tripo-mcp

An MCP server that lets an AI assistant make 3D models and images with Tripo: text or image to model, four views to model, rigging, preset animations, format conversion and image generation, with the results downloaded to disk.

One Python file, standard library only, spoken over stdio. Requires Python 3.9 or newer.

Pick a backend

Tripo sells two separate things, and each has its own credits. The server can use either, and you choose per call.

	api	cli
What it talks to	Tripo's documented v3 REST API	the Go tripo-cli, signed in as your Tripo Studio account
Credits spent	API credits (pay as you go, 1 credit = 0.01 USD)	Studio credits (your Studio plan)
Sign-in	an API key	tripo-cli auth login (a code is emailed to you)
Only here	tripo_upload	four views to a model, tripo_image, credit expiry in every result

Studio credits cannot pay for API calls and API credits cannot pay for the CLI. If you have a Studio plan and no API credits, use cli.

Choose with the backend argument on a tool call, or set TRIPO_BACKEND=api or cli. With neither, the server uses api when a key exists and cli otherwise.

Setup

1. Register the server (use --scope project to keep it to one repo):

   claude mcp add tripo --scope user -- python3 /path/to/tripo-mcp.py

2. Set up at least one backend.

   api: create a key at https://platform.tripo3d.ai (API Keys, then "Create Key"; it is shown once). Then either call the tripo_set_key tool, or export TRIPO_API_KEY. The tool writes tripo/key under $XDG_CONFIG_HOME, or %APPDATA% on Windows, or ~/.config otherwise, with mode 600 where the OS honors it. TRIPO_API_KEY wins over the file.

   cli:

   go install github.com/vast-enterprise/tripo-cli@v0.6.0
   tripo-cli auth login

   The server finds the binary on PATH, in GOBIN or GOPATH/bin (default ~/go/bin), or at TRIPO_CLI. The CLI renews its own session. When it expires, the error says to run tripo-cli auth login again.

3. Restart the assistant so it loads the new tools.

Environment variables: TRIPO_BACKEND, TRIPO_API_KEY, TRIPO_CLI, and TRIPO_API_BASE to override the API URL. Set them in the env block of the MCP server entry if you want them to apply to the server.

Tools

Tool	What it does	Backend
tripo_generate	Text, one image, or four views (front, back, left, right) to a textured 3D model	both; four views cli only
tripo_image	Generate an image from a prompt, optionally from an input image or a sketch	cli only
tripo_rig	Add a skeleton	both
tripo_retarget	Apply preset animations to a rigged model	both
tripo_animations	List the preset animation names tripo_retarget takes, in api and cli spelling	both
tripo_convert	Convert to another format	both
tripo_task	api: wait for an earlier task and save its model. cli: show its details	both
tripo_balance	Show credits. On the cli: how many expire, when, and the plan	both
tripo_upload	Upload a local image or model, returns a file token	api only
tripo_set_key	Save the API key	api only

Generation costs credits. tripo_image is free within Studio's monthly image allowance. Check tripo_balance before and after if you are unsure.

Typical flow

1. tripo_generate with an image or prompt and out set to a file or directory. It waits, downloads the model, and prints the task id (and on the cli, the project id).
2. tripo_rig with that id as input.
3. tripo_retarget with the rig result's id and the clip names.
4. tripo_convert if you need another format.

What differs between backends

• Inputs. On api an input is a task id (task_...), a file token (file_...), a URL, or a local path, which is uploaded for you. On cli it is the project id that tripo_generate printed, and images must be local files.
• Animation names. api uses preset:walk, cli uses preset:biped:walk. tripo_animations lists the known names. Tripo has no list endpoint, and no text or video to animation, so the list is the set its docs name and is not exhaustive.
• Unsupported options. An option a backend lacks is rejected with an error, never silently dropped.
• Privacy. The CLI publishes results to Tripo's community by default. The server passes --visibility private unless you ask for another value.
• Credit expiry. Every cli result ends with a line like balance: 5990 credits; 5910 expire 2026-10-30 (in 27 days); plan professional_6k until 2026-10-30.

Choosing what to use

The server also sends these instructions to the assistant, so it can pick without being told.

You want	Use
Best looking, detailed, textured model	tripo_generate with the default HD model (v3.1-20260211)
Production-ready game asset with native quad topology and multiple LOD variants	tripo_generate with P2-20260801 (newest Smart Mesh), face_limit up to 25000, no quad flag (P2 makes quads always)
Clean topology with a polycount you set (older Smart Mesh)	tripo_generate with a Smart Mesh model (P-series, for example P-v1.0-20250506), quad: true, and face_limit
One object split into separate pieces	generate_parts (cli)
New topology on an existing model	tripo_remesh (cli)
Retexture, restyle or split an existing model	tripo_texture, tripo_stylize, tripo_segment (cli)
Animation	tripo_rig, then tripo_retarget
Another file format	tripo_convert, or out with the right extension on the cli
Reference images to feed into a model	tripo_image (cli)
Which credits you have	tripo_balance

Smart Mesh models (P-series):

• P2-20260801 (Sept 2026): native quad topology, up to 4 LOD variants per prompt, automatic part separation (body/clothing/accessories), Mesh Edit for regional regeneration. Best for production pipelines.
• P-v1.0-20250506: earlier Smart Mesh with quad support, up to 25000 quads.

Studio's Smart Mesh toggle is a choice of model, not a separate flag. Studio shows newer Smart Mesh models than the CLI lists: any model id is passed through, so use the id Studio's network request shows.

Topology: quads vs triangles

Tripo can generate two kinds of face topology:

• Triangles (default): three-sided faces. Denser mesh, more flexible for complex organic shapes, easier to subdivide. Use for characters, creatures, or anything with fine detail and curvature. Works with all models.
• Quads (set quad: true on non-P2 models): four-sided faces with clean edge loops. Cleaner topology, easier to rig and animate, better for hard-surface objects and game assets. P2 always generates quads natively; P1 and other models can optionally generate quads with the quad: true flag.

Mesh size limits differ by topology and model:

• Triangles: up to 50000 faces on most models.
• Quads (P1/older): up to 25000 faces when quad: true.
• P2 (quads only): P2 always generates quads natively and ignores the quad flag; it has up to 25000 quads for game-ready assets or 50000 triangles if you don't want quads. Passing quad with P2 causes an error; omit the flag.

Waiting and downloads

Tools wait for the task and, when given out, download the result straight away. The api's model URLs expire after about five minutes, so out is the reliable way to keep a result. out is a file path, or a directory (end it with /) to get a generated file name. nowait returns the task id at once instead.

Tests

python3 -m unittest -v

The tests run against a local fake of the API and a mocked CLI, so they need no network, key, credits or account. CI runs them on Linux, macOS and Windows with Python 3.9 and 3.13.

Not affiliated

This is an unofficial client. Tripo also publishes an official npm CLI and an MCP server for its Blender add-on.