Don your favorite bath robe, cream that coffee and get comfortable with this weekend’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader.
This week we saw everything from an update on the future of next-gen CAD pricing to a way of teleporting physical objects via a 3D printer 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.
The Winter Wonderland of Remote Controlled Snowblowers
“For those living in the Northern Hemisphere, we are currently encased in the harsh grip of Winter and thus, bound to the grueling duty of snow-shoveling. The natural inclination is to say, “how can I build an awesome robot to do this instead?” Well, Ryan ‘Moo Spyker’ of the famously frozen St. Paul, MN, has been building the Ultimate answer to this question…”
Autodesk’s Ember 3D Printer Is Now Available to the Masses
“It’s one of the most unusual things that Autodesk has ever done – a software company making hardware products – and now you can get your hands on it…”
Behind the Design: Geoff McFetridge’s Human-Powered Surf Exploration Vehicle
“When it comes to some of the most simple and effective works of two-dimensional art today, it’s hard to not throw LA-based artist Geoff McFetridge‘s name into the circle…”
No Nozzle Left Behind: Protocrate Offers a New Monthly Filament Delivery Service
“For those Fablabs, Design Studios and active hobbyists, filament buying becomes a part of the rite of being there. Instead of having to rely on timing orders right or hitting up the hobby shop to make sure you have enough filament and tools, there’s Protocrate…”
Dutch Supermarket Allows You to Fab Your Cake and Eat It Too
“Dutch Supermarket chain Albert Hejin (AH XL) have taken it upon themselves to create a user-facing kiosk and a customized chocolate 3D printer to allow customers to make cake designs on the fly. The Dutch always strike me as one of the few countries that like living on the bleeding edge of the Future. Don’t worry Estonia, you’re up there too. But do you have Supermarkets that allow you to make-and-print your own cakes? I didn’t think so Estonia…”
Forget Google Glass and Apple Watch, These Smart Headphones Are Just 20 Bucks
“It goes without saying – wearable devices are a hot topic these days and while many designers and corporations are primarily focusing on wrist and eyewear, China-based Eamey has been busy infusing wearable technology into something that most people already wear daily: headphones…”
Walk Don’t Ride: The Peculiar Evolution of the Unusual Treadmill Bicycle
“Comedian Lewis Black once said that the problem with Treadmills was that ‘it seems to me when you’re running and you’re done, you should be somewhere else.’ Well now we have a solution…and it comes in the form of the Treadmill bike…”
Ditching the iMac for the 17th-Century Workshop: Ben Edmonds of Blok Knives
“It seems that now more than ever, those who focused their careers on digital products have been coming out of the woodwork in favor of creating real-world objects with their hands. Whether or not these designers pick up the skills as hobbies or as full-fledged new careers, the return to that old-world tradition and desire of making something with your hands is something that anybody who has stepped into a workshop can relate with…”
Astropad Wants to Replace Your Wacom Tablet with an iPad App
“Ever since the first iPad was released in 2010, the discussion regarding what the best portable digital sketching tool or tool combination is has only grown more complicated over the years. Between those who have found success with using the later Microsoft Surface to early adopters of the Wacom Cintiq Companion, the debate ultimately always comes down to what works best for “you” and how much power you need out of your tablet…”
the new cadjunkie: no membership required
“Yes, we have a fancy new website and a kick-butt new end-to-end MODO modeling course with over seven hours of ooey-gooey hard-surface SubD goodness. But that’s not all folks, no way no how. From now on, friends, cadjunkie has no memberships and no recurring payments. Download and enjoy anywhere, on any device, forever. What were we thinking?”
