ABOUT RETRONIX AND ITS FOUNDER

Retronix Inc. was formed in 1994 by founder and president, Jim Rasmusson. The name is a contraction of the words "retro" and "mechanics" and is meant to connote the idea of action/reaction. Retronix was established for developing products.

Retronix provides engineering services. These services include consulting, product development, prototyping, and production. Most clients are individuals or small companies who want an invention developed and prototyped. Retronix can work from a patent, a detailed narrative, drawings or a crude prototype.

If the invention is patented, great care is made to stay within the bounds of both the independent and dependent claims. Sometimes a patent attorney is consulted in this regard.

Once the quote has been generated, a first iteration working prototype is built. The client then tries out the prototype, sometimes showing it to perspective licensers or putting the prototype through destructive testing. Often there is a need for a second or even a third iteration prototype. Each iteration gets closer to the finished product. In designing, Retronix is ever mindful of how the final product will be manufactured and who the target market is.

Finally, a small production run is made for field testing or clinic trials. If the product goes to market, Retronix may or may not be part of the manufacturing.

With engineering, Retronix uses both CAD and CADCAM. A CAD drawing is first generated on a computer. For components that are to be machined, a drawing is exported to a CAM software. Program code is then generated which the Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine can read. This program is then tested graphically on the CNC monitor which allows the tool paths to be viewed. Finally, the actual component is carved out by the CNC machine.

For simple stress analysis, tried and true formulas are used. For complicated stress analysis, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used. FEA is a computer software that enables the engineer to do simulated testing of the strength of a component or assembly. This is non-destructive testing. With FEA, the part being tested is represented as a 3D computer model which is made up of many smaller elements. Real world conditions and parameters are replicated, such as how the part is anchored and in which direction the load (force) is applied. The FEA software in turn shows where the stresses are being imposed and what their magnitudes are. It even shows deformation and breakage.

Retronix has developed products in a wide range of disciplines including health and exercise equipment, orthotics/ prosthetics, security, solar energy, material handling, optics and aerospace.

Owner James Rasmusson has thirty five years of experience in design and industrial engineering. Jim started off as a packaging engineer, working for Hydra-matic Transmission. He later worked for McDonnell Douglas and Raytheon. At Raytheon, he designed packaging systems for the world wide transport of delicate electronic ground support equipment for the Hawk missile program.

Next came a job opportunity of working with the handicapped. This involved adapting and designing work stations to enable the mentally and physically challenged to perform contract jobs.

Furthering his interest in working with the physically challenged, Jim did course work at Northwestern and NYU and earned certification as a prosthetist. This led to Jim becoming Director of Research and Development for Becker Orthopedic. As Director, Jim designed such products as the MonodosTM Joint, Hyperbolic ankle block, The CouplerTM adapter, the Genuliptic knee joint, and the EndocentricTM prosthetic system and was awarded three orthopedic related patents. He was also on the design team that came up with the Analog 2TM, the Iowa Electronic Elbow OrthosisTM, Oklahoma Ankle JointTM , and CompcoreTM.

As an independent inventor Jim has pursued his interest in solar energy. This work has culminated in a patent for a Solar Concentrator that 'tracks' the sun without the need for complicated sensors and servos. Aerospace technology has also been explored with this work resulting in three patents for attitude control and thrust systems. These devices are currently undergoing further development.

Although in his own right Jim is a successful inventor and annually receives royalties for some of his inventions, the Michigan resident and founder of Retronix Inc. says "it's really a thrill to see a product that you helped a client develop become a success in the market place".

At Michigan State University, Jim was on the varsity weightlifting team for four years, held seven school records in two weight divisions, and came in second in the 1966 NCAA championships. Jim feels that this background, coupled with decades of design engineering, makes him uniquely qualified to develop health and exercise equipment.

Jim has lectured and hosted workshops. As a writer, Jim has authored manuals in both packaging and orthopedics and published articles on a wide variety of topics.

Jim is a published poet and a fine art photographer. His photographs can be seen at Thirdstone Gallery in Saugatuck Michigan.