Category Archives: Product

This is one of three rather large-sized column capitals that were CNC machined into rigid polyurethane foam.  Starting with this precisely machined form, molds were made and multiples were cast and attached to the columns, all to dress the set for San Francisco Opera’s performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

Our concept started with a graphic on a t-shirt and an interesting, freshly minted, bronze medallion. The goal was to make a plaque that incorporated the medallion and a stylized silhouette of the bridge.  Instead of simply gluing it all together and calling it a day, we machined recesses into the walnut plaque for both […]

The E.H. Harriman Award is an annual award presented to American railroad companies in recognition for outstanding safety achievements.  We were presented with the opportunity to design and build the award in 2009.  This mockup is a representation of what we had in mind for the award’s Gold medal recipients.

Sometimes, we are asked to model something and it’s importance is not readily apparent; that was the case in this model of a computer chip for a trade show exhibit.  During the building process, we knew it would attract attention for its detail and intricacy with lots of colors and lights, but we were unaware […]

Because we serve a wide range of industries, we occasionally have the opportunity to handle objects and materials that defy logic and common sense.  In the case of the Calisolar Cell Process, our job was to put the essential elements of the story on display in their lobby.  In the process, we witnessed the construction […]

Because we serve a wide range of industries, we occasionally have the opportunity to handle objects and materials that defy logic and common sense.  In the case of the Calisolar Cell Process, our job was to put the essential elements of the story on display in their lobby.  In the process, we witnessed the construction […]

We made this prototype of the north west winery’s retail point-of-purchase display for use in pricing multiples offshore.  We vacuum-formed the entire roof as a single part; an improbable solution considering the length of the pull.  We were determined, however, to design it with the fewest assembly steps possible, while still maintaining a high quality […]

This model was built for a trade show to aid in illustrating the various types of Cooper Power transformers.  We used a combination of materials including acrylic, brass I-beam stock, and metal etchings.  Displaying both classic above ground and modern, subtler, underground configurations, the model features the range of Cooper Power’s products laid out on […]

We CNC machined this key chain medallion for a student presentation with very little time and essentially no budget—but great results!

Using commercially made elements (in this case, the trucks and the ladders) can help us to streamline our process and create excellent realism.  Because these models were given as gifts to people who had worked closely with full-sized versions of these cars over many years, the details needed to be perfect.  To make sure the […]

Coming up with a good gift idea for any team is tricky business.  With this gift, the point is made abundantly clear, with no knowledge details of the particular case victory.  The idea was to do something unique with the base and keep it simple: we designed a thick acrylic platform that framed the centerpiece.  […]

University Games wanted to showcase this product made in Japan at a trade show over Valentine’s Day. While there were several options, we ultimately settled on the closest simulation of the 3D puzzle pieces that we could create. The heart is essentially hollow, but each laser-cut layer or transparent red acrylic approximates the outline of […]

If you are like countless others who cannot stand soggy cereal, this is the bowl for you!  The deep compartment keeps the cereal crunchy; the shallow one allows you to dunk a spoonful of cereal into milk.  You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone, child or adult, who wouldn’t love to try out this clever product.

Whenever we make a custom gift for a group of co-workers eager to pool their money, we do our best to find ways to make it even better than expected.  Firstly, the quality of the product is key.  Secondly, the right details must be in the right place: little switch panels, logo plates, and handles, […]

Wonderwater is a rain catchment system designed to save water on a rainy day.  This model is a functional exhibit that uses real water.  It shows rain falling from the clouds, draining down the gutter, and filtering as it collects in a holding tank where it can be used in household appliances, fixtures, and to […]

A ‘transportation link’ is another term for a bridge.  Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to build design competition engineering models for various clients and their projects.  We’ve also had the pleasure to design and build gifts and awards for those projects, as the ultimate acknowledgment of their hard work.

