CAD/CAM systems

Jewelry Discussion
1

Rick, Very well put response and very accurate for the most part.
Here is my view on your response and I will break it down section
by section.

Both resolution and backlash contribute to the accuracy with 
which parts can be cut.

100% correct. The best desk top out there for resolution and
zero backlash is the Roland 3000 or 3001 which starts at $18,000
and is what I use for my metal molds, For 95% of the jewelers,
this is overkill to spend this kind of money on a machine. The
other 5% would be people like ourselves that produce very
specific and calibrated items and therefore the money is well
spent. For most people who are going to lap and polish their
jewelry after casting, do you think they are really going to
maintain the kind of resolution that the machine produced.
Hmmmmmmm!!!

 The third major factor is the rigidity of  the milling
machine.

Yes indeed a concern for those individuals who are machine shops
and are doing most of their cutting directly into metal, such as
tool and die makers. However we are talking jewelry components
here mostly to be cut into wax not large metal molds, I don’t see
where you can make the comparison when we are talking about a
little desk top machine for $1,295 not your industrial bench top
models that start at $18,000, or floor standing models that start
from $23,000.

 Small CNC milling machines, such as those  based on the Taig
or Sherline mills are simply not as accurate as  their larger
commercial counterparts.

Again you are correct, but the little machine I am talking about
is neither Taig or Sherline but does have a higher level of
accuracy than either one of them. This machine has not been
mentioned or promoted as an industrial/commercial machine
therefore how can we seriously compare the two entities, it’s
like mixing apples and oranges.

 I think Christian is right  in asking about the
specifications of the $2600 milling system-

Absolutely, however the people that seem to be more concerned
about the capabilities of this little machine are other
re-sellers of software and machines. No disrespect intended to
any dealer, so kindly do not take this as a personal attack. This
piece of hardware is what I consider to be an excellent
introductory machine with a lot of power for very little money
and nothing else. If your needs are more precision orientated,
then this of course is not for you.

  though people are cutting very useful parts on low cost
CAD/CAM systems.

Thanks, no need to add to that.

 Generally, the parts that I cut have small lettering and
other detail that is dependent on resolution for its accuracy.

Here is an issue that really has more to do with how you cut the
piece and more importantly the precise measurement of the end
mill used to machine the item. If the end mill is supposedly 1mm
and the actual gauge measurement is 1.05mm, then you are looking
at a tenth of a mm in deviancy if you machine around the letter.
To accurately measure those little letters and be able to
register credible defects in the job would be very difficult
indeed. I am not for one minute doubting that there is some
inaccuracy in the piece, I am just saying it would be very hard
to detect at that level. The differences are so microscopic, that
this is not an issue that is visible to the naked eye. (unless of
course you are the six million dollar man)

       Granted  I can't produce the same parts by hand,
Thanks again, just saved me some work there too lol. but the
machine has very  real limitations as well.

This is determined by the user. Everything has its pros and
cons, therefore the individual has to evaluate if the positive
aspects of utilizing a machine for their business eliminates the
negative aspects of not having one.

   CAD/CAM systems are a useful addition to the model making
tool collection, but enhance rather than  replace existing
proceedures.

Could not have said it better myself.

There is a machine for every situation, this happens to be a
nice price point to get started and limit your exposure. Cad cam
is a multi level topic. 99% of jewelers assume that the milling
machines are what cad cam is all about. Cam is computer aided
manufacturing, so the mill is a strong part of this side of
things. Cad means computer aided drafting which has much broader
connotations. With Cad your are not limited to the mills and
lathes etc., you have other methods and avenues to go from your
design to physical parts by utilizing the Sanders Prototyping
machine that will build your model layer by layer until finished.
This will outperform any milling machine on the model making side
of things.

Thank you again for your educated response Rick, I hope that all
communication is taken in the best light. If anyone wants to
learn I will gladly take the time to reply to any requests for
info.

Best Regards.
Neil George

2

Neil, Thank you for your response.

