Tracefinity
Generate custom gridfinity bins with AI, from photos of your tools
Install / Use
/learn @tracefinity/TracefinityREADME
How It Works
- Place tools on A4/Letter paper (tools can overflow the edges)
- Take a photo from above
- Upload and adjust paper corners for scale calibration
- AI traces tool outlines automatically
- Save traced tools to your library
- Create bins, add tools from the library, arrange the layout
- Download STL/3MF for 3D printing
| Dashboard | Tool Editor | Bin Editor |
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Quick Start
Try it at tracefinity.net without installing anything, or self-host:
Docker
# local model (no API key needed)
docker run -p 3000:3000 -v ./data:/app/storage ghcr.io/tracefinity/tracefinity
# or with Gemini API
docker run -p 3000:3000 -v ./data:/app/storage -e GOOGLE_API_KEY=your-key ghcr.io/tracefinity/tracefinity
Open http://localhost:3000
By default, Tracefinity uses IS-Net for local tracing -- no API key needed. Set GOOGLE_API_KEY to use Gemini instead. See Tracing Modes for RAM requirements per model.
| Variable | Default | Description |
|-|-|-|
| GOOGLE_API_KEY | | Gemini API key. Uses Gemini instead of local models |
| TRACERS | auto-detected | Comma-separated list of available tracers, e.g. gemini,birefnet-lite,isnet |
| GEMINI_IMAGE_MODEL | gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview | Gemini model for mask generation (see below) |
From Source
Prerequisites: Python 3.11+, Node.js 20+
git clone https://github.com/tracefinity/tracefinity
cd tracefinity
# First time setup
cd backend && python3 -m venv venv && source venv/bin/activate && pip install -r requirements.txt
cd ../frontend && npm install
cd ..
# Run (starts backend on :8000 and frontend on :4001)
make dev
Open http://localhost:4001
Tracing Modes
Tracefinity supports three ways to trace tool outlines from photos. All three produce the same output -- black and white mask images that get converted to editable polygons via OpenCV contour extraction.
Local models (default)
When no API key is configured, Tracefinity runs a local salient object detection model. No API key, no network access, no cost. Model weights download automatically on first trace. Three models are available, selectable via the TRACERS env var or the UI dropdown:
| Model | Speed (CPU) | Min RAM | Quality | Notes | |-|-|-|-|-| | IS-Net (default) | ~0.8s | 2GB | Good | Fastest, lowest memory | | BiRefNet Lite | ~3.6s | 8GB | Best | Handles reflections and shiny surfaces well | | InSPyReNet | ~2.8s | 6GB | Good | Apple Silicon (MPS) support |
Paper corner detection runs U2-Net Portable alongside the tracer. RAM figures include both models. All models load at startup.
Minimum RAM: 2GB (IS-Net). BiRefNet Lite needs 8GB.
See #21 for the benchmark that led to this selection.
Gemini API
Set GOOGLE_API_KEY to use Google's Gemini models instead. Higher accuracy overall, especially on complex or reflective tools. To get a key: Google AI Studio (free tier available).
| Model | Pros | Cons |
|-|-|-|
| gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview (default) | Fast, good mask quality | Preview model |
| gemini-3-pro-image-preview | Best mask quality, pixel-accurate alignment | Slower, preview model |
| gemini-2.5-flash-image | Faster, cheaper, GA | Returns arbitrary dimensions, needs post-hoc alignment |
Manual mask upload
No API key and prefer not to use the local model? Upload a mask manually:
- Upload your photo and set paper corners
- Click "Manual" and download the corrected image
- Open Gemini and paste the image with the provided prompt
- Download the generated mask (black tools on white background)
- Upload the mask back to Tracefinity
Features
- AI-powered tracing -- Local model or Gemini generates accurate tool silhouettes from photos
- Manual mask upload -- Use the Gemini web interface without an API key
- Selective saving -- Choose which traced outlines to keep before saving to your library
- Tool library -- Save traced tools and reuse them across multiple bins
- Tool editor -- Rotate tools, add/remove vertices, adjust outlines, snap to grid
- Smooth or accurate -- Toggle Chaikin subdivision for smooth curves, or keep the raw trace; SVG and STL exports both respect this
- Finger holes -- Circular, square, or rectangular cutouts for easy tool removal
- Interior rings -- Hollow tools (e.g. spanners) traced correctly with holes preserved
- Bin builder -- Drag and arrange tools with snap-to-grid, auto-sizing to fit the gridfinity grid
- Cutout clearance -- Configurable tolerance so tools fit without being too loose
- Cutout chamfer -- Bevelled top edges on tool pockets for easy tool insertion
- Contrast insert -- Generate a separate STL for printing tool silhouettes in a different colour
- Text labels -- Recessed or embossed text on bins
- Gridfinity compatible -- Proper base profile, magnet holes, stacking lip
- Live 3D preview -- See your bin in three.js before printing
- STL and 3MF export -- 3MF supports multi-colour printing for embossed text
- SVG export -- Individual tool outlines as SVG, with smoothing applied
- Bed splitting -- Large bins auto-split into printable pieces with diagonal fit detection
- Landscape and portrait -- Paper orientation auto-detected from corner positions
- Single-container Docker -- Frontend and backend in one image, data in a single volume
What is Gridfinity?
Gridfinity is a modular storage system designed by Zack Freedman. Bins snap into baseplates on a 42mm grid, making it easy to organise tools, components, and supplies. The system is open source and hugely popular in the 3D printing community.
Licence
MIT
