What is MCP Tools Demo Install Guide FAQ Cloud GitHub
Open Source · MIT License

Give your AI
injection molding
expertise

MoldSim MCP connects AI assistants to a specialized knowledge base of materials, process parameters, DFM rules, and simulation best practices.

Get Started View on GitHub
Click to copy $ npx moldsim-mcp
// Protocol

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol is the open standard that lets AI assistants use external tools and knowledge sources.

Claude / ChatGPT / AI Assistant
↓ request  ↑ response
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
↓ query  ↑ data
{MoldSim} — Injection Molding Knowledge

A brain extension for your AI

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard created by Anthropic. It allows AI assistants to connect to external servers that provide specialized tools and knowledge.

Think of it as a USB port for AI — plug in a server, and the AI instantly gains new capabilities. MoldSim MCP plugs in 20+ years of injection molding expertise: material data, simulation knowledge, process validation, and DFM rules.

Your AI goes from generic to domain expert.

// Capabilities

Four powerful tools

Each tool gives your AI a specific superpower for injection molding simulation work.

query_simulation_knowledge

Knowledge Base

Ask anything about injection molding simulation. Defect troubleshooting, DFM rules, mesh strategies, and process optimization — all backed by semantic search over expert knowledge.

warpage sink marks short shots weld lines flash DFM meshing
get_material_properties

Material Database

Instant access to 20+ engineering plastics with full property sets. Cross-WLF viscosity models, Tait PVT data, thermal & mechanical properties, and recommended processing windows.

Cross-WLF PVT thermal mechanical processing
validate_process_parameters

Process Validator

Validate your melt/mold temperatures, injection speed, packing pressure, and cooling time against material specs. Get instant warnings, errors, and actionable suggestions.

melt temp mold temp pressure cooling shear rate
generate_simulation_spec

Simulation Spec Generator

Describe your part in plain English and get a complete simulation specification: recommended analysis types, mesh settings, process conditions, and expected results checklist.

fill analysis mesh settings runner design cooling layout
20+ engineering plastics included
ABS PP Homo PP Copo PA6 PA66 PA66-GF30 PC PC/ABS POM HDPE LDPE PMMA PBT PBT-GF30 PET PS HIPS TPU SAN ASA PPE/PS ABS PP Homo PP Copo PA6 PA66 PA66-GF30 PC PC/ABS POM HDPE LDPE PMMA PBT PBT-GF30 PET PS HIPS TPU SAN ASA PPE/PS
// In action

See it work

A real conversation between an engineer and an AI with MoldSim MCP connected.

claude — moldsim-mcp
You
My PA66-GF30 connector housing is warping badly after ejection. Wall thickness is 2mm, melt temp 290°C, mold temp 80°C. What should I check?
Claude + MoldSim
query_simulation_knowledge
Several factors are likely contributing to warpage in your glass-filled PA66 part:

1. Fiber orientation imbalance — GF30 materials are highly anisotropic. Shrinkage along flow can be 0.3% while cross-flow reaches 1.2%. This differential drives warpage.

2. Mold temperature is low — For PA66-GF30, recommended mold temp is 85–100°C. Your 80°C may cause uneven crystallization. Try 90°C.

3. Cooling asymmetry — Check that cooling channels are symmetric on both halves. Even a 5°C difference across the part can cause measurable bow.

4. Packing phase — Insufficient packing allows voids that amplify differential shrinkage. Ensure V/P switchover at 95% fill with adequate hold time.
// Setup

Install in 30 seconds

Works with Claude Code CLI and Claude Desktop. No API keys, no accounts, no config files.

Claude Code

CLI tool
1

Add the MCP server

One command registers MoldSim with Claude Code:

$ claude mcp add moldsim -- npx -y moldsim-mcp
2

Start using it

That's it. Ask Claude about injection molding — it will automatically use MoldSim tools.

$ claude "What causes sink marks in PC parts?"

Claude Desktop

Desktop app
1

Open settings

Go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config and add:

"mcpServers": { "moldsim": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "moldsim-mcp"] } }
2

Restart Claude Desktop

Restart the app. You'll see MoldSim tools appear in the tools menu.

// Beginner Guide

New to Claude Code?

