Hasta La Gadget!

Looking for a way to dress up your dining table, but don’t want to go with an ordinary candleholder? These unique candleholders are definitely conversation starters, since you’ll have a hard time figuring out if they’re 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional.

Flatlights look like the 3D wireframe perspective of a candle when viewed from above, but lay completely flat on your table.

Each Flatlight is made from a 0.4mm thick sheet of brass, which is photochemically etched to create the openings. This creates a more durable object than one created on a 3D printer, and also reduces sharp edges compared to laser cutting.

Early buyers can get a single Flatlight for £12(~$19 USD) each or £21(~$32 USD) for a pair. For a few dollars more, they’re also available with black on one side and white on the other, or in a 24K gold-plated finish which looks pretty spiffy.

If you’re interested in getting some Flatlights for your table, head on over to Kickstarter and make your pledge before November 9th.

3D printing just keeps getting better and better, and while the printers themselves seem to be gradually overcoming their resolution and speed limitations, materials continue to be the bigger challenge. Now, there is yet another way to enhance 3D printing, and it is awesome.

What you’re looking at here wasn’t actually printed on a 3D printer though – these gold-plated brass pieces are cast from 3D-printed models. The guys at Shapeways are now offering this material for outputting your digital models, and it’s quite spectacular.

The process involves printing a wax model with a hi-res 3D printer. Then the wax is placed into plaster to form a mold, after which the wax is melted out. This plaster mold is then used for casting the 3D model out of molten brass. Once cooled, the piece is polished, and then electroplated with nickel and then 24K gold. So while the latter stages are traditional jewelry-making processes, it’s the first step that creates truly innovative forms.

Sure, it would be cool if you could 3D print directly with precious metals, but we’re not there yet. For now, this process results in impressively detailed and shiny models which would be nearly impossible to envision being hand-sculpted in wax, resulting in unique works of art and jewelry.

Shapeways’ gold-plated brass material sells for $35(USD) per cubic centimeter, and can currently produce objects measuring up to 100mm x 100mm x 30mm.

[via SolidSmack]

Here’s an invention that would go well with the Clapper: a bra that unclasps when you clap. Now that’s a reason to turn the lights down low. You’d think this gadget would be a hit on the Internet, but its Kickstarter was actually a massive flop. I am disappoint. Or not.

Instructables member Randy Sarafan posted instructions to make the silly undergarment. But he didn’t come up with the concept; he only tried to replicate a novelty item that’s apparently already being sold in Syrian markets. Here’s a NSFW demo of the bra:

The fact that the bra already exists may be one of the reasons why Randy’s Kickstarter didn’t succeed. We need someone to import the thing; not invent it. Then again I think his cheesy pitch video is mostly to blame. As of now it seems like it’s easier to build the bra than negotiate with the Syrian lingerie experts, so head to Instructables for Randy’s walkthrough.

[via CNET]

There’s just something so cool about the design of Nixie tubes – I think it’s just that for such an old technology, they’re still sort of timeless. It’s been a little while since I saw a really good looking Nixie clock though, but this one was definitely worth the wait.

The extraordinary Lamina Nixie Clock was handcrafted by artist Zoltan Acs using walnut and maple woods, along with brass gears and disks to give it a look all its own. The designer says it’s a combination of Art Deco, Industrial and Steampunk, and I think he nailed the description. He forgot to mention that it’s just freakin’ good looking.

This thing looks just as cool from the back as it does from the front.

The clock uses antique Russian Nixie vacuum tubes, along with a cool blue LED glow to make them look like they’re floating in some sort of test chambers. And even better yet, it’s got an alarm function, so you could put this thing by your bedside and wake up to it every morning.

Of course, all of this intricate craftsmanship comes at a cost. The Lamina Nixie clock is listed for €1,100.00 (~$1500 USD), which means that most of us will just have to admire it from afar. But if you’ve got deep pockets, you can purchase this amazing work of functional art over on Etsy now.