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Archive for November, 2008

Friday Smackdown: Sphagnum Pete

28 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in SMACKDOWN
3D Human CAD Models

A deep-rooted hatred for rare game board colors drove him to the sudden realization that Bolivian Scarabs were classified incorrectly. These links did not help.

Sparth Construct – What? Future landscapes, vehicles and mechs? The amazing art of Nicolas Bouvier.
Best desktop Customization Tools – More ways in which to make your ‘puter screen perttier. Glorious customization!
Pandora Sidebar gadget – The goodness of Pandora Radio in your Vista sidebar. Full and mini-mode. That’s cute.
10 Step for Career Networking – You mean it’s this easy? and I don’t even have to leave my house? yes.
15 Tech Secrets for Road Warriors – Not even one mention of implant devices. for shame. Generally, pretty good ideas.
World’s First… – What’s was the worlds first computer mouse? That and others right here.
The Amazing Steam Candle – you could run… a candle. neato.

Happy Thanksgiving from SolidSmack. Thanks.

27 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in NEWS

a-solidworks-happy-thanksgiving-from-solidsmack

Hey everyone. I’d just like to say thanks for reading, commenting, loving, hating, cheering, puking and pondering each post here on SolidSmack. I wish I could buy a turkey for everyone (and throw a cranberry at some) that make me wanting to keep doing this, at times with the incessant rage of a rabid beet farmer.

I know a lot of you now, but if I don’t, leave a comment! or check out the gang on Twitter. Either way, I’d love to meet more of you. Thanks again.

The Top 3D Software for Industrial Design… and Engineering?

26 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

industrial-design-solidworksIt may not be enough that you know how to sort desktop folders, write a cordial email or sketch a straight line, you may actually need to know some software that allows others to see what’s going on in the recesses of your analytically-primed imagination.

There are hundreds of software apps that help Industrial Designers and Engineers, but what do you need to learn to get a top position in the Industrial Design field? Photoshop and Illustrator would be on most people’s lists, but what about 3D?

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400+ Needles Stuck Into Skin Is Not Scary At All

25 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

nanobioscience-adminpatch-microneedles in solidworksIf your fear of needles send you into a fever-breaking sweat, there’s nano-technology being developed in the recesses of multiple research facilities that would eliminate the tension and danger of delivering meds to your drug-laden organs.

The skin, being your largest organ, is the target of a transdermal patch with microneedles to get the juice right into your bloodstream STAT. This one, the ADMINPatch from nanoBioSciencejust happens to be developed using SolidWorks.
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SolidJott: Ya Know, For SolidWorks Users!

24 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in RESOURCES

solidjott-solidworks-forumThere’s a new site that might get you an answer quicker that you can say, arrrrrrrGGGGH! to a SolidWorks VAR. It’s a new take on Tech Support from Ben Eadie of SolidMentor called SolidJott.

Ben says it’s simple and it is. You sign up and type a question. You don’t need a SolidWorks Serial number either. Will this make it more popular? The interface is like Twitter, but better because comments are threaded, you can add ratings and put tags on your question.

The only thing you can’t do is upload images or model files. That’s one advantage the SolidWorks forums have right away this, but if you want some quick help with some regulars from the forums already showing up, take a look.

Can the SolidWorks community handle another place to ask questions? Is this a better method?

Three SolidWorks Short Week Tips To Jump Into Screaming

24 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in CAD

solidworks-screamFor most in the US, there’s dancing. It’s a three day week as happiness surrounds the Thanksgiving holiday and ensuing riots to get 90% off a ham brazier. We’re excited about the same here at SolidSmack, not with finely charred ham, but with.. oh yes, finely charred tips.

A short week, with a limited fewer interruptions is the best time to dress-down, close out projects and learn a bit more about how some features work. So strap yourself into the scream chamber with your ham, we’re dropping Mach 2 on your SolidWorks productivity.
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Friday Smackdown: Total Mechanizerot

21 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in SMACKDOWN

jino-maya-3d-robotsTwo steps to the right and look up. You’ll notice how the symbiont has taken over each leg gear with a separate group of combat trained wombats. They’re weakness? These links my friend.

Robot CGI – Pure 3D robot goodness from the 3DM3 CG Chosen magazine. A whole mag of robots? yes.
Rogue Game Browser – Browsing while gaming? Now you can mix those hours of PC gaming with hours of browsing online.
Gmail Themes – Finally you can read your emails in style with new themes being rolled out for Gmail users.
13 Quick Way to Make Extra Cash – it really should have been 15. They left out contract killing and baked goods.
The Fine Art of Cord Wrapping – Think you know the idiosyncrasies of wrapping long cords? Study up with this fine article
Coolest WordPress Powered Blog – the voting has started. There’s 20 in the running. Vote for your fav. Sorry, SolidSmack isn’t there. :(
Wallpaper shifter – A lightweight app to switch your desktop wallpaper. sweet.

SMACK! The Holiday Gift Guide for CAD Jockeys and Tech Geeks

20 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in TECH

cad-jockey-holiday-giftsWell, next Friday starts that time of year when many of us cut the wrist of our bank accounts to buy that special someone what we think they want, but actually wanted something totally different.

SolidSmack is here to add to the massive bleed out with our very own picks for the best gadgets and tools for your favorite CAD Jockey Geek. Why? Cause all the engineers and designers pushing their workstations to the limits deserve a little somethin’ special.

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STOP Strumming. Start Rockin’. Blackbird Guitars Designed in SolidWorks

19 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

blackbird guitar designed in solidworksYou can strum all day long and wear down the clearcoat on the wooden body of your regular old guitar, or you can be awesome and check out the humidity-proof, carbon fiber Blackbird Rider from Blackbird Guitars.

Picking out tunes can be done in either Steel or Nylon String flavors and you’ll have the added cool factor that it was completely designed in SolidWorks to handle those brawly hours of road travel and create a sound that is simply beautiful.

So, leave your classic in the case and check out these pics and video.
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3D. Future. Interface. Oblong’s G-Speak User Environment

18 Nov, 2008 by Josh Mings in TECH

john-underkoffler-3d-futureThere is a mess of media with multi-touch this amd multi-touch that, but the single person that inspiring much of it is none other than futurist, John Underkoffler. You may not have seen him, but you would recognize his ideas for human-computer interfaces that have appeared in IronMan as well as Minority Report, Hulk and Aeon Flux.

He is now the chief scientist and part of the team working on the g-speak ‘spatial operating environment’ from oblong industries. Here’s the details and video of how you may be working in the future.

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