Portable Mulch Colorizing System Design

Mechanical Engineer Needed to Design Industrial Mulch Colorizer We are a U.S.-based steel fabrication company looking for an experienced Mechanical Engineer to help design a new industrial mulch colorizer. This project involves studying existing equipment currently on the market and developing an original design that improves upon current solutions. About the Project We manufacture industrial equipment and fabricated steel products and are expanding into the mulch processing industry. We have identified several commercially available mulch colorizers (such as the Vector 725 and similar machines) that perform the functions we're looking for. We are not looking to copy an existing product. Instead, we want to understand the engineering principles behind these machines and develop our own improved design. The finished design should be optimized for manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, and cost. Responsibilities Research existing mulch colorizer equipment Reverse engineer overall functionality and operating principles Develop concepts for an improved machine Design complete mechanical assemblies Perform calculations for shafts, bearings, drives, structural members, and power transmission Select commercially available components (bearings, motors, gearboxes, sprockets, chains, hydraulic components, etc.) Create detailed 3D CAD models Produce manufacturing drawings suitable for fabrication Assist with prototype revisions as testing progresses Preferred Experience We're looking for engineers with experience designing equipment such as: Bulk material handling equipment Conveyors Rotary drums Mixers Industrial processing equipment Agricultural equipment Recycling equipment Wood processing machinery Heavy fabricated machinery Experience designing welded steel structures is a major plus. Deliverables Initial concept layouts Complete 3D assembly model Detailed fabrication drawings Bill of Materials (BOM) Assembly drawings Recommendations for purchased components Engineering support during prototype fabrication Software Preferred experience with one or more of: SolidWorks Autodesk Inventor Fusion 360 Creo Similar professional CAD software Ideal Candidate We're looking for someone who: Has experience designing industrial machinery from the ground up Understands manufacturing and fabrication processes Can communicate design decisions clearly Can work through multiple design revisions Thinks creatively about improving existing equipment instead of simply duplicating it To Apply Please include: Examples of industrial machinery you've designed Photos or screenshots of previous work Your CAD software proficiency Years of mechanical design experience Your estimated hourly rate A brief explanation of how you would approach this project This project has the potential to become a long-term relationship as we continue developing additional industrial equipment.