Some of the best conceptual manufacturing equipment designs that we’ve seen over the past few years have involved altering traditional processes into more simplified approaches that strip away the complexities in favor of the bare minimum. Among others that come to mind instantly is Dave Hakkens’ Precious Plastic project – where he has simplified traditional…

Although “remixing” existing products has become popular over the past few years thanks to desktop fabrication, fail-proof basic 3D modeling programs and a seemingly endless library of shareable 3d models, NYC-based pop artist Morgan Phillips (AKA The Sucklord) has been actively remixing his own toy designs using mass production methods for nearly two decades. Operating…

Similar to other board sports that have taken the recreation and lifestyle industries by storm, some of skateboarding’s most influential developments didn’t occur in a research lab, but rather the garage of an engineer. After studying engineering at Stanford University, engineer George Powell started making his own skateboards in 1957. Almost twenty years later in…

While virtual reality applications are a dime a dozen these days, we’re still yet to see any sort of a mainstream adoption of the virtual reality headsets themselves…at least at a consumer-friendly price point. When virtual reality headsets become ‘the next iPad’ however, we’re sure in for a change of pace when it comes to…

With low-volume manufacturing methods becoming cheaper and more readily available, the amount of designers cranking out bicycles and bicycle accessories to the tune of their own liking has increased exponentially within the past few years. Among others who have jumped into the bicycle manufacturing game is ex-Nike Innovation Director Rich Fox and his new Circa…

Having been manufacturing skateboard decks since 1991, Long Island, NY-based Chapman Skateboards have been the number-one supplier of skateboard decks for the largest East Coast skate brands including Zoo York, Hopps, Supreme, Infamous and a host of other smaller brands. By the looks of the outside of the factory, you would think that their facility–roughly…

Founded by three former Mercedes engineers in 1967, AMG was created as a way for Mercedes-Benz to experiment with new technologies in the automotive racing world before passing those technologies down the line to consumer automobiles. Regardless if you’re a fan of Mercedes-Benz or not, it’s hard to not appreciate the level of detailed engineering…

When it comes to manufacturing supercars, keeping every last detail in the manufacturing process organized beyond the levels of normal human brain capacity is of the utmost importance in order to deliver a quality product. The same can be said about any product, really…but when you’re both paying as much as it costs for a…

Whether or not 3D printing an actual car makes absolute sense, somebody had to be the first do it properly. Naturally, that would be Local Motors, the crowdsourced automotive design hub and makers of the Rally Fighter. The company made history this past weekend when they introduced their hyped ‘Strati 3D printed car’ concept that,…

Along with other Quirky hits such as the more recent Aros Smart Window Air Conditioner, the Pivot Power falls in line with one of Quirky’s well-positioned design strategies: make existing and dull products that people use daily ‘smarter’…whether it’s a simple reimagining of an age-old hardware design or by incorporating a connected software ‘smart home’…

There are five things I want after designing a part–a damn part, damn fast. 3D printing was suppose to be the revolutionary technology that made all our manufacturing woes go away, speed the whole process up and leave machinists in a wake of plastic fumes and corporate laughter. DMLS still holds high hopes for production…

In the video age, getting behind the design thinking and production process of many great thinkers has never been easier, and online file transfer service WeTransfer has added even more great videos to this movement with the launch of their Creative Class video series. Aimed at illustrating how some of the most influential people in…

If you’ve ever been to a sushi restaurant, chances are you’ve come in contact with the all-natural decorative and protective coating known as Urushi. Sourced from Urushi trees, this ‘natural wonder’ material was first used as an adhesive when making spears and arrows back in the stone age. Today, the liquid is applied to everything…

Well folks, if nothing stirs your curry more than some exciting CAM news, then this year’s Autodesk University in Las Vegas was for you! In case you missed the announcement from SolidSmack last week, Autodesk is moving forward with their Autodesk 360 collaborative cloud experience with the addition of CAM 360. We had a chance…

For many of us fabrication fanatics, one of the more exciting aspects of the 3D printing industry is that it is bringing manufacturing back to the US. From one-of-a-kind prototypes to mass-produced retail-ready products, the versatility of 3D printed objects is broad, and the potential for their applications, almost limitless. But with so much focus…

Make the World. There are a lot of people talking about the shake up 3D printing is bringing to the manufacturing space and a few actually making it all happen. Our friends at Adafruit have announced a new month long Google+ Hangout series that takes a deep dive into the stories that are shaping this commonly stated…

