We are cooking with gas now people! Hot off the press. The 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF) file type is about to go prime-time owing to KeyShot and Stratasys. This dynamic duo is bringing an honest to goodness CMF experience to early-stage physical prototyping. For those not familiar, the 3MF format could be likened to a…
Pack your bags young people cause there’s a design gig to be had in Nashville, Music City USA! That is if you’ve got the chops to get da props. Fractal design, a physical product development firm just went live on the job board over on leManoosh with an Industrial design internship opportunity for spring 2021.…
Reproductions of the classic Darth Vader helmet can be found all over the web. I’ve seen them in construction paper and EVA foam. But when it comes to Darth Vader constructed in metal, the Gold Point Props (GPP) build is as epic as the voice behind the mask! Finding this video afforded a welcomed moment to reminisce of…
Imagine being able to grow your own footwear. Yep, we are talking sprouting a pair of bio sneakers in a matter of hours! Footwear designer @23_heels over on Instagram has a concept that takes a page out of nature, specifically the rapid growth of mushroom mycelium. In like manner, the shoe aesthetic bears a striking…
The folks over at Onshape have been cranking out a ton of resource material across all categories. I’m especially excited over the uptick in surface creation related content being published out. For example, two new surfacing courses recently went live on the Learning Center. So if learning Onshape is on your bucket list, I encourage…
Hey, Solidsmackites If you are looking to learn Autodesk Fusion 360 starting at ground zero, but don’t want to go it alone, then we’ve spotted a series that may be just the ticket! Ben over at 3DGladiator kicked off a guided Fusion 360 series building a super cool vintage military tank. Currently, he is on…
Multi-cavity tooling is the topic we’ll be exploring in today’s SkillCoach Plastics Playground. Now I’m not referring to picks, scrapers, or the high-pitched rotary tools used to make quick work of a menacing cavity wreaking havoc on your molar. Rather, I’m speaking of an injection-mold tooling configuration.Multi-cavity tooling helps optimize the production of plastic parts.…
Good news from the folks a Gravity Sketch. As if sketching in virtual space was not already cool enough, their development team has gone and made it possible to co-create geometry at the same time, in the same virtual space! Not believing this to be kicked enough, they’ve obliterated the need to share a common…
Editing appearances inside Onshape just go better. Now applying custom color to any region or face is a snap! Gone are the days of needing a workaround to simply change the face color of solid or surface faces of part-studio geometry. It looks like my old “zero offset surface copy” workaround has been rendered obsolete.…
Have you got an old laptop laying around that still boasts decent performance specs but is too banged up to take on the road? Are you looking for your next DIY electronics project? Well, Youtuber Matt of DIY Perks may have just the project for you! We’re talking an All-in-One PC conversion. Yep, a makeover…
Digital food storage is the name of the game in this tutorial. In a recent assignment, I sought to coach my CAD students at Virginia Tech through an Onshape modeling exercise in the kitchenware category. Our aim was to build a parametric model that was robust and could be morphed into different configurations by changing…
Read the full article here – Massive Hybrid Manufacturing Machine Pushes Boundaries of 3D Printing
In this post, I’m celebrating another Onshape CAD mystery solved! You see, time and again I was left scratching my head as to the mystery of why my nicely and precisely placed dimensions kept disappearing when building up my 2D sketch sections in Onshape! Before me was the case of the “Disappearing Sketcher Dimensions” (DSD).…
With 2020 now in full swing, the creativity train is loaded to full capacity. All along the line, creative folks of every ilk are hopping off at their respective stops. Skills in tow most are ready to get back at it! For some “it” is to dream up new ideas. While for others the “it”…
Now that 2020 is upon us its time to get busy flexing our creative muscles anew! So what did ole-Skillcoach go and do? He busted out his markers and set to sketching and videoed it to-boot! Here’s a little teaser of the tasty sketching tidbits coming down the pike throughout the year. First, up “Building…
The season of festive celebration is upon us! With the semester of teaching ID at Virginia Tech behind me, I’m thoroughly enjoying my extended moments of family, fellowship, and food! So when my daughter Phoebe got inspired to make a batch of cookies the other day, I was all in! Being the creative type that…
Well, the end of the year is rapidly approaching! And if you are an aspiring Onshape CAD user I’ve got an early Christmas present for you! I’ve compiled my SkillCoach Onshape CAD Improvements Mega Resource Pack! Yep, I scoured the Onshape website for every CAD improvement they posted pertaining to modeling tools and techniques that…
In this post, we’ll delve into the world of TRAJPAR. Now I’m not talk’n about some distant galaxy, but rather a somewhat hidden parameter nested inside PTC Creo Parametric modeling software. TRAJPAR is short for Trajectory Parameter. This puppy is one of the advanced modeling goodies that allows you to turbocharge your Variable Section Sweep…
