CAD (Computer-Aided Design) has become an integral part of the jewellery design process in the last 15 years. Many companies will now use a mixture of traditional hand-making and CAD technologies to produce their jewellery.
The technology has several benefits for jewellery designers and manufacturers which can be passed onto customers.
Fast, Cheap Prototyping
2D designs are great but to really get a feel for how the piece of jewellery will interact with the body you need a 3d object. In the past, a model would have to be handmade, a time-consuming process and, even using cheaper materials like wax or copper, it could become expensive. With CAD, a prototype can be 3D printed overnight at a fraction of the cost, potentially as little as £10 depending on the material. The cost is so low you can try different variations of a product and test design concepts quickly and cheaply before committing to producing the piece in precious metals.
Product Consistency
Many companies now have jewellery manufactured overseas, however, the process of translating a 2D design into a 3D jewellery product can sometimes lead to ‘inconsistencies’. CAD allows a design studio based in London to perfect a design and send a 3D file that can be 3D printed and cast by the manufacturer. This ensures the studio can be sure the finished jewellery will be exactly as intended.
Limited Stock Holding And Customisation
Having a CAD library allows a company to limit the stock they carry and keep down costs, only committing to having to produce items as and when they are ordered by the customer.
In the past, jewellers would carry a large amount of stock, often in gold and diamonds to ensure they could meet customer demand. Now, with CAD technologies, a business can run a business online, using images of finished items and taking orders. They can then 3d print the item in castable wax from their CAD library or files, which can shorten the manufacturing time significantly.
A company can also offer customization options for their products too. Gemstone sizes, shapes and setting styles can be quickly adjusted in CAD which bring the price and timescale down significantly.
If you are looking for a freelance CAD designer, Edward is available for remote or onsite CAD work. Prices vary depending on the timescale and specification of the product and the use of both hardware and software.
For a full list of freelance jewellery design service get in touch.