v0.1.0

PartBuddy is a free desktop app for designing parts for FDM 3D printing together with an AI assistant, in real CAD. This is the first preview.

Download and requirements

1. PartBuddy: download PartBuddy-Setup-0.1.0.exe below and run it (Windows 10/11, installs for your user only). The installer is not code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen warns once: choose "More info", then "Run anyway".
2. SolidCraft 0.40.0-rc.3: PartBuddy designs with the free SolidCraft CAD kernel. Install the pre-release SolidCraft 0.40.0-rc.3 (on Windows SolidCraft-0.40.0-rc.3-windows-x64.exe). The SolidCraft release list still marks 0.30.1 as "Latest"; PartBuddy also starts with 0.30.1, but it is tested on 0.40 only. Designs saved by SolidCraft 0.40.0-rc.3 cannot be opened by 0.30.1 or 0.40.0-rc.2.
3. An assistant: your Claude subscription through Claude Code, your ChatGPT subscription, or a local model (Ollama, LM Studio, llama.cpp, vLLM). The first start walks you through it.

PartBuddy checks for updates through this page.

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0.1.0 (2026-11-08)

Features

• brand: add the PartBuddy brand identity (#5) (cf0e425)
• design-tokens: add design tokens with WCAG contrast test (29d74bb)
• design-tokens: add weight, tracking, motion and layout tokens (a164419)
• design-tokens: state, motion and focus tokens; UI inventory (#171) (0e8649d)
• desktop: a project as one .partbuddy file to export and import (#160) (69620a6)
• desktop: actions, multiple selection and measuring at the selection (M1b-2) (#35) (4d4cee3)
• desktop: add materials from a catalog of 17 material types (#184) (f7c183b)
• desktop: add printers from a catalog of 70 makers' data sheets (#182) (2393fe7)
• desktop: add the Bambu Lab H3C to the printer catalog (#183) (8a7e508)
• desktop: add the Electron app with SolidCraft supervisor and mirrored 3D view (#15) (809e110)
• desktop: ask in rounds of up to four questions with a recommendation (#124) (adb8c71)
• desktop: assistant chat polish – Markdown with Shiki, work folds, motion, scrolling, composer, performance, states (#151) (6a07faf)
• desktop: assistant designs refined, print-fitted models by default (#168) (483b6ca)
• desktop: assistant route as a chip beside the composer (#48) (136c664)
• desktop: CAD viewport, plate view and animated assembly (#155) (7cb3af9)
• desktop: calm 3D view look and technical dimension lines (#63) (73fb917)
• desktop: checkbox, radio, switch, segments, selects and sliders with every state (#174) (9dc445b)
• desktop: choose model and effort at the assistant chip (B1) (#88) (8f90683)
• desktop: choose the SolidCraft program and check its version (R0) (#85) (de49dff)
• desktop: clearance between parts in the print light (F2) (#104) (09e82b7)
• desktop: colour theme setting (#52) (5490d43)
• desktop: compact timeline with a draggable rollback bar (#66) (3154732)
• desktop: design a new part concept first, then ask about its use (#126) (f750a4c)
• desktop: design without support from the print profile (M7f) (#80) (4542e46)
• desktop: dimension field at the selection with a ghost preview (M1b) (#34) (852be57)
• desktop: dimensions in the view, changed through their labels (M2b-3) (#42) (243d5f6)
• desktop: display modes and a section through the design (#59) (f042022)
• desktop: dock the selection panel at the bottom of the view (#65) (c322ab8)
• desktop: exploded view for prints of several parts (F7) (#111) (57e2d57)
• desktop: favourites and tags on the start page (#162) (0050f0d)
• desktop: find LM Studio, llama.cpp and vLLM as local model servers (F8) (#116) (7b012ef)
• desktop: find Strata as a local model server (F8) (#115) (817703e)
• desktop: first-start setup for SolidCraft, assistant, printer and project folder (B9) (#98) (a4cdbfb)
• desktop: fold the work log into one line per request and let the chat be resized (#61) (3d2fa6d)
• desktop: follow every AI step live in the 3D view (#22) (2dfa70f)
• desktop: function blocks for tapped holes, screw holes, insert seats and bosses (F1) (#100) (9ecbea4)
• desktop: give the 3D view depth with sky light and a shadow under the part (#58) (0afe00d)
• desktop: icons from Zoo Design Studio for CAD operations, common CAD terms (#53) (fbe950b)
• desktop: import STEP, IGES and meshes as a project or into the open one (B4) (#92) (7b62441)
• desktop: installer for Windows with an update check through GitHub releases (B10) (#99) (b4213c9)
• desktop: integrate the title bar with the system window buttons (#29) (cd867bd)
• desktop: interface size, start behaviour, update check switch and a shortcut overview (#181) (e8ea41e)
• desktop: keep dimension labels apart and hide them behind the part (#60) (79fa91e)
• desktop: keep sketches in the project and draw over a photo (F10) (#135) (6a21009)
• desktop: keep the conversation with the design (#72) (3dbff16)
• desktop: link the ChatGPT plan's usage page at the chip (#131) (05b0d57)
