Research-Stack/5-Applications/text-to-cad/skills/cad/references/snapshot.md

Snapshot Tool

5-Applications/scripts/snapshot renders verification PNGs from generated GLB outputs and STL meshes.

Run commands from the project or workspace directory that makes your target paths resolve.

Canonical Command

python <cad-skill>/scripts/snapshot --help

Supported Inputs

• a single part or generated assembly GLB such as path/to/.part.step/model.glb or path/to/.assembly.step/model.glb
• a single part STL such as path/to/part.stl

GLB/STL inputs must already exist. snapshot does not generate missing mesh artifacts and does not require a harness root.

For generated assemblies, use the generated assembly GLB. If the GLB is missing or stale, first regenerate the explicit assembly target with gen_step_assembly, then snapshot the generated GLB.

Examples

# Render a part GLB
python <cad-skill>/scripts/snapshot path/to/.part.step/model.glb \
  --out /tmp/cad-renders/part-glb.png

# Render a generated assembly GLB
python <cad-skill>/scripts/gen_step_assembly path/to/assembly.py
python <cad-skill>/scripts/snapshot path/to/.assembly.step/model.glb \
  --out /tmp/cad-renders/assembly.png

# Render a part STL
python <cad-skill>/scripts/snapshot path/to/part.stl \
  --out /tmp/cad-renders/part-stl.png

# Render several views from one mesh load
python <cad-skill>/scripts/snapshot path/to/.part.step/model.glb \
  --views isometric,top,right --out-dir /tmp/cad-renders

# Choose the closest orthographic view from a face ref
python <cad-skill>/scripts/snapshot path/to/.part.step/model.glb \
  --align-ref '@cad[models/path/to/part#f2]' \
  --out /tmp/cad-renders/part-aligned.png

Notes

• GLB/STL meshes must already exist; missing inputs are errors.
• For generated assemblies, use the generated assembly GLB because it matches the viewer-consumed artifact.
• Python assembly source inputs are not supported by snapshot.
• Supported fixed views are front, back, right, left, top, bottom, and isometric.
• Use --views <comma-list> or --views all with --out-dir to render multiple fixed views from one mesh load.
• --align-ref @cad[...] resolves one face or edge ref and chooses the closest orthographic view automatically.
• Renders are cropped tightly to content and reserve a small axis inset when axes are enabled.
• Mesh previews are decimated for readability and speed; snapshot is a verification view, not a full-fidelity mesh viewer.
• snapshot is intended as a quick mesh verification tool, not the source of truth for geometry.