If you are in search of a workflow that will enable you to efficiently prepare 3D scanned data for use in Mechanical Computer-Aided Design (MCAD) software environments, then you’ll want to know about R3DS Wrap 3 (Wp3). In short, Wp3 is a software application that non-rigidly fits a lightweight optimized basemesh to your imported scan…
As the title implies today we’ll delve into how to make realistic looking objects that can be used as film props or Cosplay accessories. And we’ll do it with the help of a new friend, The Crafsman! You’ll learn a few techniques for making molds and objects using two-part pourable silicone rubber. And after the…
Have you ever wondered what’s involved to bring a new product to market? Perhaps even now you have a juicy idea scrawled out on a napkin tucked away somewhere. Every time you happen across it you’re thinking “Without a doubt, this here puppy is the next big thing!” Problem is, you have no earthly idea…
Hey there Solidsmackite’s I’ve got good news. “There’s a mouse in the house!” Now don’t go faint of heart on me, as I’m talking about a computer mouse, not the four-legged furry type. Yep, a highly organic, fully surface modeled object constructed using Onshape the cloud-based CAD modeling software. For those who have sought to…
Are you using your mouse to help you view Youtube videos? Most all of us will answer this question with a resounding “YES”. Perhaps its time to cross-over to the keyboard. I recently discovered YouTube has keyboard shortcuts to control its video player. I’d been clicking my way through a heap of videos. Using my…
Nike air technology has come a long way since aerospace engineer Marion Rudy pitched his air-bag innovation to Nike in 1977. These days Air technology is really strutting its stuff by going full sole! I’m talking AirMax 720, a shoe to behold with heal-to-toe air. But how is this possible and what has changed since…
Sheet metal design and fabrication is a topic I’ve aimed to cover for quite a while. So I thought I’d kick things off by highlighting one of the build projects by Ron Covell a master metal fabricator and teacher. His Youtube channel is packed full of tips and techniques for the aspiring fabricator. Additionally, if…
What in the world is a “Squircle” you might ask? Well, its a cross between a square and a circle. Designers the world over admire the squircle because it gives us a lot of form exploration range. If I want a product to be perceived as stately or strong I might adjust the squircle more…
Do your 3D models fall-over when you edit feature dimensions? How about when you use that nifty dynamic drag feature? Does everything go wonky? Well, chances are your geometry is not locked down. What I mean is your model most likely suffers from a poor dimensioning or constraint strategy at the 2D sketch level. If you answered yes…
Autodesk Fusion 360 is bringing in the new year with a User Interface (UI) facelift! Presently the UI is in “Preview” mode so as to ease the masses into the new UI workflow. Yet, as to be expected, many of the power users are taking the leap and donning new UI Diggs. While I’m calling…
Shadow Creator’s new Shadow VR System is the new kid on the block and they are changing up the VR experience. Namely, they are outpacing their nearest competitors by bringing to market a standalone 6DoF VR headset. These features enable Shadow Creator to lose VR users from the shackles of computers and cables. Even better…
Seeing one’s ideas come to life right before you is a thrill! That’s what can happen when you set out to explore your creativity by making stuff. You may have questions such as “Where do I start?” Or, “What materials and tools do I use to construct my idea?” Look no further (at least for the…
Have you ever fancied building and fly your own model aircraft? Well nowadays its more possible than ever, and even on the cheap! If you hop over to FliteTest.com you’ll find a massive collection of DIY aircraft projects. But before doing that, let’s step into the workshop at Flite Test (via Youtube) and see one of the gangs…
Creo 5.0 now lets you model in perspective! I for one am excited! I’m relishing the thought of giving my eyes and brain a long-awaited respite. It’s just not natural to process depth using trimetric or dimetric projections. Unlike some of my industrial design buddies who gave up on Creo (formerly ProE) opting for other CAD programs tailored for…
Zippable is a novel approach to make most any stuffable, huggable 3D fabric-based shape you can think of. As the name suggests, a zipper is used as the closure system. But what’s really cool about Zippables is the super long spiraling zippers. The spiraling motion as the zipper is closed, magically transforms a twisty, curvy…
We’re walking the floor at Solidworks World 2018. One must see is Easton LaChappelle’s Unlimited Tommorrow (UT) exhibit. He is cranking out some amazing prosthetic devices! Easton at 14-years-old took an interest in robotics where he submitted a robotic artificial limb in a science fair. His epiphany with regard to his future role in the world…
Do you like things wheels and that go fast? Are you looking to speed up your modeling process in Fusion 360? Then we’ve got just the ticket. Youtuber name notimportant posted a nice video on concept modeling in Fusion 360. He shares his process of developing geometry rapidly with just enough detail to convey your idea.
