[Jewelry making - Article 00102] - [Orchid] Starting a line

[Jesse Kaufman]

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>     Is there a comparable alternative to use for designs that require
>     crisp lines and lettering? 

Hi Julie,

    Rapid prototyping can be a good way to go, but sometimes it distorts
    lettering if the model isn't set up on the machine correctly and the
    correct orientation can triple the cost in some cases. I've learned
    this the hard way. RP models also have a bit of an inherent surface
    texture that has to be sanded off in the casting. 

    CNC milling may be a good alternative, it's ideal for designs with
    lettering and crisp lines. The waxes are cut very cleanly with smooth
    surfaces, minimizing post-prototyping finishing. The ModelMaster CNC
    system that I use, was engineered specifically to make jewelry. It
    cuts along the vector lines of a letter, carving wax or other
    materials without losing detail or compromising on hard to reach
    angles such as the inside corners of the letter "A". 

    ArtCAM can "tell" the machine where the letters are..some CAD
    systems do not isolate discrete vector lines and some generic CAM
    systems use a sewing machine approach, criss-crossing the design as a
    whole, rather than cutting details and lettering on a separate
    toolpath, which does makes a difference in overall clarity and
    crispness. 

    This is probably a whole lot more than you wanted to know ;-) but
    let me know if I can be of help. 


Jesse Kaufman
JDK JEWELRY
CAD-CAM Technology
Handcrafted Originality
www.jdkjewelry.com


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