We built two models for Beeline Group to use in their presentation to help the manufacturers present their products to retail buyers in a new and inviting way.  The NovaForm Showroom model was built at a smaller scale to show the layout, flow, and spa-like experience of the new showroom.  The NovaForm Pod display unit […]

We built two models for Beeline Group to use in their presentation to help the manufacturers present their products to retail buyers in a new and inviting way.  The NovaForm Showroom model was built at a smaller scale to show the layout, flow, and spa-like experience of the new showroom.  The NovaForm Pod display unit […]

For this project the architects built their own model, but knew they didn’t have the in-house skills to build the booths that would be the focal point of their design.  They needed model makers who could create several detailed booths in about a week’s time and came to us.  They knew they had made the […]

We made this model as a sales tool to illustrate components and communicate the look, feel, and power of the rifle to a military audience.  It was designed by a former military engineer who’d put his design theories through previous physical testing and was now ready for funding the making of the prototype.  The model […]

The Estonian Academy of Arts had three delicate museum pieces suffering wear and tear from continuous public handling.  We built proper displays to house and protect them.

This was a novel gift idea whereby we transformed dozens of Smart Cars into mini-staplers for a very large office product company.  Decals were added to customize them to the brand.  They were just adorable and without a doubt really fun to receive!

It takes hundreds of great minds and years of work to build a bridge.  It also takes cooperation from several companies to get the job done.  These awards (or gifts) were given in the spirit of that cooperation and proudly display the names of companies responsible for the new East Span of the San Francisco–Oakland […]

This model was made to show how gases from a landfill are transformed into energy.  As an added effect, and in order to attract more people to their demonstration, an outlet was installed which allowed a lamp to be plugged in.  It was fascinating to see an energy company get excited about educating people. The […]

These are working prototypes of credit cards that use fingerprint authentication to grant access. We did the final machining and created and installed the on/off buttons.  The inner circuitry was installed overseas and the graphics were heat wrapped abroad, as well.  This is an example of taking something good and making it better.  With this […]

Our client in the Bay Area had an artist in Mexico who was going to carve 350 masks from wood and paint them.  When it became apparent that it would take months to complete, he came to us for a faster solution.  Using the original wooden tribal mask as a guide we vacuum-formed copies out […]

Yes, this is a photograph of a model, not a graphic.  The concept of the logo started out as a flat 2D swirling shape.  Then, photographer Kevin Twomey, working with direction from the ad agency, took the concept to the next level with simple sketching and lots of discussion.  We arrived at this beautiful organic […]

This advertising kiosk was one of several models made for the CBS Outdoor design competition.  The detail, quality, and character of the model speak for themselves.  We thought it was the perfect fit for the City of San Francisco.

These two displays (one pictured) were made to swivel, depending on what side the viewer was standing, and featured custom-made transparent solar panels that effectively highlighted the Enphase Energy inverter in the middle.

The actual machine is so large that it requires a 3-story space to house it.  The technology it employs is fascinating, and ultimately vital, targeting cancerous cells in a highly focused manner with minimal detriment to the patient.  Protons ‘spin’ (ergo the cyclotron) by means of large magnets—see ‘copper’ parts within the images—and travel through […]

The actual machine is so large that it requires a 3-story space to house it.  The technology it employs is fascinating, and ultimately vital, targeting cancerous cells in a highly focused manner with minimal detriment to the patient.  Protons ‘spin’ (ergo the cyclotron) by means of large magnets—see ‘copper’ parts within the images—and travel through […]

The actual machine is so large that it requires a 3-story space to house it.  The technology it employs is fascinating, and ultimately vital, targeting cancerous cells in a highly focused manner with minimal detriment to the patient.  Protons ‘spin’ (ergo the cyclotron) by means of large magnets—see ‘copper’ parts within the images—and travel through […]

The actual machine is so large that it requires a 3-story space to house it.  The technology it employs is fascinating, and ultimately vital, targeting cancerous cells in a highly focused manner with minimal detriment to the patient.  Protons ‘spin’ (ergo the cyclotron) by means of large magnets—see ‘copper’ parts within the images—and travel through […]