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 stories on SolidSmack this past week.
Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too.
Watch a Lathe Master Freehand Carve a Chess Set From Scratchk
Not everybody knows how to play the game, but almost anyone can appreciate the quality of a good chess set. The smoothness of the pieces, the feel of the metal – it makes you wonder how some of the most expensive sports equipment is used on a tabletop “board” game.
nPower Software Opens Pot, Pours Out Power Surfacing 5.0 for SOLIDWORKS
If you were too busy re-topologizing that scan of your skull last week, you may have missed this announcement from nPower Software/IntegrityWare–they’ve released version 5.0 of their Power Surfacing / Power Surfacing RE for SOLIDWORKS software.
Amazon’s Part Finder Helps You Identify Those Screws, Nuts and Bolts
Forget their proposed drone delivery system; Amazon just solved one of the biggest problems for engineers, designers, DIY’ers, or anyone handy enough to use a screwdriver: identifying a screw. Don’t you just hate when you find one of those buggers under your sofa or behind the fridge and have no idea where it came from or where it goes? *looks under arm* Or maybe you do know what the screw is for but need more of the same kind.
CeramicSpeed’s Insane Driven Drivetrain Is an Almost Frictionless Force of Nature
Contrary to popular belief, there is much more to a bicycle than simply pushing your legs to make the wheels go round. Take for example the bike’s drivetrain, which transfers all your leg power to the drive wheels. While there are a ton of variations, most drivetrains consist of a front wheel, chain, and rear wheel which allow you to change gears depending on the terrain.
Behind the Design: Mathematical Artist Henry Segerman
For many of us, math wasn’t exactly our strongest subject back in school; just as you’re beginning to grasp the concept of numbers, along come letters, symbols, and shapes to boggle your mind further. Suffice to say, we were lucky enough to pass the subject; but for the current and future generations, understanding 3D concepts may not be so difficult.
‘The Big Life Fix’ Kicks Off New Season Inventing Awesome, Changing Lives
The crew of eight engineers, designers, and makers take on the challenges others would balk at to help people change their lives, fulfill their dreams, and do the very things they never thought possible.