I have pitched an article to one of the industry magazines about
my experiences with the CAD/CAM system that I am using, but I
would also like to do a follow up piece on the range of systems
available for the small jewelry workshop.

The points that you made about accuracy are valid- certainly the
models are degraded by subsequent molding and finishing. Mold
cutting with these machines, rather than direct modeling, is
where CNC milling machines provide the most accuracy. I have also
seen EDM dies produced from electrodes cut with these machines.

My experience with the Sanders machines is limited to seeing a
machine two years ago at Gold Machinery. The actual time that it
takes to produce a 3D model both in computer design time and
production in the machine coupled with the initial cost of
$65,000.00 limits their affordability. While a large manufacturer
would be able to run this machine effectively, a single person
shop might not be able to keep up with the combination of
programming, model production, and find the time to sell the
product as well. A CNC mill would have to run less than 20 hours
a month to pay for itself. My mill has not replaced the time I
spend at the bench- but it has at increased my yearly model
output by a factor of 3-4 within the first four months.

When someone produces a $20,000 SLA/software combo that is as
user friendly as my current milling system, I will be very
interested. 3D modeling requires a lot of floating point
calculation- and thus a very fast graphics oriented computer.
This type of hardware and the 3D software are just becoming
available at an affordable price. My mill is connected to a 3
computer network, typically, all 3 machines are running related
software when I am designing and milling parts.

Richard D. Hamilton
A goldsmith on Martha’s Vineyard
Fabricated 14k, 18k, 22k, and platinum Jewelry
wax carving, modelmaking, jewelry photography,
CAD-CAM…
http://www.rick-hamilton.com

3

Rick, I am glad to see that there are many success stories from
individuals who have chosen to embrace the technology and tackle
it head to head. However, there are just as many businesses if
not more who have put themselves into the position of purchasing
a nightmare due to the reason of not getting the right
technology for themselves. This dialogue between us, hopefully
will be of value to the many that realize something has to give.
We watch the movie Star Wars, and gawk at the technology like the
light sabre etc. Little do we realize that this technology has a
wide use in jewelery already. We can weld, engrave and mark the
girdles of diamonds, therefore there is a slow and steady change
all around us but we possibly fail to identify or acknowledge
that it is right there staring us down as we speak.

   The actual time that it  takes to produce a 3D model both
in computer design time and  production in the machine coupled
with the initial cost of  $65,000.00 limits their
affordability.

The above comment has some merit from the stand point of a
non-user, but as a user of the sanders and being a small 2 person
business I would have to disagree. The actual drawing time can be
very quick, in fact we can draw 3-4 models that utilize Invisible
Setting for a company in a day. The fact that the machine takes
maybe 12 hours to machine out the pieces is of no concern to me.
The fact that the machine is fully automated and is working
whilst I am at home relaxing is of great importance. If you
consider that I charge $250-300 per model, then really you can
calculate that the overall daily gross is more than sufficient
for it not to be of concern and to fully justify the investment.
Yes the initial cost of entering the technology is high, but in
my case the equipment was fully paid for in 2 years. Keep in mind
that my whole set-up was in excess of $150.000, and looking back
I’m glad I took the plunge and that it worked out for me. It
could very easily have not, as I did not have anywhere or anyone
to turn to for help, I am just thankful that by the grace of god
I was able to tie everything together. The speed is there, the
ability is there, if you have the work then you can’t go wrong.

