Aaron Lapp — Craftsman & CAD Designer

About

A bit about me

I grew up in Ohio, spending the better part of a decade working in custom cabinetry and architectural millwork. That's where I learned that a good design only matters if it can actually be built well.

These days I'm living on the road in a school bus I converted into a home — and working remotely as a CAD designer and CNC consultant. Whether I'm drafting shop drawings, helping a shop integrate a CNC router, or designing a solar system for an RV conversion, the approach is the same: understand the system, then find ways to make it better.

When I'm not working, I'm usually tinkering — 3D printers, small electronics, whatever's caught my curiosity. The best way to understand something is to get your hands on it.

What I Do

How I can help

A few of the ways I put my skills to work.

Featured

CNC Consulting

Thinking about adding a CNC to your shop? Already have one that isn't reaching its potential? With 6+ years of hands-on CNC experience, I help shops with machine selection, installation, workflow integration, and training. I've been through the process and can help you avoid the expensive mistakes.

Full RV Conversions

End-to-end bus and van conversions — from layout design and structural framing to electrical, plumbing, and solar systems. I've done it myself and can help you do it right.

Solar Consulting

Off-grid and mobile solar system design. I'll help you figure out what you need, spec the right components, and design a system that actually works for your situation.

How I Think

Curiosity as a way of life

For as long as I can remember, I've been the kind of person who needs to know how things work — and can't leave them alone until they work better.

The tinkering started early

As a kid I was always taking things apart — tape players, printers, old computers — just to see what was inside. One of my first real projects was a styrofoam boat with a motor clamped to a stick, powered by a nine-volt battery. I barely understood how electronics worked, but I got it buzzing across the pond. That feeling never went away.

Systems thinking

I can't help but analyze how things are connected. When I cross a bridge, I'm visualizing the physics. When I see a manufacturing floor, I'm mentally mapping the workflow end to end. It's just how my brain works — always looking at the bigger picture and asking where the friction is.

A drive for efficiency

At my dad's cabinet shop, I had the freedom to look at the whole process and make changes — we improved efficiency by around 30%. I've carried that same approach into my drafting work, building tools that push data from spreadsheets to AutoCAD title blocks with a single button press, cutting out repetitive entry and reducing errors.

Always learning

Whether it's smart home tech, small electronics, coding, or just trying to understand how people and relationships work — I'm always researching, always iterating. The mindset of continuous improvement matters more to me than any single skill I've picked up along the way.

"It takes patience, persistence, and desire to cultivate this mindset. You can't force it. There must be a genuine interest in learning and growing."

Experience

Where I've been

A mix of drafting, building, and figuring things out along the way.

2025 — Present Remote

CAD Designer

Contract

Managing revisions, redlines, and submittal packages for projects up to $1M. Working alongside project managers and other draftsmen, and finding small ways to speed things up through better organization and dynamic blocks.

1.5 years KS, OK, TX, NE

Service Representative

Choice Books of Kansas

Serviced book racks across four states — Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska. A role that built self-discipline, route planning skills, and the ability to work independently across a wide territory.

2 years Middletown, MA

Millworker & Drafter

Watson Brothers Architectural Millwork

Spent my days both at the bench and at the drafting table — building wood products for commercial installs while creating shop drawings for casework, trim, reception desks, and more.

9 years Quaker City, OH

Shop Foreman

Lamar's Custom Cabinets

Managed projects from first conversation to final install. Helped improve shop efficiency by around 30% through better time tracking and workflow changes. Trained new team members and tried to build a shop culture people actually enjoyed being part of.

Education

Sattler College

Boston, MA · 1 year

Biblical & Religious Studies Certificate (BRS)

High School Diploma

Quaker City, OH

Self-Taught

AutoCAD, CNC, Electrical, Electronics, Automation — always learning

Skills & Tools

What I work with

Always learning, but here's what I'm comfortable with today.

Design & Drafting

AutoCAD
Fusion 360
Dynamic Blocks
Shop Drawings & Blueprints
Submittal Packages

Fabrication

CNC Routers (6+ years)
3D Printing
Custom Cabinetry
Architectural Millwork
Electrical Systems

Systems & Tech

IT Support (10+ years)
Workflow Optimization
Solar System Design
Process Design
Small Electronics / DIY

I like to understand how things work — and then find a way to make them work better.