SkillCoach is a new series where Product Dev Professional, Vince Haley, provides a virtual design critique of a new design or submission we’ve received. Give us your feedback in the comments! Connect with Vince on Linkedin here. Have a design you would like to submit for a review and critique? Contact us here. Welcome to…
Something quite interesting was observed at the recent FormNext exhibition. This year’s FormNext was indeed the largest dedicated exhibition of 3D printing equipment, materials, and services ever held in human history, with 420 exhibitors and over 20,000 attendees. However, I noticed something very interesting when compared to the same show last year. This year there…
The Migra surfboard bag is the brainchild of two friends who for more than fifteen years have travelled to remote islands in search of the perfect wave or “rip” as it’s call by surfers. While each destinations yielded a new thrill, the getting there left something to be desired. The biggest challenge they faced on…
Few shop tools—yes, we’ll call it a “tool”—are as indispensable as a reliable work apron. While not a “tool” in the traditional sense, a good, durable apron can serve many purposes ranging from tool organization to even psychologically making yourself ‘present’ in the workshop. But no two aprons are alike—and striking the balance between functional…
Those wood parts won’t smooth themselves! But how often do you spend wrestling a piece of sandpaper around weird edges—only to be left with a half-crooked and totally botched result? There’s a remedy for that—and we can’t recommend it enough. The Preppin’ Weapon sanding block is a workshop necessity that lets users load sandpaper and…
3Devised is about to launch their new “PLUTO” desktop 3D printer on Kickstarter. The machine is resin-powered and uses the “top-down” approach, unlike almost every other SLA-style 3D printer, which tends to illuminate (usually with lasers) through the bottom of a transparent tank. Instead, the PLUTO fires its light downwards onto the (hopefully) flat and…
This could be big news for 3D printing of all types: iMakr intends on opening up 40 new 3D print retail shops across the globe. It’s actually a franchise arrangement, whereby local entrepreneurs can gain iMakr’s expertise, brand and processes for deployment in a regional setting. This leverages the experience iMakr has gained over the…
When it comes to knock-their-socks off CG work, Esben Oxholm is a force to be reckoned with. With a background in both industrial design engineering and lighting design, it’s safe to say that his product visualizations rank up there among the best of ’em. And like other great industrial designers, Esben takes the time to…
Let’s be honest: commuting sucks. When you aren’t hurrying to find a cab or Uber, you’re spending an uncomfortable journey in the back of a stranger’s car with sticky floors. Student Jack Davies was so fed up with his everyday commute that he decided to find an alternative solution. The result is the Fusion E-Board…
New Matter has released a new desktop 3D printer that improves on their original design. We first encountered the company some years ago and were impressed with their approach. While their device was quite inexpensive, it distinguished itself with a sophisticated cloud system to manage and operate the 3D printer. In other words, it was…
Not everyone has buckets of money to burn on industrial-grade construction supplies. Not surprisingly, some of the most clever DIYers have figured out ways of getting the same results using simple household supplies. Dejan Kirevski is a YouTube creator who makes various DIY projects on his Mr. DK DIY channel. He has made candle timers,…
Few shop tools—yes, we’ll call it a “tool”—are as indispensable as a reliable work apron. While not a “tool” in the traditional sense, a good, durable apron can serve many purposes ranging from tool organization to even psychologically making yourself ‘present’ in the workshop. But no two aprons are alike—and striking the balance between functional…
I’m a bit giddy. It would seem the spirit of open source is alive and well at MakerBot… Well, as much as it can be for a corporate-owned, publically-traded entity beholden to shareholder demands and selling product shrouded in IP protection. Be that as it may, for the first time in a long time, we’re…
If you’re looking to breathe new life into that old FDM 3D printer you bought back in 2012, experimenting with new materials is a surefire way to reinvigorate that desktop 3D printing passion. And we’re not talking about pointless paperweights, either. When it comes to exploring the possibilities of new materials, Colorfabb makes some of…
Contrary to popular belief, not all chairs are made for the same purpose. There are Monobloc chairs made for public events, rolling chairs designed with the sole purpose of spinning around while sitting in them, and chairs with arms so comfy you never sit in them quite properly. The Hybrid Chair serves two of those multiple…
Despite its namesake, this has to be one of the smallest CNC machines you will ever lay your eyes on. The Goliath CNC, unlike most other CNCs, isn’t fastened to the floor or destined for a dedicated space. Quite the opposite in fact. The Goliath CNC is capable of carving, milling, and engraving difference materials,…
A new handheld 3D scanner is announced, and it sports a very attractive price. The new “peel 3d” is a simple-to-operate handheld 3D scanner that uses structured light to collect 3D point data on a subject. The associated software then quickly interprets the points into a usable 3D model and even provides very straightforward methods…
