RhinoAI MCP
McNeel's MCP server for Rhino 3D: Claude, Codex and Gemini CLI model geometry in an open Rhino and build Grasshopper definitions
- 397 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- The agent edits the document open in Rhino, so save a copy of the file before working
- The server accepts assistant commands on port 10500 of your machine while MCPStart is on
Install
- Works in
Manual install
/plugin marketplace add mcneel/RhinoAIAdds the McNeel marketplace with the rhino-mcp plugin; install the plugin from it afterwards. Rhino has to be running with MCPStart executed.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The agent edits the document open in Rhino, so save a copy of the file before working
- The server accepts assistant commands on port 10500 of your machine while MCPStart is on
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
RhinoAI is published by McNeel, the maker of Rhino. The Rhino-MCP-Platform plugin starts an MCP server inside a running Rhino 3D, and the assistant sends it commands and sees the result in the program window: it builds and edits geometry, reads the document layers and objects, and assembles Grasshopper definitions. Claude Code gets a rhino-mcp plugin. It connects the server and adds `/rhino-mcp:scene`, which describes the document contents, and `/rhino-mcp:snapshot`, which captures the active viewport and describes the frame. The rhino-modeler subagent takes geometry tasks, and the plugin folder also holds subagents for drawings, layers and Grasshopper. For Claude Desktop there is a connector.mcpb connector that installs the Rhino plugin itself. GitHub Copilot, Codex, Gemini CLI and local models in LM Studio connect to the same MCP router. The authors say Cursor and any other MCP client work too.
Who it is for. Architects, industrial designers and engineers who model in Rhino and Grasshopper and want an agent to take routine work in an open document.
Good fit when
- A document holds hundreds of objects on random layers and an agent has to put them in order
- A Grasshopper definition has to be built from a description and then checked for errors
- A sketch or a picture should become a first 3D model
- One step repeats across dozens of files and you want to run it as a batch
- A newcomer to Grasshopper asks for someone else's definition to be explained in plain words
Not a fit when
- The model lives in another CAD: the catalog has separate MCP servers for AutoCAD and FreeCAD
- Drawings must not be shown to an external model: the scene description and viewport capture go to the assistant, and only a local model in LM Studio works offline
- A client file has no backup: the agent edits the document open in Rhino
Example request
What is in my Rhino document? Describe the layers and capture the active viewportMCP
- Transport
- http, stdio
- Authentication
- not required
Limitations
Rhino 3D has to be installed and licensed beforehand: the guide assumes it. The Rhino-MCP-Platform plugin installs through Yak or the PackageManager command, and the Claude Code guide specifies Rhino 8.
The server starts with the MCPStart command and listens on port 10500. For another port, edit the address in the plugin's .mcp.json.
Manifest versions are low: the Claude Code plugin is 0.1.3 and the Claude Desktop connector 0.1.6. The set of commands and agents may change.
How to disable. Remove the rhino-mcp plugin in Claude Code through `/plugin`, and the Rhino-MCP-Platform package in Rhino through the PackageManager command. The server stops listening on its port when you close Rhino.
FAQ
How do I connect Rhino to Claude Code?
Install the Rhino-MCP-Platform package in Rhino 8 through Yak or PackageManager, run the MCPConnect command in Rhino and paste the text it prints into a new Claude Code session. If Claude Code asks for a restart, restart it.
What do I run in Rhino before working?
The MCPStart command. The server listens on port 10500 and the Claude Code plugin looks for it there. If you changed the port, edit the address in .mcp.json.
Which assistants work with Rhino MCP?
The Getting Started section covers Claude Desktop, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI and local models in LM Studio. Cursor and other MCP clients connect to the same router.
What do /rhino-mcp:scene and /rhino-mcp:snapshot do?
The scene command describes the contents of the current Rhino document. The snapshot command captures the active viewport and describes the frame. Both ship in the rhino-mcp plugin for Claude Code.
Can I work with a local model?
Yes. The LM Studio section describes running an open model on your own machine to drive Rhino and Grasshopper without an internet connection. The quality of the result depends on the model.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RhinoAI (this card) | yes | not required | 397 | |
| AutoCAD MCP | no | not required | 633 | draws and edits drawings in AutoCAD LT through AutoLISP |
| FreeCAD MCP | no | not required | 3,234 | drives parametric FreeCAD models and runs FEM analysis |
| Blender MCP (VxAI) | no | not required | 300 | builds and edits 3D scenes in Blender from a description |
README in short
The README is short: a logo, a link to the documentation at mcneel.github.io/RhinoAI and a quick start through the Claude Desktop connector. The documentation has four sections: connecting an assistant, first prompts with recipes, advanced scenarios and using MCP while developing plugins. Building and debugging go through Run and Debug in VS Code, and the authors ask for questions on the Rhino Discourse forum.