Reference, version 1.0.32

3D CAD Converter CLI and MCP reference

cadconvert is the command line of 3D CAD Converter, installed with the desktop app. cadconvert serve runs its MCP server for AI agents. This page lists every command, option, exit code and MCP tool.

cadconvert <command> [arguments] [options]
cadconvert convert part.step -o part.stl --quality fine

Generated from cadconvert catalog, version 1.0.32. Every command also has --help. Older spellings of some commands and options still work, so existing scripts keep running, but this page and --help leave them out. The same reference is on GitHub: cli.md and mcp-server.md.

Commands

Command	What it does
`cadconvert batch <input>`	Batch convert a folder of 3D files.
`cadconvert catalog`	Print every CLI command and MCP tool as JSON (for AI agents, docs and the website).
`cadconvert convert <input>`	Convert a single 3D file.
`cadconvert formats`	List all supported 3D formats.
`cadconvert info <file>`	Display information about a 3D file.
`cadconvert register <email> <key>`	Register your license.
`cadconvert serve`	Start MCP server for AI agent integration.
`cadconvert status`	Show the license and trial state: registered or trial, free conversions left, trial days left, and what exports become after the trial (Draft quality with a trial note).
`cadconvert watch <input>`	Watch a folder and auto-convert new 3D files.

Output options

These options work the same way in the four ContentaSoft command lines. catalog and serve take none of them: catalog always prints JSON and serve keeps stdout for the MCP protocol.

Option	Description
`--json`	Print one JSON object on stdout (success, exitCode, error, warnings, errors, outputs + the command's fields); nothing else goes to stdout.
`--plain`	Plain text: no colours, no escape codes, ASCII tables. Automatic when stdout is a pipe or a file, or when NO_COLOR is set.
`--quiet`	Print errors only.
`--verbose`	Verbose output: details and, on an error, the stack trace.
`--progress`	With --json: before the result object, one line per finished item, {"type":"progress","file":NAME,"completed":N,"total":T}.

Exit codes

The same table in the four ContentaSoft command lines. --help ends with it and catalog lists it.

Code	Name	Meaning
0	`ok`	OK: everything asked for was done.
1	`unexpected_error`	Unexpected error (a bug or a broken install); see the log.
2	`invalid_arguments`	Invalid arguments: unknown option, missing or malformed value; nothing was done.
3	`input_not_found`	Input not found or unreadable; nothing was done.
4	`partial_failure`	Partial failure: some items succeeded, some failed.
5	`all_failed`	All failed: no item succeeded.
6	`license_refused`	License or trial refused the run.
130	`cancelled`	Cancelled (Ctrl+C).

JSON output

With --json a command prints one JSON object on stdout and nothing else; logs go to stderr. Every object has these keys, beside the fields of the command itself:

Key	Meaning
`success`	`true` when the run did everything it was asked to do
`exitCode`	the process exit code (see Exit codes)
`error`	one sentence when the run failed, otherwise `null`
`warnings`	notes about the run that did not stop it
`errors`	one entry per item that failed (a batch keeps going)
`outputs`	the files the run wrote

Trial keys, present only when they apply:

Key	Meaning
`trialWatermarked`	the output carries the trial watermark
`trialExport`	the output is a trial export
`trialNotice`	one sentence about the trial, for the user
`freeFilesRemaining`	free full-quality files left on this computer
`buyUrl`	where to buy a licence

With --json --progress a long command first prints one progress line per finished item (NDJSON), then the result object last. A script that wants only the result skips the lines that start with {"type":"progress". Progress keys:

Key	Meaning
`type`	always `"progress"`
`file`	the file that finished
`completed`	items finished so far
`total`	items in the run

Command reference

`cadconvert batch`

Batch convert a folder of 3D files.

cadconvert batch <input> [options]

Argument	Description
`<input>`	Input folder.