Sure, mushrooms are good in your salads…but you’ve likely never given any thought into mushrooms as a medium for physical products. Call it a typical Brooklyn experiment, but the GROW lamp from Ecovative just might have some sense behind it. In combining the essence of DIY with the power of nature, the GROW is a…
From quick repairs to form exploration studies, few materials are as useful around the design engineer’s workshop as good old Bondo. Featuring a resin-based filler and a hardening solution, the hardener is blended together with the filler to create a chemical reaction which cures the creamy and spreadable product into a solid body. Originally created…
Who needs guns that shoot bullets when you can fire a ball of plasma? The ‘plasma popper’ is a slice of future created by Mr. Al Stahler. It’s an ingenious use of transparent plastic tubing and an ignited ball of methylacetylene-propadiene propane (MAPP gas). It isn’t a kid’s toy, but it sure does look pretty…
Too many of us are too busy to be bothered by life’s trivialities. When the world is moving at a breakneck speed, you don’t really have time to worry about things like paying bills, washing yourself or finding your keys (but seriously, you should take care of those bills). They gobble up those precious minutes…
Recently, we featured Capsule Skateboards, makers of a 100% polymer skateboard which can stand an unusual amount of punishment and still do everything just as well (if not better) than a traditional maple board. The project on Indiegogo didn’t quite meets their goal but the company has shared some information on how this almost unbreakable…
Few shop tools—yes, we’ll call it a “tool”—are as indispensable as a reliable work apron. While not a “tool” in the traditional sense, a good, durable apron can serve many purposes ranging from tool organization to even psychologically making yourself ‘present’ in the workshop. But no two aprons are alike—and striking the balance between functional…
Though skateboarders have been blessed with a variety of upgrades to the traditional skateboard (such as a smart electric skateboard with a built-in A.I. and a one-wheeled, all-terrain variant), traditional boards are built of maple plys that’ll snap as soon as you land on it wrong. They just don’t last long before chipping or breaking…
Germany-based voxeljet announced a new 3D printing process they call HSS. voxeljet is known for their line of very large format 3D printers, which are specialized for the production of casting molds. Many companies use voxeljet technology to produce large cast metal parts, and in many circumstances, do so much more effectively than using conventional…
For all of the nauseating “Smartphone of the Future” noise we’ve been hearing over the past week, let’s take a minute to go back to basics. SolidSmack favorite YouTuber Primitive Technology, a mastermind in working with natural materials to create functional shelters and objects, recently created his own furnace using—yep, primitive technology—for manufacturing ceramic goods.…
From quick repairs to form exploration studies, few materials are as useful around the design engineer’s workshop as good old Bondo. Featuring a resin-based filler and a hardening solution, the hardener is blended together with the filler to create a chemical reaction which cures the creamy and spreadable product into a solid body. Originally created…
Japan-based Mimaki formally announced a new and rather interesting full-color industrial 3D printer. The new machine, the 3DUJ-553 UV LED, is the first 3D printer for the organization, which to this point has produced only 2D color equipment. But they are a large corporation with decades of experience developing very high-quality printing solutions, today making…
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…
As one of the most coveted of all design jobs, sneaker designers often have it made. From hanging out with pro athletes to working with the most innovative color trends, materials, and finishes day in and day out, it’s no wonder why colleges and trade schools are beginning to offer sneaker design courses to keep…
Few shop tools—yes, we’ll call it a “tool”—are as indispensable as a reliable work apron. While not a “tool” in the traditional sense, a good, durable apron can serve many purposes ranging from tool organization to even psychologically making yourself ‘present’ in the workshop. But no two aprons are alike—and striking the balance between functional…
Despite its effort in efficiency, the spork is still the most evilly awkward of eating utensils and still made of that evil non-biodegradable plastic. It’s about time someone came up with a new spoon design that puts the spork (and other disposable eating utensils?) permanently in the rubbish heap to slowly not degrade over a thousand…
Italy-based WASP announced a new version of their flagship 3d printer, the DeltaWASP 20 40 Turbo2. WASP has become very well known for their reliable – and sometimes overly large – delta-style 3D printers. They’ve developed equipment that can 3D print in a variety of unusual materials, including local clay, plastic pellets and other substances.…
Sponsored by Siemens PLM. “Large Assemblies” can be difficult to define. For some it’s a 100 part assembly, for others it’s 1000 parts, and still others it can be 10,000 parts and gigabytes of data.
