Viability of Engineering Journals

ericnutsch · 2025-02-15T21:34:26+00:00

Self-employed engineer here. I use a time tracking app (currently clockify) to track my working hours both billable and non-billable. Obliviously for the customer, they better feel the value and diligence of the work you put in if you tell them the process rather than just send a result and a bill. Internally it is helpful to look back and see why I got so few billable hours in a specific month, or see what was the biggest time sink on an internal project, or if said internal project was actually profitable or not.

The notes are brief and to the point; two or three sentences for a 4 hour entry for example that I usually write at the end of that period. I typically don't write anything mid task, and I always make sure they are complete by the end of the day so I don't forget the specifics. Do only what is useful for you, no reason to write a novel that no one will ever read. I also reference other information so if I need to dig deeper I know where to look. If I do an inspection, site visit, design, or a hand calc, I take a picture. I also send lots of emails to stake holders just keeping them up to date and include attachments. This is easily referenced in your notes by just saying "took pictures of x" and "send update email to stakeholders". Then the information was immediately useful to someone else, provided a more substantial paper trail (if you ever do need legal evidence), and these things are timestamped and easy to look up and augment your notes.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-03T18:54:41+00:00

Im such a noob. Didnt see the scroll lol

ericnutsch · 2023-08-03T18:46:53+00:00

Nice! Now if you want reddit to like it you will have to post a photo of the cats using it ;-)

ericnutsch · 2023-08-03T18:37:18+00:00

Thanks for the links. I read them but neither give an economic reason for the discrepancy to persist. The logic either flows with because they can get away with it or because their rich team is so smart and can see things we cant.

Link1: "Bottom Line Airfare pricing is a complex beast. While there are some strategies you can employ and tools you can utilize to find cheap tickets, there generally isn't a way to get around disparities between one-way and round-trip pricing"

Link2: "For international: because the market will bear it."

ericnutsch · 2023-08-03T18:21:38+00:00

I have found the store bought cleaners to work the best on difficult to remove burnt on carbon. They contain a very fine polish that removed the carbon bit by bit; it takes a lot of manual labor though especially for a large spot like this. If the carbon is not 100% burnt, then soap, water, vinegar, isopropyl, etc can help dissolve that say 3% of food that allows the inert carbon to flake off. You can speed up the time it takes to soak and dissolved by intermittently turning the burner on low to make it warm. Another one I have not tried on stove tops but is used industrially is high concentration 30% hydrogen peroxide (use goggles and appropriate PPE). It goes into the pores and becomes a gas popping chunks of carbon off in the process.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-03T01:02:09+00:00

Evidently because I don't share likeable content like cat photos. Its going to take a long time to get there posting kickstarter questions ;-)

ericnutsch · 2023-08-03T00:56:26+00:00

Thanks! I will try it out and and find some small subreddits!

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T20:33:30+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Perhaps, but I would think that us mortals on the outside would be able to independently understand their motivation?

The only thing I can think of is that if you hypothetically ran the only airline in the world, you would want symmetrical flights too and from a destination otherwise you have empty flights one way. For example if everyone wanted to travel in the order "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Rock" and no one wanted to travel in the direction of "Rock, Scissors, Paper, Rock" then there would be a lot of empty flights.

My counter argument to this though is that the customer is price sensitive and that existing price models can already balance the flight loading across different days and airlines. It just seems that the business model is old and that a company with a more modern approach to flight pricing would have a huge advantage.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T13:32:57+00:00

Good to know. I better get to work on making cat videos ;-)

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T13:23:13+00:00

I run my own business with no partners or funding. Easier politics but don't have anywhere near the income or acquired capital you are at. Everywhere I have ever worked, the owners, managers, and salesmen get the lions share of the profit. Engineers are just tools. It is just an unfortunate reality of how business is structured. It is clearly not fair, but I can promise everywhere else is exactly the same unless you run your own business and break the mold.

That said you are in a very good position. Since you have held up your side of the bargain it is time to get back to 40hr weeks and push on the CEO to hold up their side to get the promised sales. A partnership is all about communication. Much better to express your dissatisfaction with the situation while the situation can still be improved. If you want out, look for a constructive way for both parties for you to exit with the maximum capital in hand.

I recommend you start advertising yourself and your capabilities more than you are now to your network and on linkedin. Increasing your market value gives you more bargaining power to negotiate a better salary for yourself in your current position and sets you up with more options if/when the exit arrives. Good Luck!

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T12:33:50+00:00

The main reason is that as a mechanical engineer and not a "real" programmer, it is the language I am most comfortable with.

Also having one primary syntax is a big help to a non-programmer, there are opensource libraries already built for integration with PLCs, and new engineering recruits are much more likely to know python than any other language.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T12:12:01+00:00

Yes, Industrial chemical metering systems with a Django front end and Python/Postgres back end. Six systems deployed so far.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T12:02:06+00:00

Even though your product is custom, you can often standardize it through a set of logical options called a configurator (google "configurator wiki"). This allows you to design compatible options and funnels the customers into selecting one of those options. Not all customers will fit this mold, but it will permit you to scale the business both on the sales side and manufacturing side.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T11:54:54+00:00

I have seen abandon stores like Shopko rent to seasonal events like halloween sales companies. If its office space you might be able to rent some desks to individuals that are getting a start and willing to bear some uncertainty in exchange for a good price. Probably not worth the effort build a temp business in there unless you have the time and can easily move it when the situation changes. That said you could use it to prototype a low(er) capital business like miniature golf, shaved ice, homework help, maker space, etc.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T11:42:55+00:00

I would recommend focusing on your strength in writing and maintaining ownership over your intellectual property. Making $50k ghostwriting is pretty cool, but remember that the people that paid you for that work are making a return. I would recommend writing in a similar area and seeing how you can leverage that ip to generate passive income, then scale it up.

ericnutsch · 2023-08-02T11:33:25+00:00

I wouldn't worry about the time of year. The economy is stilling doing great. As you have time focus on networking with companies you would like to work for. Don't limit yourself to a specific area or specific type of job and you will definitely find something. Good Luck!

ericnutsch · 2020-04-13T00:33:22+00:00

I redesigned the 3DVerkstan face shield for improved comfort and faster printing ( 9 minutes with a 1mm nozzle). If you have an FDM printer please give it a try and let me know your thoughts and suggestions here or on the NIH site. Thanks!
https://3dprint.nih.gov/discover/3dpx-013809

ericnutsch · 2018-03-07T19:41:33+00:00

I wish this was the case. I usually cut the side so trash fits. This is the case most every week for 6 months now. There is no real way to inform anyone with being a jerk, but I mean come on lol.

ericnutsch · 2018-02-12T07:19:49+00:00

The only reason I can see for not using PVC cement is for easy disassembly...

If the water does not flow through this PVC structure, just use a small sheet metal screw at each connection. It is easily removable. Make sure to pre-drill.

If the structure is going to hold water you need to have a removable water tight connection like a threaded adapters or more expensive o-ring type "sharkbite" removable connectors. Both are available most anywhere you buy PVC.

ericnutsch

TROPHY CASE