In DESIGN

Scintillating CNC Zonahedral Structures: The Zome from Robert Bell

2 Mins Read

I once CNC’d a foam shelter for a family of marsupials, except they ended up eating it, then attacking the neighbor family. It could have been worse, but I certainly wish I had come across Zomadic’s zensational (HA!) Zome structures before then – perhaps the wee creatures would have been happier. The Zome is a creation of Rob Bell (he’s got the ill communications!) and is one of the most ingenious structures of modern geometric times. The complex, fluid shapes are designed in SketchUp, cut out flat and put together with nothing but time, sweat, sandwich breaks and large mallets. Here’s a little more on how it all… comes… together.

Read More
In CAD

Can SolidWorks 2012 Spit the Quadro 2000 GPU Juice?

5 Mins Read

I’ll tell you want, consuming large amounts of GPU juice in the morning can lead to mild twitches and people wondering why you’re sucking the back-end of a graphics card in the first place. However, after you’ve got your taste for tech out your system and slipped that card into your computer, barring electrocution from the spittle, you’ll be well on your way to using that hardware to aid in your quest to vanquish the 3D model landscape… as in the case with a new SolidWorks 2012 installation. You may have upgraded, but will your Quadro video card work? The answer is a resounding YES, but here are a few other things you’ll want to know about SolidWorks, GPU performance, multi-threading and more.

Read More
In FAB

Upload Your Photos, Print a 3D Model with hypr3D

3 Mins Read

It just makes sense. Take some photos of a thing, upload them, 3D print that sucka. My choice? Photos of my fist hitting my face, repeatedly. Unfortunately, motion capture and ruptured blood vessels can not be properly translated into seamless point cloud data as of yet. Nonetheless, hypr3D is putting 3D prints where your 2D prints should be and bringing you the possibility to do it all online, right now. Yeah, and we’re not talking pulling pixels off single photos either. This is 3D geometry generated from your photos or video, for free. Check it out.

Read More
In CAD

Mach 2 Baby! All New F-16 SolidWorks Surfacing Tutorial.

2 Mins Read

Have you ever modeled an aircraft? How about an F-16? Besides being able to suck all manner of things through its massive intake, it’s one of the coolest looking Jet fighters ever designed. Myself? I’ve not modeled one, but have imagined being able to absorb them into my body, whereby using them to fend off anything that would threaten my existence. Until that time, I may just take on the challenge of modeling one up with this new SolidWorks F-16 Tutorial from Dan Lavoie.

Read More
In FAB

Digital Reality Plans To Shake Up the 3D Printing Scene… Again.

4 Mins Read

It’s been just over four years since Digital Reality, Inc. made a rumbling about, what was at that time, the first web-based 3D customization to appear. Of course since then, countless online customization sites for every sort or 3D digital design has been established. Now, Digital Reality is back, with a new plan and a new name for their new online customization portal, KraftWurx. They are currently signing up service bureaus with plans to bring on designers in two to three weeks. However, there is something strange and a backstory to all of this that is sure to add a little drama to the 3D printing scene.

Read More