This week’s Spotify-powered SolidSmack Radio Playlist knocks you in the pop sockets with head-boppin’ groove tuneage to help propel you through the work week in style. Whether you find yourself inking markers until they’re dry, grinding material through a bandsaw or working that 3D geometry all day, consider these tracks as a tool for your process. This week we’ll start things off with “Melted Rainbow” from Mr. Gnome and work our way through tracks from Nap Eyes, The Shivas, Yuno, Magic Potion, and others before wrapping up with “Chameleon World” from Jerry Paper. Have suggestions? As always, let us know what you listen to, what you want to hear and…

Xometry, an advanced manufacturing/prototyping software platform, has recently acquired $23 Million in investment capital from GE Ventures, Highland Capital Partners and others to help accelerate development of its advanced manufacturing platform. Put another way, the company gained a ton of funds to ramp up development of their online quoting systems and software integration to dominate the space through a curated manufacturing partner network (over 100). According to Xometry CEO, Randy Altschuler, “[Xometry] created a marketplace by creating price clarity where none existed. We thought if you can buy groceries and order a car off the internet, then why not custom parts? Xometry is now home to the fastest-growing software driven…

The pull between the pen and the pixel has plagued designers since the early days of digital design software. While a finished product always ends up as data, it’s more logical to test out ideas on paper before committing to a digital plan of action. Sure—hardware like the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface have created a nice bridge for creating an analog-like experience in a digital package. But talk to any purist, and there’s nothing that compares to the warm feel of real paper and a well-balanced writing instrument—not to mention the speed. Aiming to bridge the analog world with the digital, the new Lindlund ruler ingeniously makes this process…

Mondays might not be your favorite day of the week, but the good news is that we’re all in this together ladies and gentlemen. As purveyors of prime Grade A web content, the SolidSmack crew has done some of the heavy-lifting to make sure you get your Mondays started on the right track. Welcome to The Monday List. Each Monday, we’ll link you up with some of the most insightful, informative, and socially-relevant stories to keep tabbed, bookmarked, reading listed, pocketed, or what have you. Be sure to check in each Monday morning for a new crop of freshly sprouted words curated straight from the source of your favorite homegrown ‘Smack.…

The old soul trundled topsy-turvy toward a hole in the air. The time bender should have seen that bear cub and butterfly when he first came through the portal. Now it may be his last time through. You see, a mama bear doesn’t think much of time travelers interrupting a family picnic. If only he had thought to bring these links. John Wallin Liberto – John. That guy. He can draw some awesome concept ships, vehicles, mechs, suits and cars, but my fav is his space scenes. Meet Walter – Alien: Covenant comes out May 19th. Here you can meet Walter and, yes, reserve your very own customized, synthetic companion.…

Performing surgery isn’t a perfect science, and even doctors need to practice their skills, especially when it comes to children. To hone those skills, doctors practice various techniques using anatomical models or mannequins. However, these are typically limiting regarding complexity and feel, which limits the training. To overcome those limitations, Ph.D. grad student Mark Thielen (Eindhoven University of Technology) with the help of 3D Hubs, designed a shockingly detailed child mannequin that features a 3D printed skeleton with functional internal organs. Mark began the design of the model prototype using MRI scans he garnered from an actual infant, which was ideal for the level of detail needed for the project.…