Recent advances in CAD/CAM software, declining computer prices, and the
development of high quality pattern making equipment have finally made
cost effective CAD/CAM solutions for the jewelry industry a reality.
Sanders Prototype has hundreds of RP machines in the jewelry
manufacturing industry worldwide. The systems are cost effective and
produce big profits for the jewelry industry whether they are large
manufacturers or mom and pop shops. CAD produces perfectly symetrical
models and the Sanders system produces wax patterns that have excellent
surface finish, a must for the jewelry industry.
The RP industry has been concentrating on fast concept models and
prototype tooling. Sanders has been concentrating on production models
and production tooling. The jewelry industry is more interested in
perfection rather than speed. Interestingly so is the tooling industry,
companies would rather produce a production tool in less than 2 weeks
than create a prototype tool in that time frame at the same cost. A
production tool that requires no EDM, no water lines, and no post
processing other than polish and is capable of producing a million shots
is where the emphasis should be. Being able to alter that tool by
drilling, welding, even edm makes for a powerful process.
RP or rapid prototyping is not what Sanders does in both the jewelry and
tooling markets. We are producing the pattern for investment casting
for both jewelry and tooling and also for sintering of powdered metals.
The CAD side for tooling already exists and CAD for the jewelers also
exists. Alias, PRO-E, SDRC, have been used by the jewelry industry for
several years. Other software like FormZ, Rhino, Trispectives, Vellum,
etc are now used in the jewelry industry. Jewelcad was designed
specifically for the jewelry industry and offers many advantages. The
biggest advantage is the short learning curve, great rendering and not
having to worry about trimming surfaces.
The jewelry industry has already embraced CAD/CAM and the market will
continue to grow.
Rolf Hubert
Product Manager
Sanders Prototype, Inc
603-429-9700
Steven Pollack wrote:
> Yeah, buy my jewelry! You guys make me a millionaire by purchasing
> my jewelry and I will sing the praises of RP so loud and so strong
> that no jeweler would think about not owning RP.
>
> Alright, now that I am awake, check out my gallery at:
> http://www.xyzacademy.com/Gallery.htm
>
> Since I started my school for RP jewelry making about two weeks ago, I
> joined Polygon, a private network for jewelers. I have already been
> contacted by 11 jewelers possibly interested in learning CAD through
> my program. I am telling you, the RP revolution in the jewelry
> industry and many others will only begin when CAD becomes more
> accessible.
>
> Steven Pollack
>
>
>
> Bill Richards wrote:
>
>> I might be a little behind in responding to this, but I wanted to
>> give this some thought.People keep talking about the future of RP
>> will be a rapid prototyping machine in every home, as ubiquitous as
>> the ink jet printer is today. That will never happen. It isn't so
>> much the cost of the machines, the fact that some RP materials are
>> so exotic they require specialized handling, the fact that the
>> machines require expensive and time consuming upkeep to maintain
>> them, etc. It's simply that it isn't practical.Think of another
>> machine we find in the office that seems no business can do without:
>> the copier. Aside from those of us who have a business at home, I'll
>> bet that no one has a copier in their house. It isn't like there is
>> no demand for this -- look at all the copier service bureaus like
>> Kinkos, CopyExpress, Mailboxes Etc. and such. A lot of public
>> libraries have copiers that one can use for free or at least a
>> nickel or two. Everyone has to make a copy of some document every
>> now and then! But almost no one keeps a Xerox copier in their
>> home.Until the day comes when we have technology that gives us a
>> device such as the replicators we see in Star Trek: all you do is
>> tell the computer what you want, be it a new shirt or a full dinner,
>> and seconds later there it is -- we will never see RP machines in
>> the private home. I would urge RP vendors to steer clear of this
>> route for now.BUT...!That being said, there is a market there!
>> Mainly: hobbyists, model builders, inventors, and as people are
>> finally waking up to the fact, ARTISTS! Which, when you think about
>> it, artists tend to cover the first three there, anyway. There are
>> always tinkers who will want to have something like a prototyper
>> around, so they can make the custom items that invariably they will
>> need, or invent. But considering the cost, right now, of a
>> prototyping machine, it is pretty likely that these people will
>> still go to a service bureau to get the prototype made.Until the
>> price on a "fabber" gets below $5,000, and the raw materials it
>> needs are cheap and easy to get and not toxic or difficult to
>> clean/dispose of, rapid prototyping will never get into the private
>> home.The ripest targets for marketing RP are the art and jewelry
>> industries! Michael Rees, Steve Pollack, and now our newest voice
>> from this sector, Bathsheba, are very good examples. Steve is really
>> the first jeweler I have known to actually take the plunge into
>> using rapid prototyping as an integral part of his business
>> plan.Jewelry is a highly competitive industry. Profit margins are
>> tight, and international competition is fierce. They don't want to
>> risk meager profits on a technology that might not pan out for them.
>> A lot of jewelry companies are looking at rapid prototyping, and
>> there are some who are dabbling in it. But the vast majority are
>> taking a wait and see position. They want to see someone else
>> successfully use rapid prototyping before they take the risk
>> themselves.So if you want to sell your machines to the jewelry
>> industry, you want to help those that are the early adopters succeed
>> at what they are trying to do. Where there is success, business will
>> follow! Offer easier financial assistance. Training and technical
>> support are a must. On the average, an artist won't be as
>> technically minded as an engineer usually is. PROMOTE those that are
>> using your machine! Buy some of Steve's jewelry and show your
>> potential clients what someone is already doing using rapid
>> prototyping. Grab Michael and Bathsheba and pay them to be guest
>> speakers at trade shows to show off what they are doing! You've got
>> to say to the jewelers and artists, "Look what these guys are doing
>> with rapid prototyping technology. You can too!"Start promoting the
>> software that best suits the application! Pro-E (few can afford
>> it!), Solid Works, and others are fantastic for engineering
>> applications. But for artwork, the organic forms that artists create
>> and humans find esthetically pleasing, you will need programs such
>> as form.Z and Rhino.Terry Wohlers says that our industry is in the
>> chasm. I agree. But there are untapped markets we can tap into to
>> carry us through this, we just have to make it easier for these
>> markets to use rapid prototyping. You might realize a smaller profit
>> in these markets -- but it is still a profit!Good luck to all! Bill
>> Richards, Rapid Prototyping Tech.
>> Fielding Manufacturing "From Art... To Parts... ...To Parts!"
>> 780 Wellington Ave.
>> Cranston, RI 02910
>> T: (401) 461-0400 x221
>> F: (401) 941-2222
>
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