These days, you can get just about any computer rig designed to your exact specifications. Whether you’re a RAM-hogging SolidWorks user, or simply just want a powerful workstation, there’s something for everybody. But no standardized hardware mod will ever replace the satisfaction of building your own rig from scratch. If you’ve ever wanted to create your own custom-built PC but didn’t know where to start, boy do we have great news for you. The How to Build a Computer Bundle consolidates five intensive online courses (a total of 126 individual lessons) ranging from how to create a blueprint for your desired desktop or laptop setup to how to overclock CPU…
Mondays might not be your favorite day of the week, but the good news is that we’re all in this together ladies and gentlemen. 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…
Silicon Valley startup Opener recently debuted their Blackfly VTOL aircraft at this year’s AirVenture Oshkosh airshow in Wisconsin. Touted as “the world’s first ultralight all-electric fixed-wing extreme short/vertical take-off and landing (ESTOL/VTOL) aircraft,” the single-seat personal aircraft doesn’t require a pilot’s license to operate or need any unique skills, although it will require you to take an FAA Privet Pilot written exam and Blackfly familiarization. The ultra-light aircraft has been in development for the better part of nine years and has undergone 1,400+ test flights, covering 12,000+ miles, and fully USA flight approved. It’s not a long distance runner though, as it has a 40-mile range and a cruise speed…
NASA has awarded a piece of their $100,000 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge money to five teams for their entries in Phase 3: Level 1 of the contest. The competition is part of NASA’s ambitions to build a 3D-printed habitat for deep space exploration, including their endeavor to journey to Mars. https://youtu.be/KKPtMjUEnX8 The competition, which started back in 2014, is part of a three-phase challenge that centers on construction technology designed for sustainable housing solutions for both Earth and beyond. The first Phase pitted teams from different high schools, colleges, and businesses to develop various types of architecture that could utilize what 3D printer capabilities can offer. Phase 2 was divided into…
… and I’m not just talking about those square watermelons you’ve seen before. While square watermelons are the fruit’s most famous shape in Japan (you know, apart from its natural round structure), they aren’t the only shapes found in glorious Nippon. If the sight of a weirdly-shaped melon confuses you, you should know that growing such a fruit doesn’t require any high-tech gear or specialized seeds. All you have to do is make yourself a box of whatever shape you would like your melon to be. The box or mold has to be slightly smaller than the volume of the mature fruit so it can push the melon into shape…
If you are a user of Simplify3D, you want to read this. Simplify3D is a third party 3D print slicing and print operation software tool. The theory is that the default software tools usually provided by the 3D printer manufacturer are sometimes incomplete in function. Simplify3D attempts to fill the gaps with more sophisticated functions and options. While it’s a paid product (currently available for USD$149), its results are often better than those found with default tools and parameters. It can do some things rarely found in standard tools, potentially making printed parts stronger, for example. For some 3D printer operators, the extra cost of the tool is well worth…