In this episode of the Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast, we tackle the daunting yet exhilarating journey of starting a hardware company. Join Stephen and Lucian as they share their insights and experiences, breaking down the essential steps to kickstart your venture. From embracing failure to navigating imposter syndrome, this episode is packed with valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

We discuss:

• The importance of accepting failure as part of the learning process
• Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome
• The significance of understanding your motivation and reward structure
• How to balance work and life while managing the stresses of entrepreneurship
• The value of community and networking with fellow entrepreneurs
• Practical tips for executing your ideas and staying flexible amidst challenges

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this episode will inspire you to take action and embrace the journey of building something meaningful.

Sources for links mentioned in this episode:

• https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dip

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the OHM Podcast, We explore the critical phases of product development: Engineering Validation Test (EVT), Design Validation Test (DVT), and Production Validation Test (PVT). We discuss the importance of each phase in transforming a bare-bones concept into a market-ready product and emphasize the need for structured validation processes to ensure that products meet their intended specifications and can be effectively mass-produced.

Join us as we delve into:

• The significance of product validation and the role of the Product Requirement Document (PRD)
• The differences and objectives of EVT, DVT, and PVT
• How empirical testing and user feedback shape product development
• Insights into managing engineering teams and collaboration across disciplines
• Real-world examples from their experiences at Form Labs and Opulo

Sources:

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Ad song:

• Forever Young - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast, we dive into keeping sales up while managing production demands. This is an "unofficial part 2" to the last episode, where we discuss keeping up with orders. From the importance of understanding your customer demographics to the delicate balance of marketing channels, we share our experiences and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're a startup or an established business, this episode offers valuable tips on effectively stoking the fire of your sales pipeline.

Join us as we discuss:

• Identifying your target customer and their needs
• The effectiveness of ads versus organic social media
• How to leverage customer feedback to improve sales
• Strategies for nurturing existing customers and encouraging referrals

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keeping up with orders is an underrepresented problem that has been intrinsically tricky for us to solve. We cover everything from keeping lead times down and managing orders in the queue to avoiding stockouts and using stock management tools. This can be one of the most challenging aspects of manufacturing, and we have spent significant time figuring out what works best. We hope you enjoy!

Note: To find out more about the FTC rule that was mentioned: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/business-guide-ftcs-mail-internet-or-telephone-order-merchandise-rule

Note: Link to the speedrunning site that was mentioned: https://one.livesplit.org/

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Ad song:

• Forever Young - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Stephen and Lucian as they wrap up this year by giving a year-end review of the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2024. From Prusa closing their source to FreeCAD 1.0 squeaking in at the last minute, they cover quite a bit while enjoying the memories.

We can't thank all of you enough for a very successful 2024, and we look forward to seeing you all in the new year. Happy Holidays!

Here is the link to the blog post about licensing mentioned in this episode: https://www.opulo.io/blogs/news/fewer-restrictions-updating-lumenpnp-licensing

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Managing a print farm may seem like it shouldn't be that complicated. It is tricky in ways you wouldn't expect, and it certainly comes with some life lessons!

From choosing the right printer to optimizing filament and settings, we share our journey and lessons learned in building an efficient 3D printing farm.

Whether you're running a single 3D printer or managing a fleet, this episode is packed with practical advice to save you time, money, and frustration.

YouTube video about the print farm manager Stephen made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHku1zc3RQs

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Ad song:

• Forever Young - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Stephen and Lucian on an exciting episode of the Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast as they chat with Bar Smith, the innovative mind behind the Maslow CNC. We hope you enjoy this talk about the world of open-source hardware and community building as Bar shares his journey from a random thought to creating a revolutionary CNC router, the Maslow 4.1.

You will learn about the struggles of developing a large-format CNC router that allows anyone access to fabrication tools while keeping everything open-source. Plus, you'll discover how Bar's unique approach to open-source development and community engagement has shaped the evolution of the Maslow project.

Whether you're a maker, an entrepreneur, or just curious about open hardware, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of collaboration and innovation.

Don't miss the chance to support Bar's latest Kickstarter for the Maslow 4.1, a testament to the ongoing journey of making CNC technology accessible to everyone. Click HERE for the Kickstarter link and be part of this exciting project!

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing documentation is like a Greek tragedy, where you are both the best and worst person to write your own docs. In this episode, Stephen and Lucian dive deep into the art of creating effective documentation for open hardware products.

Join us as we explore the balance between text and images, the downsides of video documentation, and the ever-evolving nature of keeping your docs up-to-date. Whether you're a seasoned doc writer or just getting started, you'll find valuable insights and practical tips to enhance your documentation process.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Bill Hader - "when they tell you what's wrong they're usually right, when they tell you how to fix it they're usually wrong"
• Googles Style Guide
• Thea Flowers beautiful example of great documentation

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surprisingly, there are many other reasons why an event can benefit a company besides selling units at your booth. From making industry connections to gauging what your customer demographic wants, it can be a great place to gather data that could help you shape your company's direction. In this episode, Stephen and Lucian tell you about the trade show that opened their eyes to the fact that people wanted the LumenPnP for something we were not even considering, leading to a whole new branch of customers and a significant increase in sales.

Sit back and relax as we discuss the good and bad aspects of events in this episode of the OHM Podcast!

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Ad song:

• Forever Young - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Packaging requires considering what you might need in the future, which is not as easy as you think. You don't want to bottleneck your future products because they won't fit in the packaging, nor do you want to buy all new packaging for every change you make. You'd be surprised by some of the design choices made in the name of packaging. 

Did I forget to mention that a horse kicked, bit, and stomped a LumenPnP? You never know what your packaging might go up against.

YouTube video we did about packaging a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku4Wvu6LsrU

----------------------------------

Do you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about what we do, check out Opulo.io

To see everything else we do, including social media, check out Opulo.start.page

O.H.M. Podcast Merch is now here!

Intro song:

• Complicate Ya - Otis McDonald (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.