Option	Type	Description
`--format`	string	Target format.
`--report`	string	Write a CSV report of the batch to this file: one row per input with input and output file, formats, triangles before and after, output size, size budget, within budget yes/no, duration and result or error.
`--output`	string	Output folder. Default: <input>_converted next to the input folder.
`--include`	string[]	Only files matching this pattern, e.g. .step or parts\.stp; repeat the option or separate patterns with ';' or ','. A pattern with * or ? is matched against the file name and the path below the folder; other text is part of that path.
`--exclude`	string[]	Leave out files matching this pattern, e.g. *_old.step or archive; repeat the option or separate patterns with ';' or ','. Same matching as --include.
`--recursive`	boolean	Include subfolders (the default; -r false converts the folder itself only).
`--workers`	integer	Parallel workers (default: the number of processors).
`--quality`	string	Mesh quality for STEP/IGES/BREP sources: a preset (draft, standard, fine, ultrafine) or a linear deflection in mm (0.1 = standard; lower = finer). Default: standard.
`--angular`	string	Angular deflection in radians (0.5 = about 29 degrees; lower = smoother curves). Default: the preset's value (0.5 for standard and for a numeric --quality).
`--repair`	boolean	Repair STEP/IGES/BREP surfaces before meshing: fixes broken edges and faces and closes small gaps. No effect on mesh sources (STL, OBJ ...)
`--units`	string	Target units (mm, cm, in, m, ft).
`--binary`	boolean	Binary output for STL/PLY.
`--up-axis`	string	Rotate the model so this axis points up: y (game engines, glTF, three.js) or z (CAD, 3D printing). Default: unchanged. A STEP/IGES/BREP re-export cannot be rotated and says so.
`--decimate`	string	Reduce mesh sources (STL, OBJ, PLY, glTF, FBX, 3MF ...) to this share of their triangles: 0.25 or 25% keeps about a quarter. STEP/IGES/BREP are tessellated, not reduced - use --quality.
`--max-size`	string	glTF/GLB only: the largest file to write, in MB (5, 0.5 or 15MB; 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes). A file over it is written again with fewer triangles until it fits, down to 5% of its triangles. One that still does not fit is written at the smallest size reached, reported as over budget, and the exit code is 4 (partial).
`--profile`	string	Start from a saved conversion profile (JSON, as the app saves it in %APPDATA%\CadConverter\profiles). Options given on the command line override the profile's values.
`--overwrite`	boolean	Replace an output file that already exists.
`--skip-existing`	boolean	Leave an input alone when its output file already exists, so a re-run only converts what is missing (a skipped file is not converted and costs no free conversion).

Output options: --json, --plain, --quiet, --verbose, --progress.

`cadconvert catalog`

Print every CLI command and MCP tool as JSON (for AI agents, docs and the website).

cadconvert catalog

`cadconvert convert`

Convert a single 3D file.

cadconvert convert <input> [options]

Argument	Description
`<input>`	Input 3D file.

Option	Type	Description
`--format`	string	Target format (stl, obj, step, iges, etc.)
`--output`	string	Output file or folder. Default: next to the input, with the -f format's extension.
`--quality`	string	Mesh quality for STEP/IGES/BREP sources: a preset (draft, standard, fine, ultrafine) or a linear deflection in mm (0.1 = standard; lower = finer). Default: standard.
`--angular`	string	Angular deflection in radians (0.5 = about 29 degrees; lower = smoother curves). Default: the preset's value (0.5 for standard and for a numeric --quality).
`--repair`	boolean	Repair STEP/IGES/BREP surfaces before meshing: fixes broken edges and faces and closes small gaps. No effect on mesh sources (STL, OBJ ...)
`--units`	string	Target units (mm, cm, in, m, ft).
`--binary`	boolean	Binary output for STL/PLY.
`--up-axis`	string	Rotate the model so this axis points up: y (game engines, glTF, three.js) or z (CAD, 3D printing). Default: unchanged. A STEP/IGES/BREP re-export cannot be rotated and says so.
`--decimate`	string	Reduce mesh sources (STL, OBJ, PLY, glTF, FBX, 3MF ...) to this share of their triangles: 0.25 or 25% keeps about a quarter. STEP/IGES/BREP are tessellated, not reduced - use --quality.
`--max-size`	string	glTF/GLB only: the largest file to write, in MB (5, 0.5 or 15MB; 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes). A file over it is written again with fewer triangles until it fits, down to 5% of its triangles. One that still does not fit is written at the smallest size reached, reported as over budget, and the exit code is 4 (partial).
`--profile`	string	Start from a saved conversion profile (JSON, as the app saves it in %APPDATA%\CadConverter\profiles). Options given on the command line override the profile's values.
`--overwrite`	boolean	Replace an output file that already exists.
`--skip-existing`	boolean	Leave an input alone when its output file already exists, so a re-run only converts what is missing (a skipped file is not converted and costs no free conversion).

Output options: --json, --plain, --quiet, --verbose, --progress.

