Hi, Rolf, that explanation was more helpful than some of the
others. Well put. I think the problem that most people had with
Johns presentation of CAD/CAM was that his selling point was
geared towards the “non jeweler sector” but he still was
approaching the jewelers with it and it was insulting. Sort of
“Hey, I have this machine and a monkey could make stuff so look
out your days are numbered” Well, not quite that bad but almost.
John needs to study his market a little better before approaching
it so he doesn’t alienate potential customers from the process.
And good luck with that as jewelers are a tough bunch to squeeze
into one category. One size does not fit all in this case. As a
designer AND metalsmith I can see the benefits/potential that
CAD/CAM holds BUT I can also see that it is only as good as what
you program into it. It is a TOOL. So the more knowledge you
start out with the better your odds of succeeding with it will
be. Hiroko Pijanowski had a display of CAD/CAM created jewelry at
the recent SNAG Conference in St. Louis last month. The
presentation given was slightly too technical for an introduction
to CAD/CAM. I would like to see another presentation on the
subject showing the exciting possibilities that could be
available if people embraced the technology. I look forward to
the July issue of AJM. And I am practicing with the JewelCad
demo. BUT it won’t stop me from the hands on sensual side of
metalsmithing that I know the majority of Orchid members love.
John Shanahan has expressed the point very well- a CAD/CAM
system is just a tool, and it is the creative mind behind it that
produces art with that tool. It takes time to model 3D images on
a computer- and to learn the software that makes this possible.
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?"
The engineers that I know are generally innovative, but not
particularly creative artistically- I know one retired Polaroid
engineer who probably can tell you everything about the chemistry
and mechanics of photography, but needs help styling still
images. My close friend Rif was hired to build the mechanical
system and write the control software for Max, a voice
controlled Lego robot that toured science museums for several
years, but it was the graphic designers who hired Rif who
designed Max’s appearance. A different engineer would have used
a different strategy to make Max work, but it was the graphic
designers that made Max cute and appealing to kids. When I first
looked at CAD/CAM systems at Gold Machinery several years ago,
Rif and a costume jewelry designed friend, Jill, were with me.
The resolution of the Sanders models didn’t impress me, but with
100 ton presses running on the same floor, there could easily
been a reason for this. The CNC milling machine in the same room
had cut a piece that stuck in my mind, however.
As much as I love tools and technology, the process of making
fine jewelry is a creative one, not mechanical. If you were able
to see the Thracian Gold exhibit- 4000 year old metal art, you
would recognise that art comes from the human heart and mind,
not a CAD/CAM system. Tools just help to form the object.
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
hi, we run a company called M2-Syetems that creates prototype
pieces for jewelry. if yoou need any work created on computer,
designs or just the prototype created from you files, you can
contact us at
(www.m2-systems.com)
thanks tom & john
Hi Neil- after reading your contributions, I was sure that you
were a salesman…so you just love this stuff…Well, I would
love a piece of your mind. What do you think of Modelmaster? Is
it overpriced and if so what would you recomend? I’m a designer
of a production line, and every year at the trade shows it’s the
same thing- I look at what I’ve been able to come up with and
wish that I could get more of that stuff out of my head & into
3D. While I do love carving wax- it does get a little redundent
doing the left on after I’ve just done the right one. Flipping it
would certainly save time & creative energy. Maybe you,re
reluctant to endorce a product on-line. If you could spare the
time my e-mail is: rfjd@netaxs. Very soon I’m going to take that
financial plunge I’m just not totally convinced that I have
enough info to make the right systems choice. Thanks in advance
for any input.
Rona
DeDe, I was given a couple of suggestions for Mac based Cad
programs. VectorWorks http://www.diehlgraphsoft.com At $595. it
is considerably less than the PC programs.
Another is Vellum 3D by Ashlar, check for a web site.
These came from the ArtMetal Site.
Teresa
This was interesting to read, as I am from the jewelry field and
studying to leap into the engineering one
(mechanical/astronautical). I hope that these skills, ability to
mentally skip from 2D to 3D and back will help, also familiarity
with manufacturing processes and so on. Is there anyone out there
in the same boat, or that can offer any words of wisdom (besides
the ones I garner from Orchid daily) ? Alicia Arnold
Hi Alicia, I think there are many Jewelers into the computer
technology stuff. It is a natural. We have to focus on so many
little details all at once. Often we don’t even realize how many
we balance until something trips us up like an injury and throws
us off.
Good luck.
July 31, 1999 Metalsmith gathering /party in Newport, RI contact me for
details.
Hi, I am a reseller of Ashlar Vellum. Call us at your earliest
convenience to discuss your CAD needs for the Macintosh platform.
You can download demo copies of our products at our website at
http://www.pda4.com
They are fully functioning, except for the printing and saving
have been disabled. Call us if you have any questions.
Best Regards,
Robert Hagemeister
Paradigm Design Associates
800-495-3295