  While a large manufacturer  would be able to run this
machine effectively, a single person  shop might not be able to
keep up with the combination of programming, model production,
and find the time to sell the  product as well

Most of this was answered above, but I would like to touch on
the programming side of this technology. The beauty of the
software that we use, is that it has great deal of power and
allows the immense flexibility to output to either CNC or STL
for the Sanders and other rapid prototyping technologies. Unlike
the CNC Mill, the Sanders does not require any programming skill
whatsoever. The 3D model design is brought into the Sanders
program and positioned on a grid for alignment. From there you
merely select the resolution of the build and the # of copies
for that part or multiples of different parts and click ok. The
program automatically slices the part and builds its own
language of communication ready for the machine. Once this is
done, you send the file to the machine and start building. Could
not be easier. From the stand point of CNC, numerically
controlled codes need to be generated for the machine to know
what it is to do. Even though many of the software packages out
there did a great job in automating this process, there is still
much thought and manual intervention required to accomplish the
task. The software we use, utilizes a plug-in to automatically
recognize features for what they are and assign toolpaths to
these surfaces to be machined and recognizes instantly holes to
be drilled, contours for pocketing or outline finishing. It will
select the tool for you, build the code, and acknowledge all of
your dimensions from your model. Should your model be modified,
then all toolpaths will be modified accordingly and
automatically. The Sanders MMII is $65,000, yet there are a few
of the MM6 Pro available as reconditioned units for $40,000, a
huge saving whilst they last.

  When someone produces a $20,000 SLA/software combo that is
as  user friendly as my current milling system, I will be very 
interested.

You hit the nail on the head, and this is already reality. We
offer the ideal software package that will allow the jewelry
designer the ability to draw the design on screen and output the
file Via e-mail to us for the actual machining. As mentioned
before, as soon as the individual is ready for a machine then we
will put them into that entity, should they not want to bother
with the machining and just want to design then we will continue
to support that person. Our service offers them the ability to
have the piece machined and cast into the desired metal. Here is
the sweet part, you can enter this power for $3,995 and be ahead
of the crowd in a flash. Our software has been voted the #1 3D
modelling program in the world since 1995 with over 30,000 seats
sold. When companies come to market with a new software, it is
this software that they use to gauge how good it is. Something
must be right because there are dozens of plug-ins or add-ins
that just keeps making it more powerful. As I’ve said many times
there are options for every situation and at every price level

  I have also seen EDM dies produced from electrodes cut with
these machines

EDM means electrical discharge machining and is an incredible
machine. The new wire EDM does not require you to machine a
graphite electrode to cnc plunge the cavity, but uses a thin wire
to burn away the material rather than how an end mill cuts away
the material. Very pricey but definitely the way to go for
extreme precision. No SLA, STL or SLS technology will beat this.

Anyway folks, hope this added a little more to your arsenal. If
anyone requires a one on one conversation I would be glad to do
it just give me a number and we can shoot the breeze.

Best regards.
Neil George

4

Rick,

Sanders has customers that are small jewelers. It totally
depends on the amount of pieces you produce. The Sanders machine
is about $1500 per month. This means that you need to produce
somewhere between 8 - 10 new pieces per month. The machine is
capable of building everything. Fred Betlach, of BETLACH, Fine
Handmade Diamond Jewelry, has an MMII, a laser machine and a
casting machine. Perhaps you should give him a call and find out
why he builds everything on his MMII. Even simple wedding bands
are built correctly.

His number is 612-339-6446

Regards,
Rolf

5

Curious about the Sanders and other rapid prototyping systems.
While doing the research before purchasing my mill system I also
inquired about the yearly maintenance requirements of different
systems. My 3d engraving system doesn’t require much beyond
replacing the motor brushes (@ $15 a set) maybe once a year and
the expense of my cutting bits (@ $12-$15 ea. or $5 ea. for
resharpening) plus the cost of the material I want to cut. On
the other hand, I was told that the rapid prototype systems
require much, much more maintenance. What would be a realistic
annual maintenance figure for these types of systems?

6

The boss would never forgive me if I didn’t throw this into the
CAD/CAM discussion: the upcoming (July) issue of AJM magazine
features an article called “The Question of CAD/CAM.” The
article provides an overview of the technology and discusses what
you need to consider prior to integrating CAD/CAM into your
operation. The article does not look at specific machines,
systems, or software, but looks at the concept overall.

If anyone’s interested in reading the article but doesn’t have a
subscription to AJM (shame on you!), e-mail me at
@John_Shanahan, and I’ll get you a copy as soon as it comes
out (which should be early next week).

