Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how products are designed, but bringing those digital concepts into the physical world still requires the right manufacturing equipment and workflow. For Transfigure AI, a startup developing software that converts sketches and drawings into production-ready CAD models, the Tormach xsTECH Pro has become an important bridge between AI-generated designs and real-world manufacturing.
The company uses the xsTECH Pro to machine parts created through its AI platform, demonstrating how manufacturers can move more efficiently from concept to finished part. By combining AI-generated CAD models with accessible CNC machining, Transfigure AI is helping engineers and machine shops explore new ways to accelerate product development.
“Our goal is to help people create physical products faster,” said Bobby Ng, founder of Transfigure AI. “The xsTECH Pro allows us to show the entire process, from an idea and a drawing to an actual manufactured part.”
Bridging the Gap Between Design and Manufacturing
Ng founded Transfigure AI after more than two decades designing products and systems for companies including Honda, Tesla, Zoox, Archer and Range Energy. Throughout his engineering career, he repeatedly encountered the same bottleneck: valuable time spent converting sketches and drawings into CAD models before manufacturing could even begin.
The challenge is especially familiar to machine shops, which often receive RFQs accompanied only by 2D drawings. Before a quote can be generated, or a part can be machined, someone must first recreate the design in CAD. For many shops, this manual recreation process slows quoting, extends lead times and creates unnecessary engineering work before production can begin.
“The number one pain point we heard from machine shops is that they don’t have time to recreate every part from a drawing,” said Ng. “They focus on the work that already has a 3D model attached to it.”
Transfigure AI was created to help eliminate that step. Its software converts sketches, drawings and other visual inputs into usable 3D CAD files, enabling engineers and manufacturers to move more quickly from concept to production. The company’s long-term vision is to dramatically reduce the time required to bring physical products to market by allowing engineers to spend less time on repetitive CAD work and more time solving design challenges.
Selecting the Right Manufacturing Platform
When the company needed a machine to validate and demonstrate its technology, Ng selected the Tormach xsTECH Pro desktop router.
According to Ng, Tormach’s reputation, ease of use and strong support ecosystem made it a natural fit for a fast-moving startup focused on proving new ideas quickly. Beyond machine capability, brand reputation also factored into the decision.
“I think it was an aspirational purchase to have a Tormach machine in the building,” said Ng. “It was seen as a cool company, and their machines are good. We don’t always have to go to Haas to buy a machine.”
The xsTECH Pro also provided a practical platform for machining the aluminum parts used to demonstrate the company’s AI workflow. Because the team is focused on helping users move from concept to manufacturable part, having a machine that is approachable, reliable and easy to learn was a key consideration.
“The Tormach xsTECH Pro is a very capable machine, and it’s very user friendly,” said Ng. “Everything has been easy to find, whether it’s customer support videos or information on the forums. It’s very easy to jump into.”
For a startup focused on accelerating innovation, access to Tormach’s support resources, training content and user community has helped shorten the learning curve and keep the team focused on product development.
From AI-Generated CAD to Finished Parts
Today, Transfigure AI uses the xsTECH Pro to manufacture sample parts created through its AI workflow.
The process begins with a sketch, drawing or image that is converted into a 3D CAD model using Transfigure AI’s software. The file is then imported into Fusion, programmed for machining, processed through Tormach’s PathPilot® control software and manufactured on the xsTECH Pro.
The company currently uses the machine to produce thin-gauge aluminum parts, including demonstration components that showcase how AI-generated designs can move seamlessly into production.
For Ng, creating the CAD file is only part of the story.
“Nobody stops at just a file on a screen,” he said. “You gotta make the part. That’s the end goal.”
The xsTECH Pro enables Transfigure AI to demonstrate that AI-generated designs are not simply digital concepts but can become real, manufacturable products. The machine plays a critical role in validating the company’s technology and helping customers visualize how AI can fit into existing manufacturing workflows.
As AI continues to reshape engineering and manufacturing, Transfigure AI sees significant opportunities to help companies reduce time spent on repetitive CAD work and accelerate the path from idea to production.
For the company, the xsTECH Pro serves as an important link between AI-powered design and real-world manufacturing, allowing customers to see how quickly ideas can move from sketch to finished part.
Visitors can see the workflow firsthand at Automate 2026, where Transfigure AI will showcase its technology and the Tormach xsTECH Pro at Booth 11057. Tormach will also exhibit at Booth 25063 during the event, taking place June 22-25 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
By combining AI-generated CAD models with accessible CNC machining, Transfigure AI is demonstrating what the future of hardware development may look like – one where engineers spend less time creating models and more time bringing ideas to life.
