CAD and wax casting

**Julian** · 06-04-2012, 04:07 AM

Originally Posted by josef1

Im going to throw a bit of a curve ball here but if you make the item in cad then using a wax model cast it saves lots of time I have found when setting repetative items just my 10 pence worth wondering what your opinion was ?

Josef,

Being a computer geek this is a very interesting thought, however I would have thought entry costs would be very high. Please tell us more, I have lots of questions, which software, ho to get from cad file to wax, from wax to metal, and always costs.

I could easily see making a one off design and keeping the CAD file so it could be repeated or a variation made. That said I do have a design in my head that would need around 50 beads specialy cast.

Julian

**medusa** · 06-04-2012, 10:52 AM

I briefly looked at the possibility of CAD but discarded it because the costs of employing someone writing/drawing the right kind of file were too high for the one-off I wanted to make.

If you want something replicable and don't want to spend ages learning rhino or whatever, then you might get a gun for hire on the shapeways forum. Once you have the file the printing and subsequent casting isn't too bad.

**caroleallen** · 06-04-2012, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by medusa

I briefly looked at the possibility of CAD but discarded it because the costs of employing someone writing/drawing the right kind of file were too high for the one-off I wanted to make.

If you want something replicable and don't want to spend ages learning rhino or whatever, then you might get a gun for hire on the shapeways forum. Once you have the file the printing and subsequent casting isn't too bad.

There's a course about CAD at Truro College in April. Unfortunately I can't do it as I'm away.

**ShinyLauren** · 06-04-2012, 01:25 PM

How small can one make and 3D print something with CAD? I need to create a tiny crown type collet for a 2mm stone and very quickly gave up attempting to carve it out of wax!

**josef1** · 08-04-2012, 12:41 PM

I agree cad can be expensive, but I started by building my own milling machine,then learning how to use cad and cam a bit of a backwards approach but it worked for me.I can design mill cast and finish a ring in around 4 days if I really have to and depending on how complex the design is.I have no experience with growing or 3d printing of models,but I think the surface finish is not as good as a milled part, but that said the technology is always getting better.To mill a small crown collet would be no problem at that size.After the easter holidays I will post some photos if this helps.I use rhino software with some basic plug ins I have attended courses for cad at Birmingham school of jewellery, but am basically self taught from the internet and books.I dont see it as replacing hand skills but running alongside them, if you are a jeweller first then learn cad I think you are at a definate advantage .But I understand its not everyones cup of tea.

**josef1** · 08-04-2012, 04:05 PM

I have found some pics on my home PC of a project I did a while back just to see if it would work.I think It would have been difficult to make without Cad. Im also sure the ring is not everyones taste but at least its a bit different !