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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?

#371

Post by 12ian34 »

mschuster91 wrote: post #358
12ian34 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

hmm facilitating war, even if it means defence just doesn't sit quite right with me. shame we live in a world where this is even a thing

Si vis pacem, para bellum. We live in dangerous times, with multiple situations that can devolve into all-out wars very VERY quickly, and as Ukraine has shown it is extremely wise to prepare: - obviously, everyone with a border to Russia has to fear invading orcs. Moldavia and the Baltic nations are at particular threat, given the speeches by Russian officials and think-tank representatives that suggest Russia wants…

Yeah agreed. It's a shame though isn't it. Imagine a world where hundreds of billions of US defense spending could go into public services like free healthcare.

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

#372

Post by upstarter »

gryfft wrote: post #369
upstarter wrote: post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like Monty Python said: Always look on the bright side of life. Assuming you're right, then your first buyer would be the US Army. You would never have to work a single day in your life ever again. :-)

> Monty Python Somehow, I don't think you're taking this seriously. If you really believe in the potential of this technology, it should scare the daylights out of you.

I'm generally hard to scare, but why not talk it over with a couple of engineers? Either they're going to tell you "it's not going to work b/c that's what we've been told in school" and you'll sleep better, or you're going to be very rich and you'll also sleep better.

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

#373

Post by mschuster91 »

12ian34 wrote: post #371
mschuster91 wrote: post #358

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Si vis pacem, para bellum. We live in dangerous times, with multiple situations that can devolve into all-out wars very VERY quickly, and as Ukraine has shown it is extremely wise to prepare: - obviously, everyone with a border to Russia has to fear invading orcs. Moldavia and the Baltic nations are at particular threat, given the speeches by Russian officials and think-tank representatives that suggest Russia wants…

Yeah agreed. It's a shame though isn't it. Imagine a world where hundreds of billions of US defense spending could go into public services like free healthcare.

The problem isn't defense spending, the problem is resource misallocation, fraud and waste. The US is at the top of the healthcare expenditure per capita comparison by far [1] - there is enough money "in the system", it just ends up at the completely wrong places.

The US spends almost double as much money per citizen as countries as Germany, and yet, the quality of healthcare and accessibility are so much better here than the horror stories that regularly pop up here or on Reddit. Not to say our system is perfect - it's far from what I would consider to be decent - but the objective measurements of how the US' health care system performs are speaking clear and loud [2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_hea...

[2] https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2...

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

#374

Post by 12ian34 »

mschuster91 wrote: post #373
12ian34 wrote: post #371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah agreed. It's a shame though isn't it. Imagine a world where hundreds of billions of US defense spending could go into public services like free healthcare.

The problem isn't defense spending, the problem is resource misallocation, fraud and waste. The US is at the top of the healthcare expenditure per capita comparison by far [1] - there is enough money "in the system", it just ends up at the completely wrong places. The US spends almost double as much money per citizen as countries as Germany, and yet, the quality of healthcare and accessibility are so much better here…

Indeed, I agree with you on this and also read this report recently. But I think we're going down a bit of a rabbit hole here. My initial post was merely a comment on the unfortunate human condition currently, with the undertone of my desire that it shouldn't be this way.

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

#375

Post by gryfft »

upstarter wrote: post #372
gryfft wrote: post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Monty Python Somehow, I don't think you're taking this seriously. If you really believe in the potential of this technology, it should scare the daylights out of you.

I'm generally hard to scare, but why not talk it over with a couple of engineers? Either they're going to tell you "it's not going to work b/c that's what we've been told in school" and you'll sleep better, or you're going to be very rich and you'll also sleep better.

I don't need to talk to anyone to sleep just fine, because Elon Musk, Exxon, the CCP and the US Department of Defense aren't idiots and would have bought up all of the rare earth magnets already if this was anything but obvious crank.

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

#376

Post by egorfine »

throwaway787544 wrote: post #370
egorfine wrote: post #336

In Ukraine we are building combat drones and UAVs. Lots of these startups around the country and some will successfully monetize after the war, especially given track of success on the battlefield.

How can we help? (With anything, not just drones)

- drone guys need hardware (electronics and manufacturing gear) delivered as fast as possible into Poland where our volunteers will pick up and move into Ukraine. We need everything from small electronic components to production line that will manufacture plastic or carbon drones.

- push for the West to help Ukraine more. More weapons and faster delivery. So call your senator, raise awareness, etc;

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

#377

Post by entirelylin »

12ian34 wrote: post #138
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…

hmm facilitating war, even if it means defence just doesn't sit quite right with me. shame we live in a world where this is even a thing

Everywhere you look around the world right now there is a money making machine. Imo more and more companies start choosing non ethical ways to earn currency. There hasn't been many sacred things in world nor lately nor ever..

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

#378

Post by digdugdirk »

folli wrote: post #341
sliceform wrote: post #152

I used to be the education director at a makerspace and now run a 3D printing company selling small plastic parts and teaching entrepreneurs how to start small manufacturing businesses at home. Few thoughts: - Focus on your hobbies and other industries you know well. What problems exist? Where can you make things better? Are there problems people mention over and over again? - CAD modeling is often THE fundamental sk…

For CAD modeling, what software do you suggest for a beginner?

Onshape (onshape.com) is generally a good starting point - its cloud based, so the usual PC performance requirement issues don't apply. Free accounts require you to have publicly viewable documents, so if you're working on something for profit, you might want to splurge for the paid version after you get up to speed.

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

#379

Post by delgaudm »

Here's an idea: Maybe look around for You Tubers who are creating one-off 3d models and pitching them to do a product run.

If you want to see what something like this could look like, Aaron Parecki designed a very clever stand for a video device called an ATEM Mini, and started with one-off 3d prototypes he was printing. He validated the idea, then sourced up to a small -- just a bit bigger than a garage -- "factory" that would be like what you're describing.

Here is a tour of the "factory" https://youtu.be/ljaEnoJZ8OY?t=1071

Might help you source ideas by looking at what some creators are prototyping on their channels, then pitching a small scale factory run of the devices.

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

#380

Post by kaivi »

Custom length power/data cables like SATA/SAS with various connectors. The biggest obstacle would be that you'd need to test them, but you could start doing so with second-hand hardware. Pair it with a nice website with instant pricing calculator, and I bet you will see business.
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