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Getting Started

Build vs Ask

Every prompt you send is either a Build (changes the model) or an Ask (asks a question). Picking the right one makes you faster and cheaper.

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The two modes

Build mode

Generates or modifies the 3D model. Each Build prompt creates a new revision attached to the product.

Default for new products and most follow-up prompts.

Ask mode

Asks a question about the existing model without changing it. Costs less than Build and never produces a new revision.

Available once a product exists. New-product prompts are always Build.

Build mode

Use Build whenever you want the model to change. Common Build prompts:

"Increase the wall thickness from 2 mm to 3 mm."
"Add a 10 mm diameter through-hole centered on the top face."
"Round the four outer edges with a 2 mm fillet."
"Move the USB-C cutout 5 mm closer to the bottom."
"Add four M3 standoffs (5 mm tall) inside the bottom face."

Build runs vary in complexity, so the credit reservation can be higher for larger or more involved changes. The exact reservation is shown before the run completes; you can also see usage by Build vs Ask on the Usage page.

Ask mode

Use Ask when you want information about the design without spending a Build run. The model is unchanged and no new revision is created.

"What is the bounding box of the current part?"
"Will this enclosure fit a 100 x 60 mm PCB with 5 mm clearance?"
"How many M3 features are present?"
"Suggest two ways to make the bracket lighter without losing strength."
Ask still consumes a small fixed credit amount per question — it is cheaper than Build but not free.

Switching modes

Inside an existing product, the chat input has a mode switcher next to the textbox. Pick Build or Ask before you submit. Your choice is remembered per product.

  • • Press ⌘ Enter (or Ctrl Enter) to submit your prompt.
  • • Use the stop control if a run is taking too long or going off-track.
  • • Build placeholder reads “What would you like to do?”; Ask placeholder reads “Ask, learn, brainstorm”.

Choosing the right mode

  • • Need the geometry to change? → Build
  • • Need a measurement, sanity check or design suggestion? → Ask
  • • Unsure how to phrase a Build? → Ask first, then send the Build with the right wording.

For a deeper dive on Ask mode, see Ask Mode. For credit costs and plan limits, see Credits & Plans.

Build vs Ask | QuantCAD Docs