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 […]
Category Archives: Applications
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]