Blog
Notes on 3D printing, prototyping, and manufacturing.
Nylon vs. PETG vs. ASA — Which Material for Your Part?
A practical comparison of three engineering thermoplastics — strength, chemical resistance, UV stability, cost — so you can pick the right one without guessing.
Design for 3D Printing: 5 Rules That Cut Your Costs in Half
Wall thickness, print orientation, infill strategy, support reduction, and part consolidation — five DfAM principles that save time and money on every print.
Why Your PLA Prototype Is Lying to You
PLA tells you if something fits. It doesn't tell you if it works. Here's why prototyping in production materials changes the outcome of your project.
From Broken Part to Replacement: The Scan-to-Print Workflow
How we turn a broken, discontinued, or worn-out part into a production-ready replacement using structured light scanning and CAD — typically in under a week.
3D Printing vs. Injection Molding: A Cost Breakdown by Volume
At what volume does injection molding make sense? We break down the real costs — tooling, unit price, lead time, iteration — so you can make the call with actual numbers.
What Rush Production Actually Costs — and When It's Worth It
12-24 hour turnaround is real. Here's what drives the cost, when rush makes sense, and when planning ahead saves you more.
Prototyping Strategy for Startups: Iterate Without Tooling Up
No tooling costs, no minimum orders, and design changes that cost nothing to produce. How to use 3D printing to go from idea to market-ready product without burning capital.
What 200 Units in a Week Looks Like
Small-batch production isn't slow. Here's how we print, finish, and ship 200+ identical parts in five business days — with quality checks on every unit.
What 0.2mm Scanning Resolution Actually Means for Your Parts
Scanner specs don't tell the full story. Here's what 0.2mm structured light resolution captures, where it falls short, and how to decide between scanning and modeling from scratch.
Carbon Fiber Nylon vs. Standard Nylon — Real-World Performance
Stiffness, weight, heat resistance, wear — we compare carbon fiber reinforced nylon against standard nylon with real test data and production examples.