# 039: Developing a Rock Crushing Machine & Quality Control with Tim Pannell of Rocksgone

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2017-02-07
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks
- Listen: https://theproductstartup.com/039-tim-pannell-rocksgone/

## Summary

Tim Pannell, founder of Rocksgone, explains how he developed the Reefinator, a rock-crushing agricultural implement, by leveraging his 26 years of farming experience in Australia. He details the transition from a self-built prototype to a robust production model, highlighting the decision to partner with an established engineering firm for manufacturing rather than building a factory from scratch. Pannell emphasizes the importance of rigorous quality control, including a signed-off checklist system, to ensure durability in harsh conditions, and discusses using live demonstrations and social media to validate and sell the product directly to farmers.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=0) Introduction: Tim Pannell and Rocksgone
- [2:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=147) The Reefinator Design and Functionality
- [5:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=311) Prototyping and Engineering Partnerships
- [9:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=549) Capital Costs and Market Validation
- [14:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=844) Failure Analysis and Resilience
- [18:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=1125) Quality Control and Inspection Systems
- [22:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=1362) Marketing via Demonstrations and Social Media
- [28:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-07-039-developing-a-rock-crushing-machine-quality-control-with-tim-pannell-of-rocks#t=1680) Advice on Partnerships and Financing

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Rocksgone (company)
- Reefinator (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Crowdfunding to Development and Manufacturing with Erik Hunter of InD Creation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-27-from-crowdfunding-to-development-and-manufacturing-with-erik-hunter-of-ind-creat) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [S3 E7: Building Bootstrapped Hardware That Sells with Christian Reed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-13-s3-e7-building-bootstrapped-hardware-that-sells-with-christian-reed) (The Builder Circle)
- [CrunchLabs: Mark Rober](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-04-15-crunchlabs-mark-rober) (How I Built This)
- [Episode 065: A mallard is a tool you use when you do chisel work](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-04-01-episode-065-a-mallard-is-a-tool-you-use-when-you-do-chisel-work) (Making It)
- [186: Sleeping on the Factory Floor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-09-186-sleeping-on-the-factory-floor) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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