Claude Code is an AI coding assistant that runs in your terminal. It can read files, write code, run commands, and — with MCP servers like MoldSim — access specialized domain knowledge. Here's how to get everything running from scratch.

Install Node.js

MoldSim MCP runs on Node.js (v18+). If you don't have it yet:

Download from https://nodejs.org # LTS version recommended

Or via terminal on macOS/Linux:

$ curl -fsSL https://fnm.vercel.app/install | bash && fnm install --lts

Install Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI. Install it globally:

$ npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Then launch it once to log in:

$ claude
i Claude Code requires an Anthropic API key or a Claude Max subscription. It will guide you through authentication on first launch.

Add MoldSim MCP

Register MoldSim as an MCP server — one command, no config files:

$ claude mcp add moldsim -- npx -y moldsim-mcp
i This downloads and registers MoldSim automatically. On first run it will build a local vector database — takes about 30 seconds, then it's instant.

Start asking questions

That's it! Open Claude Code and ask about injection molding:

$ claude "What causes warpage in glass-filled nylon parts?"
$ claude "Give me the Cross-WLF parameters for PC/ABS"
$ claude "Validate: ABS at 245C melt, 60C mold, 2.5mm wall"
// Trusted by industry leaders

Used by engineering teams at

// Why MoldSim

Built for real engineers

Open Source

MIT licensed. Inspect the code, fork it, contribute. Full transparency on every material property and knowledge entry.

Works Offline

Local vector database with embedded knowledge. No cloud dependency, no API keys. Your data stays on your machine.

Real Engineering Data

20+ materials with Cross-WLF viscosity, Tait PVT, thermal and mechanical properties. Not toy data — real simulation-grade values.

Software Agnostic

Covers Moldflow, Moldex3D, and Cadmould workflows. General simulation knowledge that applies regardless of your software.

Zero Config

One command to install. No API keys, no accounts, no config files. Works out of the box with Claude Code and Claude Desktop.

By Engineers, For Engineers

Built by people who run simulations daily. Knowledge curated from real production experience, not just textbooks.

// FAQ

Common questions

Which simulation software do you recommend?

All major packages are excellent — your choice depends on budget, workflow, and team:
  • Autodesk Moldflow — Industry standard, the widest material database, deep Autodesk CAD integration. autodesk.com/moldflow
  • Moldex3D — True 3D solver, excellent mesh quality, strong in multi-component and micro-molding. moldex3d.com
  • CADMOULD — Fast hybrid FEM/BEM solver, great for quick feasibility checks. By Simcon. simcon.com
  • SIGMASOFT Virtual Molding — Process-oriented, models real machine behavior. Great for process optimization. sigmasoft.de
  • SolidWorks Plastics — CAD-integrated, good for designers who need quick DFM feedback.
  • SimForm — Cloud-based, results in minutes instead of hours. simform.app
  • OpenInjMoldSim — Open-source filling/packing/cooling on OpenFOAM. Validated vs. Moldflow. FREE
MoldSim MCP works with all of these — it provides general simulation knowledge that's software-agnostic.

Where can I get free Claude hours / credits?

  • claude.ai free tier — Sign up at claude.ai, get limited daily messages with Sonnet for free. No credit card needed. FREE
  • API credits — New Anthropic API accounts get $5 free credits at console.anthropic.com. Enough for significant testing. FREE
  • Claude Pro — $20/mo for 5x more usage, priority access, longer conversations.
  • Claude Max — $100/mo for 20x more usage, suitable for heavy professional use.
  • Claude Code — Best way to use MoldSim MCP. Install via npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code. Uses API credits.
Tip: Claude API batch mode gives you 50% discount on all tokens (24h processing window). Prompt caching saves up to 90% on repeated context.

How much does Claude API cost for simulation work?

Current Anthropic API pricing (per 1M tokens):
Haiku 4.5
Fastest
Input$1.00
Output$5.00
Quick lookups, material queries. ~$0.01 per question.
Best value
Sonnet 4.5
Balanced
Input$3.00
Output$15.00
Best for daily simulation work. Deep analysis at reasonable cost.
Opus 4.5
Most capable
Input$5.00
Output$25.00
Complex multi-step analysis, simulation spec generation.

