Good questions.
Practical answers.

We design, engineer, and fabricate custom parts, mechanisms, electronic devices, and complete products that combine mechanics, electronics, and software. Our tradigital approach brings traditional craftsmanship and digital tools into the same workshop, from a custom fixture to a connected device.

See what we make or explore our seven service options.

Entrepreneurs, individual makers, startups, established product teams, manufacturers, research institutions, and government customers. The engagement can be a focused review, a particular engineering task, or development through a working prototype and preparation for manufacturing.

Explore ways to hire us.

Yes. You do not need finished drawings or a prototype. Product consulting and idea review can help define the problem, examine feasibility, identify difficult assumptions, and decide what investigation or build would be useful next.

Tell us what you have in mind.

Start with what the product needs to do, who will use it, and the problem it should solve. Share any sketches, drawings, photographs, existing prototypes, requirements, target quantities, budget constraints, and deadlines you already have. Tell us what is known and what still needs figuring out.

Start a project conversation.

No. Green Shoe Garage is based in Mountain Maryland and works with clients globally. Our manufacturing workshop is in Cumberland, Maryland, and our art studio is in Hagerstown. Online consultations are available; contact us to discuss the working arrangement or a workshop visit.

View our locations or book an online consultation.

Yes. A product does not need electronics to belong here. We work on mechanical parts, moving mechanisms, enclosures, fixtures, assemblies, and prototypes driven by gears, springs, motors, or human effort.

Explore mechanical engineering and fabrication.

Yes. We can handle a defined piece of the design, engineering, fabrication, testing, or documentation. Your team or another supplier can carry out the remaining work. We agree on the interfaces, deliverables, and level of detail needed for a useful handoff.

Compare service options.

Yes. We can evaluate an existing mechanical, electronic, or integrated prototype against agreed questions and requirements. The work can examine fit, movement, power, firmware, communications, or overall behavior, then document findings and prioritize improvements or further investigation.

Read about prototype evaluation.

Yes. Our software work includes embedded firmware, drivers, real-time systems, device connectivity, and edge processing, plus desktop applications for macOS, Windows, and Linux; mobile applications for iOS and Android; and client- and server-side web applications. The functions and platforms are defined in the project scope.

Explore firmware and software development.

Yes. Through Green Shoe Lab, we assess hardware, firmware, communications, and software interfaces. Depending on scope, an assessment can include companion applications, APIs, cloud connections, updates, and provisioning. Devices, versions, access, and authorized methods are agreed before testing, with evidence and remediation priorities included in the findings.

Explore Green Shoe Lab.

We define the problem and requirements, explore alternatives, develop and build the design, test its behavior, address weaknesses, and prepare for the next manufacturing step. Reviews and prototypes help answer questions along the way. The depth of each stage follows the project’s maturity, risks, and goals.

Explore the development process.

You will have one engineer as your primary point of contact throughout development: someone who knows the project and has the technical expertise to answer your questions. This gives you continuity as the work moves between disciplines and stages.

Read our guiding principles.

A bench model or focused prototype answers a particular question, such as fit, movement, sensing, or a circuit’s behavior. A complete prototype brings the agreed product functions together into a working assembly. Appearance, materials, finish, quantity, software, and testing depend on what that build needs to demonstrate.

Compare prototyping engagements.

We combine in-house design, engineering, fabrication, assembly, and testing with outside suppliers where the work needs specialist processes or heavier tooling. For example, suitable small prototype PCBs can be made in the shop, while more demanding board fabrication goes to a manufacturing partner.

See fabrication capabilities and electronics capabilities.

Yes. Manufacturing preparation can include design refinement, drawings, bills of materials, assembly instructions, fixtures, production tests, and supplier coordination. We also support low-volume builds and can connect clients with manufacturing partners. The intended process, quantities, supplier involvement, and transfer milestone are agreed as part of the work.

Read about manufacturing preparation.

Cost depends on the work, materials, requirements, and deliverables. Our published planning ranges draw on over 200 successfully delivered products roughly no larger than a breadbox. They are estimates, not guarantees or a quote for your project. We confirm the price or level of effort around the agreed scope.

View the cost and schedule ranges.

The schedule depends on the project’s starting point, complexity, part and supplier lead times, testing, and the revisions needed. The discipline-specific ranges on our hiring page are planning estimates. Share any launch, demonstration, or manufacturing deadline early so it can be considered when defining the work.

Review the planning ranges.

Yes. We offer fixed-price engagements, time-and-materials work, and monthly retainers, as well as focused online consultations and technical writing. Time-and-materials work starts with an agreed hourly rate and contract ceiling. The best arrangement depends on the clarity of the scope and the kind of support you need.

See current engagement models and rates.

The published fixed-price schedule is 50% at project start, 25% at final design review, and 25% on acceptance. Projects with substantial upfront material costs may require an additional payment before work begins. Confirm the payment schedule and deliverables in your engagement.

Read the hiring terms.

For time-and-materials work, we agree on a contract ceiling and invoice monthly for completed work. We provide good-faith material estimates, notify you at 80% of the estimate, and check with you before a purchase that would exceed it. Discuss an effort cap and budget constraints before the work begins.

See how time-and-materials engagements work.

Deliverables are agreed around the engagement. They can include physical prototypes, editable CAD, drawings, schematics, PCB manufacturing files, bills of materials, source code, assembly and operating instructions, and test results. The handoff records what was demonstrated, known limitations, and the next steps.

See what each service delivers.

A BenchBook is a practical reference that brings a project’s purpose, design context, build information, engineering records, and next steps together. It is tailored to the agreed work. The Kinetic Weather Instrument sample shows how photographs, schematics, source references, verification plans, and operating guidance can fit together.

Explore the sample BenchBook or open the sample PDF.

Our clients own their project IP; GSG’s process is built around giving you access to your design and engineering work. Ownership, deliverables, and licensing terms are defined in the engagement, including any third-party components or software used in the solution.

Read our approach to client ownership.

No. We encourage open-source approaches but recognize that they do not suit every business model. We choose platforms and components around the project rather than locking every client into one vendor. Any third-party licensing requirements are addressed as part of the engagement.

Read about open foundations and client choice.

Yes. The agreed scope can include test planning, quality specifications, compliance documentation, and coordination with third-party testing providers. The work and required evidence depend on the product and its intended use. Discuss compliance needs early so they can be considered in the design, budget, and schedule.

Explore documentation services and hardware verification capabilities.

Our published hiring terms state that engineering and research work is billed for the effort, not a guaranteed result. The work carries no warranty, and products are provided as is. We define the planned effort, review points, and deliverables with you so the uncertainties and expectations are clear.

Read the warranty and billing terms.

Ongoing work can be scoped around improvements, additional testing, maintenance, or the next development stage. Retainers are available for longer-term relationships, and post-delivery support arrangements are defined in the engagement. Contact us with the project, its current configuration, and the help you need.

Discuss continued support.

Yes. GSG Boot Camp is a three-day product-development course offered online or in person. It follows the work across design, mechanical engineering, electronics, software, testing, and preparation for low-volume production.

Explore GSG Boot Camp for the course details.

Yes. Our free field instruments and toolkits are available to explore independently, covering engineering, electronics, energy, security, and project work. Many run directly in your browser. Each tool’s documentation and license describe its use and limitations.

Browse the field instruments or visit the tool crib.

Use the Support page, email, or phone. Include the tool or page name, what you were trying to do, what happened, and any useful screenshots or logs. The support form prepares an email in your own mail app; you review and send it there.

Get support.