Author Archive

When people think of scale models, they often picture small desktop displays used for presentations or trade shows. While that’s certainly one application, the reality is far broader. Custom scale model fabrication spans an enormous range, from compact tabletop pieces measured in inches to full-size, drivable vehicles and business jets. Understanding this range helps businesses […]

In medical, pharmaceutical, and food packaging environments, the material a part is made from matters as much as its dimensions. A surgical planning model handled in a sterile field, a fixture that contacts a pharmaceutical product, or a prototype packaging component that touches food all carry requirements that standard prototyping plastics were never designed to […]

Static electricity is invisible, silent, and capable of destroying a circuit board before anyone realizes something went wrong. For companies producing electronic assemblies, the fixtures, trays, enclosures, and handling tools that touch those components are just as important as the components themselves. When those parts are 3D printed in standard thermoplastics, they can build a […]

When most people think about urethane casting, they focus on the finished part. But the part is only as good as the mold it comes from. The RTV silicone mold sits at the center of every casting project, and getting it right is the difference between crisp, repeatable parts and a frustrating run of defects. […]

One of the biggest advantages of urethane casting is material range. The same process that produces a soft, rubber-like gasket can also produce a rigid, impact-resistant housing. The difference comes down to durometer, the measurement of how hard or soft a cast material is. Understanding the Shore A to Shore D scale helps you specify […]

FDM 3D printing has come a long way from basic prototyping with standard plastics. Today, the materials available for FDM printing have made it possible to produce end-use parts capable of handling extreme heat, chemical exposure, high mechanical loads, and demanding regulatory requirements. For engineers and manufacturers who once assumed 3D printing couldn’t meet the performance bar […]

When most people think of custom scale models, the aerospace and defense industries come to mind first. It makes sense — highly detailed models of satellites, rockets, and spacecraft are some of the most recognizable examples of the craft. But the applications for custom scale models extend far beyond the space industry. Architects, automotive designers, consumer […]

For years, SLA (Stereolithography) 3D printing carried a mixed reputation. Engineers loved it for surface finish and fine detail, but they knew the drawbacks all too well: brittle parts, poor UV stability, heat sensitivity, and a tendency to degrade quickly under real-world conditions. It was a prototype-only technology — useful for showing a concept, but […]

In industries where the stakes are high and the hardware is extraordinarily complex, communicating a design clearly can be just as important as the design itself. Engineers, program managers, executives, and government stakeholders all need to understand what is being built — and they don’t always share the same technical background or comfort with CAD […]

For many engineers and product developers, creating large parts has traditionally meant navigating expensive tooling, long lead times, and strict manufacturing constraints. Conventional fabrication methods such as CNC machining or injection molding can become extremely costly when working with oversized components, complex geometries, or low production volumes. Large-format 3D printing is changing that equation. By […]