Forge Altium MCP

Backwards intelligence for Altium Designer via Claude. The first MCP server built specifically for PCB engineers.

Surface certifications, DFM constraints, manufacturer capabilities, and real costs — before your design starts.

What it does

Connect this MCP server to Claude Desktop, then open Altium Designer. Ask Claude:

• "What certifications do I need for a BLE device selling in US and EU?"
• "Check DFM for this BGA footprint on a 4-layer board"
• "Estimate cost for this PCB at 500, 2000, and 10000 units"
• "Run a full intelligence report on my product before I start routing"

Tools

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | analyze_product | Full backwards intelligence report — certifications, DFM, costs, component risks, manufacturers | | check_certifications | Certification requirements for specific product + markets | | estimate_cost | Manufacturing cost at different quantities | | check_dfm | DFM constraints for specific component or process |

Setup

1. Install

npm install -g forge-altium-mcp

Or clone and build:

git clone https://github.com/your-repo/forge-altium-mcp
cd forge-altium-mcp
npm install && npm run build

2. Add to Claude Desktop

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "forge-altium": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/forge-altium-mcp/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "FORGE_API_URL": "https://forge-rho-pink.vercel.app",
        "FORGE_API_KEY": "your_api_key"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Restart Claude Desktop

The Forge tools will appear in Claude's tool list.

Example usage in Claude

I'm designing a portable medical pulse oximeter for US and EU markets.
Target cost: $18 at 2000 units. Run a full Forge analysis before I start.

Claude will call analyze_product and return a complete intelligence report covering:

• FDA Class II / CE MDR certification requirements
• PCB DFM constraints for medical devices
• Component risks and lead times
• Manufacturer recommendations
• Known failure patterns in similar devices