Stratasys announced a new workflow system, GrabCAD Shop. GrabCAD GrabCAD is Stratasys’ main 3D model repository, having acquired it from independent owners way back in 2014. Stratasys bills it as: “The largest online community of professional designers, engineers, manufacturers, and students” And this is likely true, as they say there are currently over 6,550,000 members. The site offers the ability to upload and share 3D models and renderings. There are also plenty of tutorials and even contests. It’s essentially “Thingiverse” for Stratasys industrial clients. Also, the search function seems to work reasonably well, unlike some other 3D model repositories. GrabCAD Focus You can tell GrabCAD is a bit different when…
Back in an age they called “the late 90s”, people used to use floppy drives to store data on computers. These thin, somewhat portable disks could hold a whopping 2.88 MB of data by the turn of the century, so it’s no surprise they were rendered obsolete come the 2000s… at least in terms of storage space. Paweł Zadrożniak, a Polish electronics enthusiast and software engineer, has found a better use for old computer tech. By stringing together a number of floppy drives, hard disks, and scanners, he created The Floppotron – a one of a kind device which uses hardware sounds to produce sweet, sweet tunes. Understanding this mass…
They say the best way to learn how to do something is to just do it, but in the case of power tools, this isn’t always the case. Being handed a chainsaw when you’re a complete novice can be a daunting (not to mention dangerous) task, so it helps to have someone with prior experience show you the ropes. But what happens if you don’t have a power tool expert close by? This is what STIHL Training VR is for. Created by power tool company STIHL, this free VR program was made to teach new power tool users the basics of operating high-powered and potentially lethal machines, all without the…
Get that stretch out of your system with this week’s Spotify-powered SolidSmack Radio Playlist. It’s fashioned up, ready to make you pull your shoulder blades back and knock out another week of meaningful work while you bob your head to the beat. Whether you’re in the shop milling aluminum, sketching the latest product prototypes or modeling up a 3D storm, consider these tracks as a tool for your process. Have suggestions? As always, let us know what you listen to, what you want to hear and what tunes get you through the week. Shoot us an email or leave a comment down below!! *Note: if the embedded playlist below doesn’t…
If drones changing shape on the fly and shooting streaks of hot flames weren’t enough to make you question what will rule the skies in the future, then this might change your mind… A few weeks ago, the 2019 Nanchang Flight Convention was held in China. From November 2-3, the convention showcased the best China had to offer in the fields of aviation, drones, and space travel. While over a hundred commercial and military planes were shown over the course of two days, what really struck audiences was the closing ceremony: As shown in the above video by Xinhua Sci-Tech, 800 drones took to the sky as the convention ended…
As purveyors of prime Grade A web content, the SolidSmack crew has done some of the heavy-lifting to make sure you get your Mondays started on the right track. Welcome to The Monday List. Every Monday, we link you up with some of the most insightful, informative, and socially-relevant stories to keep tabbed, bookmarked, reading listed, pocketed, or what have you to get your week started on the right foot. Be sure to check in each week for a new crop of freshly sprouted words curated straight from the source of your favorite homegrown ‘Smack. What We’re Reading This Week: Mexico Has a Productivity Problem Walk down the side-streets just off…