Product Designer: Manufacturing Tools That Can Fit Inside Your Home

There have never been more options available to those who want to make products from their own home. Technology has reached an exciting point, enabling normal people to make things for themselves without having to craft them entirely by hand. Not only does this save a lot of time, but it also makes it possible for you to create things far more impressive than you would be able to do on your own. But what exactly should you be looking at when you’re choosing the machines you’ll be using to help you?

3D Printers

3D printers have come a very long way over the last decade or so, with loads of models hitting the market at very low prices. Options like the Monoprice Select Mini V2 is shockingly affordable for the quality of prints it can produce, and this is making this hobby more and more accessible. You will probably need to spend a little more to get something that will be able to print at a high enough quality to sell, but this still doesn’t cost anywhere near as much as it used to. 3D printers are most commonly used with thermoplastics like PLA and ABS, though the high-end market is starting to bring materials like aluminum into the picture.

Waterjet/Laser Cutters

While waterjet and laser cutters are quite different machines, they are capable of the same type of production process. They cut flat materials along 2 axes, limiting them a little compared to a 3D printer’s capabilities. Both laser and waterjet cutters are able to cut through a range of materials, from wood and acrylic to tough metals like stainless steel. These machines are great when you are trying to make products that have flat sides, as you can easily make a 2D net that can be assembled from the pieces you print. These machines are harder to look after than a 3D printer, and you will need to make sure that you have the right ventilation and safety measures in place to use them properly.

CNC Machines

CNC machines come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, though the concept is quite similar to a 3D printer. Ahead is moved forwards and backward, left and right, and up and down using a series of extremely precise motors. Rather than having a plastic extruder on the end of it, though, they will have a spinning head similar to what you’d find on a Dremel. This enables you to machine materials like plastic, wood, and even soft metals, opening the doors to loads of different product design options. Product design services can often turn things that you’ve made on your CNC machine into a much more refined product.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of building a mini-factory within your own home. This can be a great way to start a business, while also offering a fun hobby that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your desk.

3 Ways To Know if You Are Ready To Start a Business

You are ready to strike out on your own and work for yourself. Starting a business brings the freedom to set your own hours and reap all of the rewards of your work like Declan Kelly has done. Here is how you can determine if you are prepared to start a business.

1. You Are Devoted to Your Concept

You may be tempted to choose a business based solely on how much money you might make. However, to be successful like founder Declan Kelly, you need to be enthusiastic about your business. You need to prepare to present your business plan to people who can provide you with funding. If you are passionate about your business, it will show. This will make it easier for others to believe in it, too.

2. You Know How To Make a Business Plan

No entrepreneur can flourish without a business plan. There are many templates online that you can use. The U.S. Small Business Administration can help you write a plan as well. You will use your business plan to explain what your business is, why it will thrive, and who will buy your service or product. A good business plan also includes an estimate of how much money you will need to launch your company, with a detailed description of how you calculated that estimate. 

3. You Are Ready to Take Risks

You probably understand that many small businesses fail or take years to become profitable. This can make some entrepreneurs too anxious to start a business. However, you will never know if you do not try. If you are willing to work hard and you are prepared for inevitable setbacks, you have the right frame of mind to start a business. All entrepreneurs will encounter rejection, whether from potential customers or investors. You cannot take this personally. Instead, put it behind you and employ creative problem-solving. 

A Career in Medicine: Is It Right for You?

A career in medicine can easily sound attractive. It might be the promise of a high salary that draws you in, or perhaps you have a desire to do good with your career. Whatever your reasons for considering life as a doctor, it's not something to rush into. In fact, it's not really something that is possible to rush into because it requires a lot of preparation. The journey to qualify as a doctor is long, so you have to know that it's what you want. Before you apply for medical schools, you have to decide if a career in medicine is right for you.

Know What It Takes to Get There

Understanding what it takes to start a career in medicine is crucial. The process is different depending on the country where you want to study (and potentially practice). The medical school journey starts as a graduate in the US and other North American countries, whereas other countries offer undergraduate courses in medicine. However, it's not just attending school itself that matters. Even the process to get accepted into a medical school can be long and grueling. Not everyone will make it, so you need to think about whether you have what it takes.

