Graduated as an electrical engineer and worked as a research associate in the Mechanical Engineering department while working on my masters in physics at the Cameron Applied Research Center. This was were I learned precision machine design, how to machine and fabricate in metal and started learning how to weld. While working for Brown and Sharpe (now Hexagon) as an R&D engineer, I switched from the Engineering sector to IT due to the opportunity to connect B&S to all its subsidiaries via IP networks and up to this thing called the Internet. These were the Netscape/Mosaic browser days. This career switch cause me to leave the manufacturing sector where I could still get my hands dirty. IT is clean so time to build my shop.
When I bought my first house it was with the intention to setup my own machine shop. This shop is 30x30 feet, two stories, and is bigger then the actual house. I use it primarily for fabrication, repair and prototyping of projects. I prefer to have my projects funded by customers... but I do a far bit of pro-bono work if time allows and it stays interesting.
My next/last "job" will be to spend my time designing, fabricating, testing and teaching cool things hopefully in a University setting near the water.
Shop systems (tools):
Welding - Miller Dynasty 300DX with CoolMate. Miller 175 Plasma, Miller Passport MIG, Yes Welder TIG, MIG, Stick, Spool gun.
Machining - Bridgeport manual knee mill, Southbend 9" manual lathe, Stepcraft CNC gantry mill with 4th axis and tool changer.
3D Printing - Bamboo X1C Carbon with 4 color AMS, MakerBot Replicator 2X with Flexion Heads.
Tools for remote project land or sea - 31 foot Class A Winnebago RV, 28 foot Cierra cabin cruiser power boat, EZGO TXT Kawasaki modified Golf cart (4 person).
Drones - Chasing Technologies M1 ROV with 200m reel/tether, Splash drone, DJI Neo, DJI Avata 2, Racing drones, AOS HS5 high speed autonomous drone.