3D Modeling Can Be Child's Play

SketchUp's weekly challenges open design arena to professionals, rookies -- even kids

Several weeks ago, Tyson Kartchner began scrutinizing chess pieces. He found rooks and bishops that looked like they'd been carved out of driftwood using a Swiss Army knife, kings and queens that were glass tubes filled with amber liquid, and pawns that actually carried shields and spears. He also found chess sets made completely of LEGOs, playing cards or Egyptian artifacts. In the following weeks, Kartchner will examine loudspeakers, soccer trophies and lawn furniture. He'll probably find they are just as fanciful as many of the chess pieces he's seen.p>

Kartchner, an online training specialist for Google SketchUp, is responsible for issuing weekly 3D Challenges to the SketchUp community. "It seems like a great way to get the existing SketchUp users involved with the new users coming on board," he says. "It's also a way to get more content into the Google 3D Warehouse," a searchable repository of user-submitted 3D objects.  Read more >>

______________________

Note to our readers: Cadalyst Daily will take a summer break
beginning Monday, July 24, returning Monday, July 31.

Avatech Solutions Acquires Technology & Training Systems
Agreement aims to support growth in facilities management solutions market. 
Read more >>

GlobalSpec Honors Engineers of Deep-Water ROV
Award acknowledges work that resulted in first deep-water photographs of sunken luxury ocean liner R.M.S. Titanic.  Read more >>

Noran Engineering Partners with SolidWorks on Modeler for New Nastran FEA Software
New simulation software will be CAD-independent, company reports.  Read more >>

Research Finds Trend Toward Industry-Focused Electro-Technical CAD Applications
Cambashi reports that ET CAD market set to grow as electro-mechanical devices give way to electronic sensors, actuators and controls.  Read more >>

Report Gauges Importance of Collaboration Among Product Developers
AberdeenGroup determines that design and project collaboration are among highest product development priorities for manufacturers.  Read more >>

SiteMaster 3, DISTO A6 Pair Up for Instant Building Floor Plans, FM Reports
GiveMePower building surveying solution couples with new Leica Geosystems' Bluetooth handheld laser.  Read more >>

AEC: ChiefSymbols Library CC19
Cardiff Consultants adds 57 new 3D retail environment models for use with Chief Architect.  Read more >>