Canada-based Mosaic Manufacturing announced a new version of their Palette multimaterial accessory, the Palette+. If you’re not familiar with the Palette concept, it is a very unusual approach to achieving multimaterial 3D printing on almost any open materials desktop 3D printer. Imagine this: a multicolor print is simply a long series of filament swaps, from one color (or material) to another. Each 3D printed layer is a mix of these materials, with the filament changing at just the right moment in the movements of the extruder. Here’s how it works. Their system analyzes a 3D model to determine the precise moments when a filament swap is required, and then produces…

After last week’s model, we’re being extra picky not to print crap, and what could be less craptastic than a foldable mobile phone stand? Quite a lot actually, so don’t answer that. Still, we’re quite enamored with the design of this credit card size implement of mobile phone accessorizing bliss. Clement created this simple design in SolidWorks and printed it in PLA. It’s support-free, super simple to make and remix, and uses very little material in a print you can start using in less than 60 minutes. It works with a variety of phone models including (but not limited to): Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, HTC, OnePlus, Huawei, andApple iPad set…

It’s hard to enjoy something you know you shouldn’t. Diabetics can’t enjoy cookies for fear of dying a sweet death. Teenagers can never really have fun at their own house parties because their parents might barge in. And those who viciously care for the environment can’t drive atmosphere-killing cars to global warming meetings to shame other least they be labeled hypocrites. That last one is quickly becoming obsolete with the advent of electric vehicles. Electric cars are more prevelant, and while pricier and generally not as fast as their gas-guzzling competition, people who like living on planet Earth can sleep better knowing those behind the tech are stiffening up the…

In the case that you might have gotten bored with your fleet of Bentleys, Porsches, and other luxury automobiles, a new roundup of vehicle concepts might tickle your (vehicular) taste buds. Produced by UK-based Ford van dealership Ford Transit Direct (??), this small collection of form studies takes a look at what modern ‘luxury’ might look like if it was beefed out and jacked up into the ‘pickup’ automotive category. “Pickup trucks, traditionally functional with little consideration for frills and comfort, stand ready for a luxury upgrade,” explains the company. “As they evolve from utility to comfort, it’s only a matter of time before luxury car brands jump on board…

Let’s be honest here: a clean shop is a happy shop. And whether you’ve got metal shavings flying off your mill, or have heaps of sawdust collected in every corner and crevice, a reliable Shop-Vac can become the 7th Wonder of the World when a broom just won’t do. For those looking for a powerful wet or dry Shop-Vac solution in a tiny package, look no further than this 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP bad boy — priced at less than $50 through Amazon Prime. Shop-Vac 5-Gallon 4.5 Peak HP Stainless Steel Wet Dry Vacuum The top handle makes it easy to transport, so you can take it anywhere. This wet dry…

Welcome to our new ‘Ask An Engineer’ series, where Dan Slaski addresses questions that have you losing sleep or staring off into space during important meetings. Have a question for Dan? Send it in. Question: I’m thinking about using an online machine shop. Am I betraying my local machine shop? Dear Loyal Luddite, Respect. In an ideal world we would only use our local machine shop, shop at the farmer’s market, and ride bikes everywhere. Boosting our local economy, sense of community, and hipster ideals. I use my local shops whenever possible. If for no other reason than they let me hang around sometimes and check out the machines while enjoying…