diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 99ef3e1..656cfc0 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ operations + interpreter:
 - `numpad.py` — a numberpad control panel (2/4/6/8 move, 1/3/7/9 rotate, +/−
   raise/lower, 0/. front/iso, 5 fit) that also responds to the **physical
   numpad keys** (MainWindow.keyPressEvent forwards them when not typing).
+- **Spatial feedback**: `scene.spatial_summary()` (each board's world bounding
+  box via `Part.bbox()` + flagged interpenetrations) is fed into the interpreter
+  prompt, so the AI can reason about where boards are — e.g. "position the left
+  side flush against p2" becomes a computed `wood-move`, and it can fix overlaps.
+- **Manual add**: the Parts tab has a stock dropdown + length + "Add board" to
+  place a board instantly without the AI (`controller.place`).
 - **Multi-selection**: `controller.selected` is a list driven by 3D Ctrl+click
   (`viewport.picked` carries an additive flag) and list multi-select. Group ops
   (`move_selected`/`rotate_selected`/stand/lay/sand/delete) apply to all selected
diff --git a/src/woodshop/driver.py b/src/woodshop/driver.py
index f9dbb7b..a377f48 100644
--- a/src/woodshop/driver.py
+++ b/src/woodshop/driver.py
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ Rules:
 - Refer to boards that ALREADY exist by their real id (p1, p2, ...) or their name.
 - For a board you place earlier in THIS response, refer to it later as $1, $2, ...
   numbered by the order you place boards in this response (the first wood-place is $1).
+- A "Layout" section gives each board's bounding box (in inches). Use it to
+  reason about where boards are. Boards should TOUCH at faces, never overlap or
+  leave gaps. To position one board flush against / next to another, compute the
+  offset from the two bounding boxes and emit wood-move with the relative
+  dx/dy/dz that makes their faces meet (e.g. move so the moving board's x-max
+  equals the target board's x-min). Fix any "Interpenetrating" pairs the same way.
 - "these" / "them" / "the selected ones" refer to the currently-selected boards
   listed under the scene; emit one call per selected board (e.g. wood-move for each).
 - Legs and uprights must be stood up: place the board, then wood-stand it.
diff --git a/src/woodshop/gui/controller.py b/src/woodshop/gui/controller.py
index 37640fb..6e8ad63 100644
--- a/src/woodshop/gui/controller.py
+++ b/src/woodshop/gui/controller.py
@@ -418,10 +418,12 @@ class Controller(QObject):
     def run_command(self, text: str) -> str:
         """Interpret a spoken/typed command and apply it. Returns a spoken summary.
         (Slow — call from a worker thread.)"""
+        from ..scene import spatial_summary
         self.save()  # ensure disk reflects current state
         sel = ", ".join(self.selected) if self.selected else "none"
         scene_text = (cli.cmd_status(self.scene, None)
-                      + f"\nCurrently selected ('these' / 'them' / 'the selected'): {sel}")
+                      + f"\nCurrently selected ('these' / 'them' / 'the selected'): {sel}"
+                      + "\n" + spatial_summary(self.scene))
         calls = driver.interpret(text, self.schemas(), scene_text=scene_text)
         messages = driver.dispatch(calls, verbose=False, executor=self.execute_call)
         self._commit()
diff --git a/src/woodshop/gui/panels.py b/src/woodshop/gui/panels.py
index 6ab90aa..cf79364 100644
--- a/src/woodshop/gui/panels.py
+++ b/src/woodshop/gui/panels.py
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@ that solves "delete that" ambiguity)."""
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from PySide6.QtCore import Qt
-from PySide6.QtWidgets import (QAbstractItemView, QDoubleSpinBox, QFormLayout,
-                               QGridLayout, QGroupBox, QInputDialog, QLabel,
-                               QMenu, QPushButton, QTreeWidget, QTreeWidgetItem,
-                               QVBoxLayout, QWidget)
+from PySide6.QtWidgets import (QAbstractItemView, QComboBox, QDoubleSpinBox,
+                               QFormLayout, QGridLayout, QGroupBox, QHBoxLayout,
+                               QInputDialog, QLabel, QMenu, QPushButton, QTreeWidget,
+                               QTreeWidgetItem, QVBoxLayout, QWidget)
 
+from ..lumber import NOMINAL_TO_ACTUAL
 from .controller import Controller
 
 
@@ -21,6 +22,18 @@ class PartsPanel(QWidget):
         root = QVBoxLayout(self)
         root.addWidget(QLabel("<b>Parts</b>  <span style='color:#888'>(connected boards group into assemblies)</span>"))
 
