Meshy 3D Generation

Directly communicate with the Meshy AI API to generate 3D assets. This skill handles the complete lifecycle: environment setup, API key detection, task creation, polling, downloading, and chaining multi-step pipelines.

For full endpoint reference (all parameters, response schemas, error codes), read reference.md.

IMPORTANT: 3D Printing → Use meshy-3d-printing Skill

If the user's request involves 3D printing (keywords: print, 3d print, slicer, slice, bambu, orca, prusa, cura, multicolor, 3mf, figurine, miniature, statue, physical model), use the meshy-3d-printing skill instead of this one for the entire workflow. The printing skill handles generation with correct print-optimized parameters (e.g. target_formats with "3mf" for multicolor), slicer detection, coordinate conversion, and slicer launch — all in one pipeline.

This skill's create_task/poll_task/download template functions are reused by the printing skill, but the workflow orchestration (what to generate, which formats, what to do after) must come from the printing skill when printing is involved.

Do NOT generate a model with this skill and then hand off to the printing skill — the printing skill needs to control parameters from the start (e.g. target_formats, should_texture).

IMPORTANT: First-Use Session Notice

When this skill is first activated in a session, inform the user:

All generated files will be saved to meshy_output/ in the current working directory. Each project gets its own folder ({YYYYMMDD_HHmmss}_{prompt}_{id}/) with model files, textures, thumbnails, and metadata. History is tracked in meshy_output/history.json.

This only needs to be said once per session, at the beginning.

IMPORTANT: File Organization

All downloaded files MUST go into a structured meshy_output/ directory in the current working directory. Do NOT scatter files randomly.

• Each project gets its own folder: meshy_output/{YYYYMMDD_HHmmss}_{prompt_slug}_{task_id_prefix}/
• For chained tasks (preview → refine → rig), reuse the same project_dir
• Track tasks in metadata.json per project, and global history.json
• Auto-download thumbnails alongside models

The Reusable Script Template below includes get_project_dir(), record_task(), and save_thumbnail() helpers.

IMPORTANT: Shell Command Rules

Use only standard POSIX tools in shell commands. Do NOT use rg (ripgrep), fd, or other non-standard CLI tools — they may not be installed. Use these standard alternatives instead:

IMPORTANT: Run Long Tasks Properly

Meshy generation tasks take 1–5 minutes. When running Python scripts that poll for completion:

• Write the entire create → poll → download flow as ONE Python script and execute it in a single Bash call. Do NOT split into multiple commands. This keeps the API key, task IDs, and session in one process context.
• Use python3 -u script.py (unbuffered) so progress output is visible in real time.
• Be patient with long-running scripts — do NOT interrupt or kill them prematurely. Tasks at 99% for 30–120s is normal finalization, not a failure.

Step 0: Environment Detection (ALWAYS RUN FIRST)

Before any API call, detect whether the environment is ready:

echo "=== Meshy API Key Detection ==="

# 1. Check current env var
if [ -n "$MESHY_API_KEY" ]; then
  echo "ENV_VAR: FOUND (${MESHY_API_KEY:0:8}...)"
else
  echo "ENV_VAR: NOT_FOUND"
fi

# 2. Check .env files in workspace
for f in .env .env.local; do
  if [ -f "$f" ] && grep -q "MESHY_API_KEY" "$f" 2>/dev/null; then
    echo "DOTENV($f): FOUND"
    export $(grep "MESHY_API_KEY" "$f" | head -1)
  fi
done

# 3. Check shell profiles
for f in ~/.zshrc ~/.bashrc ~/.bash_profile ~/.profile; do
  if [ -f "$f" ] && grep -q "MESHY_API_KEY" "$f" 2>/dev/null; then
    echo "SHELL_PROFILE: FOUND in $f"
  fi
done

# 4. Final status
if [ -n "$MESHY_API_KEY" ]; then
  echo "READY: key=${MESHY_API_KEY:0:12}..."
else
  echo "READY: NO_KEY_FOUND"
fi

# 5. Python requests check
python3 -c "import requests; print('PYTHON_REQUESTS: OK')" 2>/dev/null || echo "PYTHON_REQUESTS: MISSING (run: pip install requests)"

echo "=== Detection Complete ==="

Decision After Detection

• Key found → Proceed to Step 1.
• Key NOT found → Go to Step 0a.
• Python requests missing → Run pip install requests.

