Understand 1,700 Mechanical Linkages with these Helpful Animations
Check out this amazing library of 3D animated mechanical linkages and contraptions.
Tools
Aspiring Iron Man Builds Working Exoskeleton, Lifts 170 Pounds
It’s been a long road for Youtuber “The Hacksmith” to go from inspiration to working prototype. Originally inspired by the exo-suit worn by Matt Damon in Elysium, his real working version is now in the testing phase. So far, he’s successfully lifted 170 pounds of concrete and steel. It’s built on a backpack-like frame with […]
Sword from Space! Blacksmith Forges Blade from Meteorite
Modern blacksmith artisans from ASBL Lucilinburhuc use old world craftsmanship to transform a meteorite into a sword. The meteorite is heated to form the raw material. Then it must be carbonized to transform the brittle iron and trace metals into hardened steel. For the carbonization process the blacksmith chiseled the meteorite material into 80×40mm pieces […]
Dremel Captivates SXSW With Tiny Cars, Jimmy DiResta
The Create section of SXSW gets more engaging every year, and the Dremel booth was one of the busiest spots inside the tent this year, offering numerous hands-on activities and even bringing a high-caliber builder to help inspire the attendees. The Dremel team came out in force, displaying a variety of cutting tools alongside […]
18 Lessons in Smart Prototyping From a Self-Made Billionaire
Dan Gelbart made a fortune in R&D for his company Creo. His prototyping was done at home, in his basement, using tools on par with what many of us have access to at our local hackerspaces and universities. In his spare time he has put together a short YouTube course on “how to build stuff” […]
How to Make an Anvil from Old Railroad Track
With many railroad tracks now in disuse, some being converted into bike and pedestrian paths, you might be able to get your hands on a section of used railroad track. If you’re wondering what to do with a (legally sourced) piece of track, one option would be to build an anvil, like Youtuber “Smalltown442.” In […]
From Chemist to World Renowned Blacksmith: James Austin
Now in his 40th year of blacksmithing, San Francisco Bay Area blacksmith James Austin has spent a lifetime researching little-known or lost metalworking techniques, and developing his own. Unable to deny his love for metal fabrication, James apprenticed to a blacksmith in Germany in the early 1980s after receiving his degree and a brief […]