Welcome to 3Blades Maker Lab
This is the first post on our blog, so it feels right to introduce ourselves.
3Blades Maker Lab is a one-person maker studio based in Lavon, Texas — about 30 miles northeast of Dallas. I build custom products using a combination of laser engraving, UV laser marking, and 3D printing. Everything is designed, made, and shipped from my workspace here in the DFW metroplex.
What We Make
The product line is growing, but here's what's currently in the shop:
- Laser engraved slate coasters — S1-grade American slate, engraved with our UV laser. Pre-made designs or fully custom. Available in 4-packs and 6-packs.
- Custom cutting boards — Cherry, maple, and walnut hardwood boards with personalized laser engraving. Four styles: arched, house shaped, live edge, and butcher block.
- Engraved tumblers — Powder-coated stainless steel in 20oz, 30oz, and 40oz sizes. The laser burns through the coating to reveal brushed steel — permanent, won't peel or fade.
- 3D photo crystals — Your photo laser-engraved inside a solid block of K9 optical crystal. It's not printed on the surface — the image floats inside the glass.
- 3D printed drone cases — Custom-fit cases for micro FPV drones. Modular battery storage, contour-fit cradles, filament hinge — no hardware needed.
The Equipment
Two machines do most of the heavy lifting:
xTool F2 Ultra with UV laser module — This is what sets us apart from most engraving shops. The UV laser operates at 355nm wavelength, which means it vaporizes material at the molecular level instead of burning it with heat. The result is sharper lines, finer detail, and cleaner edges than traditional IR or CO2 lasers. It's what allows us to engrave crisp text on the edge of a slate coaster or mark color onto stainless steel.
BambuLab H2D 3D printer — Fast, reliable, and runs unattended. This handles everything from drone cases to coaster holders to custom prototypes. PETG for durability, PLA for detail work.
Why "3Blades"?
Three blades on a propeller. If you've been around RC aircraft or drones, you know. It's a nod to where this all started — a hobby that turned into a skill set that turned into a business.
How We Work
Everything here is made to order. We don't keep shelves of pre-stamped inventory. When you place an order, we make it — usually within 3-5 business days.
For custom designs, the process is simple:
- You tell us what you want (or use our online design tools to build it yourself)
- We send you a digital proof for approval
- You say yes, we make it, we ship it
No surprises. No "hope you like it" guesswork. You see exactly what you're getting before we engrave a single line.
What's Coming
This blog — Lab Notes — is where we'll share what we're working on, explain the tech behind our products, and post guides to help you pick the right gift or product. Think of it as a look behind the curtain at what goes into making this stuff.
Up next: breakdowns of our materials (what is K9 crystal? why does slate grade matter?), gift guides for every occasion, and some behind-the-scenes looks at the engraving process.
If you've got questions, ideas, or a custom project in mind — reach out. We're always up for a challenge.
— Joshua, 3Blades Maker Lab
Lavon, TX