`cadconvert formats`

List all supported 3D formats.

cadconvert formats [options]

Option	Type	Description
`--input`	boolean	Only the formats it reads (import).
`--output`	boolean	Only the formats it writes (export).

Output options: --json, --plain, --quiet, --verbose, --progress.

`cadconvert info`

Display information about a 3D file.

cadconvert info <file>

Argument	Description
`<file>`	3D file to inspect.

Output options: --json, --plain, --quiet, --verbose, --progress.

`cadconvert register`

cadconvert register <email> <key>

Argument	Description
`<email>`	The email address the license was bought with.
`<key>`	License key.

Output options: --json, --plain, --quiet, --verbose, --progress.

`cadconvert serve`

Start MCP server for AI agent integration.

cadconvert serve

`cadconvert status`

Show the license and trial state: registered or trial, free conversions left, trial days left, and what exports become after the trial (Draft quality with a trial note).

cadconvert status

Output options: --json, --plain, --quiet, --verbose, --progress.

`cadconvert watch`

Watch a folder and auto-convert new 3D files.

cadconvert watch <input> [options]

Argument	Description
`<input>`	Folder to watch.

Option	Type	Description
`--format`	string	Target format.
`--report`	string	Keep a CSV report of this watch session in this file, rewritten after every file: one row per input with input and output file, formats, triangles before and after, output size, size budget, within budget yes/no, duration and result or error.
`--output`	string	Output folder. Default: <input>_converted next to the watched folder.
`--include`	string[]	Only files matching this pattern, e.g. .step or parts\.stp; repeat the option or separate patterns with ';' or ','. A pattern with * or ? is matched against the file name and the path below the folder; other text is part of that path.
`--exclude`	string[]	Leave out files matching this pattern, e.g. *_old.step or archive; repeat the option or separate patterns with ';' or ','. Same matching as --include.
`--recursive`	boolean	Include subfolders (the default; -r false converts the folder itself only).
`--workers`	integer	Parallel workers (default: the number of processors).
`--quality`	string	Mesh quality for STEP/IGES/BREP sources: a preset (draft, standard, fine, ultrafine) or a linear deflection in mm (0.1 = standard; lower = finer). Default: standard.
`--angular`	string	Angular deflection in radians (0.5 = about 29 degrees; lower = smoother curves). Default: the preset's value (0.5 for standard and for a numeric --quality).
`--repair`	boolean	Repair STEP/IGES/BREP surfaces before meshing: fixes broken edges and faces and closes small gaps. No effect on mesh sources (STL, OBJ ...)
`--units`	string	Target units (mm, cm, in, m, ft).
`--binary`	boolean	Binary output for STL/PLY.
`--up-axis`	string	Rotate the model so this axis points up: y (game engines, glTF, three.js) or z (CAD, 3D printing). Default: unchanged. A STEP/IGES/BREP re-export cannot be rotated and says so.
`--decimate`	string	Reduce mesh sources (STL, OBJ, PLY, glTF, FBX, 3MF ...) to this share of their triangles: 0.25 or 25% keeps about a quarter. STEP/IGES/BREP are tessellated, not reduced - use --quality.
`--max-size`	string	glTF/GLB only: the largest file to write, in MB (5, 0.5 or 15MB; 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes). A file over it is written again with fewer triangles until it fits, down to 5% of its triangles. One that still does not fit is written at the smallest size reached, reported as over budget, and the exit code is 4 (partial).
`--profile`	string	Start from a saved conversion profile (JSON, as the app saves it in %APPDATA%\CadConverter\profiles). Options given on the command line override the profile's values.
`--overwrite`	boolean	Replace an output file that already exists.
`--skip-existing`	boolean	Leave an input alone when its output file already exists, so a re-run only converts what is missing (a skipped file is not converted and costs no free conversion).

Output options: --json, --plain, --quiet, --verbose, --progress.

MCP server

cadconvert serve exposes 5 tools over the Model Context Protocol (stdio, newline-delimited JSON-RPC 2.0; protocol versions 2025-11-25, 2025-06-18, 2025-03-26 and 2024-11-05), so an AI agent such as Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor or Codex can work on files on your PC. Server name: cad-converter. Pass absolute paths to every tool.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cad-converter": {
      "command": "cadconvert",
      "args": [
        "serve"
      ]
    }
  }
}

In Claude Code one command adds it: claude mcp add cad-converter -- cadconvert serve. Stdout carries JSON-RPC only, ping is answered while a tool runs, notifications/cancelled stops a running call, and a tool that cannot do its job returns isError: true with a sentence that names the problem.

