Work environment suitable for electronics work?

[Arthur Rhodes]

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work? I have a great opportunity to rent space in an
office building. The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air. I've
told the landlord and he doesn't seem to be concerned, but maybe he
isn't informed. I'm worried that this could become a problem down the
road.

Any advice welcome.

 

[Randy Day]

Arthur Rhodes wrote:

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work? I have a great opportunity to rent space in an

Commercial or light industrial.

For the most part, space is space. What amenities are available?
Sufficient HVAC air flow so no one chokes on fumes? Reliable
power, telephone, internet? Enough offices, conference rooms?
Sufficient parking for employees? Sufficient lighting so no one
gets eyestrain?

You'll need a sheet of graph paper; lay out the assembly/test
benches, test equipment, inventory and storage areas. You'll need
to allow space for people to move in the aisles; don't forget a
bit extra for carts and pallet jacks. The fire marshal might have
issues with inadequate escape routes.

How's the power/wiring? Is it adequate and well laid out, or do
you need an electrician to add a few (dozen) more outlets?
Do you need to run cable trays for your computer network? Don't
even *think* about going wireless...

office building. The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air. I've

You might want to investigate lead-free solder, especially if you
plan to send your products to Europe (google RoHS). It's a bit
trickier to use, but not too bad...

told the landlord and he doesn't seem to be concerned, but maybe he
isn't informed. I'm worried that this could become a problem down the
road.

Then get it written in stone in the lease...

Any advice welcome.

Be sure someone with an Electrical or Electronic Engineer
designation signs off on your designs; otherwise, if one of
your products sets someone's house on fire, or electrocutes
them, you're toast. If Fluffy the Poodle chews through an
'inadequately protected' (you'll hear *that* phrase in
court...) power cord, Fluffy's owner's lawyer will be
inserting a judges gavel up your ass without lube.

IMHO, OC.

 

[Phil Allison]

"Arthur Rhodes"

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work? I have a great opportunity to rent space in an
office building. The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air.

** Like what - exactly ?

How does the 'hazard compare to tobacco smoke ?




........ Phil

 

[David L. Jones]

On Oct 11, 6:30 am, Arthur Rhodes <arho...@spammers.die> wrote:

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

Sounds rather risky.
Is this a one-man-band show, or do you plan on hiring staff and/or
contractors?

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work?

A lot of people get by with nothing more than their garage.
Depends entirely on what your product is and the volumes involved.

I have a great opportunity to rent space in an
office building.

Don't. Start from home or your garage and work your way up.

The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air. I've
told the landlord and he doesn't seem to be concerned, but maybe he
isn't informed. I'm worried that this could become a problem down the
road.

Install a solder fume extractor and/or filter system. Not expensive
for a simple desk mounted one.

Dave.

 

[John Larkin]

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:30:52 -0600, Arthur Rhodes
<arhodes@spammers.die> wrote:

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work? I have a great opportunity to rent space in an
office building. The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air. I've
told the landlord and he doesn't seem to be concerned, but maybe he
isn't informed. I'm worried that this could become a problem down the
road.

Any advice welcome.

Solder smoke isn't an issue, but get one of those little benchtop
smoke scrubber/filter things if you're concerned. We have one big one,
central blower box with HEPA filter, with piping everywhere and
gooseneck slurper hoses at every bench.

Microwave popcorn turns out the be the real hazard.

But I wouldn't spend money on real estate until I had so much business
I absolutely needed more space. Start in your garage or something.

Starting out by *looking* successful is not a path to success. I've
seen too many people who say "you have to spend money to make money."
That's silly; you make money by NOT spending money.


What sort of stuff do you plan on making?


John

 

[Phil Allison]

"Arthur Rhodes"

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

** So that means you will be employing people - right ?

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work?

** Office space is normally fine - lotsa repair and small manufacturing
business goes on in office space.

But working from home or your garage is NOT gonna be legally possible -
once you have another ( non resident) person engaged there.

Council regulations and zoning rules will get you.




....... Phil

 

[David L. Jones]

On Oct 11, 2:56 pm, "Phil Allison" <philalli...@tpg.com.au> wrote:

"Arthur Rhodes"



I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

** So that means you will be employing people - right ?

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work?

** Office space is normally fine - lotsa repair and small manufacturing
business goes on in office space.

But working from home or your garage is NOT gonna be legally possible -
once you have another ( non resident) person engaged there.

That's when you hire contractors who work from their own home.
Not many are keen to come and work in your garage or office anyway.

Dave.

 

[Bob Masta]

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:30:52 -0600, Arthur Rhodes
<arhodes@spammers.die> wrote:

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work? I have a great opportunity to rent space in an
office building. The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air. I've
told the landlord and he doesn't seem to be concerned, but maybe he
isn't informed. I'm worried that this could become a problem down the
road.

