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Lab Hardware CAD

Design lab-ready 3D parts that fit standard labware, optics and cages, and export STEP/STL/DXF.

Source Download skill
Repository
K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills
Stars
55,780
Licence
MIT
Files
13 files

What it does

Once installed, the agent designs physical research hardware such as microfluidic chips and molds, optical mounts, plate and cuvette holders, tube racks, and animal-behavior rig parts. It writes the design as parametric Python code using build123d, checks key dimensions against bundled standards (such as SLAS microplate footprints and optical breadboard hole grids), and exports STEP, STL, and DXF files for fabrication. It also requires a visual review of renders before the part is considered done.

Great for

  • Researchers who need a custom part that must fit a microplate reader, optical table, or cage system
  • Engineers prototyping 3D-printed or laser-cut lab fixtures who want dimensions checked against standards
  • Students learning parametric CAD for lab equipment

Skip it if

  • Finite-element analysis, CFD, molecular structure, or scientific plotting, which the skill explicitly excludes
  • Parts for cell-contact or load-bearing use without validated materials and assay testing, since the skill itself warns that process and material validation is required
  • Dimensions not in the bundled standards: the skill asks for vendor drawings instead of guessing, so unchecked interfaces remain the user's responsibility

Try asking

  • “Design a 3D-printed holder for a 96-well microplate that fits a SLAS footprint and export STEP and STL”
  • “Make an adapter plate that mounts a 30 mm cage-system component to a metric optical breadboard”
  • “Create a two-layer microfluidic chip with fluid ports and export a mold for casting”
  • “Generate a DXF laser-cut profile for a mounting plate and check it against the interface spec”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Lab Hardware CADInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 13 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    lab-hardware-cad.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip lab-hardware-cad.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip lab-hardware-cad.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Provide vendor drawings or measured dimensions up front, since the skill will not guess interface numbers
  • Review any model file from an untrusted source before running it, because model files execute arbitrary Python
  • Run python scripts/check.py standards --list first to see which interfaces are bundled and which must be marked unchecked

What's inside

  • assets/standards.json
  • references/behavior-rigs.md
  • references/build123d-patterns.md
  • references/fabrication-limits.md
  • references/labware-adapters.md
  • references/microfluidics.md
  • references/optomechanics.md
  • references/validation.md
  • scripts/_common.py
  • scripts/check.py
  • scripts/gen.py
  • scripts/snapshot.py
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.