3D Assembly Animation That Shows How Your Product Goes Together
4.8
4.9Assembly, exploded view and engineering animation we produce from your CAD files
Assembly animation is 3D animation that takes a product apart and puts it back together on screen, so a buyer, an installer or a technician sees every part in the right order. We build the model from your CAD files or drawings, animate the sequence your engineers approve and deliver films for sales, manuals, training and launches.
Product assembly animation
Parts move in and lock into place in the order your engineers specify, so the build of a valve, a device or a machine reads in seconds on a website, in a sales meeting or at a trade show.Exploded view animation
The product separates into its layers and components and comes back together, revealing what sits inside a closed housing, a wall system or a valve body without a printed diagram.Assembly and installation instructions
Step-by-step films that replace pages of a printed user manual: fasteners, tools, order of operations and the finished result, delivered as an assembly instructions video for a QR code on the box, a support page or an installer portal.Service, spare parts and technician training
Sub-assemblies taken apart for dealers, installers and service teams: which screw comes out first, which part is replaced and how everything goes back, the same way for every technician and every onboarding session.How-it-works and cutaway animation
We cut away or make the housing transparent to show what a customer never sees: the flow path through a valve, filters, seals and moving parts, explained without a page of specifications.Mechanical and engineering animation
Mechanical and technical animation of wheels, hinges, gears and linkages, built from your CAD so the motion matches the real mechanism, for engineers, partners and buyers who check the details. For medical devices, see our medical animation service.Machinery and production line animation
Robots, equipment and process stages shown working in sequence, so a heavy machine can be demonstrated on any screen without shipping it. More for equipment makers on our 3D rendering for manufacturers page.Launch, crowdfunding and trade-show films
The same model and sequences cut into a launch film, a Kickstarter video, a trade-show loop, an Amazon video and social clips, ready before the first production unit leaves the factory.
Not sure whether you need an assembly, exploded or how-it-works animation?
The format follows the viewer. A buyer needs the product to look simple, an installer needs every step, and a technician needs every part. Tell us who will watch and where, and we come back with a shot list and the hours it takes.
- Free
- No obligation
- NDA on request
Most studios sell you renders. We work out what will actually move your project forward.
Ask a rendering studio what you need and you get a quote for renders. We start from the outcome you are paid for: a committee that signs off, enquiries on a scheme that does not exist yet, a buyer who stops comparing, an investor who commits.
Send one email and our 3D strategist replies with a commercial plan for the project: what to show, to whom, in what order, where it goes to work, and what it takes. The list of deliverables is the end of that plan, not the beginning.
Free, and yours to keep even if you never work with us.
Thank you – your request has been sent.
Our 3D strategist is reading the project now and will write back with the plan: what to show, to whom, and in what order.
Assembly, exploded view and mechanism work
3D assembly, exploded view and mechanism animation we have produced
A composter that assembles on screen for a hardware startup, exploded lock and wheel sequences for a suitcase launch, an assembly and flow film for an industrial valve, an exploded-view wall system film for a US video studio and a robotic production line.
Free: the full portfolio
Leave your email and we will send a hand-picked set of projects in full resolution, matched to your project.
- Free
- Sent within one business day
- No sales call
Trusted by leading teams
Free guide: your CAD file is not a render model, and fixing it cost $5,450
When the brands above commission 3D product modelling, they send one STEP export, a finish list and a sample. A raw engineering file with none of that took $5,450 of repair and rebuilding, against $2,200 for the same model from a clean handover. The guide prices what CAD leaves out and gives you the handover checklist to send from engineering.
- Free
- Instant download
- No sales call
If it didn't open, download it here.
Download the PDF
Pick your side of the animation. Get the playbook written for it.
An equipment maker, a building product brand and a hardware startup order the same assembly animation for different reasons, and each overpays in a different place. Choose yours: the shots your viewers need, what your engineers will check, and the brief mistakes we see most from your side.
- Free
- Instant download
- No sales call
If it didn't open, download it here.
Download the PDFCommon assembly animation problems
Assembly Animation Challenges We Solve
-
01 Happened to us
Parts that do not match the real product
Remodelled by eye, a housing, a thread or a fastener ends up wrong, and engineers stop trusting the film the moment they see it.
Our fixWe build from your CAD or STEP files and check every close-up against the drawings and the real part.
