Since past few years, jewelry design and manufacturing industry is evolved with remarkable progress in terms of design and manufacturing techniques. The high-end technological revolution powered by CAD (computer aided design) software and CAM (computer aided manufacturing) hardware has revolutionized the industry to the highest extent.
Traditionally, the tools used were all conventional where designers used pen and paper to render a design, the piece is hand fabricated and carved out through wax. The wax model is then placed in oven encased in plaster, and the craftsman waits until the metal acquires molten form and poured into the cavity of wax mold. After the cooling process the wax mold is broken apart and the piece of jewelry is then taken to polish and finish process.
Today, many designers still use some of the steps of the conventional method, especially when making high-end personalized pieces. Despite all the innovation in jewelry design and manufacturing process, it requires good craftsmen skills in terms of adding detail and keeping stones and metal in place to give the perfect finish. With these skills aided with latest technology, the jewelry design industry is making the most out of it.
CAD Software
Commercially and exclusively much of the jewelry these days are designed by CAD software. It enables to work more rapidly, assist in creating variations in a similar design theme and add motifs into various projects more easily than drawing by hand. CAD allows designer to save all the data in a library which can be potentially used in future for desired functional elements.
CAD has made the designing process so lenient where a complex piece of jewelry can be zoomed in to get every detail required in even the smallest areas of the jewelry piece. Conventionally this may require several hours to add detail in such manner.
The creative process is also enhanced with the help of CAD. The creativity is achieved by considerable experimentation of a good design. CAD makes review and allows you to undo anything that couldn’t look good for a finish piece, this is something that can be done in a water colored or handmade illustration. It gives easy access to designer towards their imagination and inspiration without any hassle and time consumption.
Photorealistic images prepared by CAD with 3D module that shows shadow and reflections makes the design more realistic and result-oriented before going into further process. These computer-generated images give the perfect idea to the consumer and the creative directors which also prevent any flaw that is not provided in the design and the ratio of errors lessen.
CAM and 3D Printers
Conventionally, manufacturers used rubber moulds to get replica copies of original. When any modification is required, they have to make a completely new model. CAD software can easily made such modifications with a click and prints it on a CAM machine to get a 3D print. 3D printers can easily print resin prototypes of the CAD model.
Laser Sintering
This innovation has revolutionized the jewelry design industry to the next level. With this technology, powdered metals like gold, silver, and platinum can be easily melted with the help of laser in layers to form the required shape. It enables manufacturers to make pieces with workable hinges and pins.