T. Stonehocker is an independent design engineer with a strong mechanical background (e.g. machine design, machine building, 3Dmodeling, patents, CNC programming). He has been using 3D modeling programs since AutoDesks first mechanical desktop in 1994 and is currently using Solidworks 2010.
I am a mechanical engineer and I design and build specialty machines. I have served many different kinds of clients, in the welding fields, brake manufacturing, film manufacturing, auto manufacturing, tire manufacturing, blow mold (secondary equipment) presses and assembly machines, candy manufacturing and motorcycle / trike manufacturing.
All of the projects I work on are interesting in their own right, and I have never had a dull moment with any of them. If I had to pick a favorite I would have to say the motorcycle and trike designs that I have had the pleasure of designing for people.
The thing that made the bike projects stand out over the others I have done would have to be, taking a clients dreams and making them a reality. Of course the same thing that made them stand out was also the biggest challenge. I would have to say that the biggest challenge I faced designing the bikes and trikes for my clients was convincing them to do what would make the bike function the best not necessarily what was the coolest look. Sometimes a cool look is just a cool look and will not perform well, so trying to get them to change their minds and go with a not so cool look BUT a look that was both functional and appealing to the eye, was my most challenging effort. (I have attached a pic of the last bike that I designed for an architect in LA)
I use Solidworks 2012, KeyShot3 and PhotoShop. These are my three go to softwares, I use them all the time. I have used mechanical desktop, proE, catia and Solidworks and I have found that the majority of my clients are using Soildworks, I like it and it works for me.
I have found a few sites that have jobs posted that you can bid on that have helped me get in front of some clients. Also I have found a site that I have posted a profile and portfolio on that has been a big help to me. This site is a site that is mainly built for engineers and it caters to their needs with a place to post projects so all of the parties involved with a given project can be informed about everything that happens to that project at the same time. They also host several challenges that all of the engineers can participate in to show off their skills and have a little fun at the same time. I have learned a lot from different engineers from all over the world through sites like this and I like to think that I have been a positive influence to others in the world through my interactions with these sites.
I like the freedom of being able to work from my desk at home all hours of the day and night, using a virtual office to communicate with my clients to get the job done. I feel that it takes a dedicated individual to be a free-lance. That individual must be motivated with a strict since of professionalism to stay focused and get the job done. This type of individual must also be able to manage several projects at once because if they are good at what they do, they will be covered up with work all the time.
Yes I do most of my work remote, and I use dropbox to transfer my files back and forth with my clients. Yes I have used WebEx, Skype and GoToMeeting and I have found them all to be effective tools to communicate with my clients I have done design reviews complete with stress analysis on projects and I have done well using these mediums.I have had some face to face discussions with clients using Skype and it has work fine. The only thing I can think of that is probably better handled face to face would be a run-off on a machine or the delivery of the final product.
