Hey /r/Entrepreneur!

I've come up with a great idea for a product that I'd like to get manufactured. It's basically a folding aluminum stand for equipment used in a specific industry (about as much into detail as I'd like to go). I've been working in this industry for awhile, and am confident in the need for my product!

I have the idea sketched out on paper, but am trying to decide where to go next.

I'm thinking my best move is to find a designer who works with CAD and get them to make me a design. Then I was thinking of finding a 3D printer to make some prototypes and determine if I need any adjustments in my design before ordering an aluminum prototype.

Does anyone have any connections for affordable CAD work? I was thinking of using this site: http://www.cadcrowd.com/ Anyone have any experience using it?

At that point I'd need to find a manufacturer, correct? I'd prefer to use a US manufacturer for this product, although once I see the difference in numbers I might change my mind haha. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good US manufacturer who works with lightweight aluminum?

Through searches on this forum I found the site Maker'sRow, but it doesn't seem to have a large variety of manufacturers who work with aluminum. Anyone ever tried either of these?

*http://makersrow.com/r-s-owens

*http://makersrow.com/albest-metal

I still haven't thought of the name, but once I do I'll grab the website. I plan on using Amazon to sell the product.

Let me know if anything in my process is incorrect, or if you can help at all! Thanks!