# S2E19 Prioritizing time for family, personal projects, & CAD/design strategies | James Drachenberg

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-04-24
- Length: 50m
- Episode: 19
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/cad-design-strategies-james-drachenberg/

## Summary

James Drachenberg, founder of Dragon Mountain Design, discusses his journey from a mechanical engineer in medical devices and consumer products to a prolific maker of personal projects like RoboKitty and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures. He explains how his website serves as a portfolio that helped him secure his current role after being laid off, detailing his workflow in SolidWorks and his preference for Prusa 3D printers. Drachenberg emphasizes the importance of balancing family life with his passion for design, using time management strategies to fit CAD work around his children's schedules while maintaining professional excellence.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=0) Introduction: James Drachenberg and Dragon Mountain Design
- [1:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=98) James's Path to Engineering: From Vet Dreams to CAD
- [7:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=421) Dragon Mountain Design: Website and Personal Projects
- [11:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=718) The Workshop: 3D Printers and Gameboy Rebuilds
- [15:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=900) Ninja Turtles and RoboKitty: Design Philosophy
- [23:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=1381) Time Management: Balancing Family, Work, and Hobbies
- [27:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=1660) Using Personal Projects to Advance Career
- [32:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=1958) Design Process: Mental Modeling and CAD Organization
- [41:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-04-24-s2e19-prioritizing-time-for-family-personal-projects-cad-design-strategies-james#t=2490) Daily Routines and Handling Professional Challenges

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Dragon Mountain Design (other)
- RoboKitty (product)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (product)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Prusa (product)
- McMaster (company)
- Adafruit (company)
- Sparkfun (company)
- Mouser (company)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 075: Interviewing each other](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-06-17-episode-075-interviewing-each-other) (Making It)
- [531: Using My Bad Finger... For Good.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good) (Making It)
- [487: You’re Wrong, and Right!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-06-20-487-youre-wrong-and-right) (Making It)
- [461: Check Out My Immune System!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-11-08-461-check-out-my-immune-system) (Making It)
- [537: Sneeze Session](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-09-11-537-sneeze-session) (Making It)

## Citing this page

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