+        # Quick manual add — no AI needed.
+        add = QHBoxLayout()
+        self.stock = QComboBox()
+        self.stock.addItems(sorted(NOMINAL_TO_ACTUAL, key=lambda s: (s[0], len(s), s)))
+        self.stock.setCurrentText("2x4")
+        self.add_len = QDoubleSpinBox(); self.add_len.setRange(0.5, 480)
+        self.add_len.setValue(24); self.add_len.setSuffix(" in")
+        add_btn = QPushButton("+ Add board")
+        add_btn.clicked.connect(self._add_board)
+        add.addWidget(self.stock); add.addWidget(self.add_len); add.addWidget(add_btn)
+        root.addLayout(add)
+
         self.tree = QTreeWidget()
         self.tree.setHeaderHidden(True)
         self.tree.setSelectionMode(QAbstractItemView.ExtendedSelection)  # Ctrl/Shift multi-select
@@ -127,6 +140,9 @@ class PartsPanel(QWidget):
                 ids += [it.child(i).data(0, Qt.UserRole) for i in range(it.childCount())]
         return list(dict.fromkeys(ids))
 
+    def _add_board(self) -> None:
+        self.c.place(self.stock.currentText(), self.add_len.value())
+
     def _on_row_selected(self) -> None:
         if self._loading:
             return
diff --git a/src/woodshop/scene.py b/src/woodshop/scene.py
index 069f0c9..a13404b 100644
--- a/src/woodshop/scene.py
+++ b/src/woodshop/scene.py
@@ -167,6 +167,32 @@ class Feature:
         return self.kind in CUT_KINDS
 
 
+def _aabb_overlap(b1, b2, eps=0.05) -> bool:
+    (lo1, hi1), (lo2, hi2) = b1, b2
+    return all(min(hi1[i], hi2[i]) - max(lo1[i], lo2[i]) > eps for i in range(3))
+
+
+def spatial_summary(scene) -> str:
+    """A compact text description of where each board sits (bounding boxes) and
+    which boards interpenetrate — fed to the AI so it can reason spatially."""
+    if not scene.parts:
+        return "empty"
+    boxes = {p.id: p.bbox() for p in scene.parts}
+    lines = ["Layout (inch bounding boxes, x=length-ish, z=up):"]
+    for p in scene.parts:
+        lo, hi = boxes[p.id]
+        label = f"{p.id}" + (f" ({p.name})" if p.name else "")
+        lines.append(f"  {label}: x[{lo[0]:.1f},{hi[0]:.1f}] "
+                     f"y[{lo[1]:.1f},{hi[1]:.1f}] z[{lo[2]:.1f},{hi[2]:.1f}]")
+    ids = list(boxes)
+    overlaps = [f"{ids[i]}&{ids[j]}" for i in range(len(ids)) for j in range(i + 1, len(ids))
+                if _aabb_overlap(boxes[ids[i]], boxes[ids[j]])]
+    if overlaps:
+        lines.append("Interpenetrating (usually unintended — boards should touch, not overlap): "
+                     + ", ".join(overlaps))
+    return "\n".join(lines)
+
+
 @dataclass
 class Part:
     id: str
@@ -204,6 +230,22 @@ class Part:
         cl, cw, ct = self.local_frame()
         return [[cl[i], cw[i], ct[i]] for i in range(3)]
 
+    def bbox(self) -> tuple:
+        """World axis-aligned bounding box (min_xyz, max_xyz) of the board."""
+        t, w = self.section_in
+        L = self.length_in
+        R = self.rotation_matrix()
+        corners = []
+        for x in (0.0, L):
+            for y in (-w / 2, w / 2):
+                for z in (-t / 2, t / 2):
+                    loc = (x, y, z)
+                    corners.append(tuple(self.position_in[i] + sum(R[i][j] * loc[j] for j in range(3))
+                                         for i in range(3)))
+        lo = tuple(min(c[i] for c in corners) for i in range(3))
+        hi = tuple(max(c[i] for c in corners) for i in range(3))
+        return lo, hi
+
     def feature_world_frame(self, feat) -> tuple:
         """(contact point, outward normal, u, v) of a feature, in world space,
         with the feature's own rotation about its normal applied to u/v."""
diff --git a/tests/test_scene.py b/tests/test_scene.py
index d6792e5..28f963c 100644
--- a/tests/test_scene.py
+++ b/tests/test_scene.py
@@ -321,6 +321,26 @@ def test_connect_needs_two_boards():
         s.connect("f1", "f2")
 
 
+def test_bbox_axis_aligned():
+    s = Scene()
+    p = s.place("2x4", 24)            # 1.5 x 3.5 section
+    lo, hi = p.bbox()
+    assert lo == pytest.approx((0, -1.75, -0.75))
+    assert hi == pytest.approx((24, 1.75, 0.75))
+
+
+def test_spatial_summary_flags_overlap():
+    from woodshop.scene import spatial_summary
+    s = Scene()
+    s.place("2x4", 24)                # p1 at origin
+    s.place("2x4", 24)                # p2 at origin -> overlaps p1
+    summ = spatial_summary(s)
+    assert "p1" in summ and "p2" in summ
+    assert "p1&p2" in summ            # interpenetration flagged
+    s.move("p2", dy=10)              # slide clear
+    assert "p1&p2" not in spatial_summary(s)
+
+
 def test_clear():
     s = Scene()
     s.place("2x4", 24)