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SAM SCHEINER
Driven Design Engineer pushing innovative consumer electronics from concept to production with a focus on efficient design and prototyping.
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Lumenary
Employed From: May 2017 - Feb 2025
Location: Petaluma, CA
At Lumenary, I transformed a patented technology into a manufacturable, consumer-ready product. I played a key role in R&D and led the hardware design of the device. Working in a startup environment, I took on a diverse range of projects and responsibilities, adapting to the ever evolving needs of the company.
The Beam™
Overview
The Beam™ is an innovative, patented consumer vapor device that harnesses the power of light to vaporize material, replacing traditional metal resistive coil technology. This approach not only ensures a cleaner experience but also enhances safety by eliminating exposure to toxic metals and reducing e-waste.
Design Process
I approached the design of The Beam with a tiered, iterative process, carefully balancing mechanical, airflow, and electrical constraints. Through continuous refinement, I explored various concepts, narrowing them down to a solution that met all functional requirements while maintaining a clean and elegant aesthetic. My goal was to create a design that was both simple and highly functional.
One of the key challenges was integrating the status-indicating LED directly into the firing button. This required innovative problem-solving to ensure both visibility and reliability without compromising the device’s sleek appearance. The final design is minimalistic, featuring only a single illuminated logo on the button, reinforcing its refined and modern look.
Beyond aesthetics, the design prioritizes safety, durability, and ease of maintenance. I engineered the system to be robust and easy for users to clean, ensuring long-term reliability. Additionally, I made the platform modular, allowing for future accessories and upgrades to be seamlessly incorporated, extending the product’s versatility for years to come.
Challenges
This project was as rewarding as it was challenging. Working within a startup environment with limited simulation tools required a hands-on, mechanically intuitive approach to achieve the desired results in a short timeframe.
To optimize thermals, I applied heat transfer principles alongside manual thermal testing, ensuring efficient performance under real-world conditions. Additionally, I delved into optical engineering principles to refine the LED indication button, experimenting with diffusion materials and ray tracing techniques to achieve the best possible diffusion and functionality.
Lessons Learned
Developing The Beam has been an invaluable learning experience, allowing me to deepen my expertise in R&D, prototyping, DFMA, electronics integration, procurement, assembly, QA, and much more. Each stage of the process reinforced my ability to innovate and problem-solve across multiple disciplines.
With access to more advanced tools, I believe I could further refine my designs, pushing the boundaries of optimization and developing even more novel products. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had at Lumenary and hope The Beam achieves the success it truly deserves.