-
02 Happened to us
An assembly order that fails on the bench
Parts move where they look good on screen, not where they can physically go, and installers copy a sequence that does not work.
Our fixYour engineer approves the step list and the storyboard before animation, and we follow it part by part.
-
03 Happened to us
Too much for a buyer, too little for a technician
One film tries to serve the sales page and the service manual, and ends up too long for one and too vague for the other.
Our fixOne 3D model, separate cuts: a short exploded view for sales and a step-by-step version with callouts for installers.
-
04 Happened to us
CAD files too heavy to animate
Engineering assemblies carry thousands of fasteners and internal features, and unprepared files crash scenes or render for days.
Our fixWe simplify the CAD, keep what the camera sees and keep the exact proportions of every visible part.
-
05 Happened to us
A design change after the film is done
A part changes in production after the animation is rendered, and the whole film has to be paid for again.
Our fixApprovals happen at step list, storyboard and animatic, and the model stays ready to update a single part later.
-
Had any of these? Tick them.
12 questions that expose all five before you sign
Your PDF is ready.If it didn't open, download it here.
Download the PDF
How 3D assembly animation is produced, step by step
Every assembly animation goes through the same five steps. The order of parts and the camera are approved on paper and as a rough animatic first, because moving a part in a storyboard takes minutes and changing a rendered shot takes days.
For an insulated wall board film made for a US video studio, we modelled both wall systems from the client’s dimensions and animated the layers in the order builders install them.
Free: the assembly animation production roadmap
What to prepare at each step, which CAD exports work, where your engineers review and how long each step usually takes.
Where is your assembly animation project now?
- Free
- Instant download
- No sales call
If it didn't open, download it here.
Download the PDFBrief & CAD
Audience, channels and runtime; we collect your CAD or STEP files, drawings, manuals and brand guidelines.
Step list
The assembly order part by part, approved by your engineer before anything moves on screen.
Storyboard
Camera angles, callouts and timing for each step, shared as frames and a rough animatic.
Animation
Model preparation, materials, animation and rendering of every shot in full quality.
Delivery
Edit, labels and sound; a master film plus cutdowns for web, trade shows, manuals and social.
Pricing
Assembly Animation Pricing
Assembly animation cost depends on the number of parts, whether clean CAD files exist, the runtime, the number of steps and callouts, and the review rounds and versions. We stay flexible and offer options for every need — from a single one-off task to ongoing creative production support.
How many stepses?
What kind of steps?
A guide from typical projects. The exact scope and price come with the quote.
Estimated work
~165h
Get the exact price
Tell us what you need. Within one business day we reply with a fixed price for your project.
Per Project
Pricing depends on project scope, complexity, number of views, level of detail, materials, revisions, and special requirements.
Best for: The easiest, no-risk way to test our workflow or handle a small task.
Hourly Most Popular
Pay only for the time actually spent on your task. A simple and flexible way to start without a long-term commitment.
Best for: One-time assembly animations, large visualization tasks, or clearly defined internal or client work that needs full production support.
Subscription
Monthly production capacity for ongoing rendering, design, web, branding, and marketing assets. Options for 40, 80, or 160 hours per month. Save up to 30% compared with hourly or one-off pricing.
Best for: Teams with ongoing creative production needs who want predictable capacity, faster turnaround, and better monthly rates.
Why Choose Us
A CGI Studio Behind Your Assembly Animation
We came to assembly animation from photoreal product rendering, so the parts on screen are not grey CAD shapes: they carry real materials, finishes and light, and still match your drawings.
- 01
10+ years of product CGI
Founded in 2016 and based in London, we have produced visuals and animation for 350+ brands, from hardware startups to manufacturers.
- 02
Built from your CAD
Parts come from your engineering files, not from a modeller’s guess, so your engineers recognise every component.
- 03
Engineering review in the schedule
Your engineer approves the step list and the storyboard before rendering, while a change still takes minutes.
- 04
Dedicated project manager
One person knows your product, your reviewers and your deadline, so you never re-explain the project.
- 05
One model, many films
The same model feeds the sales cut, the installation guide, the training version and the stills for catalogues.
- 06
Confidential by default
Unreleased products and CAD files stay under NDA, shared only with the artists working on your shots.
Check a start date for your project
Tell us the scope and the deadline. Within one business day we reply with a start date, the team we would put on it and a price range.
