Sheet Metal Design in CAD: Bend Radius, K-Factor, and Flat Patterns for Fabrication
Sheet metal parts look simple: a flat blank, a few bends, some holes. But sheet metal design in CAD is where many first-time product developers get tripped up. A bracket that looks perfect on screen can crack at the bend, need a costly custom tool, or come back from the fabricator a millimeter off because […]
3D Scanning for Film, TV, and VFX: Digitizing Props, Costumes, and Sets for Production
3D scanning for film, TV, and VFX has quietly become one of the most useful tools in a production pipeline. When an art department needs three identical hero props, a VFX house needs a digital double of a costume, or a set piece has to be rebuilt after a location wraps, scanning the real object […]
3D Printing Architectural Models: Scale, Materials, and Costs for Architects and Developers
3D printing architectural models has quietly replaced weeks of hand-cut basswood and foam board for many Los Angeles design firms. A massing study that once took a model shop a week can come off a printer overnight, and a detailed presentation model with façade articulation, terraces, and site context can be built in days instead […]
Stone Setting Styles in Jewelry CAD: Prong, Bezel, Pavé, and Channel Settings Explained
Choosing a stone setting is one of the first decisions in any custom jewelry project, and it shapes how the CAD model is built, how the wax prints, how the piece casts, and how much bench work follows. At eCadCam in Glendale, we model jewelry stone settings every week for designers, retailers, and private clients […]
Laser-Engraved Control Panels and Nameplates: A Guide for Equipment Manufacturers
If you build machinery, instruments, or industrial enclosures, laser-engraved control panels and nameplates are one of the most durable and cost-effective ways to label your equipment. At eCadCam in Los Angeles, we produce engraved panels, legend plates, and data plates for equipment manufacturers who need markings that survive solvents, abrasion, heat, and years of use […]
Types of Prototypes Explained: Proof-of-Concept, Works-Like, Looks-Like, and Pre-Production Models
Ask ten people what a prototype is and you will get ten different answers. That is because there are several types of prototypes, and each one answers a different question about your product. At eCadCam in Glendale, we have spent more than 22 years helping inventors, startups, and manufacturers across Los Angeles move ideas through […]
How Long Does 3D Scanning Take? Realistic Turnaround Times by Object Size and Deliverable
One of the first questions we get about 3D scanning is simple: how long does 3D scanning take? The honest answer is that the scan itself is usually the fast part. A small part can be captured in under an hour, while a full car body or a large sculpture might take a day on […]
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. […]