We all know how magnets work – two metals with different poles attracting each other – but they still give an aura of wonder whenever they magically stick to one another, as if driven by something more than science. To that end, YouTube creator Magnetic Games made it his mission to deliver some of the most awesome-looking magnet builds and experiments this side of the Internet. Last year’s Christmas Build sees him taking 504 magnetic cubes and 174 magnetic balls to create a hypnotic star: By alternating between cubes and balls, he creates a single “point” of the star. He does this six more times since a one-pointed star is…

When it comes to precision assemblies and repairs, no two screwdrivers are alike. And while you may have an entire tool caddy loaded with precision screwdrivers for whatever job comes at you, you’re still not doing your wrist any favors. WIth a 100+ RPM motor with both forward and reverse controls, the first-of-its-kind General Tools 500 Cordless Power Precision Screwdriver is a must for effortless work sessions—be it assembling your latest prototype or simply swapping out batteries on your favorite device. The quick-change chuck allows for effortless swapping between 1/8-inch slotted, Phillips and Torx bits while an ergonomic handle design provides multiple grip positions to accommodate a variety of working…

If you miss the joy of throwing quarters down a cheap arcade machine or working on a gigantic LEGO creation, then this unique project might fill both of those gaping holes from your youthful glory days. LEGO creator Bre Burns’ love for arcade machines was so strong, she decided to make Benny’s Spaceship Adventure – a pinball machine made from over 15,000 LEGO bricks without any glue, screws, or fabrication (which makes it all the more impressive when you see it stand on its own)! The machine runs on three LEGO Mindstorms NXT bricks which connect via Bluetooth. These control the seven touch sensors, two color sensors, nine NXT servo…

We’ve said it time and time again, but the Raspberry Pi is just so dang cool and we believe all designers and engineers should have one in their toolkit—if not on their desktop. While there is a bit of a slight learning curve, it’s nothing that today’s designers and engineers can’t handle on a leisurely Saturday. So why not start now? The Raspberry Pi Mastery Bundle includes 8 courses to get started creating your very own Amazon Echo or even a ‘vintage’ streaming internet radio over a weekend. Throw in your own 3D printed housings, and the opportunities are limitless! For a limited time, The Raspberry Pi Mastery Bundle is…

Although many of industrial designer Eric Strebel’s take on prototyping projects are of his methods, he isn’t above sticking to the book every once in a while. In his newest video, he shows how he works with a design brief for a wireless charger. The brief comes with a couple of specifics: it must be made from existing hardware and use sustainable materials it should have minimal moving parts, and you should be able to charge your phone while using it either horizontally or vertically. These restrictions seem pretty straightforward and still give Strebel a lot of creative freedom to do what he does best: design. Strebel begins by sketching…

Long considered an indispensable asset for anybody working in CAD, the 3D mouse is a quintessential tool that belongs on the desktop of any industrial designer or engineer. Within a 3D application such as SolidWorks, Rhino, Fusion 360, or Keyshot, the directional, zoom and rotate functions provide an intuitive extension of the users’ design intent. To put it quite simply, a 3D mouse helps get rid of those annoying repetitive keystrokes and allows the designer to come as close to possible to holding their digital 3D design in the physical world. As pioneers of the 3D mouse territory, 3Dconnexion has blazed a trail with their SpaceMouse collection. And when it…