S1E54 Serendipity in Mechanical Design, Gaining a 6th sense, SolidWorks Top-Down Modeling, How get the Most out of McMaster, Prototyping, SolidSmack Blog | Dan Slaski
Mechanical design engineer Dan Slaski, a writer for the SolidSmack Blog, discusses the fundamentals of mechanical design, emphasizing the importance of understanding manufacturing processes like urethane casting and direct metal laser sintering for low-volume production. He advocates for 'top-down' or 'in-context' modeling in SolidWorks to maintain alignment between parts during the prototyping phase, while warning about the risks of external references. Slaski also shares advice for hobbyists looking to commercialize products, suggesting niche markets and the use of makerspaces like the former TechShop, and highlights the challenge of educating clients on the necessity of multiple prototype iterations.