Well, well, well. What’s this? We’ve left the previous two decades behind and with it the conference that defined the era for a generation of designers and engineers. SOLIDWORKS World is no longer, but that’s OK, because now we have 3DEXPERIENCE World to take us into the next decade with all the experiential experiencing we…

Seems those New Year’s Eve champagne corks over at Autodesk had an electrical surprise attached to them. The January Fusion 360 product update isn’t out yet but notifications are going out about new subscription benefits. If you’re a user of Fusion 360, your subscription now includes access to Autodesk EAGLE, the electronic design automation software…

You’re trundling through the train station with your Rubix Cube solving robot, huddled protectively around it like a badger on a worm-covered pinecone. SNAP, that guy with the umbrella and snake cage just broke the foot. THAT’S IT. You need a case. But not just any case – a 3D printed Rubix Cube Solving Robot…

The END IS NIEGH… The end of 2019. You’ve been taking half days at work to plan shenanigans to ring in the new year, but have hit a roadblock on one critical item: 2020 NEW YEAR’S EVE GLASSES. How can you be seen in public without a ridiculous set of year-shaped spectacles?! You can’t! And…

Even though the new Tesla Cybertruck is supposedly going to usher in a new age of electric offroad vehicles, some people think the design is a bit… lacking. Like a CG model whose textures haven’t loaded in or a long lost drawing Elon Musk made when he was 4-years-old, the Cybertruck doesn’t exactly give off…

You may have ridden on Boeing 747. You may have even designed parts of a 747. But have you ever created an entire 3D model of a Boeing 747-8 exterior (including landing gear) in SOLIDWORKS?! Well, one of our favorite Product Designers and SOLIDWORKS trainers, Jan-Willem Zuyderduyn, has introduced a new Boeing 747-8 video course…

It’s been long suspected that Onshape would eventually land in the hands of a larger enterprise product development (or non-product development) company — that day is here. PTC has just announced the acquisition of Onshape, web-based 3D product design platform, “for approximately $470 million, net of cash acquired.” The deal is moving fast, expecting to…

Autodesk seems to be tightening up their rules regarding use of the popular Fusion 360 CAD system. The company moved the product to a subscription-based cloud system a couple of years ago and then simplified their licensing levels. This is a very common practice in the software industry as it provides significant advantages: a near-100%…

It wasn’t too long ago when the concept of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the capabilities of generative design seemed like some far off sci-fi future. Yet, both technologies are alive and kicking in 2019—and they came together recently to test the implementation of generative design and additive manufacturing capabilities in the field of UAVs.…

While drilling a hole is something every CNC machine user can do easily, programming the locations of several holes takes a bit more time and effort. Instead of going through the arduous process of setting the locations of numerous holes, Autodesk recently shared how to use their new hole recognition software in Fusion 360 to…

If you ever wanted to create threaded fasteners for screws, nuts, bolts and the like on the fly using good old Fusion 360, Autodesk has a simple method to easily implement them using the Thread command: Under the ‘Create’ menu, choose the ‘Thread’ command and select a cylindrical shape you want the thread to be…

It’s fall y’all, and that means football, hot wing juice on your keyboard, and a new version of SOLIDWORKS comin’ atcha fast. This month, SOLIDWORKS held their SOLIDWORKS 2020 launch event/sportscast online. And, let me tell ya, SOLIDWORKS 2020 is a shift. Maybe they don’t want you to see it like that, maybe they do,…

I know all y’all SOLIDWORKS users have been loosing sleep over one thing and one thing only since February 2019. Why, in the pit of Elroy’s belly, did Dassault Systemes go and fiddle with the name of the beloved SOLIDWORKS World brand, changing it to 3DEXPERIENCE World? Well, it’s been a few, seven months since…

If you’ve cyborged your upper torso with gears and lights glued to a cardboard box, I hate to tell you but, the transformation isn’t complete until you’ve embedded a Nixie clock in your chest cavity. Oh, what’s that? Missing one? Hmmm, shameful, in’t it? Well, I’ve got two options for you today – 1) Snag…

I know what you’re thinking – I could organize my desk all sorts of ways wit ma 12 gauge shotgun ♫ ♪ But hold your reload and save those shells for dove season. What we’ve got for you is a desk organize made from a beautifully laser cut, single-piece of 12 gauge STAINLESS STEEL. Bryan…

We recently spied the Travel Tripod by Peak Design, and one reason why it’s doing so well – has raised over $9,900,000 already! – is that they’ve addressed the key issue of travel tripods – They’re DANG BULKY. I agree. Travel tripods should be easy to carry, lightweight and, if you can’t tuck two away…

