Perhaps you could bring your idea to your local hackerspace.
Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
11–20 of 49 posts
Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#12Mechanical engineering and materials science are the two fields you want to identify consulting talent in.
In general, for time and cost reasons I would recommend that you try to avoid materials science related R&D if you can, except in "accessible" (well documented / cost effective) areas of metallurgy and polymer chemistry available using, for example, commercial off the shelf industrial polymer additives (there are many available, generally with the goal of altering a specific aspect of the resulting material).
In addition, you need to understand that the fabrication and test methods used in prototyping hardware products are very often different to those used in final production owing to time/cost/volume concerns.
Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#13You want to hire an engineering consultant, one with experience in the space.
Or, just post your idea to hn. We will gladly tell you why it won't work, regardless of whether it will or won't.
Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#14I'm happy to have a chat - I've previously worked with hardware founders in the past so I might be able to connect you with someone. Also, part of a larger entrepreneurial network that's successfully built out hardware startups.
Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#15Mechanical engineering and materials science are the two fields you want to identify consulting talent in. In general, for time and cost reasons I would recommend that you try to avoid materials science related R&D if you can, except in "accessible" (well documented / cost effective) areas of metallurgy and polymer chemistry available using, for example, commercial off the shelf industrial polymer additives (there ar…
It usually takes literally decades for new materials to go from the lab to common or even uncommon use.
The good news is that if OP doesn’t know that, he or she probably doesn’t know if a new material is really required either.
Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#16This feels like the engineering version of "I have an idea for an app!".
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Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#17You want to hire an engineering consultant, one with experience in the space. Or, just post your idea to hn. We will gladly tell you why it won't work, regardless of whether it will or won't.
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Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#18> at worst a new type of material being invented
Oh god. Unless you find a very good materials scientist, the answer is "no", probably after spending a lot of money.
Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#19This might be to some help; I saw this video posted on another HN-thread and it covers some of my experiences with industrial design/engineering.
Not the biggest fan of LTT but the video covers some important points especially if you are going to follow through and commit with the project. I would say finding the right manufacturing partner is key.
Re: Ask HN: Where to get help with a hardware idea?
#20Mechanical engineering and materials science are the two fields you want to identify consulting talent in. In general, for time and cost reasons I would recommend that you try to avoid materials science related R&D if you can, except in "accessible" (well documented / cost effective) areas of metallurgy and polymer chemistry available using, for example, commercial off the shelf industrial polymer additives (there ar…
It usually takes literally decades for new materials to go from the lab to common or even uncommon use. The good news is that if OP doesn’t know that, he or she probably doesn’t know if a new material is really required either.
Sure. While I don't disagree, there are hundreds of thousands of finely adjustable chemistries available in metal and polymer already, including composite materials. It is far more likely the OP will iterate toward an appropriate material from known chemistries rather than invent a new one.