As many a designer or engineer knows, there’s no better way to learn than to jump in and get messy. Heck, that’s why the best way to learn a complicated CAD tool isn’t to read a book, but to get your hands dirty and make mistakes. Only then will your brain start to program the rights from the wrongs. Well, that same approach can be applied to just about anything—but off the top of our heads, we’re digging this project-based approach to Arduino consisting of 15 complete projects to get you on your way to becoming an Arduino ninja in no time. At just $9, this 15-project Arduino Bootcamp bundle…
We’re walking the floor at Solidworks World 2018. One must see is Easton LaChappelle’s Unlimited Tommorrow (UT) exhibit. He is cranking out some amazing prosthetic devices! Easton at 14-years-old took an interest in robotics where he submitted a robotic artificial limb in a science fair. His epiphany with regard to his future role in the world of robotics came by way of his “chance” meeting with Momo an amputee. Easton was moved by this young girl’s plight. He learned that Momo was outfitted with an $80,00 artificial limb. Getting a closer look, he saw that her prosthetic was clearly inferior to his. From that moment on he set out to develop…
It’s time for another round of apps that cover the spectrum of your beloved mobile device(s)! The Weekly App Smack is the best of new or updated design and productivity apps (and maybe a couple of fun ones, too) for the busy design or engineering professional and this week we have a list sure to make you more efficient. Do you have an app suggestion that has made your life easier or changed up your workflow? Let us know in the comments below or send it into tips@solidsmack.com. Hit it! Blinkist – Always Learning (iOS — Free) Where do the world’s smartest people get their ideas? From great books! Blinkist transforms…
You know the book you’re reading is excellent when it escapes your imagination and enters the reality. Fan fiction, cosplay, recreations – these are just a few ways fans show their (sometimes creepy) appreciation for fictional worlds made up by an author. But Zack Mclaughlin is more than just a fan – he’s an illustrator of children’s books that keep kids’ nightmares at bay. With stories including The Finding of Blue Bunny, Zack was inspired to take some time off to create a line of nature-inspired sculptures. You would be forgiven if you thought the animals from Paper & Wood were actual taxidermy projects. Before painstakingly carving each piece, Mclaughlin…
When it comes to being at the right place at the right time, nothing beats that old saying, “the best camera is the camera you have with you.” Perhaps the same can be said for sketchbooks—the best sketchbook is the one you have with you when inspiration strikes. Which is why the pocket-sized Field Notes have always been a favorite for designers and engineers. At just over $3 a pop, these no-fuss 48-page memo books are perfect for laying down rough ideas without worrying about wasting precious paper in a leather hardcover book. Plus, they’re the perfect size for throwing in a shoebox to keep a record of all those…
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. This week we’ll get the groove going with “Headsgiving” from Porches before diving into sweet melodies from Deer Hunter, Adult Jazz, Magic Bronson, La Luz, and others before wrapping up with “Wassup (Uh Huh)” from Yoni & Geti. Rock! Have suggestions?…