The Engineering Entrepreneur Podcast

Stepping up your CAD Design Business – Scott Hoffman - Ep 27

Scott Hoffman is the founder of PepperNickelDesigns, a CAD design and 3D printing service. Scott’s background is in electrical and computer engineering. He works full time as an insurance adjuster but he started PepperNickelDesigns as a side hustle that he wants to bring to a full-time job in 2017.

We connected on the Facebook page for the Side Hustle Show (http://www.sidehustlenation.com/). He posted on the Facebook page that he had issues with either too much design/print work coming in at once or not enough. This is an issue I am very familiar with, as I have been running my business full time for 2 years now. I replied to his post and offered him to come on the podcast so that I could help him with the strategies of how to solve some of these issues.

(Side note: I was a guest on the Side Hustle Show in June 2016. If you want to hear that interview, click here: http://www.sidehustlenation.com/listener-success-story-took-side-hustle-full-time/)

Key Takeaways

1. The secret to starting a side hustle is to take a skill you have and find a way to monetize it

To Contact Scott

Email: [email protected]

Tumblr: Peppernickeldesigns

Facebook: Peppernickeldesigns

The Engineering Entrepreneur Podcast is produced by Scott Tarcy, President of CADdesignhelp.com. You can reach me at [email protected]

Jeff Funderburk is the inventor of the Big Bear Shelf (bigbearshelving.com). Jeff was cleaning his garage one day and realized he didn’t have enough storage space. He went to Lowe’s to find a solution but all the products out there were very costly.

Jeff’s solution was to create a “holder” piece that holds 3 two by four pieces of lumber. We discuss how he made some initial prototypes, came up with funding, found a CAD designer to help him create a plastic version for mass production and how the product is selling to date.

Key Takeaways

1. The key to any successful invention is to find a problem that the market doesn’t already have. While there were shelving solutions, many were too costly for the average homeowner.

To Contact Jeff

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 704-340-4262

The Engineering Entrepreneur Podcast is produced by Scott Tarcy, President of CADdesignhelp.com. You can reach me at [email protected]

CADdesignhelp.com Business Update – Scott Tarcy (solo episode) - Ep 25

I thought it was time to do a solo episode and talk about random stuff I have going on in my business. Some of the highlights include:

Projects

Brush butler - https://brushbutler.com/

• Engineering challenges

Microphone handle

• 2 piece product

Inventions

Selfie-glove - http://caddesignhelp.com/products-and-inventions/

Business stuff

• Thumbtack overload in January. Bid on 10 jobs, got all of them

3D printing

Fusion3 F400

• Lots more maintenance but better for big ABS parts

Ultimaker 2+

• Works great, but challenges with big ABS parts

TV show – 3D print the future

UPDATE 3/15/2017: There was a problem with the original post (the track got looped I think). Anyways, I apologize and the new, corrected podcast is now posted.

Trey Sullivan is from Louisiana and grew up on a farm. He learned a lot of hands on practical knowledge from fixing farm equipment. He started college after high school, but ultimately dropped out and worked most of his career as an insurance adjuster. He has now decided to go back to college (at 39) and this time is pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree (which is what my degree is in).

1. First, hats off to Trey for going back at 39 years old to get his college degree. It’s never too late

1. Facebook – Trey Sullivan

Pat Sweet has worked most of his career as an engineer in the rail industry. After reading the 4 hour workweek and some other entrepreneurship books, he got the inspiration to start some side hustles.

He taught himself how to build websites and still creates websites as a side business.

Another action he took was to create his own website: Engineeringandleadership.com. At first he created it because he enjoyed writing about engineering and leadership, but the site rank has grown and he has been able to monetize it.

We talk about his journey, how to validate a product, and where he sees his future: as a product consultant. You might just want to hire Pat as a consultant on your product! He knows his stuff.

