We LOVE collecting things–Odd design tools, pencil shavings, quesadilla drippings, and software, especially software. We’ve long wondered which 3D CAD software developer was going to pull an Adobe CC and launch an all-in-one of their entire software line. Autodesk has come pretty close and is making their Product Design Collection even more attractive announcing the addition of Nastran In-CAD and HSM CAM software to the aptly renamed Product Design & Manufacturing Collection. Stephen Hooper, Sr. Director, Manufacturing Business Strategy & Marketing, says: One big thing is becoming clearer and clearer to me: manufacturers want a simpler software experience. They want one set of tools that talk to each other, so that product designers can easily…
If you are old enough to have used cassette tapes to listen to music and VHS tapes to watch movies, then you also remember how tiresome it was to work the darn things. Apart from the guessing game you had to play when rewinding a song or scene, there was the constant fear of the tape spewing forth its contents like a hungover C3PO. (He ran on tape storage right?) Needless to say, the present generation will never go through the same trials their forefathers did. With the HDD and Blu-ray Disc phasing out the once current DVD and CD, it’s hard to imagine that two decades ago, people were…
If there’s one thing that can turn an ordinary object into an extraordinary object, it’s knowing that you built said object yourself. As to be expected, however, things tend to hit a snag when functional electronic appliances enter the mix. Aiming to satisfy the middle ground between a functional object and a DIY experience, the Spinbox Portable Turntable Kit seems to have hit the mark just about perfectly. At least, to the tune of nearly $200K and counting in Kickstarter pledges. Included in each $99 Spinbox kit are a core turntable module, a sounding and power circuit, an amplifier, and speakers. All you have to do is build, plug and…
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 kick things off with “Broken Record” from Alex Ebert before riding into the sweet sounds of Moniker, BOYO, Modest Mouse, Bosley, and others before smoothing things out with “Stray” from Yellow House. Rock! Have suggestions? As always, let…
For certain assembly jobs, maneuverability can mean the difference between quality output and a heap of trash. And whether you’re putting together a workbench or a house, having the right tool at the right time is imperative to success. Unfortunately, accessibility and power rarely go hand-in-hand when it comes to power tools. The Bosch 18-Volt Cordless Combo Kit, however, does it all. The economical-yet-powerful package consists of the Bosch DDS181-02 Compact Tough 1/2-Inch Wireless Drill/Driver and the Bosch 25618 1/4-Inch Wireless Hex Impact Driver for tackling your toughest jobs and getting the project done. And for a limited time, SolidSmack readers can purchase the set for just $129.00—that’s 38% off…
If you visited Japan recently, you may have noticed the titular giant Gundam which guards the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza against impending Godzilla attacks is missing. Why? Well, it was torn down earlier this year to make room for its bigger, badder giant robot. Giant mecha have been an attraction for the country since 2009, with the most famous model being the RX-78-2 Gundam. Not only has it been fitted with various weapons, but it also has steam spewing from its chest cavity and is lit up like a robotic Christmas tree every single night. So what could top an 18-meter tall Gundam? Why, a 24-meter tall Gundam, that’s what! And…