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Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

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Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#261

Post by 12ian34 »

LBJsPNS wrote: post #258
12ian34 wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps with that attitude. There's a lot of amazing things humans have accomplished that were once thought impossible. We are likely very, very early on in the anthropocene. Thousands of years from now I'm optimistic that the world will be a better place and that they'll look back on us as barbaric environment destroyers.

Either that, or the one-eyed cannibal mutants will keep our descendants in fattening pens. Kumbaya, m-fer.

judging by recent political events in the UK and the US combined with the level of obesity and overconsumption in these nations I'd say we're already there

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#262

Post by grepLeigh »

Panther34543 wrote: post #63

I've given this advice elsewhere, and I'll give it here. Go look at the small business initiatives by each branch of the U.S. military; many are now posting lists of open contracts that you can bid on for an incredible array of things. Browse through those lists and find something you can build. I really believe the U.S. military is in the midst of a large scale transfer of military spending from traditional large de…

The ASTRO America and Additive Manufacturing programs are great examples of this evolution, with 5 major Department of Defense contractors committed to sourcing 3D-printed parts from domestic suppliers.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases...

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#263

Post by azhenley »

dls2016 wrote: post #252
systemvoltage wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There should be a program that's easily accessible (not behind lawyer language) that DoD sponsors: We'll buy you a CNC machine, a laptop and a bunch of bar stock on our dime if you produce these parts as per these quality requirements by this date and of this quantity. If we're happy, you can keep the equipment for your next DoD project and you'll get a priority as an experienced vendor (that we invested in).

The SBIR program is essentially what you describe… though with a research bent. Virtually zero red tape with a Phase I grant (apart from the application itself).

SBIR grants require a lot of expertise about the arcane application process.

There’s an entire service industry around helping businesses apply. The companies that I’ve seen be successful at it hired several people with SBIR experience specifically to handle the grant proposals.

I had 3 successful NSF proposals and could not have done it without an experienced team helping me just with the legalese and process.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#264

Post by wrycoder »

Lammy wrote: post #130
Nextgrid wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious, what legal issues are we talking about here? What is not legal about running a business out of one's basement, and what law were they "ratted out" for breaking?

You need a "Home Occupation Permit". The details will vary by municipality, but here are the requirements for Sacramento CA, just to pick a random example: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/EDD... "The following occupations are eligible for a Home Occupation Permit subject to restrictions discussed in the next section. If the occupation is followed by an asterisk, the use is also subject to spe…

Cottage food per CA [0]

[0] https://casetext.com/statute/california-codes/california-hea...

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#265

Post by bigDinosaur »

mmazing wrote: post #218
happyopossum wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> War happens when one of two nations assumes that they are more capable of winning than another. That’s only part of the equation - said country needs to have a desire or need to go to war as well.

Indeed. Look at the US immediately after WW2. Huge power imbalance between USA (sole holder of all nuclear arms), and the rest of the world. So ... yeah, kinda proves your point.

Nuclear weapons were developed by the Soviets before the end of the 40's, so it was a very narrow window where the US was the sole holder of all nuclear arms (about five years).

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#266

Post by gpm »

cercatrova wrote: post #184
12ian34 wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's definitely a land of fantasy today, I agree but one can always hope that maybe one day instead of killing each other we'd learn to live together and work together. Imagine how much more productive we'd be. To be honest I nearly didn't post this message because it's a bit off topic and definitely divisive. I definitely support all the brave people fighting for me to be safe because I sure as hell wouldn't feel co…

Looking at human history, that will never happen. As long as there is scarcity in the world, and as long as sovereign states exist, geopolitics and thus the looming threat of war will always exist.

I don't buy that history is a good guide for the future here. All but the most recent history was in an era where we couldn't talk to eachother without physically travelling for weeks/months. The nature of diplomacy, politics, countries, and war have all fundamentally changed. The world has not "settled into" a new steady-state since those changes have been made (partially because significant changes are still happening).

You could reasonably extrapolate from bodies like the EU and think there is a chance we end up with a single global order that doesn't include war in the future.

That said I think you can look at the current and say with some confidence that there are at least a few wars left - there are too many current armed conflicts, and too many threats of armed conflict, to seriously believe otherwise.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#267

Post by 6510 »

marpstar wrote: post #20
duped wrote: post #13

The legality should interest you. I saw someone have their small business shut down by police because they were running it out of their basement. It wasn't the noise or pollution (which realistically are the nuisances you're going to be inflicting on neighbors) but the excess cars parked and delivery trucks coming and going down the street. One neighbor ratted them out. The problem with the space isn't really the cap…

In reviewing neighborhood covenants whilst searching for a new home, I was surprised to see some of them make explicit the fact that running a business in your home is allowed, provided that it doesn't generate significant traffic/parking.

There are also zones for businesses that do or do not allow living there.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#268

Post by nikitaga »

SpikedCola wrote: post #28
Cieplak wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

McMaster-Carr supplies thin-wall chromoly tube [0] suitable for fabricating bicycle frames. [0] tube is measured by the outer diameter; pipe is measured by the inner diameter

McMaster-Carr won’t sell to small companies, my friends and I have tried several times, only to have orders cancelled for the above-mentioned reason. It’s a shame because their website has a wealth of information (CAD drawings, measurements, etc.), one of the best I’ve seen.

Since you're in Canada too, my experience might be relevant. My first McMaster order last year was cancelled with the following response:

"Due to the cost and complexity of shipping our products to Canada, we are only able to accept orders from businesses and schools. We’ve canceled your order. If this material is not for personal use, please resubmit your order online using the business or school name."

After that, I added my company's legal name to both shipping and billing address, put "Please note: this order is for business" in order comments the first couple times, and had no problems since.

I wish we had something similar in Canada that has a good selection and isn't a pain to deal with, but as it stands, McMaster is too good to give up on.

ETA: Having read your other comment, it appears they might have restricted their policy since then, but grandfathered existing clients. That would be really sad for Canadians.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#269

Post by fancifalmanima »

lucb1e wrote: post #200
groby_b wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Using this logic, why don’t more countries attack, say Costa Rica, which doesn’t even have a military? You might want to read up on the "Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance". Essentially, "the rest of the Americas". That mostly works because the set of potential aggressors is small. (Nicaragua and Panama). OK, fine, the US might want to, but they're close enough partners that they don't need to.

> they're close enough partners that they don't need to I think that might be the crux of what GP was getting at. There's more to it than the ability to win (and in a hopeful dreamy world, I'd wish we can all get to the state where collaboration is always the obvious better choice, but that's obviously at least a few hundred years off... something to strive for, though)

To the US, "winning" is basically defined as having access to local resources (including workers) at market rates without the responsibility of governing.

AKA -- free trade. Global free trade exists because the US wants it to. In that sense, it's currently winning/won. The size of the US military and economy (and it's close allies) are largely what enforces that world order.

Personally, I think it's better than the old model of imperialism (it's certainly way less violent and has rapidly increased living standards across the globe). But it's still a case of the big powerful countries enforcing their will on smaller countries.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#270

Post by gamblor956 »

systemvoltage wrote: post #216
gamblor956 wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not understanding what the benefit to the taxpayer is for this, when right now plenty of entrepreneurs willingly take on these startup costs themselves?

Huge benefits: Increase competition, overthrow incumbents, equip populace with basic skills and manufacturing capacity in case of when shit hits the fan, cheaper parts. Downsides I can think of: Exploitation of the program through various means by bad actors. It is no different than SBA low interest loans, just instead of capital, you get machines for specific purpose. Another one is injection molding, the entire ind…

Your reply in no way addresses my question...
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