Using the MCP (Context Model Protocol) to connect software to AI.¶
by Pablo (Fab Lab León)
With this documentation you will be able to connect and interact with software through the LLM or AI.
The motivation for that is that the AI models are getting better and better faster, so we can use them to start some basics design in case we dont know how to do it.
The approach to this solution is that the user dont know anything about the software he is using, but want to make some basic design with it.
The level of the results right now is very basic, but i think can be fun and surprising for those that dont know nothing about design.
What is an MCP (Model Context Protocol)¶
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open-source standard for connecting AI applications to external systems. Using MCP, AI applications like Claude or ChatGPT can connect to data sources (e.g. local files, databases), tools (e.g. search engines, calculators) and workflows (e.g. specialized prompts)—enabling them to access key information and perform tasks.
So basicaly the software allows the AI to use some code, some orders, some commnads inside the software to make basic things.
Usually all this things are programmed by third persons, so be clear that its a testing thing.
The main benefits are: - You can use a software without knowing how it works - you will do this on your local computer - you will do the things through natural language, in your own language.
Do you want to start? Lets go!
MCP WITH BLENDER¶
Our first sotware to use MCP will be blender. Blender is a great open source software to design in 3D. And because is open software, you can modify as far as you want.
Here is a video example how Blender can design a complete scene just talking with an AI (Claude Desktop)
what you need to install to work with MCP in Blender¶
I will do this for Windows, since its my system.
1) Install Blender. You can download this great software from here: https://www.blender.org/ the 3.0 version or later.
2) Install Python, at least the 3.10 version or later. You can download it from here:
In the case of Windows i suggest you tu use the Microsoft Store version, it install many things in the system that you should setup apart if you dont do this through the Microsoft Store. Here is the link: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9PNRBTZXMB4Z?hl=neutral&gl=ES&ocid=pdpshare
3) After install python, you need to install the uv package manager. Open a terminal (execute cmd) and type: pip install uv
4) In case of Windows, i think you need to install node.js. Go to the website download the msi (windows) and execute it.
5) Install Claude Desktop in your computer. You can download it here:
Now you have all the software we need to install to start the configuration.
steps to configure all the software to do it¶
Lets configure Claude.
1) open the Claude menu -> configuration -> developer -> Edit configuration file.
Then you need to open the file called claude_desktop_config.json and delete everything and paste this code:
{ "mcpServers": { "blender": { "command": "uvx", "args": ["blender-mcp"] } } }
Then save the file and close the Claude software
2) Download blender-mcp from this website: Its a zip, so unzip it when you download
3) open Blender software. Go to the menu Edit -> Preferences -> add ons. In the windows on the top right there is a little arrow. Click on it and choose "Install from disk". Then find the folder you have just unzip and select the file addon.py
After install the addon of Blnder MCP check in the list that this add is active (checked)
Important at this point: restart the system¶
We have installed a lot of important things and Windows needs to incorporate all this to the system. So reboot the system!!!
Start working with Blender MCP¶
1) Open Blender. Choose general porpouse schema of design. When you are in the main scene (with the cube), press the "n" key, and on the right panel check a new option that says "Blender MCP". Leave the port number as 9876 and press the button "connect to MCP server". Leave blender on one side of your screen
2) Open Claude desktop. In a new chat, ask claude if he can connect to the blnder mcp server in the port 9876. If the answer is yes, you can start say to Claude what you want him to design for you in blender.
Now you can start "speak" with Blender¶
Describe in a new Claude Desktop chat the scene you want to have. There are some rules to follow to have almost propoer results: - Dont describe "how" to do it (make a cylinder, use boolean...), instead describe what do you want to have as a result. ("Make a design of a cascade falling down between two mountains", "do it with a proper light like in the middle of the day") - Add descriptions about the background, what material the floor is composed, if the object have some special look...The more you describe about the athmosfere, the better the model can look at the finish.
TROUBLESHOOTING: If its not working:¶
try to execute this command in the powershell console in Windows:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/0.7.20/install.ps1 | iex"