How to 3D Print Large Objects: Build Volume Limits, Splitting Parts, and Assembly Tips
One of the most common questions we get at our Glendale shop is how to 3D print large objects—a full-size prop, an architectural model, a one-piece enclosure, or a fixture that simply doesn’t fit on a desktop printer. The short answer: almost anything can be printed at scale, but the right approach depends on the […]
How to Prepare a Jewelry CAD Model for Wax Printing and Casting: Wall Thickness, Prongs, and Shrinkage
Learning how to prepare a jewelry CAD model for wax printing and casting is the biggest factor in whether a piece comes out of the flask clean or comes out with porosity, broken prongs, and a redo bill. After more than two decades running our jewelry services in Glendale, we can usually tell within a […]
Laser Engraving Medical Device Components: Durability, Cleanability, and Material Choices
Laser engraving medical device components is one of the most demanding marking jobs we take on at our Glendale shop. A part number on a surgical instrument or a lot code on a diagnostic housing has to survive hundreds of autoclave cycles, harsh cleaning chemicals, and years of handling without fading, flaking, or trapping bacteria. […]
How to Brief a CAD Designer: What to Prepare Before Your Product Design Project Starts
Knowing how to brief a CAD designer is the single biggest factor in whether a product design project runs smoothly or stalls in revisions. After more than two decades doing product design and CAD work for inventors, startups, and manufacturers across Los Angeles, we can say with confidence that the projects that finish on time […]
3D Scanning File Formats Explained: Point Clouds, STL/OBJ Meshes, and CAD Models
One of the first questions we get after a 3D scanning job is “what exactly will I receive?” The answer depends on what you plan to do with the data. 3D scanning file formats fall into three broad tiers: raw point clouds, polygon meshes such as STL and OBJ, and parametric CAD models such as […]
How Accurate Is 3D Printing? Tolerances by Technology (FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF, DMLS)
“How accurate is 3D printing?” is one of the first questions we get from engineers and product developers, and the honest answer is: it depends on the technology, the geometry, and the material. With the right process, a printed part can hold tolerances tight enough for snap fits, press-fit inserts, and assemblies that mate with […]
3D-Printed Jewelry Prototypes: Why a Fit Model Before Casting Saves Money and Rework
A 3D-printed jewelry prototype is the cheapest insurance policy in custom jewelry. Before we cast a single gram of gold, silver, or platinum, we print the design in resin so the customer can hold it, try it on, and check the proportions against a real hand, ear, or neckline. After 22+ years of running a […]
Laser Marking for Aerospace and Defense Parts: Traceability, Serial Numbers, and Permanence
Laser marking for aerospace and defense parts is one of the more demanding jobs that comes through our Glendale shop — and one of the most common requests we get from machine shops, contract manufacturers, and engineering teams around Los Angeles. When a component must carry a serial number, part number, or data matrix code […]
2D to 3D CAD Conversion: How to Turn Old Drawings and Blueprints into Manufacturing-Ready Models
If your product exists only as paper blueprints, hand sketches, or flat DWG files, you are effectively locked out of modern manufacturing. 2D to 3D CAD conversion turns those legacy drawings into accurate, fully editable 3D models that can be quoted, prototyped, machined, molded, or 3D printed. At our Glendale studio we regularly rebuild decades-old […]
How to Prepare an Object for 3D Scanning: Surface Prep, Targets, and Setup Tips
Knowing how to prepare an object for 3D scanning is the difference between a clean, accurate scan on the first pass and hours spent patching holes in the data afterward. At our Glendale studio we scan everything from machined metal parts to carved family heirlooms, and preparation is where most of the accuracy is won […]