7

To those interested in CAD/CAM My name is John Mastoloni, my
company is called M2 Systems if you would like to learn more just
ring up my site http://www.m2-systems.com let me tell you that
CAD/CAM is the future of jewelry manufacturing. You all may feel
that you are craftsmen who’s skills cannot be duplicated on a
computer and you are correct. The computer is not, going to
replace you, the computer is only a tool. However a good designer
with CAD skills will drive you out of business with in the next
10 years. This is not a threat, it is reality. I came over to
jewelry from engineering over 2 years ago and I have been using
CAD in the Jewelry industry and I have been doing quite well. I
now have 2 CAD operators working with me as well as a CNC machine
and 2 Sanders MM2 model maker machines. I took the plunge back
then and invested $10,000 in software $7,000 in hardware. This
same package is now $10,000 for both software and hardware. The
truth is that the systems are getting cheaper, but those that are
in there designing now are going to be ahead of those who jump in
two years from now. This does not mean that you need to buy a
full blown version of 3D CAD maybe start with Corel draw or Adobe
illustrator and work your way up to a CAD package. If you are
using a CAD package then send your CAD models to a service bureau
to produce a rapid model. If you could learn to work together,
maybe 3 of you could come together and buy a modelmaker for
$65,000 it is not cheap but you can share the costs. I have
spoken with a lot of people at the MJSA, JA and JCK shows. I work
in conjuction with the people from Gesswein to show the
Modelmaker for Sanders. During these visits, I have found that
the questions are the same. If you go ahead and buy a CAD system
and continue to work in a similar fashion that you do now you
will not be successful. The idea behind using CAD is that you can
produce a more exact piece that can be quickly modified.
Therefore, the computer can produce an model with exact wall
thickness and exact left and right models. Ring sizes and design
can be quickly modified to produce a new model in a few hours not
days. These are facts. Therefore, you must change your whole
attitude towards design when you invest in CAD/CAM.

I hope that I could shed some light on this CAD mystery. I know
that a lot of this is confusing and the salesmen out there are
not making it easier. Do your homework and you’ll find that there
really is no other industry in the world that is not using
CAD/CAM. So sooner or later, jewelry will fall in line

8

Hello, Any cad\cam service bureau out there? I need someone to
rapid-prototype my 3d designs. I never done it before but I need
to jump in and try it. Many thanks.

Fady Sawaya
Sawaya Designer Jewelry
Fax & Voice Mail (New York):(212)656 1272
@Artemis

9

I agree that in this day and age you really have to be computer
literate. Even my parents are now well versed on a IBM
platform. The one problem I do have with CAD/CAM systems is that
they are not compatible with a Mac based systems. For graphics
the standard computer equipment is either an SGI computer or Mac
computer. I know, I have been in the high end graphic and
animation biz for a long time. I am waiting for someone to
develop software that will run on properly on the computer set up
I have at home. When is that going to happen? Anyone know? The
jewelry biz has got to get with the program and develop software
that will work on several different platforms instead of just an
IBM based system. Especially since most design colleges only have
Mac and SGI systems for design already.

DeDe

10

Finally someone is actually asking me a question on what it
costs to keep the Sanders machine running. First of all, the
system comes with a full warranty for one year. Everything is
covered except for the materials that you would actually use.
95% of any problem is solved over the phone, 5% of the time
someone from either the home office or a field office will visit.

When we sell a machine, installation and training is included in
the price. When we install the system, we teach you everything
you need to know on the operation of the system. We stay for 3
days, we don’t just plug it in and leave, in fact we expect that
you have already plugged it in when it arrives. After 1 month,
we expect that you come to our facility in NH for 2 more days of
training.

Maintenance the first year shouldn’t cost you anything. To
continue the warranty, it will cost $6K per year, well worth the
investment.

We have over 135 customers using this equipment in the jewelry
industry and we take really good care of all of them.

