In FAB

3D4D Challenge Finalists Announced

3 Mins Read

When new technology reaches its ascendancy, a question is posed. Can it be used to improved the lives of less fortunate? Specifically, those people that live in lesser developed countries? Sure, the latest Shamwow doesn’t apply – but what about more expansive and innovative technologies? Like 3D printing? Well certainly. But you have to find applications. Appropriate applications. Thus the 3D4D Challenge was created, if only to find and fund the best ideas that are out there… to the tune of 100,000 big ones. And last week, the finalists were announced! And guess who’s in?

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In 3D CAD TECH

Autodesk 123D Catch for iPhone, New Tool for Engineers and Designers

2 Mins Read

In Spetember of 1995, you couldn’t take photos with a phone and turn them into 3D data. Last week you couldn’t either. This week, you can. Hello future, nice to meet you. Yes, turning photos taken with your phone into a 3D model is now possible. Autodesk 123D Catch has been available for desktop and iPad, but now Autodesk brings the photo-stitching, mesh-generating app to iPhone, along with access to your data from the 123D web app.

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In CAD

SolidWorks 2013 and the Promise of SolidWorks V6

4 Mins Read

This week SolidWorks 2013 PR1 is released. Dassault (and SolidWorks specifically) has caught a lot of flack for not innovating, closing up their labs site, previewing an enticing product years ago and not delivering, showing and shifting releases of an equally enticing SolidWorks Live Building product, loosing Jon Hirschtick and Austin OMalley and revealing misconstrued mindsets about killing SolidWorks. But now, there’s SolidWorks 2013 and a(nother) promise of the first complimentary SolidWorks V6 product.

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In DESIGN

The Hövding is Your Fashion Forward, Invisible Skull Protector

2 Mins Read

When cycling, you typically don’t want invisibility to be any part of your ride. However, if you have a high sense of fashion and enjoy the wind flowing through your stylish locks, you will be glad to know there’s an alternative to the traditional bicycle helmet. The Hövding is the design thesis, brought-to-life brain-child of Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin. It’s a collar worn round the neck, fit with motion sensors, microcontrollers and a unique way of wrapping your gourd in the event of an accident.

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In CAD

SolidWorks 2013 Launch

1 Min Read

Solidsmack was kindly invited down to Waltham, MA to meet, greet and speak with the SW team, hang out at their fancy new campus and witness demos for Solidwork 2013. Josh nor Adam couldn’t make it, so I was freeze-dryed and packed into the luggage compartment and flown out. It was a brilliant experience. Once I was rehydrated by the muggy Massachusetts weather, I got a warm welcome from the CAD blogosphere and the Solidworks crew. But if you’re just skimming the platitudes for more details on SW2013 … read on…

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