Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Trading Symbol Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Small Business Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $15,000 in 2019 and 2018) Inventory, Net Inventories, net Inventories, net Other Assets, Current Other current assets Assets, Current Total current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Plant and equipment: Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Plant and equipment, at cost Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Total plant and equipment Inventory, Noncurrent Precious metals Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Intangible assets, net Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Assets Total Assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Other Notes Payable, Current Current portion of other long term notes Less current portion Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Contract Liabilities Contract liabilities Amount of Contract liabilities on the balance sheet. Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Notes Payable, Related Parties, Noncurrent Related party convertible notes payable Other Notes Payable, Noncurrent Other long term Notes, net of current portion Long-term debt, excluding current portion Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Shareholders' equity: Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock: $.01 par value; 60,000,000 authorized shares; 13,636,988 shares issued at March 31, 2019 and 13,636,988 shares issued at December 31, 2018 Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Capital in excess of par value Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Stockholders' Equity before Treasury Stock Stockholders' Equity before Treasury Stock Treasury Stock, Value Less - Common stock in treasury, at cost (4,600 shares) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total shareholders' equity Balance Balance Liabilities and Equity Total Liabilities and shareholders' equity Balance Sheets Parenthetical [Abstract] Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable Allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars) Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury stock, shares Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] Shares, Outstanding Balance (in share) Balance (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues 401K contribution Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation expense Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income (loss) for the year Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Common stock issued on exercise of options Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Capital in excess of par value [Member] Accumulated Deficit [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Income Statement [Abstract] Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Cost and expenses: Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative expenses Costs and Expenses Costs and Expenses, Total Cost of Goods and Services Sold Cost of goods sold Operating Income (Loss) Income from operations Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other expense: Interest Income (Expense), Nonoperating, Net Interest expense—net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Other Assets Loss on exchange of precious metals Loss on exchange of precious metals Nonoperating Income (Expense) Nonoperating Income (Expense) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Income (loss) before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax (provision) benefit Earnings Per Share, Basic Net (loss) income per common share — basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net (loss) income per common share — diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted average shares outstanding — basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted Revenues Total revenue Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Share-based Compensation Stock based compensation Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories, net Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Contract with Customer, Liability Contract Liabilities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Total adjustments and changes Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Other Productive Assets Purchase of precious metals Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash (used in) investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments of Other Long-term Debt Principal payments on notes payable-other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used in) financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: Interest Paid, Net Interest paid Income Taxes Paid, Net Income taxes paid Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Revenues [Abstract] Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block] Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Reconciliation Of Shares Used In Calculation Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Common Share [Table Text Block] The tabular disclosure of reconciliation of the shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share. Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block] Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block] Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block] Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block] Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Non Vested [Table Text Block] Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Non Vested [Table Text Block] Tabular disclosure of the total compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted, vested and forfeited during the period. Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Inventory, Current [Table] Inventory [Line Items] Inventory, Raw Materials, Gross Raw materials Inventory, Work in Process, Gross Work in process, including manufactured parts and components Inventory, Finished Goods, Gross Finished goods Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract] Income(Loss) (Numerator) Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net Income (Loss) Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Dilutive Convertible Securities Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Dilutive Convertible Securities Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Dilutive Accrued Interest On Convertible Notes Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Dilutive Accrued Interest On Convertible Notes Amount of increase (decrease) to net income used for calculating diluted earnings per share (EPS), resulting from the assumed exercise of dilutive accrued interest on convertible notes. Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Dilutive Warrants Amount of increase (decrease) to net income used for calculating diluted earnings per share (EPS), resulting from the assumed exercise of dilutive warrants. Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Options and Restrictive Stock Units Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Diluted [Abstract] Diluted Income (Loss) Per Share: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Diluted Net Income (Loss) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic [Abstract] Shares (Denominator) Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Accrued Interest On Convertible Notes Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of accrued interest on convertible notes. Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Call Options and Warrants Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Diluted Income (Loss) Per Share: Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Basic Income (Loss) Per Share: Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Diluted Income (Loss) Per Share: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Customer [Axis] Major Customers [Axis] Customer [Domain] Name of Major Customer [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Warrant [Member] Equity Option [Member] Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Type [Axis] Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Type [Domain] Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement Location [Domain] Selling Expense [Member] Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] Equity Award [Domain] Accrued Interest On Convertible Notes Payable [Member] Short-term Debt, Type [Axis] Short-term Debt, Type [Domain] Nature Of Business And Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Estimates [Line Items] Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent Provision for Doubtful Accounts Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance Increase Decrease In Deferred Tax Assets The amount of increase or decrease in deferred tax assets. Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease), Amount Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Range [Axis] Range [Axis] Range [Domain] Range [Domain] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Segments [Axis] Segments [Domain] Aerospace Defense [Member] Aerospace & Defense [Member] Process Control Metrology [Member] Process Control & Metrology [Member] Laser Systems [Member] Scientific RD [Member] Scientific / R&D [Member]