Instagram Icon Facebook Icon Twitter Icon LinkedIn Icon Phone Icon Envelope Icon Company Icon User Icon User Book Icon User File Icon Info Icon Money Icon Secure Icon Paper Plane Icon Search Icon X Icon Map Icon Expand Icon Directions Icon Author Icon Arrow Icon File Signature Icon Menu Icon Dropdown Icon Right Arrow Icon Clock Icon Arrow Icon

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to our most commonly asked questions. Please contact us if you have any additional questions.

General

Why should we choose Luxon Engineering for our product development?

Our expert engineers form a close-knit team skilled in all areas of the product development process. This coupled with our advanced capabilities bring you a time and cost efficient solution. With many resources in-house, integration of services is a key advantage of working with Luxon. Combining design, analysis, manufacturing, and validation under one roof, we cut through the inefficiencies and mistakes caused by outsourcing increasing quality.

What sets Luxon apart from other product development firms?

Our engineers are in tune with all aspects of the product development process. From conceptual sketches, to non-linear dynamic FEA, to complex CAD continuous surface modeling, to operating CNC machining centers, our engineers understand and can therefore design for the complete process. This contrasts other firms whose engineers are specialized in only one or two areas resulting in roadblocks between process steps.

Is Luxon Engineering a large company?

At Luxon we strive to keep workflow as efficient as possible; this requires a small and well integrated team. With a small team we eliminate the inefficiencies seen in larger firms and minimize any miscommunications between departments.

I'm a student, how can I get some questions answered about becoming an engineer?

We get student questions a lot and we're glad to help. Please visit our Student FAQ page for more information.

Capabilities

What software tools does Luxon use?

Software is integral to the product development process. At Luxon Engineering, we employ the latest state of the art solutions tailored for the job at hand:

3D CAD/Management
  • SolidWorks (primary)
  • SolidWorks PDM (if requested)
  • SolidThinking Inspire (if requested)
Finite Element Analysis
  • Altair HyperWorks Suite (primary)
    • HyperMesh (pre-processing)
    • Optistruct/Radioss (solving/optimization)
    • HyperView (post-processing)
    • Simsolid ("meshless" FEA)
    • AcuSolve (CFD)
    • MotionSolve (MBD)
  • SolidWorks Simulation (if requested)
Miscellaneous
  • Full Microsoft Office Suite
  • Full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
  • SolidCAM (CAM software, Full 4-axis mill with probing and 2-axis lathe)
What are your prototyping and manufacturing capabilities?

We have a variety of in-house manufacturing capabilities to compliment your project. In addition to our in-house capabilities, we also have a diverse network of suppliers, local and overseas, to handle your prototyping, small scale production, and mass production needs in all forms of manufacturing. Some of our in-house capabilities include:

Machining
  • 4-Axis Hurco VM20i CNC Mill
  • 3-Axis Hurco VMX30 CNC Mill
  • 2-Axis Haas ST10 CNC Lathe
  • Bridgeport Mill
  • Hardinge Lathe
  • Band Saws, etc.
Other Manufacturing
  • Miller GTMAW (TIG) Welder
  • 30W Fiber Laser (Marking, Engraving)
  • FormLabs SLA 3D Printer
Miscellaneous
  • Assembly
  • Installation and Maintenance
  • Physical Testing via Electrical and Mechanical Devices

Pricing and Financial

How much does it cost to ____?

Unfortunately, this question does not have an easy answer. Every project is different and requires a different quotation depending on the scope of work required to meet our client's goals. Please visit our RFQ page to learn more about requesting a quotation.

Is the product development process expensive?

We won't beat around the bush here, product development is expensive. Even though we are a small company, our software and technology overhead is well into the six-figure mark every year. Add on salaries for experienced, degreed engineers, and our overhead is high. This is one of the many advantages to working with a consulting firm, though, as we handle the capital investment human resources complexities that your company may only need for a few months. This substantially reduces your risk.

Will Luxon Engineering invest in my product?

At Luxon, product development is our core competency and we are committed to developing products within our client's budget. Unfortunately though, this means that we are not investors. We don't work for royalties, equity stake, or buy our client's ideas. We will, however, work within your budget and help you attract investors should you need more funding.

What do I need to sell/pitch my idea to interested parties?

Many of our clients require outside investment to take their ideas to the next level. We tailor our development process to fit your budget and your plan to attract investors. We also understand that the process is not static; your needs are ever evolving throughout the process and we are available to adapt at a moment's notice to meet your goals. Be it a short notice design change for an unplanned investor meeting or a design change in response to market demand, we are able to meet your goals.

Does Luxon Engineering require a minimum project size?

We love large multi-year projects, but we also realize that this is not typically what our clients need. The majority of our projects last between one week and 6 months. As a general rule of thumb, we do not work on projects with budgets less than $3,000.

Does Luxon Engineering provide fixed bid proposals?

In general we do not fixed-bid projects, but instead work on a time and materials rate. The product development process is evolutionary and adapts as more knowledge of the product, market acceptance, and client needs come to light. For this reason it is very difficult to accurately bid on all but the most simplistic jobs. Further, with a fixed bid, one of the parties is always getting the short end of the stick. Either the consulting firm under-bids and loses money or they overbid and the client pays more than they should. In the case of an under-bid, quality of work suffers as the firm speeds through the process in order to minimize losses.

With time and materials pricing, the client gets exactly what they pay for with a minimum of financial risk to either party. We always provide estimates along with our time and materials bid so you have an idea of financial scope, and more often than not we complete the project reasonably close to our estimates. In the event we will exceed our predictions, the client is given ample notice and justifications for the added expenses.

Project Timing

How long will my project take to complete?

Similar to the cost question, this is difficult to answer as everyone's needs are different. When we create a proposal for your project we also include estimated lead times for each phase of the project. Visit our RFQ page for more information about submitting a request for proposal.

How quickly can you get started on our project?

This is heavily dependent on our current workload and your immediate needs, but in general we can get started within one week of project kickoff. Often we can begin the preliminary work within a day of the project kickoff.

Top