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Archive for February, 2009

Developing 3D Content Online. Are You Feeling the Itch?

27 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in TECH
3D Human CAD Models

wildpockets-brakeSo how many of you tore yourself out of a paper bag this morning ready to play with 3D online? hmm, nobody? Well, some of you may have a bit of an mild obsession itch about getting away from program installations and tedious upgrades to create and manage 3D online.

Wild Pockets is on the field with a OpenGL web app claiming “create whatever 3D you can imagine.” It would certainly see that way. They’re bringing 3D online, but they’re also not the only one’s after that market.

Check it out.
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Friday Smackdown: Beets of Terror

27 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in CAD

barlow-350As if those potatoes will peel themselves. Ok, so apparently they do, but it’s got to be the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen, besides that disco family of Sumatran rabbits and these links.

Wayne Barlow – Yes, speaking of creepy. Wayne wins for his creature art. A fleshy sac on the back of a 3-legged beast? of course!
Bulk Breakfast Burritos – There’s nothing quite as tasty, or cheap, as a bunch of breakfast food stuffed in a tortilla.
9 Tips for working under stress – I know you probably don’t get stressed out, but your buddy does and he needs some help.
Crisis of Credit – You know that economic thing going on right now? Here’s the very well done visual story that explains it.
Transparent Fish Head – Your Ichthyology lesson for the day. Fist pictures of this odd fish to be release.
Best Russian Wallpapers – If there’s anything that living in a former communist country inspires, it’s creating interesting wallpapers.
Best Table Tennis Move – For you to use during that big tournament you have this weekend or to entertain the children.

One of These Things Is Not Like the Other… SolidWorks Visual Properties

26 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in CAD

plenum-tangentsI was showing some people on Twitter how RealView helped to cure confusion and ignorance with manufacturing. It just so happens that Twitter, also helps to cure confusion and ignorance. My ignorance.

I complained about tangent edges showing in shaded mode. I really needed to have them off, but thought, Oh well, nothing I can do about it.

Fortunately @Tyler524 was there to slap me up side the head and help me out. And as a result I’m quitting SolidSmack and starting a bee farm. I kid, but it’s humbling and slightly reassuring that I don’t know absolutely everything yet.

Take a look… which one of these models is not like the other?
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Covert Field Ops: The Delta Recon Bot Design Process. Doesn’t Eliminate Humans.

26 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

delta robot inspectorbotsOnce again you’re trapped in a firefight between hundreds of mechanized sentient beings, with no route of escape that wouldn’t leave you riddled with the dawning of human extinction.

That is, until you see a little beast of a vehicle creep into view from around a corner. Your first thoughts are DOOM, but you soon realize it’s a reconnaissance bot out to rescue your scared wits. A surveillance vehicle known as The Delta Unit.

Obviously there will be few robots on our side in the coming robot apocalypse. So it’s always a good idea to know about the design, the designer and everything that goes into creating teleoperated first person view, unmanned ground vehicles (FPV UGVs)

Fortunately, we got a hold of Chris Rogers, the creator of The Delta Unit and other recon bots ready to brave lethal environments and really angry people. Chris fills us in on the design process. Check this out…
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SolidWorks and 3D CAD Users on Twitter. Introducing… @CADTwitList

25 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in RESOURCES

cad-twitter-listAfter SolidWorks World a couple weeks ago, there was such an influx of CAD peeps to Twitter that it has forced me to take actions and update the CAD Twitter List. (It needed an update anyway)

Less than a year ago, the list started with an interesting set of 40 people exploring the possibilities of communicating online. Now it’s grown like gangbusters into a huge array of CAD-related characters and users… and not slowing a bit.

So, to make it easier to see who’s on the list, find people and follow them, I’ve redone the list and added @CADTwitList.
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Your Future 3D CAD Interface May be Soft, Cozy Memory Foam

24 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in TECH

foam-touch-interfaceNo more slamming your face against the hard surface of your monitor in hopes of gaining the pity of your coworkers. The soft foam that sends you off to dreams of work the next day is potentially a future interface to create 3D models on.

DIS.PLAY
allows you to manipulate projects objects via touch-sensitive force sensors embedded between two pieces of foam.Why foam? Because it’s the dawning of a new age where we won’t need those hard, static 2-dimensional displays of course. ‘iFoam’ 2, anyone?

check out the pics and video after the jump and the 3D modeling part at about 1:15…
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10 Key Components for Success Using SolidWorks: REVAMPED

24 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in CAD

swx-success-revampedAfter really thinking about this post, getting some feedback and losing a slap fight with an angry camel trader, I’ve decided to totally revamp the former SolidWorks Success post and put them in all together.

It lacks the detail I originally determined I wanted to put into the points, but the angst about not having the list all together was more than I and some others could bear. Fear not, it’s all here, in one short post, ready to be devoured.

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SolidWorks World 2010: Sappy Self-Help? Nope, Just Get There

23 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in NEWS

solidworks-world-2010
Two things prompted this post 2 weeks after the total obliterating coverage of SolidWorks World 2009. 1) Some people emailing me not knowing how to get there 2) the need to write another post.

Recently, Jeff Ray highlighted some things at SolidWorks World 2009. Out of all the incredible stuff that happened the best one by far was, the people that got there however they could. Jeff says:

Many of the attendees pulled heroic efforts to get there. You told me about paying your own way when your employer refused (and in at least one case, shut down only days before the event) and even took personal vacation time.

That’s huge. So what can you do to get to SolidWorks World 2010? Here’s some suggestions, cause now is the time to start plannin’.
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The Backup Stack-up: How to Really Protect Your SolidWorks Data

23 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in RESOURCES

buckets-of-dataYou have buckets and buckets of data. I mean it’s almost ridiculous how much information you’re trying to manage. So how do you do it? How do you backup your data and make sure it’s actually backed-up, as in protected, sealed, SAFE. I’ll give a a hint… it’s probably not how you do it now.

Lou Gallo of SolidWorks Heard, takes a look at the backup reality, finds interesting results, and tells you what to use to get your data really backed-up correctly. Here’s what to take away.

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Friday Smackdown: Reykjavík Toaster Mob

20 Feb, 2009 by Josh Mings in SMACKDOWN

fujikawa-350It was more than any single person could bare to look at. All this soup and one small runt of a raccoon baby to eat it. There was buttered toast as well, with jam and a side of these links.

Render Robot Illustration – If you don’t look at Norio Fujikawa’s portfolio, you will kick yourself in the face repeatedly. Rippin’ SWEET.
Easily Pin Folders – Vista has some annoying qualities. Pinning folders to the start menu is one of them. Here’s the easy way.
Coraline – Heralded and the most visually stunning 3D experience yet, this Tim Burton Henry Selick movie even has a cool website. Check it out, go see the flick.
Ultimate Computer Repair Utility – This all-in-one, self-contained set of programs will be an asset for any computer cleanin’ geek.***
Amplified Journeys – Cool new site from harmon/kardon. Put your travel route, music preference and get a playlist. great way to find new tunes.
30+ Sites When You’re Laid-Off – Now, somebody just needs to roll these into one site, but no need to be picky.
Easy Photoshop Color replacement – easy? really easy.

Update: the original site for the repair kit had to take the zip file down, but you can still put it together from the list.