SketchUp
Enables direct interaction and control of SketchUp through Claude AI using the Model Context Protocol and a TCP socket connection. It allows for prompt-assisted 3D modeling, component manipulation, and the execution of arbitrary Ruby code within the
What is SketchUp?
SketchUp is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to enables direct interaction and control of sketchup through claude ai using the model context protocol and a tcp socket connection. it allows for prompt-assisted 3d modeling, component manipulation, an...
Enables direct interaction and control of SketchUp through Claude AI using the Model Context Protocol and a TCP socket connection. It allows for prompt-assisted 3D modeling, component manipulation, and the execution of arbitrary Ruby code within the
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Enables direct interaction and control of SketchUp through C
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx sketchupmcpConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use SketchUp
SketchupMCP connects Claude AI to the SketchUp 3D modeling application via a TCP socket using the Model Context Protocol, enabling prompt-driven 3D modeling, scene inspection, component manipulation, and arbitrary Ruby code execution directly inside SketchUp. It consists of two parts: a SketchUp extension that runs a TCP server inside the application, and a Python MCP server (available on PyPI as sketchup-mcp) that bridges Claude to that extension. Architects, designers, and developers use it to generate and modify 3D models through natural language without clicking through SketchUp menus.
Prerequisites
- SketchUp installed (SketchUp 2021 or later recommended)
- uv package manager installed (brew install uv)
- The SketchupMCP .rbz extension file downloaded from the repository releases
- Claude Desktop or another MCP-compatible client
- Basic familiarity with SketchUp's Extension Manager
Install the SketchUp extension
Download the latest .rbz file from the sketchup-mcp GitHub releases page. In SketchUp, go to Window > Extension Manager, click Install Extension, and select the .rbz file. Restart SketchUp after installation.
Start the TCP server inside SketchUp
In SketchUp, go to Extensions > SketchupMCP > Start Server. The server starts on port 9876 by default. You should see a confirmation in the Ruby console.
Install uv (if not already installed)
uv is required to run the Python MCP server component.
# macOS / Linux
brew install uvAdd SketchupMCP to Claude Desktop
Edit your Claude Desktop config file to register the sketchup-mcp server. It is run using uvx which pulls the latest version from PyPI automatically.
Verify the connection
Restart Claude Desktop and ask Claude to get the current scene info. If SketchUp is running with the extension server active, Claude will return scene details.
SketchUp Examples
Client configuration
Add sketchup-mcp to your claude_desktop_config.json using uvx to run the PyPI package.
{
"mcpServers": {
"sketchup": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["sketchup-mcp"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
These prompts demonstrate the scene inspection, component creation, material, and Ruby execution tools.
- "Get information about the current SketchUp scene and list all components"
- "Create a simple house model with a rectangular base 10x8 meters and a pitched roof"
- "Make the selected component red using the set_material tool"
- "Move the selected component 5 units up along the Z axis"
- "Export the current scene as a 3D model file"
- "Execute Ruby code to create a 2x4 grid of boxes spaced 1 meter apart"Troubleshooting SketchUp
Claude cannot connect to SketchUp
Ensure the SketchUp extension server is running: go to Extensions > SketchupMCP > Start Server in SketchUp. The TCP server must be active on port 9876 before starting Claude Desktop.
Commands fail or return errors
Open the Ruby Console in SketchUp (Window > Ruby Console) to see detailed error messages from failed commands. Complex requests may time out — break them into smaller steps.
uvx command not found when starting the MCP server
Install uv with 'brew install uv' on macOS or follow the uv installation instructions at docs.astral.sh/uv. Ensure uv is in your PATH by running 'which uvx'.
Frequently Asked Questions about SketchUp
What is SketchUp?
SketchUp is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables direct interaction and control of sketchup through claude ai using the model context protocol and a tcp socket connection. it allows for prompt-assisted 3d modeling, component manipulation, and the execution of arbitrary ruby code within the It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install SketchUp?
Follow the installation instructions on the SketchUp GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with SketchUp?
SketchUp works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is SketchUp free to use?
Yes, SketchUp is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up SketchUp in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
Ready to use SketchUp?
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