Scope
Deadline
- Reply within one business day
- No obligation
Remote studio, your time zone
Assembly Animation Support Worldwide
We produce assembly animation for manufacturers, product startups and agencies in North and South America, the UK and Europe, Australia and the Gulf, working fully online from CAD files to final delivery.
CAD from any system
Send STEP or IGES exports, native models or plain drawings; we prepare the files for animation ourselves.
Remote workflow worldwide
Step lists, storyboard reviews, approvals and delivery all happen online and under NDA.
Flexible schedule
Our team works across time zones, so launch, trade-show and manual print dates stay on track.
Book a 30-minute call
Which day suits you?
What time?
Where should we send the invite?
- 30 minutes
- Free, no obligation
- Invite by email
30-second assembly animation quiz
Not sure which assembly animation you need? Find your fit
Answer four quick questions about your product and we’ll match you with the right animation format, plus a free, tailored next step.
Pick the look you love
What do you need to show?
Who will watch it?
What do you have now?
Almost there — where do we send it?
Your tailored plan and a free next step for your project.
No spam — we only email about your project.
Assembly animation, from CAD to final delivery
We’ll email your tailored assembly animation plan shortly.
FAQ
Questions about 3D assembly animation
Didn’t find your question?
Ask it here. A producer replies within one business day — with an answer, not a sales call.
What is 3D assembly animation?
3D assembly animation, or a 3D assembly video, is a short animated film that shows how a product is put together, part by part, in the correct order. It is built from the product’s CAD model and used for sales presentations, assembly and installation instructions, technician training and product launches, often combined with exploded views.
What is an exploded view animation?
An exploded view animation separates a product into its components, holds them apart so each part is visible, and then brings them back together. It shows what is inside a closed housing or a layered system, such as a valve, a wall board or a lock, without a printed diagram.
Which products can you animate?
Any product with a CAD model or drawings: industrial valves, pumps, HVAC and plumbing fittings, building products and wall systems, consumer devices and appliances, furniture and flat-pack kits, robots and machinery. Recent work includes an industrial valve with its flow path, a modular composter, a suitcase lock and wheel, and an insulated wall board.
Can an assembly animation replace a printed instruction manual?
It can replace most of the pictures in it and works best alongside it. A short step-by-step film linked from a QR code on the box or a support page shows tools, fasteners and the order of operations more clearly than line drawings. Safety warnings and compliance text stay in the documentation your team approves.
What files do you need to start?
Ideally CAD or STEP files of the assembly, plus a parts list, the intended assembly order, photos or a sample, and your brand guidelines. If you only have drawings or a physical product, our 3D product modeling team builds the model first.
Why not animate it in SolidWorks or KeyShot ourselves?
For an internal engineering check, the animation tools inside your CAD software, such as SolidWorks Composer or KeyShot, are often enough. Films for buyers, installers and investors need more: real materials and light, camera work, timing, callouts, editing and sound. That is the part a CGI studio adds, using your CAD as the starting point.
Can we use the animation for Kickstarter, investors or a launch before production?
Yes. Because the film is built from CAD, it can be ready before the first production unit exists. The composter startup in our case studies used its CGI product video for investor outreach, ads and a crowdfunding campaign while the device was still approaching final production.
How is assembly animation different from product animation?
Assembly animation focuses on how a product is built and installed: parts, order, fasteners and mechanisms. A film about the look and lifestyle of a finished product, turning on a plain background or starring in an ad, is closer to our 3D product animation service, made by the same team.
How long does an assembly animation project take?
Timing depends on the number of parts, the runtime and how quickly your engineers review. Most of the calendar goes into model preparation, the step list and the storyboard, which you approve before rendering. Tell us your launch, trade-show or print date and we plan the steps backwards from it.
What formats do you deliver?
A master film in 16:9, plus the versions the project needs: 9:16 and 1:1 cutdowns for social, silent loops for trade-show screens and product pages, a version without labels for translation, and high-resolution stills of the exploded views for manuals and catalogues. Voice-over and music are scoped per project.
Free Test Render
Start With a Free Assembly Animation Styleframe
We prove our quality on your own product before you commit: send the CAD and a few references, and we produce one exploded-view styleframe in the look of your film.
We reply by email within one business day with the conditions and next steps. By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy.