Last 2015, entrepreneurs Simon Breum Fisker and Jacob Lindeberg Kickstarted a compact 3D printer which made the technology more accessible to children. Aptly called the Sculpto, it requires a simple Wi-Fi connection and control via a mobile app. With it, they can print countless designs found on the Internet and, if they’re feeling particularly creative,…
People People, the Swedish company behind the Modern Pocket Watch and Wearable IoT for Snickers Workwear, has successfully run a new crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter for their Small Wireless Transparent Speaker with Flic Button control. The new speaker features a glass case so you can see exactly how the drivers are all wired together to…
From the introduction of color television to the formation of NASA, few decades have offered a glimpse of endless possibilities quite like the 1950s. And while commercial jet travel and the wonder of Xerox copiers were making their way into dinner table conversations, the rise in post-war manufacturing also introduced cost competition and a growing…
For some, electric motors and off-road vehicles go together about as well as pineapple bits on a pizza. But hey, other people actually like pineapples on their pizza (what are you?) So, an all-electric off-road vehicle design might not be such a bad idea… if it looks good. Bollinger Motors has done just that, designing the…
Marcus Bree knows buildings. The engineer and architect fan has been creating highly detailed models of prominent buildings and landmarks since 2008, including the Sydney Opera House and the Guggenheim. He’s now setting his sights on the iconic Farnsworth House designed and constructed by famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe back in 1951. The…
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…
In most cases, picking a product that is ‘built to last’ should be high up on a consumer’s priority checklist, but with recent advances in sustainable materials, that hasn’t always proven to be the case. In fact, ‘leaving no trace’ can actually be a selling point for some disposable products. But a one-time use grill…
From something quite obscure a few years ago, 3D printing is now at the point where you can obtain a degree focused on the technology. 3D printing, or Additive Manufacturing, as it is sometimes known, has long been a single-course subject in engineering schools, or as a tool one might learn as part of lab…
Your Casio F91W-1 days may be behind you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give up that classic LED digital time display. Heck, why not put it front and center? Measuring in at over 17″ long, the Pinty LED Digital Wall Clock may not fit onto your wrist, but it will most…
For all the things it can create in its bosom, your average 3D printer is a lot of work. The best 3D printers are huge, expensive, and require more space than a young professional’s apartment can afford. On the flip side, cheaper printers are usually unreliable and are about as appealing to the eye as…
Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does the things his costume can. Why else would he wear red-and-blue tights out in public? The Spider-Man costume is the most iconic ever. Ever since his first appearance in 1962, Peter Parker and his other incarnations have donned countless suits to hide their identities from their enemies. But even with the changes…
Since they came on the scene back in 2010 with the Glif iPhone 4 Tripod Mount & Stand, Studio Neat collaborators Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt have become one of the few success stories to rise out of the Kingdom of Kickstarter. Starting with that smartphone tripod, which, at the time, was an entirely new…
Neurotechnology, an algorithm and software company, recently announced it is working on a new form of ultrasonic 3D printing and particle manipulation. In fact, it’s set to shake up manufacturing completely through hands-free creation and assembly of products within a single machine. While you might dry heaved a little at the thought of someone using…
Toys and weapons these days are just too expensive. Gone are the times when kids could be content with a good slingshot and rock. Now every adolescent and their mother is obsessed with fidget spinners – pieces of metal and plastic that look like miniature propellers. *Indistinct dry-heaving sound* They don’t even do anything other…
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…
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…