What if 3D printer application in jewerly industry ?
The application of 3D printer has dramatically changed the jewelry industry, which skip the efforts in making wax
jewelry model.
Traditional Jewelry Producing Process:
Before the jewelry 3D printer application, jewelers and craftsmen made prototypes by elaborately carving the
details into a solid wax model.
Wax casting become a main jewelry casting methods, widely used by most craftsmen.
Wax casting is a very old tricks used even Through this technology, the mold can be made from the prototype
made of wax. For traditional jewelry manufacturers, wax lost casting is a very useful method to produce a large
number of customized products. It is particularly suitable for copying very detailed designs quickly and accurately.
In wax casting, the mold is built around the initial prototype made of wax. Wax loss casting involves pouring molten
metal into a mold created by a wax model. When the mold is finished, the wax mold melts and dries. The introduction
of heat-resistant core will affect the hollow core, which can prevent molten metal from filling the mold completely.
The jewelry is cast with gold, a mold is made with a model, and the inner part of the mold is brushed with melted wax
to the thickness demanded for the final gold. After the mold is removed, the wax shell is filled with heat-resistant mixture.
Wax pipes are installed outside the wax shell, which can provide pipes for pouring gold during casting and vent for toxic
gases produced during casting. Jewelers can model or adjust them.
The metal pin enters the core through the housing to fixed it.
Then, the prepared wax shell is completely covered with a layer of heat resistant gypsum is inverted into the oven. During
the heating process, gypsum becomes dry and wax flows out through the pipe formed by wax pipe. Then the gypsum mold
is placed in the sand, the molten gold is poured through the pipe, filling the space left by the wax. After cooling, the outer
gypsum and inner core will be removed and the jewelry may be retouched.
How 3d printer change the jewelry design process ?
3D printing is a mechanical process of creating models by adding a thin layer of material on top of another layer. 3D printing
can be used in many industries, including jewelry. For designers, the possibility is huge, complex work can be made in
just a few hours, while handmade works can take several days.
Since the introduction of jewelry 3D printer, craftsmen, jewellers have undergone great changes in design, production and
manufacturing. We cover everything from how jewelry 3D printers affect individuals' desire to acquire exquisite jewelry to
their impact on retailers.
Large capacity casting factories are using larger 3D printers to build volume and high precision, printing full capacity
operation faster and lower cost than ever before. As turnover and operating costs fall - and there are few maintenance
costs - production becomes more efficient.
Historically, many 3D printers only provided enough construction volume to accommodate a small number of rings at a
time, but as 3D printing becomes more and more advanced, models with reasonable prices provide a larger platform.
Jewelers can produce multiple versions of individual pieces, create larger designs.
To the demand for exquisite customized jewelry and excellent consumer experience, designers use 3D printing to
bring back the tactile experience of selecting special works.
Instead of staring at colorful computer renderings and hoping that the final product will be made as what they
designed on the computer, customers can now try the prototype of the custom engagement ring they helped
design to ensure that it looks and feels exactly right before the final product is produced. Unlike hand carved
wax and some other wax based printing materials, the parts printed with prototype resin are fine and firm,
which can prevent damage when handled by customers and employees. It creates a more tangible experience,
feeling comfortable and interactive.
3D printing in jewelry has a bright future. With the wide adoption of workflow technology in the industry, the
arrival of a new generation of designers who are proficient in these technologies, and the creation of new
and safer materials and hardware, we see a stage of major positive subversion. Compared with traditional
design and prototyping processes, jewelry 3D printers bring significant advantages.