SIGGRAPH 2013 has been kicking into full gear the past couple of days, and among other exciting news to come out of the Anaheim, California event is the announcement from Microsoft Research that they are developing embedded ID tags for 3D printed objects. Titled InfraStructs, the internal tags are created from the same 3D printing…

Need 600 ice cream spoons for a birthday party tomorrow…straight from your CAD file? In this recently released video from Stratasys, we are able to see just how powerful 3D printing can be in a traditional manufacturing environment. For garage and hackerspace Makers who may only need a few hundred parts for their Kickstarter project…

For designers, finding parts for a project can be a cumbersome experience. While McMaster-Carr and other part suppliers have convenient downloadable CAD models of their inventory, it can still be a time-sucker to search those inventories if you’re still in a conceptual stage. The new 3D Part Source search engine developed by 3D Industri.es aims…

Turns out good, energy efficient engineering is a lot more than removing a few extra ribs on a design and slapping a low power motor in it. James Dyson has something to say about that. This story at Fast Co.Exist gets the vacuum innovator’s take on lazy engineering.

The lonliness that consumes you when the CNC operators talk shop is all about to end. You may not know how to bolt a billet of aluminum into a chunk without removing half your arm skin, but you can download a program with less trauma and bring a CHUCKle to a machinists face. A fresh…

You’ll need more than a forklift to get your jaw off the floor once you find out the details of the upcoming Apocalypse. Yes, it involves robots. OBVIOUSLY. Yes, it involves sharp cutting tools. LESS OBVIOUS, but… yeah. And yes, it even involves 3D CAD…and bikes, and… Go NOW!

Take a change of pace with me and see a completely different side of manufacturing. A side where designers don’t worry about being first to market or appealing to the largest consumer base possible. I’m talking about a side where products are produced specifically for individuals who appreciate the novelty and the art of the…

You like to ride. That’s what it’s about. Not skimming around on a pretty set of purple powder coated tubes, with matching water bottle, helmet and Lycra bottoms. The tougher, the better and if it can handle blood spatters from shin gashes, dehydration vomits and a 30 foot fall… all the better. Sean Walling know…

Oh no, you not gonna do it are you? please, no, no. YES. Slowly step away from the rotor. Bolt Circles my friends. Large, circular, equally-spaced bolt circles to turn your manufacturing nemesis into someone that buys you cakes on holidays. Manufacturers have a special place in their heart for “B.C.” , and as engineers…

Put the crackers down. The shop is calling. Nope, not to tell you they have to remake everything, but to let you know the part-makin’ is going perfectly. Why? You knew what to look out for. On the screen it looks spectacular, right? but can it actually be made? For many designers and engineer’s designing…

OOOOOhhhhh, it is ON. SolidSmack has been challenged… and when I say challenged, I mean we are pickin’ fights with anything or anyone. Mr. Joseph ‘Mass Customization’ Flaherty over at Replicator Blog recently wrote about Why 3D Printers Won’t Go Mainstream. That’s just yelling to have an opposing view thrown at it. So that’s what…

Ahhh, it’s that time where we sit with a pretend cup of hallucinogenic material and ponder the inescapable existence of highly advanced technology creeping it’s way into our future (as well as the need to still clean it all.) A little over a week ago Microsoft presented, in fine video form, it’s vision of what…

It’s time to get all activism on ya. Imagine just getting a seat of your favorite 3D CAD software with plans to create some sweet kids products. Imagine being a small toy manufacturer, a hobby woodworker that sells wooden kid’s toys online, or somebody that makes cool robot dolls. In Feburary of 2009, you will…

I’ve covered a little of what Ponoko does with their laser-cut, create your design approach to manufacturing. Coupled with the ability to sell your own design, it’s simply the most unique and creative DIY site out there. Their blog is no less and has been one of my favorite to read some time. A group…

Interested in making something via the Ponoko rapid prototyping design site, but not quite sure about how to go about it? You’re in luck, they’ve just release a new service called Ponoko ID that allows you to request a design. You list a price, its sent to some designer and after one has picked it,…

I’m loving what Steven Kempton, from the Ponoko Blog, and his new band of writers (David, Duann, Roy, and Indigo) are putting out. They look at all the different aspects that surround manufacturing, art and design. David posted an item I recognized, the Demakersvan Cinderella table, but hadn’t given much thought to in the past.…