SkillCoach is a new series where Vince Haley, Product Dev. Professional, and Educator, provides a virtual design critique of new product designs or processes with an aim to help you strengthen your creative and technical skills. Feel free to participate in the discussion via sharing your comments below! Connect with Vince on Linkedin here or via Instagram here. Have…
2017 was a good year for Advanced Modeling Tools enhancements inside of Onshape. In particular, I’m talking curve and surface creation tools. These are the kind of features that have got this ole ID guy chomping at the bit to model something curvy and sweet in form! My aim in this post is to highlight…
Glassblowing is a fascinating artform. For those of us in the product development world it’s akin to blow-molding. Yet, the process of blowing glass holds more intrigue and an element of danger. Also as a medium, it more eloquently showcases the human touch. Instead of yielding myriads of homogeneous end products, hand-blown glass enables artisans…
SkillCoach is a new series where Product Dev. Professional, Vince Haley, provides a virtual design critique of a new design or submission we’ve received. Give us your feedback in the comments! Connect with Vince on Linkedin here. Have a design you would like to submit for a review and critique? Contact us here. Welcome to…
SkillCoach is a new series where Product Dev Professional, Vince Haley, provides a virtual design critique of a new design or submission we’ve received. Give us your feedback in the comments! Connect with Vince on Linkedin here. Have a design you would like to submit for a review and critique? Contact us here. Welcome to…
The Migra surfboard bag is the brainchild of two friends who for more than fifteen years have travelled to remote islands in search of the perfect wave or “rip” as it’s call by surfers. While each destinations yielded a new thrill, the getting there left something to be desired. The biggest challenge they faced on…
There’s nothing like attending a global design or engineering conference. You get to see and hear all the latest and greatest stuff. But I say even better than attending a conference is the opportunity to be a presenter at one! The big event for PTC Users is the annual LiveWorxs Global Conference. So if you’ve…
Calling all designers, engineers, and would-be sketching aficionados! Grab your drawing sticks because Inktober 2017 has officially kicked off! For those of you not familiar with Inktober the short story is that it’s a 31-day drawing challenge created by a guy name Jake Parker back in 2009. His aim was/is to inspire creatives to improve…
Are you an aspiring CAD Designer or maybe a seasoned professional seeking new digs? Perhaps you are hesitant to start your search, not quite knowing which geographic locale will offer the best ratio of income to living-expense. Well, here’s a little tip “Go Midwest young man!” (and ladies too). I’m talking Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and…
The folks over at Vectary are at it again spreading more love on their free browser-based 3d modeling app! They’ve recently added four great plugins which I’m excited to give a try. So what are the juicy bits now made available to us? Here’s the lineup; Google Fonts, Shapeways portal integration, MyMiniFactory import/export, and Noun…
HaYoung Lee a student at Hongik University, Soul Korea had no idea how an encounter roughly two years ago with a rouge cow in the bustling streets of India would inspire and alter his life pursuit. HaYoung’s epithony? Ultimately, the birth of a dream to become a product designer and a passion for what’s known…
Back in the day I made my living reshaping the skin of what we now call “classic cars”. I’m talk’n late ’70s Camaro and ’69 VW Karmann Ghia kinda stuff. Through my artistry, I was able to reclaim what rust and decay had stolen. But sadly some vehicles were too far gone to be safe on the…
As a boy playing street football, I could run! But on one particular day, the day I got my new shoes, I really turned on the jets! That’s the day my buddies nicknamed me Halley’s comet, after that famous one (never mind my name’s spelled with one L). It’s amazing what those new shoes did for my psyche. In a similar…
Presented by Anyone involved in product development knows there’s constant pressure to get to market faster. However, success often comes to, not necessarily those who get to market faster but, those who are able to iterate and innovate faster. For that to happen, companies across every industry need tools that promote rapid discovery, decisions and…
A new docu-series on design is set to premiere February 10th on Netflix. The title, Abstract: The Art of Design. Now for those of us who like to peek behind the scene or tap into the minds of the creators, the series should be a doozy! As for me, I’m looking forward to seeing the episode…