Do You Have the Right Qualities?

The right grades and academic record might help you to get into medical school, but do you have the right qualities and personality traits for a career in medicine? When you're thinking about becoming a doctor, spend some time getting to know yourself.

A career in medicine means committing yourself to lifelong learning, helping others, and working as a team. Why do you want to be a doctor, and what do you think you can contribute? You can consider using tools that assess your personality and qualities to help you gain a better understanding of yourself.

Understand What You Can Really Get Out of It

A lot of people might be drawn to medicine due to potentially high salaries, job security, or the societal status afforded to doctors. But what can you really get out of a career in medicine? It's important to do your research so that you can gain a good understanding of the career outlook for physicians. Consider what the job market looks like and which specialisms are in demand. Take a look at salaries and statistics, as well as what career options and opportunities might be available to you.

Consider the Financial Aspect

Money might at least partially motivate you to be a doctor, but it's also often expensive to achieve your goal. Of course, the reward could be an excellent salary that helps you to pay off your debt quicker. When you're thinking about medical school, research how much it will cost you, how much you will pay for it, and how much you can expect to earn once you're qualified. Even if money isn't the most important thing, it's definitely something that you should consider.

Think carefully about a career in medicine before you decide if it's the right choice for your future.

Careers You Can Get Started in Fast

Everybody wants to have a successful career, but that's easier said than done. Not only do you have to spend years mastering your craft and working hard to succeed in any career, but most careers also require years of school and thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, there are some careers that let you skip all the schooling and money spent. If you're looking for a career you can get started in fast, here are some options.

IT

Of all the popular career fields today, IT is one of the most interesting. IT involves dealing with computers and computer networks, including all the individual software and hardware that goes into creating a system for an organization. If you're a big fan of working with computers, you'll love IT. What makes IT even more interesting is the fact that you have so many options within the field. Since just about every business in the world needs some form of IT professional, you can find yourself working in nearly any industry when it comes to IT.

Perhaps the coolest part about choosing IT as a career is the fact that you can easily get IT certifications online. You do have to take a test to obtain a certification, which you will have to pay a fee for each attempt. Even though most certifications don’t require you to take certain courses to sit for the exam, it is highly recommended. Some topics covered on these exams require hands-on practice to fully grasp the concept. Enrolling in a self-paced educational program could be a good option because they allow you to study on your own time and at your own pace.

Trade Work

With so many people looking for careers in the fast-growing fields of technology and medicine, a big hole has opened up in the world of trade work. While trade work does require a little bit of schooling and some time in an apprenticeship program, you don't actually have to get a degree or have a ton of experience to work in a trade. Some of the most popular trades include plumbing, electrical work, and HVAC. If you work one of these positions, you'll spend most of your time working on individual parts of both commercial and residential buildings.

All you have to do to get started in a trade is find a shop that will take you on as an apprentice. Once you're in the apprenticeship, you can enroll for classes to take to supplement your work hours. As you obtain more work and school hours, you'll continue to climb up the pay scale. At the end of this climb, you'll earn the title of a journeyman, which allows you to start your own shop or work on your own.

Computer Programming

The truth of the matter is, you can get into almost any computer-related field without having to go through years of college and pay for an expensive degree. Even more complicated fields like computer programming don't actually require you to have a degree. While programming can be a great alternative to getting IT certifications if you're more interested in creating software, it's also a lot of work.

Becoming a computer programmer from the comfort of your home means spending hundreds or even thousands of hours learning how to program and understanding the subtle nuances of programming. Unless you already have a solid understanding of programming, you should expect a steep learning curve that takes a while to overcome. Fortunately, there are tons of great resources to help you learn online, including short courses you can work through to get a grasp of various programming concepts. If you're interested in programming, you should also make sure you know a fair bit of math, as that can be a big part of the job.

Just because you want a successful career doesn't mean you have to spend an eternity going to school. With these great career choices, you can get started quickly so you don't have to waste your time working somewhere you don't want to. If you're interested in one of these fields, you can find more information online about getting started in them.