FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I bill primarily at an hourly rate for CAD modeling, product design, and engineering services, and I keep everything fully transparent. Each task is clearly documented so you can track progress and see exactly how your budget is being used. Because I operate independently—without employees, departmental overhead, or layers of management—you benefit from lower costs, faster turnaround, and consistent quality. There’s no hand‑off between departments or miscommunication; I personally manage every stage of your project. For well‑defined scopes or larger projects, I also offer budget‑based pricing so you know what to expect before we begin. If you’d like to see examples of past work, design styles, or prototype results, you can ASK ME for my portfolio.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I begin every project by securing a mutual non‑disclosure agreement, ensuring your ideas and intellectual property are fully protected before any evaluation starts. From there, we discuss your budget, because the level of detail—whether broad conceptual exploration or fully developed engineering—depends on the scope you’re comfortable with. While I provide a standard work contract, I tailor the workflow to fit your project’s needs and resources. When helpful, I meet with clients through advanced screen‑share software, allowing us to collaborate face‑to‑face. During these sessions, I document key requirements, constraints, and creative considerations in my engineering notebook. Next, I typically request a simple hand sketch or reference image. Based on your project phase, I often produce quick “blue‑sky” concept sketches to establish direction and estimate the effort required for preliminary working drawings. When appropriate, I also create animation renderings to help visualize motion, assembly, or product behavior. As the design develops, I frequently produce 3D‑printed prototype parts—either in‑house using my Formlabs machine or through trusted partners for more robust materials such as SLS nylon, flexible TPU, electrostatic coatings, or bronze finishes. At the end of the process, you own all your files, and they can be viewed, shared, and marked up using free, industry‑standard 3D viewers available on all major operating systems.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I hold an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences with a focus on mechanical drafting, and I’ve been working in professional CAD and product design since 1987, when I first began using AutoCAD. Over the past 35+ years, I’ve built a deep, real‑world foundation in consumer product development, with a strong specialization in fully engineered injection‑molded plastics. My experience comes not only from formal education but from decades of hands‑on design, prototyping, and manufacturing collaboration. I stay current by attending industry trade shows, participating in 3D user group meetings, and maintaining active relationships with manufacturing vendors in both the United States and Asia. This ongoing exposure keeps me aligned with modern materials, tooling methods, and production technologies. Across my career, I’ve developed a broad and refined skill set that I bring directly into your project — helping you transform your ideas into superior, manufacturable products. For clarity, I am not a licensed architect, and I do not provide architectural engineering stamped drawings.