Key Takeaways

1. Portfolio career- you don’t need to work your whole career for one employer

To Contact Pat

1. Engineeringandleadership.com

3D Print the Future TV show

We are still looking for more guests but spots are filling up. Please contact me soon if you have interest in being featured on the show. You can email [email protected]

Please see details here: 3D Print the Future TV Show

I can’t give him the title of “King of 3D Printing in the World”, but I will give him the title for Michigan. And for good reason….read more below

Jonah Dorman is the owner of SOC3D, which is a 3D printing company based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His company has the most reviews on 3D Hubs (think of AirBnB for 3D printers) in the entire state of Michigan. They have 35 3D printers in use, which is truly amazing.

I learn a lot myself on this call about 3D printer filament formulation, how they actually make printer filament, how to run parts fast, and we discuss all my headaches with my 3D printer I’ve had lately!

Key Takeaways

1. ASA is going to be the replacement material for ABS. ABS was never created for 3D printing, it was made for injection molding.

To Contact Jonah

1. [email protected]

Since we talked about 3D hubs, I figured I might as well share my 3D Hub in the show notes (honestly don’t know what I never thought of that before)

Caddesignhelp 3D hub

Brian Walt is only 22 years old but already is a business owner and entrepreneur. He started Walt3D, a 3D printing and manufacturing services company based out of King of Prussia, PA. We connected over Instagram, as we both often use the #3D printing (you can follow me on Instagram @caddesignhelp).

We talk about his story on how he got into 3D printing. We talk about the Pro Putt, a golf training product he helped design and prototype. Then we discuss the 3D printers he uses and the ones I use. We talk a lot about 3D printing, so be sure to check this one out if 3D printing interests you.

Key Takeaways

1. I was impressed Brian started this company before even finishing college. If you find a passion, no matter your age, you can turn that into a business

To Contact Brian

Email [email protected]

Website Walt3D.com

Instagram @Walt3D

Links discussed:

http://www.proputtusa.com/

The Perky Collar Invention- David Frankel - Ep 20

David Frankel is inventor whose background is in sales and marketing. He found a need himself to keep a dress shirt collar upright when he is not wearing a tie. After finding a makeshift solution (his daughter’s headband) for the sales meeting he was about to have, he knew he was onto something. He took the idea from that initial handmade prototype to a final product that he is selling online and in many retail stores.

We go into depth about all the stages of getting the product from his initial idea to the final product with packaging.

Key Takeaways

1. David knew he had to go “all in” if he wanted his product to be a success. While he did some market research, in the end he had to go with his gut feeling that the product would succeed and invest quite a bit of money to get it fully developed

To Contact David

Email: [email protected]

Website: perkycollar.com

Phone: 704-839 - 1169

Designing on Stage Machinery for Lady Gaga Performances and CES 2017 Discussion– Emanuel Moshouris - Ep 18

Emanuel Moshouris is a Mechanical Engineer working for Black and Decker. His background includes working as an engineer in both the automotive and entertainment sectors. If you ever wondered how the big-name artists create their elaborate on stage performances, you will want to listen to this episode. Really interesting stuff!

Emanuel and myself met at CES 2017 a few weeks ago, so the 2nd half of our discussion is about what we both liked the most at the show and where we see the future in technology. We talk a good amount about 3D printing and Virtual Reality (VR).

Key Takeaways

1. Emanuel has a goal in mind of where he wants his career to go. By looking at how others have achieved it, he has a game plan to follow

To Contact Emanuel

Linkedin

Email: [email protected]

Scott Houdashell is an insurance salesman by day but an inventor at his core. One day he was decorating a hardboiled egg with his family and thought there must be an easier way. After some testing and trials, the Eggmazing was born.

I first connected with Scott when he needed his Sketchup drawings converted into Solidworks drawings. He has since already gone to tooling with his product and he had a successful Kickstarter campaign. He is on the verge of a big breakthrough and our conversation will show you how he went from an idea to a final product.

Key Takeaways

1. It was evident in my call with Scott that he has a support team of family and friends behind him. This can be key because of the substantial capital required to launch a product

To contact Scott

website http://www.eggmazing.com/

Phone 806-584-5440

Links discussed:

http://www.sourcentra.com/

To contact me:

[email protected]