Hi! My name is Matt Shaver, and I Design, Build, and Repair things for a living!
I'm an experienced electrical and mechanical design consultant with 38 years of practical experience. You might ask, "This sounds good, but what do you actually DO"? Good question! I work with businesses, in the manufacturing and construction sectors get their day to day design and production work done. How? Of course it depends upon the needs of the particular situation, but I can:* Create sketches and CAD models (AutoCAD/Rhino3D/KiCAD) of initial product concepts from whatever source materials are available. I also try to ensure that all product performance, appearance, and cost requirements are captured and accounted for in any proposed implementations.
* Develop plans to mitigate anticipated product safety risks and complete a risk analysis matrix if needed.
* Identify applicable standards compliance requirements (FMVSS, CPSC, UL, NFPA, ANSI, ASTM, etc.) and develop strategies to ensure conformance at least cost.
* Analyze proposed product designs to identify components and materials that can be used to achieve quick, economical production.
* Perform preliminary strength, load deflection, weight, ampacity, voltage breakdown, and heat dissipation type calculations to validate component, material and section choices. If Professional Engineering (Stamped Drawings) are required, I work closely with PE firms to obtain timely design approval at minimum cost.
* Create a final, accurate, production ready CAD models and EDA files.
* Produce all product documentation including detail drawings for manufacturing, parts lists with supplier and cost information, schematic and wiring diagtams, assembly instructions, and user manuals. If there is no existing document management system, I will institute one that suits the client's business needs.
* If partial or complete production will occur in house, I can configure the shop floor layout, and recommend, obtain, install, and repair manufacturing tools and equipment. I can program CNC machine tools (EZcam, SheetCAM, RS274 "gcode") and teach personnel how to operate these machines safely.
* Most likely, some component parts or even the entire product will be outsourced to specialized vendors. I can identify potential suppliers, produce Request For Quote documentation in the form expected, and manage the client/vendor relationship through the product lifecycle.
