rftools — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Connects 255 RF and electronics calculators plus 13 simulation workflows directly to your AI assistant.
claude mcp add rftools -- npx -y rftools-mcpWhat rftools does
This integration provides access to 255 engineering formulas and 13 server-side simulation engines. It handles microstrip impedance, trace thermal limits, link budgets, and filter design without switching between separate tools. For deep analysis, it connects to solvers like NEC2, FDTD, Monte Carlo methods, and radiated EMI predictors.
The interface exposes 24 individual MCP tools. Six tools manage standard calculator evaluations, 13 execute specific simulation types, and five monitor task states.
Calculators evaluate locally without account credentials. Simulation tasks without attachments run on the free tier, which includes 5 jobs monthly. If a task requires uploading files via inputFiles or inputPaths, execution stops locally unless RFTOOLS_API_KEY is configured.
What it helps with
- compute microstrip line impedance and PCB trace thermal limits
- run NEC2 or FDTD antenna electromagnetic simulations
- estimate radiated EMI emissions for board layouts
- calculate switching power supply inductances and filter parameters
Example prompts for the agent
- Calculate PCB trace width for 5 A current with a 10 °C rise on 1 oz copper.
- Run a NEC2 dipole antenna simulation at 433 MHz.
- Compute link budget margins for an 868 MHz line of sight over 15 km.
How to install rftools
Platform CLI
claude mcp add rftools -- npx -y rftools-mcpPlatform CLI
codex mcp add rftools -- npx -y rftools-mcpConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"rftools": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"rftools-mcp"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"rftools": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"rftools-mcp"
]
}
}
}Platform CLI
gemini mcp add rftools npx -y rftools-mcpStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about rftools
How to install rftools in Claude Code?
Install it by running claude mcp add rftools -- npx -y rftools-mcp.
What does rftools do?
It equips your AI assistant with 255 electronic design calculators and 13 backend simulation solvers such as NEC2 and FDTD.
Is an API key required to run rftools?
All 255 calculators function locally without an account. Setting RFTOOLS_API_KEY is mandatory only when submitting jobs with input files or when you need more than 5 monthly simulation runs.
