How 3D printing is changing the jewelry industry

Application of 3D printing in jewelry design

3D printing is a type of rapid prototyping technology, also known as additive manufacturing. It is a technology that uses adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic to construct objects through layer-by-layer printing based on digital model files. .

3D printing is usually achieved using digital technology material printers. It is often used to make models in the fields of mold manufacturing, industrial design and other fields, and is gradually used in the direct manufacturing of some products. There are already parts printed using this technology. The technology has applications in jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, geographic information systems, civil engineering, firearms and other fields.

How 3D printing is changing the jewelry industry

3D printing has dramatically changed jewelry production as a rapid prototyping process. Here are a few ways it does this great job:

· It increases design freedom

With the ability to use rapid prototyping like HY autonomously, 3D printing can put a lot of power back into the hands of jewelry designers, increasing production speed and improving the prototyping stage. Using 3D design and printing can achieve details, solid geometries, shape lattices and complex hollow structures that are impossible to achieve using other manufacturing methods.

· It is less expensive than traditional jewelry production methods

Another important benefit of using additive manufacturing during the jewelry design stage is that it is less expensive. With this technology, jewelry prototype manufacturers can quickly prototype using low-cost plastic materials to quickly get the look of the final piece.

In jewelry making, the final look is important. It enables designers to check the fit, proportion and overall appearance of the piece in question, whether it is a pendant, bracelet, ring or necklace.

If a piece of jewelry's design is flawed or doesn't meet the designer's standards, it can easily be re-edited and reprinted without adding significant material cost or time.

· It improves the production process

The lost wax casting method is a production process in ancient China. In modern times it is still the method used to render the finest details in metalwork. Such products are often difficult to manufacture due to their cumbersome design. The lost wax method allows any metal to completely and faithfully reproduce the appearance of its wax pattern. Therefore, this method is still widely used in fields such as sculpture, jewelry processing, dentistry and industrial restoration. However, it is now possible to 3D print jewelry models out of a wax-like material.

The process involves printing the models with a wax material and coating them with a plaster material to form the mold. The plaster mold and wax pattern can then be heat treated to solidify the mold and burn off the wax. Finally, you can cast and remove the resulting mold using the desired metal material.

At HY, we offer a wide range of jewelry prototyping services and production applications. You can learn more about 3D printing resources here.