How to use Claude to design a stackable desk shelf
Claude generated an OpenSCAD design for a stackable desk shelf. After evening iteration and about half a dozen small prototypes, the author had three printed shelves on their desk by the end of the next workday.
news.ycombinator.com
Suggested prompt
Suggested prompt written by Agents In Use, not the source author. Replace bracketed inputs and review tool permissions first.
Write a parameterized OpenSCAD design for a stackable desk tray shelf with [dimensions], [stacking requirements] and [printer constraints]. Help me iterate using [prototype observations], then update the file for the next test print.
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Sourced account- Source poster / publisher
- pdntspa
- Original account
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- Reported result
- The author reports three printed stackable shelves on their desk by the end of the next workday, following about three hours of iteration and roughly half a dozen tiny prototypes.
- Human involvement
- The author iterated with Claude and made physical prototypes before printing the finished shelves; no formal structural review is described.
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How the agent did it
- Ask Claude to write an OpenSCAD file for a stackable desk tray shelf.
- Iterate on the design with Claude after work.
- Produce about half a dozen tiny physical prototypes.
The author wanted a stackable tray-style shelf for desk clutter and could not find a suitable design on maker sites. Instead, they had Claude write an OpenSCAD file during a lunch break, then continued iterating with it after work.
The process involved approximately three hours of back-and-forth the following evening, along with about half a dozen tiny prototypes. The author does not describe the individual design changes, dimensions or print settings. The concrete sequence is a generated CAD file, an evening of iteration and physical prototypes, followed by finished prints.
By the end of work the next day, the author had three shelves sitting on their desk. They report a two-hour print time for each shelf and include that printing time in their account of reaching the finished result. The post offers the shelves as one example of using coding assistance to complete a practical personal project.
The reported output is physical desk furniture made from a Claude-generated OpenSCAD design. There is no stated load rating or description of structural testing beyond the finished shelves being on the desk.
Who it's for: People with access to a 3D printer who want to iterate on a small custom desk accessory.
Prompt
Suggested prompt (written by Agents In Use, not the author's)
Source: Hacker News · pdntspa
Frequently asked questions
What design file did Claude produce?
Claude wrote an OpenSCAD file for a stackable desk tray shelf. The author then iterated on the design after work.
How much prototyping did the author report?
The author reports about three hours of back-and-forth and roughly half a dozen tiny prototypes, followed by three finished shelves. Each shelf took about two hours to print.
What information should a reusable design prompt include?
General guidance: Include desired dimensions, stacking requirements, printer constraints and intended contents. The source does not provide those specifications or a tested load capacity.
More details
Remaining steps
- Print three finished shelves and place them on the desk.
About this account
Claude generated the OpenSCAD design and participated in repeated design iterations directed by the author.
Platform: Hacker News. Attribution: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47430684. Prompt: Suggested (written by Agents In Use, not the author's). Sourced by the Agents In Use pipeline.
Credit: pdntspa on Hacker News
Source published
Added to Agents In Use
Source checked
Tools and topics
Claude · OpenSCAD · 3D printer
3D printing · OpenSCAD · Desk organization · Prototyping
Editorial completeness: 100/100. Measures documented fields, not agent performance or verified outcomes.