Zoo Design Studio — The Complete Guide: Parametric Mechanical CAD in KCL Code with an AI Assistant
Zoo Design Studio is a solid-modelling CAD program that tries to join two worlds: you work with the mouse as in any CAD program, and at the same time every operation is recorded as code in the KCL language that you can read, edit and keep under version control. On top sits Zookeeper, an AI assistant that takes plain-language instructions.
Zoo Design Studio
Zoo (formerly KittyCAD)
Parametric mechanical CAD where every model is also KCL code, with an AI assistant called Zookeeper and a free monthly usage allowance.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Solid modelling — sketches and features in a normal graphical interface.
- KCL code — the whole model is available as code you can edit and reproduce.
- Zookeeper — building and fixing geometry and inspecting the model from plain-language instructions.
- Parametric model — changing a dimension in code updates the whole part.
- All platforms — Windows, macOS and Linux, plus a test build in the browser.
What is free and what is not
The program is free with a Zoo account. The free plan includes a monthly allowance of Zookeeper time that does not roll over; paid plans or pay-as-you-go add AI time and extra capabilities. The application itself is open source, but the geometry engine is closed and runs on Zoo servers, so an internet connection is needed even for modelling. For confidential projects or offline work this is a significant limitation.
Related tools
For local open-source parametric CAD — FreeCAD. For Python code CAD that runs on your computer — CadQuery or build123d. For cloud mechanical CAD with a free plan — Onshape Free.
FreeCAD
FreeCAD Project
Open-source parametric 3D modeller with workbenches for solid modelling, FEM, drafting and BIM.
Get it from the vendor
CadQuery
CadQuery Project
Parametric CAD scripted in Python, on a proper solid-modelling kernel.
Get it from the vendor
build123d
build123d developers (gumyr)
Parametric CAD in Python code on the OpenCascade kernel — solid parts and assemblies exported to STEP and STL.
Get it from the vendor
Onshape (free plan)
PTC
Parametric CAD in the browser with version control. On the free plan every document is public.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
A fresh and interesting approach to mechanical CAD, where code and interface are the same model. Worth trying, provided you accept the dependence on an account, the cloud and the AI allowance.