Those dreams where you walk into the office and giant flowers open up to shed rays of light on you, yeah, those dreams might become a reality. “Can it be daisies?” Suuuuure, if you want it to be daisies, it can be daisies. 3lobit has been doing the 3D print thang since early 2017, working…

Ever thought of co-manufacturing your camera gear? “What did you just say?” You heard me right — Co-manufacturing. The innovative camera equipment company edelkrone is shakin’ up the manufacturing scene to team up with YOU. As the makers of camera sliders, dollies, heads, and accessories, they know all that camera gear can be a drain…

I was just going to publish a story on the latest news from SOLIDWORKS about the 3DEXPERIENCE products… but then, you know, you start looking deeper. Suddenly, you have 87 browser tabs open. So, here’s what’s going on… SolidWorks has announced four new(ish) product options. The four products fall into two categories: 3DEXPERIENCE PLM Collaboration…

C-Clamps are great for two things: 1) holding stuff together and 2) everything else. You can use them to support a slab of wood for a tabletop, fasten a tarp around… that thing that needs a tarp around it, grab your friend by the ear, make spaghetti. As a matter of fact, outside of a…

You’d have to squeeze your eye muscles but think about it… Adobe announced their latest AI-driven software. This is the software revealed earlier this year too Ooo’s and Ahh’s at Adobe MAX as Project Gemini. Now, Adobe Fresco… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rydHqC9WtY It’s all 2D, and while we’re seeing generative design take off in product dev apps, their…

There are few things better than a good, hearty soup. Although you might have a winning argument if you said, “A good, hearty soup served from the BUCKET OF A CATAPULT is way better.” Oh, you meant launched from the catapult. Well, of course, that’s better. And whether it’s soup launching, cow launching, or sending…

You might have your own opinion on who broke Captain America’s shield, but regardless whether who or even if it really happened (IT DID), there’d have to be some power behind that shield slap. Maybe you already have a Captain America mask, or a shirt with a star stencil spraypainted on it. You’ve got to…

Have you’ve ever arrived at your desk and felt a sudden onset of ‘MY DESK IS SO BEIGE’ horror flood over you? It’s not uncommon. It’s why we put charts of conversion tables and part number inventories on the wall… then shriek in horror again when that makes it all worse. You need some COLOR.…

How difficult is it to design a lamp? Not very. Jab a few holes in a paper plate, wrap it in a lightbulb, GOOD TO GO. If you want a classier option though, you’ll need the design chops of the pros at VOOOD. I was seeing how many LEDs could fit under my eyelids when…

That’s it. I just placed a bulk order on Amazon for a pallet of thick, super-absorbent napkins. I’ll use half of them to soak up tears OF JOY, and the other half to capture the world-changing ideas worthy of being birthed on the bunching, biodegradable surface of a paper napkin. Why? Two words, combined into…

When I imagine the type of illumination you would shoot from your fist to bake a ham and a side of biscuits, the choice seems pretty clear to me – INFINITE TRIANGULAR LIGHT. We don’t need any of that cubical, or bubble-shaped light shooting from your power knuckles. Unfortunately, we’re not quite there with the…

It’s been ages, but we’re really excited to bring you a NEW tutorial from Dan Lavoie. It’s a model you may not expect, which makes it even better. Dan takes you through the process of modeling a Bell 206L4 helicopter from start to finish. This is another great video series and we’ve worked out a…

While his day job has him designing engines for the Ford Motor Company (not a bad job in its own right), systems engineer Matt Schmotzer spends his free time creating 3D printed replicas of real-life roller coasters using his breadth of SOLIDWORKS knowledge and 3D printing techniques. His first 3D printed roller coaster is a…

Every once in a while, you’ll be enjoying a hot ham ‘n cheese, when something comes along, slaps that sandwich out of your hand, and marks a substantial shift in the future of 3D product development software. They’re shifts that mark moments when other software developers take notice and consider their own software dev plans.…

For years we’ve been watching industrial designer Eric Strebel’s insightful design process videos; videos that show how he goes about making products from start to finish. Starting with concept sketches, he follows a traditional design process of moving on to CAD models and then various forms of prototyping—yet, we’ve never really heard the man speak…

If you’ve yet to get your CAD jabbers on SelfCAD, you can spin it up and start modeling in less time than it takes to juice a pack navel oranges with your elbows at your co-worker’s desk–Tis a fact. SelfCAD is the web-based modeling/sculpting/3D printing tool that works in all modern browsers and on Windows,…

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…

I realize that title may shock those with more mature sensibilities – “Why does he want to kick my spleen??!” But don’t worry, I’m using spleen to refer to that MESS, that is on your DESK… and it also rhymes with nineteen. Massaging sensitive internal organs with your FOOT aside, one of the best things…

