Digital Jewellery Design II Central

Course details

Computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD and CAM) processes are revolutionising jewellery today. Freelance designers can produce one-of-a-kind jewellery at a fraction of the cost and jewellery manufacturers can increase production time and quality well beyond what was possible using traditional hand crafting. Understand the designs and materials that lend themselves well to CAD/CAM as well as both conceptual and practical methods for achieving quality results when using these methods.

Gain this knowledge using industry-leading CAD software by Gemvision: Matrix VII. Together with software skills, learn useful sizes, shapes and measurements and gain substantial experience designing jewellery to specifications and preparing designs for production. This program culminates in the design & production of your own fine design!

What will I learn?

This course begins with an introduction to the latest technologies in jewellery prototyping including equipment, techniques and services. Learn to produce jewellery design files ready for manufacture and how best to use service bureaus to cost-effectively manufacture accurate, stunning jewellery. As the final course in the FJD programme, you will sketch, design, model, render and produce your final project!

• Customizing and Repeating Shapes, Advanced Curves: Build both symmetrical and asymmetrical component based jewellery quickly and efficiently. Create advanced curved in 3 dimensions and use these gemstone placement and setting tools to achieve to unusual effect.
• Pavé Settings: Discover ways to space gemstones on the surface of your designs in standard pavé patterns and unusual styles. Work with large quantities of gemstones to build shared prong arrangements and neat pilot holes or azures.
• Introduction to CAD and CAM: Learn CAM methods used for jewellery including milling, multi-jet modelling, and stereolithography. Production methods such as vacuum casting are also discussed to clarify the process for production of designs from CAD.
• Preparing Models for Rapid Prototyping: Steps needed to convert working models with multiple objects into a solid object ready for rapid prototyping are covered together with common pitfalls and challenges. Local and international service bureaus are introduced.
• Additional tools: Learn new tools for building components or entire pieces of jewellery. Identify sources for further growth.