For those in the market for a new desk toy, your future just became 1,210 LEGO blocks brighter. LEGO has announced a new building kit specifically aimed at adults (or very mature youngfolk) that focuses on the principles of design and architecture. Nope, this isn’t a specific model like other LEGO Architecture kits. This is an adults-only LEGO bin ladies and gents. Prepare to feel the sweet pain of stepping on a LEGO brick with your bare foot all over again.
Every once in a while we hear about a Maker with zero previous making experience come by and run circles around those who have been in the business of making for years. Ivan Sentch of Auckland, New Zealand is one of those Makers who only last December picked up his first 3D printer for $499. Soon after, he decided that yes, he was going to use it to help build a 1961 Series II Aston Martin DB4 replica (only 1,200 were made). Ambitious? Maybe. Insane? Possibly. Totally awesome? Heck yeah!
I’m certain one of your favorite things is to dream of complicated and highly frustrating mathematical puzzles that boggle the mind. If so, you’ve heard of Henry Segerman and his wonderful creations. Henry is a mathematician at the University of Melbourne. He loves math(s) and he loves art(s). He and fellow mathematician Saul Schleimer have combined the two passions with the help of 3D printing to create mathematical 3D printed puzzles that brings another dimension (and perhaps another level of frustration) to the physical three-dimensional visualizations derived from two-dimensional projections of fourth-dimensional shapes.
Brought to you this week by the smells of sneaker feet and five eels exploding from a tub of low-fat greek yogurt, be sure to check out the all new episode of Cool Tools of Doom n’ Stuff! By the way, we love our SolidSmack readers! Have something cool you’ve come across and want to share it on SolidSmack? Don’t hide it in your neck skin! Send it on in to
When it was announced nearly a month ago that Microsoft Windows 8.1 would natively support 3D printing similar to that of printing directly to a paper printer, the news was greeted with open arms in the maker and tech communities. With the release of Windows 8.1, a user will be able to plug their 3D printer into their computer and set it up just as easily as a 2D printer without the need for external print software. Today Microsoft released a video that gives us a little more insight into what the print dialogue looks like, how they plan on working with 3D printer manufacturers, and why Microsoft chose to offer this now.