Cost savings: Batch API = 50% off. Prompt caching = up to 90% off on repeated context. A typical simulation Q&A session costs pennies.

Can I use MoldSim with ChatGPT, Gemini, or other AI?

MoldSim MCP uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which is currently best supported by Claude. However:
  • Claude Code / Claude Desktop — Full native MCP support. Recommended. WORKS
  • Other MCP clients — Any app that supports MCP can use MoldSim. The protocol is open. WORKS
  • ChatGPT / Gemini / Llama — No native MCP support yet. You could build a bridge or use the knowledge base data directly as context.
MCP is an open protocol by Anthropic — more AI providers are expected to adopt it.

Do I need simulation software installed to use MoldSim?

No. MoldSim MCP is a knowledge base and validation tool — it gives your AI assistant expertise about injection molding simulation, but it doesn't run simulations itself.

Think of it as having an experienced simulation engineer available 24/7 to answer questions, validate your process parameters, recommend mesh settings, and help diagnose defects — without needing to open Moldflow or Moldex3D.

When you do need to run actual simulations, MoldSim can help you set up the job by generating a complete simulation spec from a plain-English description of your part.

Where can I learn injection molding simulation from scratch?

Great free and paid resources:
  • Autodesk Knowledge Network — Free Moldflow tutorials and documentation. knowledge.autodesk.com FREE
  • Moldex3D University — Online courses on simulation fundamentals. moldex3d.com FREE
  • "Injection Molding" by Tim A. Osswald — Classic textbook covering fundamentals.
  • Kruse Training — Professional injection molding courses. krusetraining.com
  • YouTube: Bozzelli, RJG, Paulson — Free lectures from industry experts. FREE
Or just install MoldSim MCP and ask Claude — it knows most of this already.
// Cloud computing

Run simulations in the cloud

Need compute power for heavy simulation jobs? Here are recommended cloud instances from major providers, with estimated pricing for injection molding simulation workloads.

Instance vCPUs RAM $/hr $/month* Best for
c6i.4xlarge 16 32 GB $0.68 ~$490 Budget Small parts, quick fills
c6i.8xlarge 32 64 GB $1.36 ~$979 Recommended Most simulation jobs
c7i.8xlarge 32 64 GB $1.43 ~$1,030 Latest gen Faster solver, same cost class
hpc7a.48xlarge 96 768 GB $3.60 ~$2,592 Heavy Large molds, warpage, DOE
* Monthly estimate based on 720 hrs on-demand. Use Spot instances for up to 90% savings on batch jobs. Region: US East (Virginia).
Instance vCPUs RAM $/hr $/month* Best for
c3-highcpu-8 8 16 GB $0.34 ~$245 Budget Simple fills, DFM checks
c3-standard-8 8 32 GB $0.40 ~$290 Entry Small-medium parts
c3-standard-44 44 176 GB $2.22 ~$1,599 Recommended Production simulation work
h3-standard-88 88 352 GB $3.73 ~$2,686 HPC Large molds, DOE studies
* Monthly estimate based on 720 hrs on-demand. Use Spot/Preemptible VMs for up to 91% savings. Region: us-central1 (Iowa).
Instance vCPUs RAM $/hr $/month* Best for
F16s v2 16 32 GB $0.68 ~$490 Budget Small parts, quick analyses
F32s v2 32 64 GB $1.35 ~$972 Recommended Most simulation jobs
F72s v2 72 144 GB $3.05 ~$2,196 Heavy Complex molds, large DOE
HBv4 176 768 GB $7.20 ~$5,184 HPC Extreme: full vehicle, crash-sim
* Monthly estimate based on 720 hrs on-demand. Use Spot VMs for up to 90% savings. Region: East US.
TIP For simulation work you typically don't need 24/7 instances. Spin up a compute-optimized VM, run your solver, download results, and shut it down. A 32-vCPU job running for 4 hours costs ~$5.50. Ask MoldSim MCP to help estimate the compute you need for your specific part.

Ready to supercharge your
simulation workflow?

Install MoldSim MCP and turn your AI assistant into an injection molding expert. Free, open source, forever.

Get Started Star on GitHub
Copied to clipboard