Introduction with History
Modern-day design has taken a departure from conventional and tedious manual jewelry manufacturing methods using hand based tools for jewelry making. CAD jewelry has taken the whole manufacturing system by storm. Businesses have a strong urge to invest in their capabilities by having robust in-house design departments and also by employing individuals who are enthusiastic about this as a hobby and want to become professionals or freelancers.
The rapid increase in demand for CAD jewelry has increased competition, and brands have realised that they must differentiate themselves not just with new ways of marketing but also by adopting CAD jewelry design. Computer Aided Design or CAD has existed since the 1960s, and commercial use began in several industries such as automotive, aerospace, and architecture. In the early 1990s, as computers became cheaper, the technology transformed from desirable to accessible, and CAD jewelry became the talk of the town. A CAD jewelry designer is the equivalent of the twentieth-century artisan with sculpting tools, welding and soldering equipment, and chemicals. This throwback makes us realise that technology cannot replace skills.
Manufacturing Use of CAD
CAD jewelry design creates streamlined systems that help reduce the time it takes for actual products to reach markets. All this is supplemented by enhanced design quality, automated manufacturing, and operational efficiency. CAD jewelry allows three-dimensional designs to be made on computers that can be evaluated as if holding a replica or model in your hand. You can check it from any angle, make corrections to it, and get exact calculations like dimensions, weight, etc. CAD jewelry design is followed by making wax pieces that are 3D printed with the help of Computer Aided Manufacturing. Many places create CAD files and send them over to CAM service providers who fabricate the duplicate models for them. This process is called the “lost wax method”. The technology has evolved so much that it is now possible to directly 3D print jewelry from precious metals, thereby skipping the use of molds.
