CAD Jewelry Design Overview
Wondering what CAD jewelry is all about?
Maybe you’ve heard of CAD jewelry, or you’ve seen a few CAD jewelry models, but don’t really understand what all the fuss is about. Or, as a jeweler, perhaps you’re interested in learning how CAD jewelry benefits jewelers, or why you should even start using it for your business. Then again, maybe you’re just curious about it. Whatever your reasons, we’re glad you’re here and hope you enjoy this light introduction to CAD jewelry and why it’s a boon to jewelry design.
The Basics
CAD ( aka computer-aided design) jewelry designs are created on computer screens by skilled artisans, who use state-of-the-art computer hardware and CAD software to turn their artistic ideas and concepts into 3D works-of-art. The CAD files that contain these creations are sent as digital files to high-precision, high-quality, 3D printers that read the data and print it out as a wax jewelry model.
The wax model can then be used in the traditional lost wax casting process, which fabricates an investment casting containing the negative impression of the model. Afterwards, the investment is filled with a precious, molten metal to produce the jewelry piece and then traditional finishing processes are used to craft the final, beautiful piece of jewelry.
How CAD Improves Jewelry Design
CAD has been a boon to jewelry design in many ways. First, because of the precision and power of CAD software, it gives artisans the ability to express themselves artistically with more clarity, creativity and detail than ever before. Second, since CAD files can be easily saved, copied, and modified as often as the designer likes, CAD makes jewelry design and production more cost effective and cost efficient than ever before – at levels not achievable without automated design. CAD files can be reused in their original form, or redesigned in virtually endless variations, reducing the need for inventory and even secure storage space. In addition, CAD files can be used to create renders of jewelry designs, so that customers can see a beautiful 3D photorealistic rendering of the jewelry piece without it ever being produced. This is an extremely effective marketing tool as well as another significant savings on inventory costs. CAD is also extremely time-efficient because it eliminates the need to create wax carvings by hand, as they can now be 3D printed. Finally, CAD jewelry design gives customers more say-so than ever before over the final look of their perfect jewelry piece, which leads to greater customer satisfaction.
What CAD Doesn’t Change in Jewelry Design
To be sure, there are somethings that technology cannot replace and CAD jewelry design is no different. It does not eliminate the need for artistic vision, the need for an understanding of the properties and materials used in jewelry design, or the need for knowledge about the processes used to craft beautiful jewelry. Indeed this type of expertise, these types of skills, and even bench experience, are as important as ever.
The Best of Both Worlds
At the end of the day, CAD allows designers to create delicate details that are extremely difficult and even impossible to create without CAD. And when CAD software is combined with the best of hand craftsmanship skills, modern jewelry design can reach whole new heights in beauty and efficiency. Have questions? Jewelrythis is your source for information and help with your design and manufacturing challenges. Just ask!
