# Connect to CheapCADTools

Public MCP endpoint: https://cheapcadtools.com/mcp
Transport: Streamable HTTP (not a legacy SSE endpoint)
Suggested server name: cheapcadtools
Authentication: OAuth with browser sign-in and user approval.

For AI assistants helping a person connect:
- If your host lets you configure remote MCP servers, add the endpoint
  above using its native configuration. Preserve existing connections.
- Otherwise, guide the person through adding a remote MCP connector.
  Reading this document does not install the connector or grant access.
- Initiate authentication through the host app. The person signs in,
  selects a daily token limit and approves in their browser.
- Do not ask the person to paste passwords or access tokens into chat.
- If a restart or new chat is needed to load tools, explain that.
- Verify connection with list_apps; report what it actually returns.

OAuth discovery:
An unauthenticated /mcp request returns 401 with a WWW-Authenticate
challenge pointing to the protected-resource metadata at:
https://cheapcadtools.com/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource/mcp
Authorization-server metadata:
https://cheapcadtools.com/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server
The server supports dynamic client registration and PKCE (S256).
Use your MCP client's OAuth implementation to complete the flow.

Client setup:
Claude Code:
  claude mcp add --transport http cheapcadtools https://cheapcadtools.com/mcp
  Then use /mcp to authenticate.
Cursor: add a remote server with url https://cheapcadtools.com/mcp.
VS Code: add an HTTP MCP server with the same URL.
For other apps, use their remote MCP connector settings; support and
availability depend on the app and account.

Configuration downloads (merge into existing settings):
https://cheapcadtools.com/assets/mcp/cursor.json
https://cheapcadtools.com/assets/mcp/vscode.json
https://cheapcadtools.com/assets/mcp/claude-code.json
Human setup page and install buttons: https://cheapcadtools.com/ai/

After connecting:
1. list_apps: discover the available generators.
2. describe(app): read parameter names, units, limits and choices.
3. check(app, params): validate a design. If Auto-fix is returned, apply
   fix.set and check again. All sizes are mm.
4. quote(app, params, formats): explain the token cost to the person.
5. export(app, params, formats, parts): only after the person agrees to
   the cost. Returns a download link; tokens are taken when downloaded.
6. balance(app): check the signed-in account's token balance.

Manage or revoke connections: https://cheapcadtools.com/account/devices
Tool descriptions and samples: https://cheapcadtools.com/llms.txt