Regards,
Rolf

11

Dear John, I promised Chris (in Hawaii) I wouldn’t make any more
technical comments about CAD CAM. I don’t plan on starting now. I
just think I and others may share some of the same feelings about
CAD CAM.

Technology is here to stay. CAD CAM is entering the jewelry
industry. All true. But the reality of jewelry making is that I
LOVE to hand make my pieces. There is something about holding
raw materials in my hands and producing something of beauty that
brings me great joy and satisfaction. It challenges me. It also
brings great sentiment and joy to my customers. When they know I
HANDMADE this piece especially for them, it makes it even more
special.

Shoud I compare oil painting to photography? Should I compare
handmade pottery to mass produced porceline? Should I compare a
sound machine to a musician? Should I tell any of these people
they are out of date and not necessary? I don’t think so. I think
both hand made and machine made jewelry will have a position in
our field. The mass market makes that happen.

I do CAD CAM at my shop (not at school yet). We make class
rings. I can’t detail them as well by hand tooling the letters
and designs. But only 1/3 of the rings are CAD CAM. The other
2/3rds are hand modeling and traditional manufacturing. THIS you
can sell to me. THIS complements what I do by hand. THIS is a
tool I want to learn. Maybe this is too simple? Or too much to
ask?

Where I feel sellers and supporters of CAD CAM go wrong is to
say your can make everything by the machine. I don’t want a
machine to make everything. I’m not really impressed with the
tooled pieces I’ve seen. I enjoy doing as much as I can by hand.
I add a softness and personal touch to my jewelry. At this moment
in time I think that the CAD CAM jewelry I have seen LOOKS like a
machine made it. (I hope I don’t start an asthetics thread here)
And besides the best jewelry I have ever seen is the jewelry I
like! (How’s that Virginia?) And to tell the truth it’s mostly
handmade jewelry, (except for my class rings).

I do feel it is a great tool, but the application of simple
surfacing is what would be most accepted and it is already
considered old technology because of stereolythography. If you
want to be REALLY successful selling and presenting this
technology you can’t over engineer the product or process.

I do have an open mind and have been known to change it. Any
other coments or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

I have a lot more to say on this subject but I’m tired an want
to go to bed.

Night all &best regards,
TR the Teacher & student

12

In reply to the article written by John Masteloni, He is
absolutely correct in identifying the necessary skills for the
future survival of many jewelry businesses. However my biggest
and most logical concern is to this statement he made:- (No
disrespect to John is intended. )

  I came over to jewelry from engineering over 2 years ago and
I have been using CAD in the Jewelry industry and I have been
doing quite well.

This to me should be the eye opener for everyone concerned with
the direction the jewelry business is heading. The fact that
someone from a totally different profession such as engineering,
has been able to successfully carve a niche in this business
without the obvious jewelry apprenticeship, should be a major
concern for everyone. Granted (depending on the type of jewelry)
the technology will never replace the jewelers ability to
complete the task of finishing the piece, however the main
issue is that there is going to be an increase in the intrusion
from other walks of life and industries.

( Like we need more headaches) This is the classic example of
what is to come, yet a more important question is what is to
become of the industry in general?. We have already battled
against cheaper goods entering the market from over seas, yet
most have us have been able to adapt and combat this influx. Some
(and a minority) have for a while profited handsomely from such
pieces, but overall it has reduced the amount of justified
payment for craft ability. This enforces the whole point of my
discussions on this forum, that the industry really needs to
wake up and face the fact that we are not alone and the
possibilities for individuals to enter our world is indeed
endless. (sounds like something out of the Twilight Zone)

Here is a question for all of the journeymen and women out
there. Does this mean that other large conglomerates who have the
hard cash and are only interested in stripping profits by means
of volume, can utilize this technology and enter the designer
market and further degrade what little is left of the dignity of
craft ability?. Maybe Bill Gates will give this a shot too, he’s
into everything else.

