FDM, SLA, and SLS each win at different jobs. A practical guide to choosing the right 3D printing process for functional prototypes and end-use parts — by strength, accuracy, surface finish, and cost.
Category Archives: Applications
A practical pre-flight guide to STL file prep—wall thickness, realistic tolerances, export resolution, watertight meshes, and the choices that control your 3D printing quote.
A step-by-step look at how veterinary CT (DICOM) data is segmented, meshed, and 3D printed into accurate, sterilizable surgical bone models—and what your clinic needs to provide.
A 2D drawing isn’t a 3D model. Here’s how engineers convert legacy prints, scans, and physical samples into validated, manufacturable STEP files — and where it goes wrong.
How post-tension strand sheathing gets stripped in the field, why it’s harder and riskier than it looks, and the depth-controlled tool PartSnap is developing.
How to order a 3D printed veterinary bone model: what CT/DICOM data we need, the step-by-step workflow, printing options, sterility, cost, and turnaround.
By Mike Moussa, PE — If your parts go inside aircraft, trains, buses, or ships, they need to meet flame, smoke, and toxicity (FST) requirements. Here’s what you need to know about 3D printing FST-compliant components. What Is FST Compliance? FST stands for Flame, Smoke, and Toxicity — a set of performance requirements for materials […]
By Mike Moussa, PE — ULTEM (polyetherimide/PEI) is the material you use when nothing else survives. Here’s a deep dive on what makes it special, where it excels, and when it’s worth the premium. What Is ULTEM? ULTEM is a family of high-performance thermoplastics made by SABIC (originally developed by GE Plastics). The two grades […]
By Mike Moussa, PE — University labs and research groups need custom parts that don’t exist in any catalog. We support academic research with fast, affordable prototyping and custom equipment fabrication. Academic Applications Research Equipment Custom fixtures for experiments, reaction vessels, flow cells, test specimen holders, sensor mounts, and optical bench components. Designed for your […]
By Mike Moussa, PE — You have a product idea. Maybe it’s a kitchen gadget, a pet accessory, a tool, or a consumer electronics device. Here’s the realistic path from idea to manufactured product — and where we fit in. The Real Product Development Path Phase 1: Concept (1-2 weeks) You describe what you want. […]