3dsmax-mcp

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Connect AI agents to Autodesk 3ds Max through the Model Context Protocol. Ask in natural language; the agent creates objects, builds materials, inspects plugins with dedicated MCP tools instead of MAXScript/Python feedback loops. Built-in installer works with Cursor, Claude, Codex and Gemini.

Current release: 1.0.5 — see CHANGELOG.md.

Features

• 115 MCP tools — (79 in core profile) for scene reads, materials, modifiers, controllers, viewport capture, and plugin workflows.
• Native Bridge — only 2023-2027 versions.
• Introspection — discover arbitrary Max classes for all kinds of automation and scripting purposes.
• Bundled agent skill — There is a bundled maxscript documentation if you want to create your own tools.

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• uv
• Autodesk 3ds Max 2023–2027

Quick start

git clone https://github.com/cl0nazepamm/3dsmax-mcp.git
cd 3dsmax-mcp
uv sync
uv run python install.py

Restart 3ds Max, then connect your MCP client. The installer registers the server where it can; see Advanced configuration for manual client setup.

I personally use Cursor and Codex.

Update an existing install:

git pull
uv sync
uv run python install.py

Tools

Bridge & session

Tool	Description
get_bridge_status	Ping the MCP bridge when diagnosing connection errors
get_session_context	Bundle bridge status, capabilities, scene summary, and selection in one call
get_plugin_capabilities	Max version, renderers, installed plugins, and class counts

Scene query

Tool	Description
query_scene	Unified reads: overview, filter, class, property, selection, delta
get_hierarchy	Recursive child tree for an object
get_instances	All instances sharing the same base object
get_dependencies	Reference graph via dependents / dependent nodes

Objects

Tool	Description
create_object	Create geometry with spatial placement feedback
delete_objects	Delete objects by name
get_object_properties	Compact properties for one object
set_object_property	Set a single object property
transform_object	Move, rotate, and/or scale by offset
analyze_node_orientation	Pivot, bbox, local axes, and world matrix for rigging and placement
clone_objects	Copy, instance, or reference clones
set_parent	Parent or unparent objects
select_objects	Change the current selection
set_visibility	Show, hide, freeze, or unfreeze
batch_rename_objects	Rename many objects in one call

Modifiers

Tool	Description
add_modifier	Add a modifier to an object
remove_modifier	Remove a modifier by name
set_modifier_state	Enable/disable with viewport/render granularity
set_modifier_property	Set a modifier parameter on one or many objects
collapse_modifier_stack	Collapse the stack
make_modifier_unique	De-instance a shared modifier

Materials & textures

Tool	Description
get_materials	List materials assigned in the scene
get_material_slots	Compact slot/property readback for a material
inspect_material_network	Semantic material graph, wired slots, texture manifest, health checks
replicate_material	Preview/apply structure-preserving material clone and texture remap
assign_material	Create a material and assign it to objects
set_material_property	Set one property on an object's material
set_material_properties	Set multiple material properties at once
set_sub_material	Create or assign a Multi/Sub-Object slot
create_texture_map	Create a texture map (stored as a MAXScript global)
set_texture_map_properties	Edit a texture map global
create_material_from_textures	Build a fully wired PBR material from texture files
create_shell_material	Wrap any render + export materials in Shell Material (dual pipeline)
write_osl_shader	Write OSL to disk and compile an OSLMap
replace_material	Swap one material for another on all users
batch_replace_materials	Batch material replacement
palette_laydown	Fill Material Editor palette slots from a texture folder
smart_import	Batch-import meshes from a folder with auto PBR assignment

Inspection

Tool	Description
inspect_object	Deep exploratory object summary
inspect_properties	Deep property dump (`target="object"
introspect_osl	API surface for OSLMap and shader classes
walk_references	Full reference dependency walk
learn_scene_patterns	Analyze class usage patterns in the live scene
map_class_relationships	ParamBlock2 reference relationships between classes
watch_scene	Live event watcher for interactive sessions
isolate_and_capture_selected	Per-selection isolated viewport captures

Plugins & introspection

Tool	Description
discover_plugin_surface	Find plugin-related classes and entry points
discover_plugin_classes	Enumerate registered SDK classes
list_plugin_classes	List classes for a plugin or superclass family
inspect_plugin_class	Runtime class scan + showClass reflection
inspect_plugin_constructor	Creation notes for a plugin class
inspect_plugin_instance	Live instance inspection with plugin context
get_plugin_manifest	Structured manifest (classes, workflows, gotchas)
refresh_plugin_manifest	Rebuild manifest from live runtime
introspect_class	Full C++ SDK API surface for a class
introspect_instance	Deep SDK introspection with live values