Personally, and to some degree, but not all, I would have to say
yes. The problem is that we have educated the consumer to such a
degree, that the saving grace for the designer jeweler is in his
or her ability to remain profitable by offering something
different and unique, and not readily available anywhere else.
In a nutshell, this is where I drew the line and said if I can’t
beat them, at least limit their effect on my business. The fact
of the matter, is that with this technology, it is going to be
very easy for them to enter the designer jewelry area, and who
will be able to stop them. This is closer than you think. My motto
is, I beleive I’m ready, I hope I’m ready, but at least I’m
here.

Maybe a good thread for someone to start, would be the effects
of the mass merchandisers in the mall and on TV on the rest of us
Mom and Pop businesses. Best Regards. Neil George.

13

So, $80-90,000 over 5 years. I can afford to wait. Someone is
bound to develop a smaller, less expensive machine in the next
few years. The Sanders machine really is finding its clientele-
service bureaus that are reselling its capabilities. I just want
to make and sell my jewelry.

14

DeDe A lot of why these systems run on platforms other than Apple
has to do with the availability of software, and how it was
developed. Much of CAD/CAM software is run on proprietory
machines- it is really just the most recent benchtop mills that
are, for reasons of cost, run from a PC.

While the original Motorola 68000 series of processors dealt
with graphics better than Intel’s early processors, this ir a
rather mute point in the current crop pf PCs. You can deal with
the problem by connecting the machines over a network- all you
are really looking for is file compatability.

Machines like the SGI models were developed to run graphic
programs, and were sold to a small market. A PIII or G3 has a lot
more processing power than a 10 year old workstation that cost
$50,000 new, or a Cray super computer, for that matter.

What matters is this processing power can be used to model
jewelry designs, and the files can be translated into code the
CAM machines understand. My guess is

that SLA machines will get smaller and cheaper, as well, over
the next 5 years.

After all, the current Sanders machine takes 40 hours to make 10
pieces in its tank. Someone is likely to make a smaller, faster
machine, if they think the demand is there. The sales commissions
will probably be smaller, too.

15

Odds are I should sit back and just read, but the coffee’s fired
me up this morning, so in go my two cents’ worth.

When I got ready to do my article on CAD/CAM, I fully expected
the people I interviewed to tell me that CAD/CAM was a gift from
the gods, that it was about to revolutionize the art, that it
would bury model makers and dance on their graves.

What I heard instead–across the board–was that CAD/CAM is
nothing without an artist behind it. My favorite quote in the
article comes from a consultant who asked, “Where is the ‘make
art’ button on the computer?” Without that creative spark behind
it, CAD is essentially good for making circles in 3-D. I could
sit down and teach myself a CAD program, but I lack the
designer’s eye to make BEAUTY. Put me and a talented designer
down in front of CAD, let us learn it at the same time (assuming
we learn identically), and he or she will still blow me
away–because I’m not a jewelery artisan.

I was also told by most of the people I interviewed that while
CAM cuts or builds models quickly, it’s not terribly good at high
detail or texturing. And someone has to clean the waxes–someone
with a good eye, a good hand, and an understanding of jewelry.

The people who make and sell CAD/CAM are more than willing (in
my experience) to tell you: this technology is not going to kick
in your doors and take over the way you do business; it’s waiting
for you to invite it in and let it help you better do what you
do.

16

This conclusion is one of many that can be drawn from John’s
statement. He isn’t exactly replacing David Yurman, is he? There
are plenty of people from different professions that are drawn
to making jewelry.

      I came over to jewelry from engineering over 2 years ago
and I have been using CAD in the Jewelry industry and I have
been doing quite well.

It is the Providence and similar manufacturers who are suffering
and declining, not the independent goldsmiths and crafts people.
The last Providence MJSA show was not exactly a hotbed of
activity- they are probably still waiting for the next Mood ring.
They are dead in the water because there is no one to copy, and
if they do copy someone like Yurman, he takes them into Federal
Court.

