3D model built in SketchUp directly from Eagle PCB

Element14 (a distributor of electronic system design tools) has launched EagleUp 3D design converter today for PCB design engineers to create virtual prototype designs.

Developed from the ground-up in the Eagle design community, EagleUp enables design engineers to export 2D layouts from CadSoft’s Eagle PCB design software into Google SketchUp to create accurate 3D digital prototypes.

Read more…

MakerBot Replicator. Bigger, better, dual colour extrusion madness - still with that sound of a fax modem and laser cut ply - love it.

The curious fellows over at Engineer vs Designer have teamed up with Makerbot Industries to bring you the first ever Absurd iPhone Accessory Design Contest!

The idea is come up with a crazy iPhone accessory and you could get your grubby mitts on a brand spanking new Makerbot Replicator (which is about $1750 worth of laser cut plywood goodness).

Read more…

It looks like SpaceClaim is stepping up its partner programme with new new announcements in the manfuacturing space.

The company has recently signed two agreements, both in the CAD/CAM field with both SigmaTEK systems and Aptia to assist those looking to integrate their design with manufacturing.

Read more…

Boeing has signed a new 10-year agreement to extend the use of Siemens PLM Software technology at both Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Defence Space and Security.

“Proven performance” of market leading NX software and Teamcenter software, innovation, scalability and open architecture were cited as key requirements for extension.

Read more…

Triumph Motorcycles has selected PTC’s Windchill for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).  The use of Windchill will enable Triumph to better support business growth and product development needs. Chances are you don’t need me to tell you who Triumph are so we’ll dispense with that. But the press release does include some interesting details. Triumph has been a long time user of both Creo Parametric (Pro/Engineer) for product design (Pro/E is pretty widespread in the motorcycle industry and always has been - other British motorcycle legends Norton also use it) and Pro/Intralink for data management.

Read more…

A little Friday treat spotted on the vimeo.com front page that I’ve watched through 10+ times today. Courtesy of etsy.com and its handmade project.

There’re no sketches, there’re no dimensioned drawings, there’s no CAD. What there is, is a man (Korehira Watanabe) who has devoted his life to his craft and is in search of perfection - even if he is aware that he’ll never achieve it. Breathtaking.

Myself and Martyn have been pondering many things of late, but one thing that’s stuck has been the seemingly increased interest in design and manufacturing. While Mart appears to be enamoured with the Maker movement, I have a feeling in my gut (no comments please) that this isn’t anything new. Designers, engineers and manufacturers have always been tinkerers by trade and by passion. That’s why we become the professionals that we do. While I don’t think this has changed, what has changed in the wider community is that everyone else has seen the light, seen that doing things with your hands, diving in and getting a little grubby and creating something is both a distinct pleasure and a true joy. And the web is connecting everyone like never before. Oh and there’s all that 3D printing jive too.

Then you get to motorcycles, something I’ve been fascinated with for years. If I’m not working or looking to kill a few minutes while fishing that inevitable digestive biscuit out the bottom a cup of tea, I’ll be flicking through many of the blogs and other websites out there that are devoted to the subject. So it was with some delight that I discovered our interviewee, David Mucci and his first custom bike project on the rather fantastic www.bikeexif.com. I was also fascinated to discover that David is an Industrial Designer by trade - so I shot him over some questions to find out more about how he got into the project, if there was any relation between his professional work and skill set and the project for his free time and to get some insight into his workflow/process.

Read more…