The thing about genius is that, while inherently useful, genius doesn’t pay the bills until it is successfully applied. So, if you’re like poor, ol’ Einstein, wearing the same outfit everyday because he couldn’t afford to go to the mall, then you might consider entering GrabCAD’s latest challenge, which offers a 1st prize of $10,000 in their Gears of Innovation Challenge.
You may have guessed from the name that this contest solicits contestants to design a gear system, a model that functions completely upon printing (and whatever cleaning is necessary). To be considered a gear “system”, it must have three or more gears, full assembled, that spin freely and co-dependently once printed. Judged by a jury made up of experts from 3D Printer World, GoEngineer and GrabCAD, winners will be announced at the 3D Printer World Expo evening reception on January 31, 2014 in Burbank, CA.
If you happen to be one of the lucky winners, you could win anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 with which to pay the student loan debt you acquired from engineering school. GrabCAD gives the following inspirational suggestions: “Some examples of creative gear applications: A clock; toy; drivetrain; Geodesic sphere; a piggy bank; and a weather vane, to name a few. The idea being to create an elaborate and functioning gear system that pushes the envelope.” If I were smart, I’d give you some great ideas, but I’m just a smart ass, so I think you should design this:
Source: GrabCAD
