Envision & Not So Sensable

update, I'm no longer working at Envision Tech. I was unimpressed with their internal processes, quality controls, and business ethic. When I approached them with what I saw as solutions, they informed me that it was outside of the scope of my position, and that they would take care of it on their own. All in all, it was becoming very clear that it was not going to be a good long term fit for me, so I re-negotiated my availability.

Sensable is having a difficult time getting back to me. I have some questions about the contract they sent me, and they can't seem to find the time to get back to me. I've heard of this sort of thing from other vendors, but I had no idea it was this bad. I'm not even sure if my contact is still working there, and i can't get to a human when I call the corporate office: I tried every single extension, all to voice mails. Maybe I'll try again next week. I'm thinking I'm going to focus on some other endeavors for the moment.

Sensable update

I met with the team last night and we set up a strategy. It's going to be awesome. I'm going to try and get a list of all the technologies and products that we represent or have strategic alliances with, it's quite impressive.

A few off of the top of my head.

Sensable
Rhino 3D
3D studio Max
Z Corp.
Envision Tech
Objet
and a gazillion more scanning technologies that one of the other team members knows more about.

Isopropyl alcohol

I've just finished working with some Isopropyl alcohol in the pack to clean some parts. This is the same stuff that an employee was smoking near me inside while working with the substance. It's highly flammable, and it says we should wear gloves, goggles, and use a respirator when we use the stuff. Of course I read this after I used it, and now my throat burns. I wore glasses, but not goggles, and I don't even think we have a respirator or goggles on site. To my knowledge, we also do not have an MSDS (sp) sheet on sight. It said on the container that I should read the MSDS before use, so I asked to see it and was told to check the internet...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol

The container says it is flammable 3, health 1. The fire from the hip mentality around here is discouraging. I hope they will allow me to help them come up to the manufacturing and R&D standards of the 21st century. The lack of Process and safety concerns are a litigation risk at best. It should be a real concern to the stockholders, why am I the only one who seems to be concerned about this?

By the way, I am obviously not talking about Average 9's internal operations, but a firm with whom I am conducting business at this time. A firm which is quickly growing in the Rapid Prototyping Community.

plans, sucess or failure, facing fear

I know what I have to do, and I speculate that tomorrow, if it is the day I expect it do be, will be a very significant day. I'm going to propose some plans to Al, Have talks with a friend, meet Don, and find out about some other projects that are quite important to me. How people respond to my proposals will determine greatly where I put my energy, and who benefits from my efforts. There are a lot of moving parts, but I've managed to let go of my expectations. I know my plans are good, and they are now developed enough that I can let them go, and if they float or not, they are no longer my plans. their success or failure now is left up to other peoples issues and expectations. I don't know if that makes a lot of sense, but it has to do with getting over the fear and anxiety of everything working out and just letting what happens happens, and being comfortable that I've done my part.

paperwork

I'm looking over the paperwork for SensAble's reseller agreement and helping Envision Tech set up for West Tech. I'm probably going to meet up with Don on Monday. Don will most likely be one of our Demo Jocks for the Sensable product unless something has changed since we last talked.

Sensable

I'm still courting Sensable: I'm optimistic. I took a JOB (Four Letter word) at Envision Tech in the Interim. I'm working as a service Engineer, fixing & training on some very cool Technology. The pay is a bit on the shallow side, but having access to hundred thousand dollar tech could compensate that a bit. I'm working on being both present and future minded, the present is lame without the hope of a better, more creative future. The dream future is impossible without action in the present.

Not so Hot

Today I did not hear back from Sensable, and Envision Tech is not hiring. If they are hieing, they are not hiring me. David being at Envision might leave a spot open at Objet. Also, I talked with Growit, a company working hard towards the direction of great things, and they need someone to do outside sales. Definitely worth looking into a bit more.

Ran some ideas past a comrade in the industry, but I'm going to need a bit more capital to get it done. If I don't have a steady product to move, Average 9 is going to have to re-think it's business model. Can't bring Ideas to market without Cash on hand.

backround Overview

The purpose of this blog is to tell the story of Average 9, from it's foundations to it's success. Average 9 has been started to carry my creative ideas in design and technology to market, and to help others do the same along the way.

A little over two years ago I started working with Uptime Electronics, and after havening a successful but short lived period selling preventative maintenance contracts and other machinery maintenance solutions, I decided that I needed something a bit more sexy. At the next two trade shows I investigated and re-discovered rapid prototyping, and ultimately signed us up as a Z Corp sales channel. (It is probably worth mentioning that Uptime Electronics is a predominantly family owned business.) Uptime 3D, the resulting department was a limited success, but due in large part to the melt down in my marriage and subsequent divorce, I chose to hand over the leadership of the department to Warren, my Father, and help train Travis as my replacement Z-Corp salesman.

Predictably, this led to me handing over my salary position, and along with it, I was now free to build something the way I wanted it to be built. Originaly, Uptime 3D was intended to be spun off as it's own department which I would own, but as the department progressed, the opposite happened and our cutting technological edge was melted back into the Uptime collective culture, which didn't exactly appreciate my visionary goals for the department. Unfortunately, it's difficult to build a greater rapid prototyping department without any capital. Again, predictable. This brings us to present day, more or less.

I've been working with with my network to put together a business plan, and I think I've got something ready. I've come across a Sensable demo Jock through a mutual friend and have been having discussions with Sensable about carrying their Technology. I also have an appointment today with Envision Tech, which has a high resolution, fast, and castable Rapid prototyping solution. The two solutions together, combined with some other scanning solutions a friend is bringing to the table could position us very well for the medical market, the dental market, and jewelry. Combine that with a bit of the mold making market and the casting market, and I think I might have a very nice product line put together. Now if only I can get the contracts signed, get trained, and move a bit of product before we run out of cash. Even then, not a problem. All of us are very hireable people, and we can pick up some part time work to carry us until we get this ship off the ground. No business liabilities, Exciting.