XO3D Studio · Service

Technical CGI.

Engineering-accurate visualisation directly from CAD data. Mechanism animations, exploded views, assembly sequences and pre-manufacture imagery for products that don't exist physically yet.

Connor Hamilton-Smith
Head of 3D & Director, XO3D · Engineering-grade CGI specialism
See our technical work Discuss your CAD brief

Selected clients

XO3D's most distinctive position

For products that don't exist yet, this isn't a faster option. It's the only option.

Technical CGI is XO3D's most distinctive competitive position. The capability to work directly from CAD files (STEP, IGES, SolidWorks, Rhino, Inventor) and produce photorealistic imagery while preserving dimensional accuracy, mechanism fidelity, and material behaviour means we can produce launch-quality imagery before the physical product exists.

Who this is for: brands launching pre-manufacture, raising capital before production starts, demonstrating products at trade shows before stock arrives, or training sales teams on products that won't ship for months. Imagery you cannot get any other way.

What it delivers

Engineering-grade outputs.

Mechanism

Mechanism animations

How the product works, visualised. Switches, hinges, valves, motors, interfaces. Engineering-accurate motion, demonstrated in cinematic CGI for sales, training and marketing.

Assembly

Exploded views & assembly sequences

The product taken apart in animation, showing internal components, build sequence and engineering complexity. For investor decks, sales decks, technical documentation and training material.

Investor

Investor & roadshow visuals

Pre-manufacture imagery for investor presentations and Series A roadshows. Engineering credibility for due diligence teams. Commercial ambition for the C-suite. Both from the same build.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding campaign visuals

Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns are won or lost on the first frame. CGI from CAD data produces campaign-quality imagery that makes a pre-manufacture product look as credible as a shipped one.

Source files we work from

What we need from your engineering team.

Technical CGI projects begin with CAD or engineering source. The ideal starting point is one of the following formats. If your CAD format is not listed, ask us — we work with most engineering pipelines.

FormatSoftwareNotes
STEP (.stp, .step) Universal CAD interchange Preferred format. Preserves geometry and assembly structure.
IGES (.igs, .iges) Universal CAD interchange Common alternative to STEP. Workable in most production pipelines.
SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm) SolidWorks Native files preserve full assembly hierarchy and material assignments.
Rhino (.3dm) Rhinoceros Common in industrial and product design. Direct import.
Inventor (.ipt, .iam) Autodesk Inventor Native engineering files for mechanism and assembly work.
OBJ, FBX, 3MF Generic 3D formats Workable as a fallback when CAD source is not available.

Alongside CAD, the production team typically needs: material and finish specifications, the engineering drawing pack, any physical samples you can supply, and a brief covering the commercial situation the imagery has to serve.

Sectors served

Where technical accuracy is a creative requirement.

  1. EV & Cleantech

    EV charging, energy infrastructure, clean technology

    Engineering-credible imagery for sectors where the technical credibility of the product is part of the commercial story. Petalite 1MW EV charging infrastructure is a featured project.

  2. Medical & Health Tech

    Clinical devices, health technology, medical equipment

    Imagery that earns trust in a regulatory context and desire in a consumer one. Dermalux LED phototherapy is a current client.

  3. Industrial & Engineering

    Industrial equipment, precision instruments, complex mechanism products

    Mechanism animations, exploded views and dimensionally accurate visualisation for products where the engineering is the story.

  4. Automotive & Mobility

    EV, micro-mobility, automotive sub-systems

    Cinematic automotive language applied to engineering subject matter. Web Excellence Award-winning Flash Motors campaign sits in this group.

Automated Architecture Robotic MicroFactory — engineering-accurate CGI from CAD

FAQ

Common questions about Technical CGI.

How accurate is the imagery compared to the engineering?
Dimensionally exact. The CGI model is built from your CAD data, preserving geometry, assembly relationships and component hierarchy. Engineers from the client side typically review the model before look development begins to confirm accuracy. Mechanism motion is validated against engineering specification, not approximated.
What if our CAD is incomplete or in revision?
Common situation. Technical CGI projects frequently begin while engineering is still in development. We work iteratively against revisions, updating the CGI as the CAD evolves. This is often the reason brands commission CGI — the visual asset can ship before the product is final.
Can you do internal-mechanism visualisation?
Yes. Internal component visualisation, exploded views and cross-section reveals are core capabilities. These are routinely impossible in photography and are one of the main reasons brands commission Technical CGI for sales and training material.
Is the output suitable for technical documentation?
Yes, with the caveat that XO3D's output is creative-led rather than CAD-derivative. The imagery is photorealistic and brand-aligned, not isometric line-art technical illustration. If you need both, we deliver alongside your technical illustration team.

Start the conversation

Got a product still in development?

Send us the brief and the CAD pack. We will tell you whether Technical CGI is the right approach and how we would scope it. Pre-manufacture briefs are often the most interesting work we take on.

Discuss your technical brief