Using Dusty

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Understand what Dusty can do, how it differs from a connected AI model, and which one to use for your project.

Dusty is Sawdust's built-in helper for building and editing models, finding help, and reporting problems. You can use it in the chat panel without connecting your own AI provider account.

What you can do with Dusty

Tell Dusty what you want to make, such as a bookcase or a bed frame, and it can create a model from one of Sawdust's existing plans. You can ask it to change the dimensions, cut a board, move or turn parts, measure them, or undo a change. It works on the project, so a request can change the model you see in the 3D view.

You can also ask how to use Sawdust. Dusty can point you to relevant support articles. If something goes wrong, describe what happened in the chat; Dusty can file a bug report with the request and what it did.

Dusty understands everyday requests, but it is not a general-purpose AI chatbot. It has a defined set of tasks it can carry out. For a new build, it needs an existing plan that fits; for an edit, it needs a tool it knows how to use. It does not develop an original design from scratch.

What a connected AI model can do

You can connect a separate AI model to the same Sawdust chat. A capable model can use Sawdust's tools to develop a custom design, revise it with you, make a video about the build, or turn it into a reusable procedure that you can run again with different dimensions. Its work is not limited to Dusty's existing plans. The range of tasks it can handle depends on the model you connect.

The connected model is a separate assistant, not an upgraded version of Dusty. When both are enabled, Dusty handles requests it can carry out and the connected model handles the others. The name and avatar above each reply show which one answered. You can also select the connected model on its own in the chat's model selector.

Guides for working with Dusty