• desktop: local models through Ollama as an assistant route (F8) (#113) (bd54bc1)
• desktop: logo block from an SVG file (F1) (#103) (49a71f6)
• desktop: measure a material's tolerances with three test pieces (#185) (c20e04c)
• desktop: name a new part after its body, show its save state, quieter status bar (#50) (5d6a288)
• desktop: notes on the model, kept in the design file (M2b-1) (#40) (cca3ae7)
• desktop: one button family with every state, tooltips on icon buttons (#172) (741e35b)
• desktop: one dialog frame with close button, tone badges, still busy bar under reduced motion (#176) (a73b722)
• desktop: one menu and popover look with motion, sections and separators (#175) (a334dec)
• desktop: one settings schema and file, old profiles migrated, reset per section (#180) (731d052)
• desktop: open the design in the slicer and print on a chosen face (B8) (#97) (e211e9b)
• desktop: own recycle bin with restore on the start page (#159) (c3874c3)
• desktop: parameter panel with preview, slider and range hints (#56) (828c5be)
• desktop: parts list with copies, print state and filament in the structure tree (#163) (3eaf1ba)
• desktop: paste and drop pictures into the chat (#112) (bfdb02c)
• desktop: photo import for the assistant (F6) (#110) (af5fea7)
• desktop: pick edges and vertices, studio light and standard views (M1a) (#33) (ca28684)
• desktop: printer and material profiles for ready-to-print (M7) (#73) (7010629)
• desktop: projects as folders with new, open, rename, duplicate and trash (B2) (#89) (4366f3b)
• desktop: questions and plans as cards in the chat (M2a-2) (#38) (ca7e4a4)
• desktop: ready-to-print light with findings on the model (M7) (#74) (d6b52a0)
• desktop: recommend SolidCraft 0.40.0-rc.3 (#191) (f072161)
• desktop: render assistant answers as Markdown (#23) (fb57b48)
• desktop: rough sketch for the assistant (F4) (#106) (feed31c)
• desktop: run SolidCraft without a window and keep the design between runs (#30) (50c582e)
• desktop: seat standard parts from SolidCraft's library in a hole (B7) (#96) (9e8328b)
• desktop: settings window with general, SolidCraft, assistant, printer and about (B6) (#94) (4b9c9d5)
• desktop: settings with search, groups, deep links and full keyboard use (#178) (588fcbb)
• desktop: sharing package for Printables and MakerWorld (F5) (#107) (e145cbb)
• desktop: sharing package lists the standard parts to buy (#150) (ebe9093)
• desktop: show how full the conversation's context window is (#132) (26db3bb)
• desktop: show sketches and other non-body steps live in the 3D view (#25) (2a61644)
• desktop: show the Claude plan's five-hour and weekly usage (#130) (73b87d5)
• desktop: show what the assistant builds in the view (#57) (46505b0)
• desktop: sketch sheets for front, top and side, and a scale per square (F10) (#134) (334eccb)
• desktop: sketch with shapes, dimensions and labels (F9) (#133) (16e410c)
• desktop: snap fit block with its strain in the form (F1) (#102) (cf0dd05)
• desktop: start on the start page by default and open no project on its own (B3) (#91) (dd0ed37)
• desktop: start page sorts projects and acts on every tile (#158) (4cbe773)
• desktop: start page with project tiles, search, new, open and import (B3) (#90) (8ca86f5)
• desktop: stop an assistant that repeats the same tool calls (#117) (e0091b9)
• desktop: structure tree and timeline (M1c) (#36) (b8b4fe4)
• desktop: structure tree as a CAD browser with parameter table (#166) (c5015c7)
• desktop: tabs and list rows with every state, links with focus rings (#177) (ee1a9df)
• desktop: take donations through Ko-fi (#121) (98103f7)
• desktop: tell the assistant what the user selected and sees in the view (#28) (7a213d5)
• desktop: templates to start a project from (F3) (#105) (5f8b5ae)
• desktop: text fields with every state, units inside the frame, errors tied to their field (#173) (b178159)
• desktop: text, nut trap, slot and lip blocks (F1) (#101) (9f39e92)
• desktop: the assistant researches on the web with sources as cards (B7) (#95) (e254efe)
• desktop: tool notes for the assistant and a tighter tool policy (M2a-3) (#39) (73c82e6)
• desktop: undo, export and open in SolidCraft without the window (#31) (31cf98b)
• desktop: use the ChatGPT plan through Sign in with ChatGPT (#20) (cf371b1)
• desktop: use the Claude subscription by default, API billing only on purpose (#24) (af45a2f)
• desktop: use the normal face for names and numbers instead of monospace (#64) (4468146)
• desktop: use the user's Claude subscription through Claude Code and a gate proxy (#19) (b445c7f)
• desktop: versions become milestones and open as projects of their own (#161) (0e3969e)
• desktop: versions with names, before requests and at exports, compare and restore (B5) (#93) (6eccf65)
• desktop: work log with step cards and going back to a state (M2a-1) (#37) (12685fc)
• desktop: write a log file and show it from the settings (#136) (047cd91)

