Rapid Center
This lesson is a guide published by Western Carolina University.
Read the guideWhat you'll get
Western Carolina University's engineering research center in Cullowhee lists two ways to get engineering help: sponsor a two-semester student capstone team that runs from August to May, for a sponsorship fee plus materials and travel, or work with its staff engineers year-round on a fixed quoted price, under an NDA, with you keeping all the intellectual property. Its listed services include design and prototyping, plastic and metal 3D printing, testing and reverse engineering, so ask it about a project when your prototype needs engineering you cannot do yourself, and confirm terms and timing with the center directly.
Do this week
Write a half-page brief of what your prototype must do and what you have built so far, then email the Rapid Center to ask whether a capstone team or its staff engineers fit the project.