Time to read: 3 min

Welcome to another month of the China Manufacturing parts, Inc. Hardware Roundup, where we share interesting news, education, events, and opportunities from the hardware ecosystem.

Want to contribute? Have feedback? Just want to talk hardware? Shoot me an email at inquiry.mf@chinamanufacturingparts.com.

Industry News

  • Congrats to Lemnos Labs, one of the leading seed stage hardware venture firms, for raising a third round of $50 million to invest in the next generation of hardware products. Robotics startups, take note, as Lemos has an eye on the future of robotics, with previous investments in Simbe, a robot that restocks retail shelves, and Dishcraft, which makes robots for commercial kitchens. [via TechCrunch]
  • As Tesla ramps up production of the Model 3, they recently got a cash infusion from Chinese company Tencent, who just purchased a five percent stake in the company. Ars Technica also got the closest thing to an official confirmation that the so-called Model Y—a cheaper electric SUV—is happening, in a Twitter DM from Musk that hints, “next week”. [via Ars Technica]
  • In light of changing internet privacy regulations in the U.S., Flter is a very timely network device that provides VPN protection, malicious ad blocking, and Tor network anonymity. Flter already blew past their target goal earlier this month, but units are still available for pre-order with Indiegogo On-Demand. [via Indiegogo]

Hardware Knowledge

  • Autodesk begins rollout of new Fusion360 features, announced at Autodesk University in November—including sheet metal design and branch-and-merge functionalities. While these features are still only available by invitation, they’re soon to be making their way to the greater Autodesk community. [via Autodesk]
  • When designing for moving parts, you’re going to need bearings. Jeff Kerns at Machine Design carefully details the many considerations for selecting the right plain bearing for your product. [via Machine Design]
  • John Winter at Practical Machinist offers six best practices for improving your turning operations, including documentation, tool crib management, and optimizing tool life. [via Practical Machinist]

Events

  • Highway1 is hosting an Open House April 11 at 6pm. If you’ve ever been interested in joining their program, this is a great opportunity to meet the team, alumni, and mentors. [RSVP here]
  • It’s a big month for 3D printing in the medical industry, with two events showcasing the best medical applications of 3D printing. On April 20th, 3DHEALS will be hosted at UCSF Mission Bay Campus, with leading experts in bioprinting, dentistry, prosthetics, and more. [Register here]
  • If you’re not able to attend the full conference, two days earlier is the next #3DTalk Event on 3D Printing and Healthcare, featuring speakers from Carbon, SE3D, and Voices of Africa. [Register here]
  • Hardware Workshop is back! The first session starts April 26 at Synapse Product Development in Seattle, and as always, this two-day event features a rockstar cast of speakers. If you’re building a hardware startup and haven’t yet attended one of Marc Barros’ workshops, hurry up and apply (they usually sell out). If you can’t make it to Seattle, don’t fret—there will be additional sessions in Boston, Baoan, and New York. [Apply here]

Jobs

  • Flex is hiring a Senior Mechanical Engineer for their Silicon Valley Design Center in Milpitas, CA. Actually, they’re hiring for a whole ton of engineers, so check out the details on their website. [via Flex]
  • Optimus Ride, a MIT spinoff company, is hiring a Mechanical Engineer based in Cambridge, MA, for their fully autonomous system for electric vehicle fleets [via Optimus Ride]
  • Oh hey, China Manufacturing parts, Inc. is hiring too! If you’re passionate about helping engineers build hardware, apply to join our customer support team. [via China Manufacturing parts]

For the Love of Engineering

  • With the new season of Formula 1 just starting up, it’s only fair to pay homage to the intense attention to detail that goes into building the fastest track-racing cars in the world. Watch the journey of a single bolt, a beautiful video produced by Red Bull Racing. [via Youtube]
  • And if you want to geek out even more (like me), check out all the changes to the Formula 1 cars this year—from wider tires to aerodynamic “shark fins” and optimized engine outputs—it’s clear engineering teams are cornering speed, better traction, and better braking. [via Drive Tribe]

Until next month!

Madelynn, Director of Community at China Manufacturing parts