By Mike Moussa, PE — Yes, I run a prototype company, so I’m biased. But I’ve also been in this industry long enough to know the difference between shops that help inventors and shops that exploit them. Here’s what I’d look for if I were in your shoes. The Three Types of “Prototype Companies” 1. […]
Author Archives: Shelle Parsons
By Mike Moussa, PE — mechanical engineer and founder of PartSnap. This is the advice I give every first-time inventor who calls our shop. First: Take a Breath Having an invention idea is exciting. But the worst thing you can do right now is rush to spend money. Before you call a patent attorney, before […]
By Mike Moussa, PE — I’ve been building prototypes for inventors since 2010. I’ve also seen the aftermath when inventors get taken by predatory “invention help” companies. Here’s how to protect yourself. The Invention Help Industry Has a Problem The Federal Trade Commission and the US Patent and Trademark Office both publish warnings about fraudulent […]
Written by Mike Moussa, PE — mechanical engineer and founder of PartSnap. I’ve built hundreds of prototypes for inventors, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. Here’s what prototyping actually costs, with no sales pitch attached. The Short Answer: $100 to $30,000+ I know that’s a wide range. But prototyping cost depends entirely on what you’re building, […]
Design Better Parts, Get Better Results 3D printing can make almost anything — but “can” and “should” are different things. These 10 tips will help you design parts that print successfully, function properly, and cost less. 1. Minimum Wall Thickness For FDM: 1.2mm minimum (2 perimeters). For SLA: 0.8mm minimum. Going thinner risks failed prints […]
Fast Prototyping Without the Wait When you need physical parts fast, shipping to a coastal prototype shop and waiting 2-3 weeks doesn’t cut it. PartSnap delivers 3D printed parts in 1-3 business days and CNC machined parts in 3-5 business days from our facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. What We Offer 3D Printing Services FDM […]
Choosing the Right 3D Printing Material Material selection can make or break your 3D printed part. Here’s an honest comparison of the most common options, with real-world recommendations from our engineering team. PLA (Polylactic Acid) Best for: Visual prototypes, concept models, non-structural parts Strength: ★★☆☆☆ | Heat resistance: ★☆☆☆☆ | Cost: $ PLA is the […]
Four Ways to Make Custom Plastic Parts Whether you need one prototype or ten thousand production units, there’s a manufacturing process that fits your needs and budget. Here’s how they compare: 1. 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing) Best for: 1-100 parts, complex geometries, fast turnaround Lead time: 1-5 business days Tooling cost: $0 Materials: ABS, PLA, […]
The Crossover Point Every product hits a crossover point where injection molding becomes cheaper per unit than 3D printing. Finding that point — and planning the transition — is critical for your product’s profitability. The Simple Math 3D printing has low setup cost but high per-unit cost. Injection molding has high setup cost (tooling) but […]
What Determines 3D Printing Cost? The cost of 3D printing a part depends on five key factors: technology, material, part size, complexity, and quantity. Understanding these factors helps you budget accurately and choose the right process for your project. 1. Technology Different 3D printing technologies have different cost structures: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) — Most […]