Ask HN: Where do I turn for help developing an invention?

[Pipedreamergrey]

I've had a few ideas over the years for various household gadgets that I think might have had real marketability. The problem is, I'm not an engineer and I have no idea where to turn for help developing my ideas. I would just take the first step of submitting a patent application, but I suspect that my amateur drawings would in themselves be grounds to reject the application.

I know that organizations that market services for inventors are, by and large, scams, and I don't know any friendly engineers who might lend a hand. So, any advice would be appreciated.

[khafra]

I doubt you could sell anything like that without at least being able to build a prototype, so perhaps that'd make a better first step than a patent application: Learn how to work with thermoplastic, rent some time with a CNC machine, teach yourself to whittle--whatever it takes.

[Pipedreamergrey]

Thanks, that's useful advice. Googling CNC machine, I see that I can download software for some models to tinker with, to see how difficult that might be.