MathCAD MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides integration with PTC MathCAD Prime, allowing AI assistants like Claude to interact with MathCAD worksheets through a standardized interface.

Features

Worksheet Management: Open, close, and save MathCAD worksheets
Input Control: Set numerical values, strings, and matrices with units
Output Access: Retrieve calculation results with proper units
Calculation Management: Pause, resume, and recalculate worksheets
Export Options: Save worksheets as PDF, RTF, and XPS files

Requirements

Windows operating system (required for MathCAD COM automation)
Python 3.10 or higher
PTC MathCAD Prime 3.0 or higher installed
Dependencies: MathcadPy, pywin32, and MCP Python SDK (see requirements.txt)

Installation

Quick Installation with Claude Desktop

Install the required dependencies:
```
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
Run the installation script:
```
python install_standalone.py
```
Options:
- Use --hide flag to hide the MathCAD window when running: python install_standalone.py --hide
Restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect.

Manual Configuration

Edit your Claude Desktop configuration file at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (Mac) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mathcad": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": [
        "path/to/mathcad-mcp/standalone.py"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MATHCAD_VISIBLE": "true"
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage

Tools

The server exposes the following MCP tools:

list_mathcad_version: Get the running MathCAD version
open_worksheet: Open a MathCAD worksheet from a file path
close_worksheet: Close a specific worksheet
close_all_worksheets: Close all open worksheets
quit_mathcad: Quit the MathCAD application entirely
save_worksheet: Save a worksheet to a specified path and format
save_worksheet_inplace: Save the worksheet in place
activate_worksheet: Bring a worksheet to the front
set_real_input: Set a numerical input with optional units
set_string_input: Set a string input
set_matrix_input: Set a matrix input with optional units
get_input: Retrieve the current value of a designated input (real/string/matrix)
get_matrix_input: Retrieve the current value of a designated matrix input
calculate_worksheet: Recalculate a worksheet
sync_worksheet: Alias for calculating the worksheet
pause_calculation: Pause worksheet calculation
resume_calculation: Resume worksheet calculation
get_output: Get a designated output value (real, string, or matrix)
get_real_output: Get a numerical output value from a worksheet
get_real_output_with_units: Get a numerical output value with conversion to specified units
get_matrix_output: Get a matrix output from a worksheet
get_matrix_output_with_units: Get a matrix output with unit conversion
save_as_pdf: Save the worksheet as a PDF file (Mathcad Prime 5+ only)
save_as_rtf: Save the worksheet as an RTF file
save_as_xps: Save the worksheet as an XPS file
is_worksheet_readonly: Check if a worksheet is read-only
is_worksheet_modified: Check if a worksheet has unsaved changes
set_worksheet_modified: Force-set the 'modified' status of a worksheet

Resources

The server exposes the following MCP resources:

mathcad://worksheets: List all open worksheets
mathcad://worksheets/paths: List worksheets with full file paths
mathcad://worksheet/{worksheet_name}/inputs: List inputs in a worksheet
mathcad://worksheet/{worksheet_name}/outputs: List outputs in a worksheet
mathcad://worksheet/{worksheet_name}/output/{output_name}: Get a specific output value
mathcad://worksheet/{worksheet_name}/output/{output_name}/matrix: Get a matrix output
mathcad://worksheet/{worksheet_name}/output/{output_name}/with_units/{units}: Get an output with units conversion
mathcad://worksheet/{worksheet_name}/info: Get information about a worksheet
mathcad://worksheet/{worksheet_name}/status: Get the status of a worksheet

Prompt Templates

The server provides the following prompt templates to assist in MathCAD-related tasks:

solve_equation: Template for solving mathematical equations
plot_function: Template for plotting functions
analyze_engineering_problem: Template for analyzing engineering problems
unit_conversion: Template for unit conversion tasks
create_worksheet_template: Template for creating new worksheet templates

Example Workflows

Example 1: Solving a Physics Problem

1. Open an existing MathCAD worksheet:
   "Can you open my physics worksheet at C:\Users\username\Documents\Physics\projectile_motion.mcdx?"

2. Set input parameters:
   "Set the initial velocity to 50 m/s and the launch angle to 30 degrees."

3. Calculate the results:
   "Now calculate the trajectory and show me the maximum height and distance."

4. Extract output values:
   "What's the maximum height reached by the projectile?"

Example 2: Engineering Analysis

1. Open or create a worksheet for analysis:
   "I need to analyze a beam deflection problem. Can you open the structural_analysis.mcdx worksheet?"

2. Configure the worksheet:
   "Set the load P to 5000 N, beam length L to 2 m, Young's modulus E to 200 GPa, and moment of inertia I to 4×10⁻⁶ m⁴."

3. Run the calculation:
   "Calculate the worksheet and tell me the maximum deflection."

4. Export the results:
   "Save the worksheet as a PDF so I can include it in my report."

Environment Variables

MATHCAD_VISIBLE: Set to "true" to show the MathCAD application window (default), or "false" to hide it.

Architecture

The server is built using the MCP Python SDK's FastMCP framework. The main components are:

standalone.py: Self-contained server script with MathCAD integration
install_standalone.py: Utility script to install the server in Claude Desktop

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

COM Automation Errors

If you encounter COM automation errors:

Ensure MathCAD is installed and properly licensed
Check that you're running on Windows
Try restarting MathCAD and the MCP server

Worksheet Not Found

If worksheets can't be found:

Use absolute paths, not relative paths
Ensure file paths are correctly escaped
Verify the file exists and is a valid .mcdx file

Unit Conversion Issues

If unit conversion fails:

Check for compatibility between units (e.g., length can't convert to mass)
Ensure that the right unit symbols are used (e.g., 'm' for meters)
Try using standard unit formats (e.g., 'm/s' instead of 'm*s^(-1)')

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

MathcadPy - Python wrapper for the MathCAD Prime automation API
Model Context Protocol - Protocol specification and SDK

MathCAD集成