Any advice welcome.

Others have given good advice already. But it's not clear from
your question whether you plan to actually fabricate your own
circuit boards, or have that farmed out. If you are going to roll
your own, you will need some additional considerations like
having a "wet" work area for etching and rinsing, and you'll
have to deal with exhausted etchant disposal. If you use the
photo-resist method you'll need a semi-dark exposure area.
You'll need to drill the boards (use a Dremel with a ball-tip
burr instead of a drill bit for one-offs), which means there will
be dust generated that you will want to keep away from
the assembly and test area.

Best regards,


Bob Masta

DAQARTA v3.50
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com
Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, Signal Generator
Science with your sound card!

 

[Rich Grise]

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:30:52 -0600, Arthur Rhodes wrote:

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work? I have a great opportunity to rent space in an
office building. The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air. I've
told the landlord and he doesn't seem to be concerned, but maybe he
isn't informed. I'm worried that this could become a problem down the
road.

Any advice welcome.

You might want a small desk fan to keep the flux fumes out of your
face - your normal HVAC should take care of what's in the air. If
it's lead you're worried about, just wash your hands before you eat.

Do you have enough money to live on for about a year? That's rent,
taxes, wages, equipment & tools, parts stock, etc., etc., etc.

But what could possess you to get into a business that you know
nothing about?

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Rich Grise]

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:47:54 -0700, John Larkin wrote:

Microwave popcorn turns out the be the real hazard.

Hey! There's an idea! A little add-on for your uW oven, that
senses when the popcorn is "about to burn", and turns it off.

Excellent for people who don't have time to baby-sit their
popcorn for four or five minutes. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Rich Grise]

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:00:15 +0000, Rich Grise wrote:

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:30:52 -0600, Arthur Rhodes wrote:

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.

My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work? I have a great opportunity to rent space in an
office building. The rent is reasonable and the setting is great.
However, I'll occasionally be using a soldering iron. That potentially
means putting small amounts of hazardous chemicals in the air. I've
told the landlord and he doesn't seem to be concerned, but maybe he
isn't informed. I'm worried that this could become a problem down the
road.

Any advice welcome.

You might want a small desk fan to keep the flux fumes out of your
face - your normal HVAC should take care of what's in the air. If
it's lead you're worried about, just wash your hands before you eat.

Do you have enough money to live on for about a year? That's rent,
taxes, wages, equipment & tools, parts stock, etc., etc., etc.

But what could possess you to get into a business that you know
nothing about?

Just a thought - if you just have a huge pile of money, and need
somebody with some electronics background, I'm available. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[John Larkin]

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:05:38 GMT, Rich Grise <rich@example.net> wrote:

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:47:54 -0700, John Larkin wrote:

Microwave popcorn turns out the be the real hazard.

Hey! There's an idea! A little add-on for your uW oven, that
senses when the popcorn is "about to burn", and turns it off.

The hazard is the gunk they use for fake butter flavor. It's really
nasty and dangerous, in the air or on the popcorn.

John

 

[John Larkin]

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:56:59 +1000, "Phil Allison"
<philallison@tpg.com.au> wrote:

"Arthur Rhodes"

I am making the plunge and starting a business to design and manufacture
electronic devices. I don't have a background in electronics myself,
though I have some knowledge and other technical skills.


** So that means you will be employing people - right ?


My question is this. What kind of commercial space do I need to be able
to do this kind of work?


** Office space is normally fine - lotsa repair and small manufacturing
business goes on in office space.

But working from home or your garage is NOT gonna be legally possible -
once you have another ( non resident) person engaged there.

Council regulations and zoning rules will get you.

You're never going to be a success in business if you're not ready to
break some rules. I got up to 6 employees in the basement of my house,
before I decided that I had to rent commercial space.

The USA is a great place. We are a nation of laws, which are mostly
ignored.

John

 

[JeffM]

John Larkin wrote:

Microwave popcorn turns out the be the real hazard.

Rich Grise wrote:
A little add-on for your uW oven,
that senses when the popcorn is "about to burn", and turns it off.

If you took it out of the package and popped it manually on a stovetop
it would still be dangerous:
http://www.google.com/news?q=microwave-popcorn-butter+diacetyl

 

[Rich Grise]

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:07:53 -0700, John Larkin wrote:

The USA is a great place. We are a nation of laws, which are mostly
ignored.

Wasn't it Frank Zappa who said that first? ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[John Larkin]

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:06:21 GMT, Rich Grise <rich@example.net> wrote:

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:07:53 -0700, John Larkin wrote:

The USA is a great place. We are a nation of laws, which are mostly
ignored.

Wasn't it Frank Zappa who said that first? ;-)

Dunno who said it first. I've been saying that for a long time.

John