Inventor wants to help us on his jobs in shop+sign NDA

[Milland]

No, "Inventor with a PHD"....much worse IMHO.

Sometimes. One of my first gigs in R&D was working for a guy with a Harvard PHD in High Energy Physics. Plenty of quirks, but truly brilliant, and we actually got on pretty well.

Learned a lot from that time, including not to work for stock options...

 

[Scruffy887]

Limit him to 1 hour a day "inspection" and $$$ him for that hour. He may not be aware that there are times doing precision work that a big friggin hammer is used.

 

[jccaclimber]

Sometimes. One of my first gigs in R&D was working for a guy with a Harvard PHD in High Energy Physics. Plenty of quirks, but truly brilliant, and we actually got on pretty well.

Learned a lot from that time, including not to work for stock options...

Stock options are ok, just only as something in addition to whatever you expect to be compensated for your time.

 

[Mebfab]

There are two types of people who want to "be involved".
1.) The guy who wants to use your equipment and his labor to haggle over costs

2.) The guy who wants to learn about manufacturing intricacies and provide real time engineering support for a design in process. This guy usually does not care about the costs. He may have a PhD but he came to you because he needs what you can offer.

The first one, this one will also not pay you at the end of the job. And will most likely bad mouth you to everyone as well

 

[memphisjed]

The nda could be a stock icloudlawyer.com template- no harm in giving a two sentence nda option.

It really depends on the inventor and invention. If there are moving parts and assemblies having them on call for modifications is benefit- as an idea becomes object he/she might see things that would be better upside down. Before it is completed a new revision is needed. Not a bad thing if they are paying for work as it happens real time. Cheaper than revision after parts are done- less frustrating too.
If they are worth thinkers learning stuff from things they know about is always cool. We get set in our learning bias to our fortes... there is more out there.
Your shop your rules- do not let them look in the window without glasses on, or to touch your radio.

 

[DrHook]

View attachment 388621

I added a line to the one in my shop- "If you could do it yourself with the right equipment" $500

 

[WakelessFoil]

I am the machinist/engineer working with the OP on this project.

Yes, the term "Inventor" sounds sketchy when such a title is self proclaimed, but that is just what we are calling him.

The client is a electrical engineer with a PhD in physics. He owns a contracting company that develops "systems". He want to develop a relatively simple prototype with us because he does not have a ton of experience or the facilities to do so.

 

[Milland]

If you keep it to the drawing room, with the "Inventor" signing off on changes, it might be fine. But I wouldn't let him in the shop, unless it's "tools down" until he's out again.

 

[memphisjed]

I am the machinist/engineer working with the OP on this project.

Yes, the term "Inventor" sounds sketchy when such a title is self proclaimed, but that is just what we are calling him.

The client is a electrical engineer with a PhD in physics. He owns a contracting company that develops "systems". He want to develop a relatively simple prototype with us because he does not have a ton of experience or the facilities to do so.

You seem to be one that this arrangement works out well for everyone involved. Just - do no let them mess with the shop radio. They provide donuts. Slip that into nda.

I have worked in open and closed shops. Open does not produce the work- but we did better and more complex stuff. People from outside bring questions and problems that make us focus/think.

The client is not paying, his company is.

 

[Cannonmn]

Ok thx for advice. We got the simple nda signed. Now I’ll draft up a simple contract covering billing etc. as required by his company. Any examples of simple contracts that might give me a start would be welcome.

 

[Garwood]

Ok thx for advice. We got the simple nda signed. Now I’ll draft up a simple contract covering billing etc. as required by his company. Any examples of simple contracts that might give me a start would be welcome.

I write out in legible English the scope of work to be done, the payment terms, the start and delivery times. I reference parts. Prints, individuals and processes.

Basically bullet points with concise wording.

 

[metalmagpie]

Years ago an old guy told me to avoid working with inventors at all cost because they want infinite rework and rarely have any money. Now I'm old and I'm telling you the same thing.

 

[CarbideBob]

Just wait until you see the NDA from someone like Apple, GM or even Sandvik.
Not one page and you get no options to change it.

If the inventor is more than a visitor/observer but not a direct employee in your shop things may get complicated on the insurance and tax side.

 

[Milland]

Years ago an old guy told me to avoid working with inventors at all cost because they want infinite rework and rarely have any money. Now I'm old and I'm telling you the same thing.

That wasn't an old guy. That was a 25yo worn down by trying to get paid for work he'd already done...

 

[Plane Parts]

RUN AWAY!

Nothing, and I mean nothing, has ever worked for me with an "inventor."

 

[Modelman]

Simple solution, put him on a 'time and materials' basis billed weekly, and lock him out the first time the check bounces.

Dennis

 

[Garwood]

I got a question-

Does this customer refer to himself as an inventor? Or is that a label the OP has applied?

I have always had a negative association with a person self describing as "inventor". Never met anyone who does that doesn't come off as crackpot.

Myself and several close friends that also run product based businesses perfectly fit the definition of "inventor", but I have never used that word to describe myself and neither have they.

If I found a thread here about me that labeled me an inventor I think I'd find a different shop to work with.

 

[WakelessFoil]

inventors

the inventor

nothing, has ever worked for me with an "inventor."

Does this customer refer to himself as an inventor? Or is that a label the OP has applied?

It likely wasn't the best term to use for the guy, I know how the vague term "inventor" can make some who works in this field cringe.
He does not refer to himself as a inventor. He is an engineer and businessman who wants to construct a prototype. Refer to my earlier response.

 

[Milland]

It likely wasn't the best term to use for the guy, I know how the vague term "inventor" can make some who works in this field cringe.
He does not refer to himself as a inventor. He is an engineer and businessman who wants to construct a prototype. Refer to my earlier response.

How do you propose bringing him into the shop in a way that's safe for everyone and limits liability to the company?

 

[WakelessFoil]

How do you propose bringing him into the shop in a way that's safe for everyone and limits liability to the company?

I am not that literate when it comes to policy and law. However, I would imagine that it would be a good idea to have him sign a liability waiver. In addition to that I would make a clear effort to make the workspace as "incident-proof" as possible to show that we are not trying to screw him with our own negligence.

I think his role is going to be more of an engineering consultant. I don't think he's going to be leaning over a greasy old lathe, brushing on cutting oil. That's my job!