Step 0a: API Key Setup (Only If No Key Found)

Tell the user:

To use the Meshy API, you need an API key. Here's how to get one:

1. Go to https://www.meshy.ai/settings/api
2. Click "Create API Key", give it a name, and copy the key (it starts with msy_)
3. The key is only shown once — save it somewhere safe

Note: API access requires a Pro plan or above. Free-tier accounts cannot create API keys. If you see "Please upgrade to a premium plan to create API tasks", you'll need to upgrade at https://www.meshy.ai/pricing first.

Once the user provides their key, set it and verify:

macOS (zsh):

export MESHY_API_KEY="msy_PASTE_KEY_HERE"

# Verify
STATUS=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MESHY_API_KEY" \
  https://api.meshy.ai/openapi/v1/balance)

if [ "$STATUS" = "200" ]; then
  BALANCE=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $MESHY_API_KEY" https://api.meshy.ai/openapi/v1/balance)
  echo "Key valid. $BALANCE"
  echo 'export MESHY_API_KEY="msy_PASTE_KEY_HERE"' >> ~/.zshrc
  echo "Persisted to ~/.zshrc"
else
  echo "Key invalid (HTTP $STATUS). Check the key and try again."
fi

Linux (bash):

export MESHY_API_KEY="msy_PASTE_KEY_HERE"

# Verify (same as above), then persist to ~/.bashrc
STATUS=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MESHY_API_KEY" \
  https://api.meshy.ai/openapi/v1/balance)

if [ "$STATUS" = "200" ]; then
  BALANCE=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $MESHY_API_KEY" https://api.meshy.ai/openapi/v1/balance)
  echo "Key valid. $BALANCE"
  echo 'export MESHY_API_KEY="msy_PASTE_KEY_HERE"' >> ~/.bashrc
  echo "Persisted to ~/.bashrc"
else
  echo "Key invalid (HTTP $STATUS). Check the key and try again."
fi

Windows (PowerShell):

$env:MESHY_API_KEY = "msy_PASTE_KEY_HERE"

# Verify
$status = (Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://api.meshy.ai/openapi/v1/balance" -Headers @{Authorization="Bearer $env:MESHY_API_KEY"} -UseBasicParsing).StatusCode
if ($status -eq 200) {
    Write-Host "Key valid."
    # Persist permanently
    [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("MESHY_API_KEY", $env:MESHY_API_KEY, "User")
    Write-Host "Persisted to user environment variables. Restart terminal to take effect."
} else {
    Write-Host "Key invalid (HTTP $status). Check the key and try again."
}

Alternative (all platforms): Create a .env file in your project root:

MESHY_API_KEY=msy_PASTE_KEY_HERE

Step 1: Confirm Plan With User Before Spending Credits

CRITICAL: Before creating any task, present the user with a summary and get confirmation:

I'll generate a 3D model of "<prompt>" using the following plan:

  1. Preview (mesh generation) — 5-20 credits (meshy-6/lowpoly: 20, others: 5)
  2. Refine (texturing with PBR) — 10 credits
  3. Download as .glb

  Total cost: 30 credits
  Current balance: <N> credits

  Shall I proceed?

For multi-step pipelines (e.g., text-to-3d → rig → animate), present the FULL pipeline cost upfront:

Note: Rigging automatically includes basic walking + running animations for free (in result.basic_animations). Only add Animate (3 credits) if the user needs a custom animation beyond walking/running.

Wait for user confirmation before exe