A collection of short articles and opinions on a variety of subjects, though mostly engineering, technology and business related. Please come in, select an Article, or enjoy a little history. This is about perspective on engineering, running a business, and happenings at Synthesis or around the world. To filter, just select a category. (Or, see the Engineering Library for the full list of available content.) Thank you for visiting.
My heart aches for those touched by the terror of shooting violence — in any of our yesterdays. I just can’t wrap my mind around WHY. Why do we, yes, You and I, accept and perhaps even encourage
We love the expansion of technology in rapid prototyping (like 3D Printing) with new materials almost daily. While technology is ever improving, the boundaries for choosing the best
If you read our other posts discussing SolidWorks or Creo, then you know we use, and value both. Of course, in the CAD industry there is a constant bit of bantering
Commercial kitchens such as those found in restaurants are amongst the highest consumers of energy. They use a yearly average of 38 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 111 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot (ft2).
What happened at your last design review? Think about it, was it valuable? Maybe more than you think . . .
Numbers are exact, and engineering is full of numbers. The world, on the other hand is imprecise and full of all sorts of anomalies. Where does that leave engineering?
It’s a dilemma: Should you get the widget made offshore? Or at Home? There are a lot of interrelated and complex parts to answering this question,
Bike Rack Innovation A Quick Service Addition For Customer Convenience For those who transport bicycles a lot, having a great bike rack for your vehicle is a must. Another good thing is a service stand that allows simple maintenance for the bike when you get there.
This is the second part of our Case Study combining Tandem Torsion Axles with a Walking Beam for smaller trailers. In this post we’ll get into strength
The Walking Beam Suspension is not new, nor are Torsion Axles. They both have unique advantages and cool benefits, so what about putting them together? . . . For smallish trailers? Oh, but there are some interesting design challenges.
OK, be honest. It’s rude, but really . . . How many times have you asked this, or a similar question? Did you find a customer use case that the designers didn’t think about?
I visited a link on YouTube the other day, and on completion, it gave a “next up” that caught my attention. The title is “Torsion vs Leaf Spring Suspension …”. Since I engineer trailers with both
Very honored to participate with a group of eighth grade science students practicing the engineering and design process with their “Dream Invention” projects. Training, if you will, the next generation of engineers. What a great way to learn by doing. The science teachers at Holmes Middle School in Colorado Springs are putting creativity and forward […]
The USPTO (United States Patent Office) is full of patents for inventions that did not launch. At Synthesis we’ve seen some amazing ideas that have not materialized in the marketplace. Why?
Recycling is sometimes called a “Best Friend of the Planet”. Does that include recycling bike invention ideas too?
Which is better? (Pro/E) Creo vs SolidWorks? That debate has raged for years, and here is some more fuel to the fire.
Get yourself ready for one of the best Mountain Bike Race events ever. Yes, ever! Is that too bold? These courses are the best yet.
Every book I’ve read about succeeding in business talks about the customer experience — from first inquiries, through the sales process and on to resolving issues.
I’ve heard it said there are more patents for bicycle related inventions than for any other industry. Is that true? If it is, then what drives bicycle industry innovation?
Just print it! That’s been a dream of engineers and inventors for ages and now 3D printing prototypes are common. But are they worth it?
Go Code Colorado 2018 challenge weekend happens again with some fantastic ideas highlighting the really creative people and concepts.
Artistic expression in 3D CAD — it’s art with a purpose — and, in this case recognition with a design patent. This one is more than just a design,
Word just in, a new Bicycle Derailleur Patent issue (March 20, 2018) for work we did a few years ago. One of two passed this week through the patent office and added
There are a ton of Video editing software packages around. Recently we decided to take a step up, and chose Corel Video Studio 2018. It’s a recent release, and there are some good reviews online, so why not?
In the wake of the horrific and violent incidents in Florida as well as the uptick in threats of violence following, like many of you, we are also pondering questions of “What can be done?”
As part of an experimental project, we combined 3D CAD System files of Pro/Engineer with SolidWorks. The physical project is an experiment with concept applications in trailer design, and since
In certain industries, a company’s design department is a key to keeping customers interested. It’s the new products coming out periodically that bring excitement to what’s next.
From our FAQ with a little more detail: While we do have a few favorite industries, we cover a broad spectrum and love expanding. We serve in the
Many new inventors (and some small companies) have approached us with questions about trading Engineering Services for part ownership in their company. We believe that
Rapid prototyping is awesome — especially when we get the chance to push the envelope a little.