       This to me should be the eye opener for everyone
concerned with the direction the jewelry business is heading.
The fact that someone from a totally different profession such
as engineering,  has been able to successfully carve a niche in
this business without the obvious jewelry apprenticeship,
should be a major concern for everyone.

Engineering is really not drastically different from jewelry-
craftspeople apply engineering principals to their work every
day. Now if John were a professional jockey or a diver, it might
be interesting. Creativity comes from many directions.

Richard D. Hamilton
A goldsmith on Martha’s Vineyard
Fabricated 14k, 18k, 22k, and platinum Jewelry
wax carving, modelmaking, jewelry photography,
CAD-CAM…
http://www.rick-hamilton.com

17 
  Maintenance the first year shouldn't cost you anything.  To
continue the warranty, it will cost $6K per year, well worth
the investment.

Are we to interpret this as saying to expect a maintenance bill
of at least a $6,000 a year plus supplies? What needs to be
replaced on a regular basis?

18

I think you might have stepped a little to hardon John
Mastoloni. I have no idea what the big concern is. John is not
a jewelry designer, he gets designs from jewelers and
incorporates them into CAD and then produces them on the Sanders
ModelMaker.

Like I’ve said many times, the key ingredient is the designer,
the creator. It is the same as if the designer handed his design
to a model maker to crave out of wax. In the case of John, the
designer gives his design to John to put into CAD. There are big
advantages doing designs in CAD. First of all you can do many
at the same time. You can save a design and finish it later.
You can modify a design quickly.

There’s no threat of Engineers infiltrating your industry. We
all can’t purchase an original work of art but thank god for
lithography, so that we all can enjoy. I’m not sure that we’d
like to go back to a world of no computers. You probably
already know that computers design nothing, people design using
computers.

Rolf

19

Well put but you are missing a key ingredient. A machine can
not create a piece from nothing. I have made many presentations
on CAD/CAM for the jewelry industry. At MJSA, I gave a
presentation on designing jewelery using Jewelcad. What is
rather interesting, I can design jewelry but it looks like sh__.
The reason it looks like this is because I have NO artistic
ability. In every case the class is quite intriqued that I can
produce something so quickly. Now just imagine that you designed
the piece, afterall you are the creative one.

What’s important about creating a painting, the painter changes
his mind often and paints over the same area many times until he
feels it is correct. The same is for the musician, he or she
changes it also many times.

We are not taking your creativity from you because without that
the machine can’t produce it. What is important is just like the
painter and musician, without changes we wouldn’t have creative
paintings and music. What the machine does is create your vision
as you see it, perfect circles, perfect prongs, mirror images,
etc. The machine is absolutely a waste of money if you can’t
fill it with your designs.

Your design makes the difference, not the way you built it by
hand. The copyright is the design not the way you built it.

I sent out over 100 Jewelcads for you to try. If you hadn’t,
why not send them back, others would like to try them.

Regards,
Rolf

20

rolf - we would both probably be surprised to learn just how many
of us were once in the engineering field - came to jewelry
design myself from the aero/defense industry. it is neat to be
able to use the conceptual & spatial abilities that served me
well in that area to design jewelry. seeing just about any
fabricated piece & being able to ‘explode’ it into its
individual parts to understand its construction has been a large
part of my self-teaching. what i do find puzzling is the number
of established designers & makers who can’t look at a piece & be
able to tell how it was constructed. as for sitting down,
designing & then making a piece from only the mapped out
paperwork - i leave to the casters who have to do it that way.
my pieces evolve more like the ‘david’ method of design:
michelangelo’s design with the sharp hip angle was to accomodate
a gouge made into the side of the marble block from an earlier
artist’s attempt to carve something. ‘murphy’s law’ in jewelry
design is an inspiration to do different things in different
directions to get really different results. the thought of
accomplishing any good designs on cad/cam leaves me
inspirationless - although the first time i encountered fractals
on a monitor about 15-16 years ago they looked like they had
tile design possibilities. ive