MCP resources: resource://3dsmax-mcp/plugins/{name}/manifest|guide|recipes|gotchas

Controllers & animation

Tool	Description
assign_controller	Create and assign a controller to a sub-anim track
inspect_controller	Inspect one controller track
inspect_track_view	Track View-style controller hierarchy
set_controller_props	Edit script text or controller properties
add_controller_target	Add a target to script/expression/constraint controllers

Parameter wiring

Tool	Description
list_wireable_params	Discover wireable sub-anims on an object
wire_params	Connect parameters with a wire expression
get_wired_params	List existing wire connections
unwire_params	Remove a wire

Organization

Tool	Description
manage_layers	Create, delete, list, and configure layers; move/select objects
manage_groups	Create, ungroup, open, close, attach, detach groups
manage_selection_sets	Named selection sets
manage_scene	Hold, fetch, reset, save, scene info

Viewport & render

Tool	Description
capture_viewport	Capture the active viewport as an image
capture_multi_view	Front/right/back/top grid stitched into one image
capture_screen	Fullscreen capture (explicit opt-in)
render_scene	Render the current view

External .max files

Tool	Description
inspect_max_file	Read metadata and object names without loading
merge_from_file	Selective merge with duplicate handling
search_max_files	Scan a folder for objects matching a pattern
batch_file_info	Parallel metadata from many .max files

Effects & state sets

Tool	Description
get_effects	List atmospheric and render effects
toggle_effect	Enable or disable an effect by index
delete_effect	Remove an effect by index
get_state_sets	State Sets with camera assignments
get_camera_sequence	Camera-assigned State Sets sorted by frame

Work in progress — the plugin and layout integrations below (Data Channel, tyFlow, Forest Pack, RailClone, Floor plan) are early-stage and may be incomplete or change between releases. Everything listed above is stable.

Data Channel (WIP)

Tool	Description
add_data_channel	Append operators to a Data Channel modifier stack
inspect_data_channel	Read the operator graph
set_data_channel_operator	Set properties on one operator
add_dc_script_operator	Add a MAXScript operator
list_dc_presets	List available presets
load_dc_preset	Load a preset into the stack

tyFlow (WIP)

Tool	Description
list_tyflow_operator_types	Available operator names for this install
create_tyflow	Create tyFlow with events and operators
create_tyflow_preset	Presets: rain, snow, fountain, burst, debris
get_tyflow_info	Deep flow/event/operator readback
modify_tyflow_operator	Edit operator properties
set_tyflow_shape	Configure Shape operator
set_tyflow_physx	Object-level PhysX settings
add_tyflow_collision	Collision operator + collider list
add_tyflow_event	Add an event
connect_tyflow_events	Wire Send Out destinations
remove_tyflow_element	Remove operator or event
get_tyflow_particle_count	Particle count at a frame
get_tyflow_particles	Particle data rows
reset_tyflow_simulation	Reset one or all tyFlow sims

Forest Pack (WIP)

Tool	Description
scatter_forest_pack	Create a Forest Pack scatter with surfaces and source geometry

RailClone (WIP)

Tool	Description
get_railclone_style_graph	Read style-editor bases, segments, and parameters

Floor plan (WIP)

Tool	Description
build_floor_plan	Generate a 2D floor plan from grid-based room definitions

Standalone chat (WIP)

Experimental in-Max chat — see Advanced configuration — Standalone chat. Prefer external MCP for production use.

Tool	Description
send_to_chat	Send a message to the in-Max chat and wait for the reply
chat_status	Chat window status and model info
chat_reload	Reload config without restarting Max
chat_clear	Clear conversation history

Scripting & diagnostics

Tool	Description
execute_maxscript	Run MAXScript when no dedicated tool exists (respects safe mode)
invoke_tool	Call any registered tool from inside Max (testing)
run_tool_smoke	Run live smoke cases against the bridge

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Skill & reference

The installer builds an agent skill from skills/3dsmax-mcp-dev/SKILL.md with tool-choice rules, material pipeline notes, and MAXScript reference files. Rebuild manually with python scripts/build_skill.py — see Advanced configuration.

Further reading

• Advanced configuration — architecture, safe mode, tool profiles, native builds, standalone chat (WIP)
• CHANGELOG.md — release history
• LICENSE