Your First Design

A hands-on tutorial to create your first parametric CAD design using Conjure.

Overview

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use Conjure to create a simple but practical design: a customizable enclosure box with mounting holes and a lid. This will teach you the fundamentals of working with Conjure and AI-assisted CAD.

Prerequisites: Make sure you've completed the installation and have your adapter connected.

What You'll Build

Project: Electronics Enclosure

Dimensions: 80mm × 60mm × 30mm (width × depth × height)
Wall thickness: 2mm
Four corner mounting holes (M3 size)
Rounded edges for a professional finish
Optional: Ventilation slots

This tutorial assumes you're using Claude, ChatGPT, or another AI assistant that supports Conjure's MCP integration.

Here's what's possible with Conjure—from simple enclosures to complex multi-part mechanisms:

Step 1: Start a New Design

Open your CAD software (FreeCAD or Fusion 360)
Create a new document/design
- FreeCAD: File → New
- Fusion 360: File → New Design
Switch to Conjure workbench (FreeCAD only)
- Click the workbench dropdown and select "Conjure"
Verify connection: Check that the Conjure panel shows "Connected"

Step 2: Create the Base Box

Start a conversation with your AI assistant and ask it to create the basic enclosure:

You:

Create a rectangular box for an electronics enclosure. The outer dimensions should be 80mm wide, 60mm deep, and 30mm tall. Make the walls 2mm thick so there's a hollow interior. Position it centered at the origin.

AI:

I'll create that enclosure for you using Conjure.

# Creates outer box: 80 × 60 × 30 mm
# Creates inner cavity: 76 × 56 × 28 mm (accounting for 2mm walls)
# Subtracts inner from outer to create hollow enclosure

Watch your CAD software: You should see the box appear in your viewport. Rotate the view to inspect it from different angles.

Step 3: Add Rounded Edges

Let's make the design more professional by adding fillets to the edges:

You:

Add 3mm fillets to all the outer vertical edges of the box to give it rounded corners. Keep the top and bottom edges sharp.

AI:

I'll apply 3mm fillets to the vertical edges.

# Selects the 4 vertical outer edges
# Applies 3mm fillet radius to soften the corners

Tip: If the AI selects the wrong edges, you can specify them more precisely: "the four edges where the front/back faces meet the left/right faces"

Step 4: Add Mounting Holes

Now let's add mounting holes in each corner:

You:

Add M3 mounting holes in each of the four corners of the bottom face. Position them 5mm from each edge. The holes should go all the way through the bottom surface.

AI:

I'll create the four corner mounting holes with M3 clearance diameter (3.2mm).

# Creates 4 cylinders: 3.2mm diameter × 3mm height
# Positions:
#   - Corner 1: (5, 5, -1.5) mm from origin
#   - Corner 2: (75, 5, -1.5) mm
#   - Corner 3: (75, 55, -1.5) mm
#   - Corner 4: (5, 55, -1.5) mm
# Subtracts from main body

Step 5: Add Ventilation (Optional)

For electronics that generate heat, let's add some ventilation slots:

You:

Add a row of 5 ventilation slots on each of the left and right side faces. Each slot should be 15mm wide, 2mm tall, spaced 3mm apart vertically, and centered horizontally on the face. Start the first slot 5mm from the bottom.

AI:

I'll create ventilation slots on both sides.

# Creates 5 rectangular slots per side (10 total)
# Each slot: 15mm × 2mm × 2mm (wall thickness)
# Left side slots at x = 0
# Right side slots at x = 80
# Vertical positions: 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm from bottom

Step 6: Review and Refine

Take a moment to inspect your design:

Rotate the view to check all angles
Verify hole positions and sizes
Check that walls are the correct thickness
Ensure fillets are smooth and positioned correctly

If you need to make changes, just ask the AI. For example:

Example adjustments:

"Move the mounting holes 2mm further from the edges"
"Increase the fillet radius to 4mm"
"Make the ventilation slots 1mm wider"
"Add a small lip on the top edge for a lid"

Step 7: Export Your Design

Once you're happy with the design, export it for manufacturing:

For 3D Printing

Export as STL or 3MF format:

FreeCAD: Select the body → File → Export → STL Mesh
Fusion 360: Right-click body → Save as STL
Via AI: Just ask "Export this design as an STL file"

For CNC/Professional Manufacturing

Export as STEP format (requires Pro subscription):

FreeCAD: File → Export → STEP
Fusion 360: File → Export

Next Steps

Congratulations! You've created your first design with Conjure. Here are some ideas to continue learning:

Make a Lid

Create a matching lid that fits on top of your enclosure with a small gap for easy removal.

Add Cable Holes

Add cutouts for USB ports, power jacks, or other connectors on the side walls.

Internal Standoffs

Create mounting posts inside the enclosure to secure a PCB or component.

Parametric Variants

Ask the AI to create different sizes: "Make a version that's 100mm wide instead of 80mm"

Learn All Commands Explore available CAD operations Boolean Operations Union, subtract, and intersect shapes Browse Examples See what others have built

Tips for Success

Be Specific

The more specific your instructions, the better results you'll get. Include dimensions, positions, and exactly which features you want to modify.

Build Incrementally

Start with basic shapes and add details progressively. This makes it easier to spot and fix issues early.

Use Visual References

Describe features in relation to visible elements: "the top face", "the front-left edge", "the outer surface". This helps the AI understand exactly what you mean.

Don't Hesitate to Iterate

If something doesn't look right, ask the AI to adjust it. You can undo operations or start over if needed. Experimentation is part of the design process!