Author Archives: Shelle Parsons

3D Printing for Aerospace: Prototypes, Flight Hardware, and Tooling

By Mike Moussa, PE — Aerospace has been an early adopter of additive manufacturing, and for good reason. Here’s how we support aerospace projects from concept through flight-ready hardware. Aerospace Applications Rapid Prototyping for Aerostructures Test fit brackets, ducting, fairings, and structural concepts before committing to machined aluminum or composite layup. Iterate in hours at […]

3D Printing for Medical Devices: Prototyping, Surgical Models, and Custom Instruments

By Mike Moussa, PE — Medical device development has unique requirements. Here’s how 3D printing fits into the medical product development lifecycle. Medical Applications We Support Pre-Surgical Planning Models 3D printed anatomical models from CT/MRI scan data. Surgeons can hold, examine, and plan procedures on a physical replica before entering the OR. Studies show pre-surgical […]

3D Printing for Oil & Gas: Custom Parts, Prototypes, and Field Solutions

By Mike Moussa, PE — We’re based in Wichita Falls, Texas, in the heart of oil country. We’ve built custom parts for drilling operations, production facilities, and oilfield service companies. Here’s what 3D printing and rapid manufacturing can do for oil & gas. Common Oil & Gas Applications Custom Tool Adapters and Fittings When you […]

Product Design Services: From Napkin Sketch to Manufacturing-Ready CAD

By Mike Moussa, PE — Most of our clients don’t start with a CAD file. They start with a sketch, a broken part, or just an idea. Here’s how we turn concepts into manufacturable designs. What We Actually Do Product design isn’t just making a pretty 3D model. It’s designing a part that: Works — […]

Urethane Casting: The Best-Kept Secret in Low-Volume Manufacturing

By Mike Moussa, PE — Urethane casting is the process most inventors and startups don’t know about. It fills the gap between 3D printing and injection molding, and it can save you thousands. What Is Urethane Casting? Urethane casting (also called polyurethane casting or vacuum casting) uses silicone molds to produce parts from liquid polyurethane […]

CNC Machining vs 3D Printing: Which Is Right for Your Part?

By Mike Moussa, PE — We do both CNC machining and 3D printing in our shop. Here’s how we decide which process to use for each project. The Fundamental Difference CNC machining starts with a block of material and removes everything that isn’t your part (subtractive). 3D printing starts with nothing and builds your part […]

3D Printing for Small Business: When It Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)

By Mike Moussa, PE — 3D printing isn’t magic and it isn’t a fad. Here’s an honest look at when it genuinely helps small businesses and when traditional manufacturing is the better call. When 3D Printing Makes Sense for Your Business 1. Custom One-Off Parts Need a specific bracket, adapter, mount, or enclosure that doesn’t […]

Reverse Engineering: How to Get a CAD Model from a Physical Part

By Mike Moussa, PE — You have a physical part but no drawings or CAD files. Here’s how we turn objects into digital models you can modify, manufacture, and archive. Why Reverse Engineering? Common scenarios we see every week: Legacy parts with no drawings — the original manufacturer is gone, the engineer retired, the files […]

SLA vs FDM 3D Printing: Which Should You Choose?

By Mike Moussa, PE — We run both SLA and FDM printers daily. Here’s when each one makes sense, based on real projects — not marketing brochures. The Quick Answer Use FDM when you need strong, functional parts at the lowest cost. Use SLA when you need smooth surfaces, fine details, or tight tolerances. That […]

From Sketch to Prototype: A Step-by-Step Guide for Inventors

By Mike Moussa, PE — Here’s exactly what happens when you bring a sketch to a prototype shop. No mystery, no jargon, no surprises. What You Need to Get Started You don’t need a CAD model. You don’t need a patent. You don’t need a business plan. Here’s what actually helps: A sketch — hand-drawn […]