This repository documents the conceptual architecture and design philosophy behind Lunar Prototypes, a system built to make parametric 3D models usable by people who do not want to open CAD software for every small dimensional change.
This is a documentation-only repository. It intentionally does not include production code, APIs, or Fusion 360 add-ins.
If you are looking to use the tools described here, visit: https://lunarprototypes.com
Parametric CAD models are powerful, but they assume:
- access to CAD software
- familiarity with parametric modeling
- willingness to manually edit parameters for small, repetitive changes
Lunar Prototypes exists to reduce that friction.
The goal is to allow a user to:
- Select a practical design
- Enter a small number of real-world dimensions
- Receive a ready-to-print STL generated from a parametric source model
This approach prioritizes:
- fit over aesthetics
- reuse of existing hardware
- waste reduction
- practical problem solving over novelty
High-level flow: A user selects a design and enters dimensions in the website UI. The API validates those inputs, creates a job, and orchestrates the work. A Fusion 360 worker applies the parameters to the source model, exports an STL, and the STL is returned to the user for download.
Each step is intentionally separated to keep concerns clear and failure modes isolated.
All customization originates from a single parametric Fusion 360 file. There are no geometry generators or mesh manipulation shortcuts.
This supports:
- predictable outputs
- consistent tolerances
- easier long-term maintenance of designs
The web layer exists to expose intentional parameters only. It does not attempt to replicate CAD functionality.
If a design cannot be safely constrained via parameters, it does not belong in the system.
The system avoids opaque behavior. Each job follows a deterministic flow:
- validate inputs
- apply parameters
- export STL
- return result
Failures are expected and treated as normal system states.
Specific implementations may change over time, but the system currently relies on:
- Fusion 360 for parametric modeling and STL generation
- a Python-based API layer for job handling
- containerized services for isolation and repeatability
- a lightweight web frontend for user interaction
Open-source tools are used wherever practical, but this project is not an attempt to build a generalized CAD platform.
This repository does not include:
- Fusion 360 scripts or add-ins
- API source code
- infrastructure definitions
- security models
- deployment instructions
Those components are tightly coupled to production constraints and are not suitable for public reuse in their current form.
Lunar Prototypes is built around a few core ideas:
- customization is a delivery method, not the product
- solving a real problem beats printing something clever
- reducing waste is as important as reducing cost
- tools should fit the user’s space, hardware, and constraints
This documentation exists to explain how the system thinks, not to provide a toolkit.
- Project site and live tools: https://lunarprototypes.com
- Blog and development notes: https://blog.lunarprototypes.com
- System architecture background: From Idea to Reality with AI (April 2024)
This repository is stable and intentionally low-activity. Issues and pull requests are not expected to be accepted.
It exists as a reference for those curious about the technical approach behind Lunar Prototypes.