You know how tough it can be without a stylin’ set of headphones bakin’ up sweet sounds in your earholes, aaaaand how handy they can be to avoid talking to people. Either way you use them, you need a place to store them and the bottom drawer next to that stale pile of Cheez-It’s ain’t…

I bet you a bag of plush porglets you’ve had dreams of owning, building or transferring your conscience into your very own BB-8. If you also happen to have a Google Home device (or not), I may just have found you the perfect excuse for 3D printing the adorable spherical droid. Manchester’s own Steve Wagg…

As anyone who has used a AR/VR headset for gaming purposes would know, it’s always more fun to play with friends. Well, the same concept applies to AR/VR on an industrial working scale, which is why Onshape has paired up with VR virtuoso Magic Leap to create a 3D design app for the headset. Temporarily…

I think we all know, one goal of dressing up for Holloween is to bring people to the edge of projectile vomiting through a mixture of laughter and disgust. While some strategically placed foam, putty, and exploding blood packs would ensure that, maybe you just need something quick to slap on your noggin. Look no…

RS has announced the availability of a new BETA version of DesignSpark Mechanical. This 3D CAD tool is available at no charge from RS, so long as you register an account with their system. It’s a comprehensive 3D CAD development tool that works only on the Windows platform, in both 32 and 64 bit modes.…

Well, you probably saw the LEGO Bugatti Chiron (42083) and the life-size LEGO Bugatti Chiron, but do you have the 3,599 piece 3D model of the Bugatti Chiron? If not, you’re about to. GrabCAD user, dk (“a single D, for that single dose of pimpin'”) is a LEGO modeling all-star with multiple LEGO Ideas, Architecture,…

It’s 3am. Visions of green and red shapes are swirling through your mind. Was it a bad batch of kombucha? No – it’s Autodesk Generative Design. Autodesk Generative Design provides a surprisingly addictive mix of novelty, somewhat mysterious results, and interesting shapes. If you can justify the cost – try it! Before I dive in,…

It was only back on August 23rd when the master 3D rendering virtuosos at Luxion teased us with a drool-worthy highlight reel capturing what’s to come with the much-anticipated KeyShot 8. And tease us they did—with stunning rendering work featuring everybody from Peter Gill and Esben Oxholm to Dries Vervoort: https://youtu.be/Y6CPCm3kdlU Well, the time is…

Morphi is a (sort of) free app for the iPad, Mac, and Windows devices that lets users push, pull, and craft 3D creations via a touchpad device. Its simple nature makes it ideal for starting kids out in the world of 3D modeling and showcasing their work — with tools such as stop motion and AR/VR…

Near the end of last year, Shapr3D revealed that the kernel in their 3D modeling iOS app had been replaced with Siemens’ Parasolid. This week, they’ve revealed their sketch engine has been replaced by Siemens’ D-Cubed–the same sketch engine used in SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, Solid Edge, NX, Onshape and others. What does this mean? Shapr3D is…

Autodesk is making very significant changes to their Fusion 360 product offerings. Fusion 360 is Autodesk’s flagship 3D design tool that is offered in a cloud-based subscription service. The system provides not only CAD, but also CAM, simulations and even generative components. It’s proven quite popular in certain circles. As of October 7th, they will no…

Dassault SOLIDWORKS is corporately swinging down from the rafters of development mode to announce the upcoming new features in SOLIDWORKS 2019. If you’re worried about SOLIDWORKS slowing development to pursue XDesign interest (that just gained some new features), this release may sway your opinion. There are plenty of new features to love and, if you’ve…

Yeah, Of course, you’re thinking that–But even if a baby attack parrot looks cute trying to beat you at Forza 7, he’s strugglin’ cause his little beak just can’t handle that full-size racing sim wheel and shifter. Plus, you know you’d like something you could just slap on your controller. Brent Scott to the rescue.…

On the off-chance you have an intact skullcap and you’re mostly coherent at this time of day, I want to introduce you this week to a model so puzzling you’ll want to finish the maze you started drawing on your belly in the middle of that meeting last week. Thomas Buseyne is no stranger to…

If you were too busy re-topologizing that scan of your skull last week, you may have missed this announcement from nPower Software/IntegrityWare–they’ve released version 5.0 of their Power Surfacing / Power Surfacing RE for SOLIDWORKS software. It was just a year ago (June 2017)  they released Power Surfacing version 4.0 that brought support for SOLIDWORKS assembly…

I just returned from hiking 40 miles with a 50-lb pack in the West Texas Guadalupe Mountains. If it were not for hiking sticks, my legs would be gelatinous globs right now. They’re a must – even for kiddos and their ultra-cartilaginous joints. What’s a good way to make them relish such long, arduous journeys on the…