Atom Engineering | Design & Innovation

Take a look at this beautiful render and creative solution by Wyatt, @atom.engineering , following the design challenge from @renderweekly to “Design/render a concept that implements a drill bit.” Axis | RW-S8-W15 🔩 "As I do with nearly every render weekly challenge, I start by sketching various different concepts in @conceptsapp which you can see the progression on the second-to-last image in this post. I initially was really drawn to the thin industrial design concept in the bottom left, which utilized cutouts in the main body and a sliding lock mechanism to secure the bit. I’m not sure what gave me the idea, but the thought crossed my mind to utilize a concealed barrel hinge mechanism to allow for the tool to operate off axis to improve the mechanical advantage while operating the driver. Hence the name ‘Axis’. I went back and forth on the form factor of this concept. I could either go with a cylindrical form, or the hexagonal form and play to the existing geometries of the drill bit. I liked the hexagonal form for a couple of reasons, one of which being it almost looks like an Allen Key when it’s in the L-shaped configuration. The concept ended up coming together even better than I had initially thought it would. The addition of the spring clip was a last minute addition, but it helps add to the overall design aesthetic, while also providing functionality." Want more inspiration? Follow Wyatt at @atom.engineering to see more of what they are creating. 📐

"As I started working on the renders of this design, I knew I wanted the assembly to look worn and weathered, like it had been in use for years. This gave me an excuse to start working within the more advanced material graph functionality that KeyShot offers. After following along to a video titled “KeyShot Material Study: Worn Painted Metal” by @esbenoxholm I was able to achieve the exact finish I was looking for on this design. It’s amazing how much slight surface variations on the materials change the feel of a render. Overall I’m super happy with both the final design and visualizations I was able to create for this experiment." Thanks to @atom.engineering for sharing this design experiment! He went for a 3D printing hotend assembly, but what are you working on? Let us know in the comments, and you can always tag KeyShot or use the #keyshot hashtag so we can find you! #keyshot #keyshot3d

⏰ Time-saving trick! Context can completely change how a design is understood, and manually placing parts can be tedious and painfully slow. But the Make Pattern and Settle tools make it easy to quickly add realism and communicate product intent. If you want to try this workflow: 1️⃣ Import supporting components and use Make Pattern to populate your scene. 2️⃣ Select the model set, go to Position → Move Tool → Settle, and enable As Parts for natural placement. Tools like this help bridge the gap between concept and clear communication. Although they are simple features, they are truly huge time savers. Thanks to @atom.engineering for these tips! #keyshot #keyshot3d #keyshottips #industrialdesign #productdesign

🤯 Exploded views are more than cool renders -- they're super helpful for communication. @atom.engineering dives into it: At first glance, the AE-H1 Hotend looks quite basic, but as the system begins to explode the complexities within become apparent. From integrated pogo-pin assemblies for power transfer, to thermal heat breaks, and replaceable heater blocks. Throughout my career, I’ve found exploded views to be one of the best communication tools, as it provides unique insight and clarity to the system, that would otherwise be difficult to convey. To take that a step further, visualizing designs through animated exploded views can be even more powerful. With minimal effort viewers are quickly able to understand how a system is intended to function and come together. This can help to drive more impactful discussions during design reviews, and ensure the team is aligned. ➡️ One feature in KeyShot that helped bring this animation to life was the addition of camera keyframes. Adding movement to the camera as the assembly exploded and re-assembled. ➡️ To do this, simply open the Animation Timeline, click the Animation Wizard, and select Camera Keyframe. From there you can set keyframes along the timeline to create more complex paths. #learnkeyshot #keyshottips #keyshot3d #keyshot #industrialdesign #productdesign

Axis | RW-S8-W15 🔩 I’ve really been enjoying the @renderweekly challenges here of late. There’s something so entertaining about taking a very basic design prompt like “Design/render a concept that implements a drill bit”, and trying to come up with a creative solution. As I do with nearly every render weekly challenge, I start by sketching various different concepts in the @conceptsapp which you can see the progression on the second to last image in this post. I initially was really drawn to the thin industrial design concept in the bottom left, that utilized cutouts in the main body and a sliding lock mechanism to secure the bit. I’m not sure what gave me the idea, but the thought crossed my mind to utilize a concealed barrel hinge mechanism to allow for the tool to operate off axis to improve the mechanical advantage while operating the driver. Hence the name ‘Axis’. I went back and forth on the form factor of this concept. I could either go with a cylindrical form, or the hexagonal form and play to the existing geometries of the drill bit. I liked the hexagonal form for a couple of reasons, one of which being it almost looks like an Allen Key when it’s in the L shaped configuration. The concept ended up coming together even better than I had initially thought it would. The addition of the spring clip was a last minute addition, but it helps add to the overall design asethetic, while also providing functionality. • • • • #renderweekly

Strong designs don't always speak for themselves, especially if they're only shown through CAD screenshots. Mechanical design engineer Wyatt Weaver @atom.engineering shares how "Once I started incorporating high-fidelity renders into my design reviews, the conversations changed. "Exploded views, realistic materials, and detailed perspectives made it easier for teams to understand intent, assembly, and overall system functions. That added clarity often led to faster alignment, fewer late-stage revisions, and more confident decisions. "Rendering isn’t just about making things look good, it’s about communicating ideas more effectively. Over time, it’s become a core part of how I present and validate designs throughout the development process." ⭐ Thanks to Wyatt for these product design & engineering tips! What helps you make the process more efficient? Let us know in the comments. #keyshot #keyshottips #industrialdesign #productdesign #prototyping

Modus Wall Hook 🧪 Material Variation 03 - Brass • • • • #keyshot #productdesign #wallhook #moderndesign

Modus Wall Hook 🧪 Material Variation 02 - Copper • • • • #keyshot #productdesign #wallhook #moderndesign

Modus Wall Hook 🧪 Material Variation 01 - Orange Anodized • • • • #keyshot #productdesign #wallhook #moderndesign

Vectra Wall Hook 🧪 Material Variation 03 - Brass • • • • #keyshot #productdesign #wallhook #moderndesign

Vectra Wall Hook 🧪 Material Variation 02 - Copper • • • • #keyshot #productdesign #wallhook #moderndesign

Vectra Wall Hook 🧪 Material Variation 01 - Orange Anodized • • • • #keyshot #productdesign #wallhook #moderndesign