Hacker News is picking up CADAM, an open-source AI tool for mechanical design from Adam, a Y Combinator Winter 2025 startup. The platform generates parametric CAD models from text descriptions—essentially an AI-powered TinkerCAD. Here's how it works: you describe a design in natural language, and the system uses Claude, Gemini, or other language models to generate OpenSCAD code—a text-based CAD language. The system operates in two modes. Parametric mode creates code-driven models with adjustable dimensions surfaced as interactive sliders. Mesh mode generates finished 3D shapes with textures. For performance, simple slider adjustments bypass the model entirely—they update the source code deterministically without needing an AI inference call. The whole system runs in-browser using WebAssembly to compile OpenSCAD, preventing performance hangs. Export options span standard formats: STL, SCAD, OBJ, GLB, and DXF. The founders believe AI will become the primary interface for mechanical design, mirroring its role in software development. The code is open-source and welcoming contributions.

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