Don your favorite bathrobe, cream that coffee, and get comfortable with this week’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader. The Weekend Reader features a handful of the most interesting articles featured on the ‘Smack over the past week ranging from tips and tricks to inspirational designs, processes, and more. So lay back, relax and take a load off while reading the top ten stories on SolidSmack this past week. Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too. AstroPrint Launches New Mobile and Desktop 3D Printing Software If you were not paying attention to AstroPrint, the startup that changed the pains of makin’ with their 3D printing software and…
Less than a month ago, developer Astro HQ revealed a clever update to their upcoming Luna Display app that sneakily turned the iPad’s front-facing camera into a contextual button while keeping the UI clear of clutter. “While Apple is taking away buttons, we found a way to add one,” said the company. “Meet the Camera Button.” Well, it appears Tim Cook and the old Cupertino gang didn’t take too kindly to that. As a result of their “adding buttons”, Apple rejected Luna Display from the App Store for violating their (very strict) guidelines. According to Apple, in order for an app to be approved for the App Store, it may…
We talked in passing about how Google Blocks can be used in conjunction with other VR apps like Tilt Brush; now the company is taking things a little bit further in 3D-land. Poly, Google’s new dedicated VR/AR sharing platform, lets users download and upload designs for sharing within the community. It replaces Blocks’ previous online gallery (whose link now redirects you to the Poly site), which used to be the only way users could find and repurpose others’ Tilt Brush and Blocks designs in a non-piratey manner. Modelers can upload their designs for free for other users can download and redesign them. The remixed work, when uploaded, gets labeled as…
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…
This could be big news for 3D printing of all types: iMakr intends on opening up 40 new 3D print retail shops across the globe. It’s actually a franchise arrangement, whereby local entrepreneurs can gain iMakr’s expertise, brand and processes for deployment in a regional setting. This leverages the experience iMakr has gained over the past five years of operation. The company currently operates two “flagship” stores, one in London, the other in Manhattan. We’ve visited both stores and found them quite interesting: they are not simply resellers of equipment, but instead provide supplies, repairs, training and other 3D print-related services, such as 3D scanning and specialty printing. iMakr says…
When it comes to knock-their-socks off CG work, Esben Oxholm is a force to be reckoned with. With a background in both industrial design engineering and lighting design, it’s safe to say that his product visualizations rank up there among the best of ’em. And like other great industrial designers, Esben takes the time to understand form development as it occurs in nature—forms that oftentimes find their way into products for very functional reasons. More recently, Esben carved out some time to do a form study on a stag beetle with a particular focus on its brilliant and durable shell. Using new materials introduced in KeyShot 7, he began by…