Bug Fixes

• desktop: a click to select no longer takes the camera from the framing (#49) (af4bfe0)
• desktop: a printer change keeps snapped sizes on the new grid (#170) (a6cb649)
• desktop: a token refresh of another Claude Code process is no sign-out (#187) (e446086)
• desktop: assistant reads the print check, names new parts, keeps value sources true (#147) (1457855)
• desktop: chat open points – expired sign-in, accessibility, long chats, third-party notices (#153) (966ebbb)
• desktop: chat polish – answers, failures, examples, attachments, German chip (#142) (d8e7cec)
• desktop: draw the floor shadow under the part again (#118) (6adaa4d)
• desktop: effort always shows the level that really runs (#114) (a301427)
• desktop: fit the sketch into a low window so its buttons stay in reach (#141) (49eb1d0)
• desktop: hand SolidCraft long paths, never 8.3 short names (#169) (19d38e0)
• desktop: keep a growing design framed until the user moves the camera (#47) (e80e191)
• desktop: keep the assistant's paragraphs apart and ask for usable answers (#125) (79e59d1)
• desktop: know standard parts the assistant inserted itself (#188) (53396f7)
• desktop: let Stop take Send's place so the model chip keeps its name (#140) (3ab4e8c)
• desktop: let the rollback bar follow the pointer while dragging (#70) (5b8316f)
• desktop: name the starting printer in the interface language (#146) (2601307)
• desktop: place the rollback bar from the step count, not by measuring (#71) (1711b3b)
• desktop: plate bed labels and framing survive a plate opened while the view mounts (#165) (3335456)
• desktop: short selection line in the chat and a visible CAD grid (#69) (0474bd3)
• desktop: show a signed-out Claude Code as signed out (#129) (10e6c6b)
• desktop: start Claude Code on its default model with medium effort (#127) (a5af899)
• desktop: start page polish – project pictures, calm first start, German template bodies (#145) (4539a95)
• desktop: tools polish – notes under dialogs, readable note places, sketch room, expired sign-in (#149) (6250b1e)
• desktop: view polish – readable names, compact selection panel, German templates, section labels (#144) (4284083)
• desktop: viewport feedback – thinner lines zoomed out, brief change glow, iTwin view cube (#156) (e1a9375)
• geometry: stop flagging threads and snap fits on the ready-to-print light (#186) (4c3f912)

Performance

• desktop: code highlighting brings ten grammars instead of all of Shiki (#152) (11f465f)