Tool	Title	Read-only	Destructive	Idempotent	Network
`convert_cad`	Convert 3D/CAD file	no	yes	no	no
`detect_format`	Detect 3D format	yes	no	yes	no
`get_file_info`	Get 3D file info	yes	no	yes	no
`get_license_status`	Get license and trial status	yes	no	yes	no
`list_formats`	List supported formats	yes	no	yes	no

Destructive: the tool can replace a file that already exists. Network: the tool uses the internet.

`convert_cad`

writes filescan replace files

Convert 3D/CAD file. Convert a 3D CAD file (STEP, IGES) to mesh formats (STL, OBJ, PLY, FBX, glTF, 3MF) or between mesh formats. Mesh sources include VRML (.wrl, .vrml, gzip .wrz): VRML is read in metres (a 1 m cube is 1000 mm) and Y-up, as the specification says. The result's notes list what an option could not do on this route (a STEP source is tessellated, not reduced; a STEP re-export cannot be rotated).

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`input_path`	string	yes	Absolute path to the source 3D file.
`output_path`	string	no	Absolute path for the converted output file. Give this or output_dir.
`output_dir`	string	no	Absolute path of a folder: the output is written there, named after the input with the format's extension (format is then required). Give this or output_path.
`format`	string	no	Output format: stl, obj, ply, gltf, glb, 3mf, dae, step, iges, fbx, vrml, off, brep. One of: `stl`, `obj`, `ply`, `gltf`, `glb`, `3mf`, `dae`, `step`, `iges`, `fbx`, `vrml`, `off`, `brep`.
`quality`	string	no	Mesh quality for STEP/IGES/BREP sources: a preset (draft, standard, fine, ultrafine) or a linear deflection in mm ("0.1" = standard; lower = finer, e.g. "0.001"). Default: standard. No effect on mesh sources (STL, OBJ ...): they keep their triangles.
`angular`	number or string	no	Angular deflection in radians for STEP/IGES/BREP sources (0.5 = about 29 degrees; lower = smoother curves). Default: the preset's value (0.5 for standard and for a numeric quality).
`units`	string	no	Target units for conversion. One of: `mm`, `cm`, `in`, `m`, `ft`.
`up_axis`	string	no	Rotate the model so this axis points up: y (game engines, glTF, three.js) or z (CAD, 3D printing). Default: unchanged. A STEP/IGES/BREP re-export cannot be rotated and the result's notes say so. One of: `y`, `z`, `unchanged`.
`decimate`	number or string	no	Reduce mesh sources (STL, OBJ, PLY, glTF, FBX, 3MF ...) to this share of their triangles: 0.25 or "25%" keeps about a quarter. STEP/IGES/BREP sources are tessellated, not reduced - use quality instead; the result's notes say so.
`max_size_mb`	number or string	no	glTF/GLB only: the largest file to write, in MB (5, 0.5, 15; 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes). A file over it is written again with fewer triangles until it fits, down to 5% of its triangles. The result's withinBudget is true when the written file fits and false when it was written at the smallest size reached and is still over; outputBytes, trianglesBefore and trianglesAfter are what was measured.
`repair`	boolean	no	Repair STEP/IGES/BREP surfaces before meshing (fixes broken edges and faces, closes small gaps). No effect on mesh sources such as STL or OBJ.
`binary`	boolean	no	Use binary output for STL/PLY (default: true).
`overwrite`	boolean	no	Replace an output file that already exists (default: the existing file is kept and the new one is written beside it as name (1)).
`skip_existing`	boolean	no	Leave the input alone when its output file already exists: nothing is converted and no free conversion is used; the result says skipped: true.

`detect_format`

read-onlyidempotent

Detect 3D format. Detect the 3D file format and check if it is supported for import/export.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`input_path`	string	yes	Absolute path to the 3D file.

`get_file_info`

read-onlyidempotent

Get 3D file info. Get metadata about a 3D file including format, parts, triangles, vertices, and bounding box.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`input_path`	string	yes	Absolute path to the 3D file.

`get_license_status`

read-onlyidempotent

Get license and trial status. Get the license and trial state before converting: registered or trial, free conversions left, trial days left, and what exports become after the trial (afterFreeFiles: draft_quality = Draft tessellation and a trial note in the file). nextOutput says what the next export will be: clean or draft_quality.

No parameters.

`list_formats`

read-onlyidempotent

List supported formats. List all supported 3D file formats with import/export capabilities.

No parameters.