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Specific as to Mould-making:
Wax models are produced with sterolithography. Because
of the high cost of rapid prototyping equipment
and the high level of technical expertise required
to reliably produce perfect parts, the trend is
to use specialized third-party service bureaus.
We offer reduced time and cost for jewelry designers
and their clients with state-of-the-art technology.
Our machines build models from computer files using
thermoplastics that are perfect components for investment
casting. See
some of the machinery here >>
In the past jewelry design was greatly hindered
by difficult communication between the customer
and the jeweler. The only option for executing a
jewelry design was looking through a stock jewelry
design catalogue. Whenever the customer had a vision
or idea which was not realized in the finished piece
of jewelry the sale became very difficult.
With the aid of computer aided 3d
design (cad) model
making has taken a wonderful new direction.
With us jewelry stores and jewelry customers can
actually see their idea before the creation stage.
Other important benefits to cad jewelry design is
accuracy and affordability. Your jewelry
design can now be manufactured with incredible
symmetry because the wax model is created using
our in house rapid prototyping (rp) machines.
Our systems reduce cost and time-to-market by translating
CAD Designs into hard copy
3D models. These
models are so accurate that designers can go beyond
concept modeling to produce tooling grade patterns
ready for casting or mold-making.
Jointly CAD/CAM allows the design of jewelry using
a computer (CAD) and creates an exact hard copy
model of a jewelry piece using a computer controlled
manufacturing device (CAM). Our technicians utilize
all file types compatible with any CAM device, which
allows us to quickly generate a precise wax model
ready for casting.
Stereolithography and these other hard model technologies
are the future of the jewelry industry. Leading
jewelers effectively use CAM "service bureaus"
that specialize in prototype output.
Gold castings can
be made of the wax model itself, the direct method;
or of a wax copy of a model that need not be of
wax, the indirect method. These are the steps for
the indirect process:
Model-making. An artist or mold-maker creates an
original model from wax, clay, or another material.
Wax and oil-based clay are often preferred because
these materials retain their softness.
Mold making. A mold is made of the original model
or sculpture. The rigid outer molds contain the
softer inner mold, which is the exact negative of
the original model. Inner molds are usually made
of latex, polyurethane rubber or silicone, which
is supported by the outer mold. The outer mold can
be made from plaster, but can also be made of fiberglass
or other materials. Most molds are at least two
pieces, and a shim with keys is placed between the
two halves during construction so that the mold
can be put back together accurately. In case there
are long, thin pieces sticking out of the model,
these are often cut off of the original and molded
separately. Sometimes many molds are needed to recreate
the original model, especially large ones.
Once the mold is finished, molten material is poured
into it and swished around until an even coating,
usually about 1/8 inch or 3 mm thick, covers the
inner surface of the mold. This is repeated until
the desired thickness is reached. Another method
is filling the entire mold with molten wax, and
let it cool, until a desired thickness has set on
the surface of the mold. After this the rest of
the wax is poured out again, the mold is turned
upside down and the wax layer is left to cool and
harden. With this method it is more difficult to
control the overall thickness of the wax layer.
Removal of wax. This hollow copy of the original
is removed from the mold. The technician may reuse
the mold to make multiple copies, limited only by
the durability of the mold.
Original Methods:
Our technicians have been in the jewelry business
since 1983, operating in various branches of the
industry. We are some of the finest jewelry manufacturers
and jewelers in the industry.
With our fist-hand knowledge and experience throughout
the jewelry manufacturing process from start to
finish, we deliver quality. |
