Before you get to work on the final product of your design, it’s in your best interests to make a prototype first, right? Of course. You’ll have a physical sample to test and abuse, plus you can adjust the aesthetics of the design without worrying about the cost. We’ve covered plenty about 3D printing, but what about resin casting? Resin casting is one easy way to make 3D design prototypes. Quite common before 3D printing and still to this day. Our friend and occasional SolidSmack contributor, Eric Strebel, runs his own industrial design studio and has gladly shared seven tips and tricks on how to get the most out of…
From building an insane Rube Goldberg Machine to manipulating time with slow motion and tons of salt, Ok Go has made a subtle art of creating jaw-droppingly awesome music videos. It’s no surprise that each has garnered the indie rock outfit tens of millions of views on YouTube. For their latest stunt, the rockers brought their Grammy-award winning choreography game to 567 printers and a heck-of-a-lot of paper: https://youtu.be/LgmxMuW6Fsc Created for their single “Obsession”, the visuals took two years to complete in collaboration with global paper brand Double A. “For the video, we wanted to take the simplest thing and just revel in how powerful and not-simple it really is,”…
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…
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…
First mask I ever made was a paper plate with a piece of yarn to strap it to my head. Never mind that it was done last night – I just upgraded and am currently wearing a paper bag with eye holes burned out with a lighter someone threw at me last week. Anyway, it looks pretty close to our model this week… minus a few detail. I think everyone, including grandmas and oil company CEOs, has wanted a Stormtrooper mask at some point. You could drop some benjamins on an authenitic version, but what about making your own? 3D printing your own? Loyd Roberts makes all sorts of props…
When it comes to woodworking, the quality of your work really can come down to the quality of your tools—which is why it’s critical to invest in tools that perform properly for the cuts you need. Thankfully, wood craftsmen have been refining many of these tools and techniques for centuries. And among others that stand out above the rest are Japanese hand tools—which are different from Western tools in that they are minimally designed, which results in a lighter and simpler tool. The SUIZNAN brand of Japanese Pull Saws is a perfect example. Pull saws are popular in both Western and Japanese woodworking shops because they require less power and…