After training and working as a welder for four years in central New Jersey, Rich started attending county college, eventually deciding on mechanical engineering.
Rich eventually graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Penn State University, Capital Campus, then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area because of the beautiful weather for running and bicycling! He worked as a Manufacturing Engineer for several years.
He then returned to school to get his MS in Biomedical Engineering from California State University – Sacramento (1997) and worked in the fields of medical devices and laboratory disposables.
After returning to New Jersey, Rich worked in the field of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. He started designing and building dog wheelchairs in 2004, after seeing a dog wheelchair featured on a TV show and deciding to try his own design.
As an Adjunct Instructor at county college, Rich taught AutoCAD and mechanical drawing. He then switched over to Welding Instructor both in NJ and, more recently, Athens, GA. He enjoyed the hands-on aspect of teaching welding and the enthusiasm of his students who came from all different backgrounds and fields.
Using his TIG welder (Gas-Tungsten Arc Welding) in his home shop, Rich has designed and fabricated projects including bicycle display racks for his local bike shop, a custom bike carrier for his car, a rowing machine, a stand for rotating composters and an off-road recumbent trike with front suspension.
After enrolling at Athens Technical College in 2018 to update his CAD (Computer-Aided Drafting/Design) skills, Rich’s instructor got him interested in 3D printing! This challenging field has so much potential while utilizing his favorite skills: CAD, engineering, fabrication, creativity and problem-solving.
He specializes in 3D-printed functional parts and assemblies, with special interest in industrial applications and assistive technology. His goal is to help people find solutions, while keeping it simple!
Other activities he enjoys are walking, hiking, and mountain biking. He has a few cats, some with minor disabilities, who enjoy the cat trees and various items he builds for them!