3dsmax-mcp

MCP server that connects AI agents to Autodesk 3ds Max. Works with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, Gemini, and any MCP-compatible client.

What's new in 0.5.0

Native C++ Bridge — 76 handlers running inside 3ds Max as a GUP plugin, 86-130x faster than MAXScript
One-step installer — uv run python install.py handles everything
Multi-view capture — pure SDK viewport switching, no MAXScript re-entrancy
Controller & wiring tools — assign controllers, wire parameters, inspect track views
PB1 fallback — legacy primitives (Capsule, Hedra, etc.) now get correct params
110 tools across scene, objects, materials, modifiers, controllers, viewport, introspection.
Bundled MAXScript reference — 10 topic files for agents to write correct MAXScript

Architecture

Agent  <-->  FastMCP (Python/stdio)  <-->  Named Pipe  <-->  C++ GUP Plugin  <-->  3ds Max SDK
                                      |
                                      +--> TCP:8765 fallback --> MAXScript listener

The native bridge runs inside 3ds Max as a Global Utility Plugin. It reads the scene graph directly through the C++ SDK and communicates over Windows named pipes. 76 native handlers for scene, objects, materials, modifiers, controllers, viewport, introspection, and more.

Requirements

Python 3.10+
uv
Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 (2024/2025 supported via MAXScript fallback)

Installation

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

The installer will:

Detect your 3ds Max installation
Deploy the native bridge plugin (.gup)
Install the MAXScript listener (TCP fallback)
Build skill files for your agents
Register with Claude Code / Codex / Gemini / Claude Desktop

Restart 3ds Max and any running agents after installation.

Manual registration

If the installer can't find your agent, register manually:

Claude Code / Codex / Gemini:

claude mcp add --scope user 3dsmax-mcp -- uv run --directory "C:\path\to\3dsmax-mcp" 3dsmax-mcp

Claude Desktop — add to %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "3dsmax-mcp": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["run", "--directory", "C:\\path\\to\\3dsmax-mcp", "3dsmax-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Updating

git pull
uv sync
uv run python install.py

Skill file

The skill file teaches agents how to use the tools, what pitfalls to avoid, and how 3ds Max works. Without it, agents will guess wrong on material workflows, controller paths, and plugin APIs. The installer builds and deploys it automatically.

If you need to rebuild manually:

python scripts/build_skill.py

Safe mode

Both the native bridge and the MAXScript listener read from a shared config:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\3dsmax-mcp\mcp_config.ini

[mcp]
safe_mode = true

When enabled (default), these commands are blocked: DOSCommand, ShellLaunch, deleteFile, python.Execute, createFile

To disable, set safe_mode = false and restart 3ds Max.

Tools

110 tools across scene management, objects, materials, modifiers, controllers, wiring, viewport capture, file access, plugin introspection, tyFlow, Forest Pack, RailClone, Data Channel, and more.

Category	Tools	Transport
Scene reads	`get_scene_info`, `get_selection`, `get_scene_snapshot`, `get_selection_snapshot`, `get_scene_delta`, `get_hierarchy`	C++
Objects	`create_object`, `delete_objects`, `transform_object`, `clone_objects`, `select_objects`, `set_object_property`, `set_visibility`, `set_parent`	C++/Hybrid
Inspection	`inspect_object`, `inspect_properties`, `introspect_class`, `introspect_instance`, `walk_references`, `learn_scene_patterns`, `map_class_relationships`	C++
Materials	`assign_material`, `set_material_properties`, `get_material_slots`, `create_texture_map`, `write_osl_shader`, `create_shell_material`, `replace_material`	Hybrid
Modifiers	`add_modifier`, `remove_modifier`, `set_modifier_state`, `collapse_modifier_stack`, `batch_modify`	Hybrid
Controllers	`assign_controller`, `inspect_controller`, `inspect_track_view`, `set_controller_props`, `add_controller_target`	Hybrid
Wiring	`wire_params`, `unwire_params`, `get_wired_params`, `list_wireable_params`	Hybrid
Viewport	`capture_viewport`, `capture_multi_view`, `capture_screen`, `render_scene`	C++
Organization	`manage_layers`, `manage_groups`, `manage_selection_sets`, `manage_scene`	C++
File access	`inspect_max_file`, `merge_from_file`, `search_max_files`, `batch_file_info`	C++
Plugins	`discover_plugin_classes`, `introspect_class`, `introspect_instance`, `get_plugin_capabilities`	C++
Scene events	`watch_scene`, `get_scene_delta`	C++
tyFlow	`create_tyflow`, `get_tyflow_info`, `modify_tyflow_operator`, `set_tyflow_shape`, `reset_tyflow_simulation`	MAXScript
Forest Pack	`scatter_forest_pack`	MAXScript
Data Channel	`add_data_channel`, `inspect_data_channel`, `set_data_channel_operator`	MAXScript
Scripting	`execute_maxscript`	Pipe

v0.5.2 Notice

Deleted the procedural placement tools (kept floor plan — will update that to be actually useful) and removed verified workflows. The native bridge already handles verification and the verified tools were causing crashes.

Building from source (native bridge)

Only needed if you want to modify the C++ plugin.

Requires: 3ds Max 2026 SDK, Visual Studio 2022, CMake 3.20+

cd native
cmake -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64
cmake --build build --config Release

Then copy native/build/Release/mcp_bridge.gup to C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2026\plugins\.

3dsmax-mcp

3dsmax-mcp

What's new in 0.5.0

Architecture

Requirements

Installation

Manual registration

Updating

Skill file

Safe mode

Tools

v0.5.2 Notice

Building from source (native bridge)

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