the complete Skill folders with the Skills CLI below. Choose one route in each app, then restart it. The plugin includes a CAD server; Skills-only installations use a browser viewer. Keep the bundled references and scripts with each entrypoint.
| Command | What it helps with |
|---|---|
npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad#latest | Install the released Skill library; the CLI asks which agents and installation scope to use. |
Scope and limits
A structurally valid URDF can still put a joint in the wrong position. Viewer motion review and target-consumer checks remain necessary.
Before you use it
- Install uv and allow the first runtime download. CAD commands use the Python and cadgen version pinned by the installed Skill; snapshots also download a browser on first use.
Supported agents
Frequently asked questions
Do I install this as a separate product?
This is one task in the shared text-to-cad library. Use the official plugin or the complete Skill installation, then select this workflow for the task.
Is the Skill free?
The upstream code is MIT-licensed. Your agent provider, hardware, materials and any fabrication service can have separate costs.
Sources & references
Original sources are linked below. Practical starting points are editorial suggestions from SkillHey.
