Optimal Beam

Plugin support

For help with Optimal Beam in ChatGPT, Codex, Claude, or other compatible clients, contact plugin support.

New connections use mcp.optimalbeam.com. Existing connections using our earlier Railway address continue to work.

Connect to Claude

In Claude, open Customize, then Connectors, then Add connector and Add custom connector. Name it Optimal Beam and paste this MCP server URL:

https://mcp.optimalbeam.com/claude/mcp

Leave authentication credentials empty. No Optimal Beam account is required. Enable the connector in your conversation and ask for a calculation or steel-section lookup. Allow the interactive results card when prompted.

Try: “Analyze a 6 m simply supported beam with a 10 kN downward point load at midspan. Exclude self-weight and show the bending moment diagram.” Use the card to explore results or open the same model in Optimal Beam.

Example prompts and result screenshots

Custom connections for Grok and Muse

Grok and Muse endpoints return numerical results, units, assumptions, warnings, and catalog properties directly in the conversation. Interactive cards are not currently advertised for these clients. Grok has been verified with all seven tools in a desktop conversation, including follow-up calculations, steel comparisons and website continuation. Muse directory review requirements are still being completed; the connector is not yet available in the Muse app. Neither platform has an approved public listing.

In Grok’s Connectors settings, add a custom connector named Optimal Beam using:

https://mcp.optimalbeam.com/grok/mcp

The Muse endpoint submitted for directory review is also available at:

https://mcp.optimalbeam.com/muse/mcp

Choose no authentication. No Optimal Beam account, API key, or subscription is needed. Availability of custom connectors depends on the AI platform. Optional website links let you continue editing the same model or exploring the selected sections.

Connect to Gemini chat

Where Custom apps are available in Gemini, open Settings, then Personal Intelligence, then Connected Apps. Under Custom apps, add this server URL:

https://mcp.optimalbeam.com/gemini/mcp

Review Google's connection permissions, name the app Optimal Beam, and connect. No Optimal Beam account or API key is required. Refresh Gemini after connecting, then type @Optimal Beam in a new chat to select it. This custom connection has been verified in a desktop Gemini account; availability depends on Google's rollout. It is separate from a public Gemini app catalog listing.

Connect to Cursor

The Optimal Beam plugin for Cursor connects to https://mcp.optimalbeam.com/cursor/mcp. Follow the repository's installation instructions. No Optimal Beam account or API key is required.

Use the seven tools to analyze beams, inspect numerical results, search steel sections, and compare candidates. Links open the same model in the calculator with Cursor attribution. The public plugin package is available independently of Cursor Marketplace approval.

Connect to Gemini CLI

Install the Optimal Beam extension for Gemini CLI with:

gemini extensions install https://github.com/tamerhijjawi/optimal-beam-gemini

The extension uses https://mcp.optimalbeam.com/gemini/mcp. No Optimal Beam account or API key is required. It returns all seven tools, numerical results, assumptions, and links to continue in the calculator with Gemini attribution.

This extension is for Gemini CLI. Availability of custom connections in the regular Gemini app depends on Google's account and regional requirements; this is not a public listing in the Gemini chat app.

Available tools and troubleshooting

The seven tools search steel catalogs, retrieve exact section properties, find geometric alternatives, calculate beam responses, compare sections on the same beam, return catalog results, and show calculated results. Calculations require units, span, supports, loads, and a self-weight basis. Deflection additionally needs material stiffness and section inertia. Input assumptions are shown with the results.

All tools are read-only lookups or calculations. They do not modify saved models, accounts, payments, or subscriptions. Calculation snapshots expire after up to 30 minutes or a service restart. If a result has expired, ask the assistant to calculate it again. If the service is busy, retry shortly; if an input is invalid, correct the field identified in the error. Reconnect or refresh the connector if tool discovery fails.

The shared service limits traffic to 120 MCP requests per minute, eight active requests, and two simultaneous analyses per instance. Requests have a 60-second deadline. Limits are shared across clients and may produce temporary busy responses.

Report a problem

Describe the steps, the error message, and whether you used desktop or mobile. Use a small example with non-confidential inputs when reporting a calculation issue.

Security and privacy

Report suspected vulnerabilities privately through the contact form or by email. Include “Security report” in your message. Do not include passwords, API keys, or other people's data.

For privacy or deletion requests, explain which information or result is involved. Do not post your result reference or model link publicly.

Calculation scope

The plugin provides linear elastic beam analysis and steel catalog properties. It does not certify structural safety or check member capacity, buckling, connections, or design-code compliance.