Pam, Let me share my expierences with you. My first computer
expierence was word processing in Word Perfect, a dos program. I
became very familiar with dos commands and with macros (short computer
programs that the customer would write for their own use to make the
word processing experience better. My first adventure with a graphics
program was Corel Draw 8. I found that I had a hard time making the
transition to the graphic world. One of my first experiences with the
program involved getting rid of a tool bar and I could not recover the
tools. Needless to say, I was banished from using the program. I
then found a program at my local collage. Once I explained my goals
to the instructor, he welcomed me. The course was in Autocad. He
said that it did not matter, because if I wanted to be good in this
area, I needed to have a basic understanding of Autocad. Without it,
he said, " I would like a football coach with no understanding of
blocking techniques." I then spent a year learing Autocad. I then had
many frustrating nights learning Autocad basics. I found my Autocad
experience to be very valuable. Graphic Design relies very heavily
upon geometric designs and 3d objects created with calculus and
Boolean logic. (Fortunately, you do not need to be a math wiz,
because the computer will do a lot of the work for you.) Autocad is
great for retangular designs. However, it lacks some tools tobe
really effective in curved designs. You can either write your own
tools using Macros or you can go to another maker to purchase the
tools to make this easier. I have used CAD without a CNC machine to
design flat surface items, such as earings, pins and coins. I have
printed the design with a laser printer and used a variety of
photo-sensitive products, which I use to create a hard model. Then I
create an injection mode and cast my items as would any other jeweler.
I have used a number of programs in the area of flat graphics,
including Autocad, Draw 8, and Adobe illustrator. Draw 8 and
Illustrator are in both Mac and Win platforms. I have yet to find a
3d solution that I am confortable with. I have recently downloaded
Rhino and I am still evaluating it. I have no reason to doubt that
there is an excellent solution out there. I am much faster at
designing any object in CAD then I am the old way. It was a painful
expierence making the transition, but I am much better having this
expierence. Mike Ruffenach
Thanks so much for your input Michael. I think it is important to
hear each others stories and feel a community in find a way through
this technology. I first found CAD in high school and refused to
submit wanting to focus on architectural drafting by hand which I
really loved. Of course here I am over ten years later embracing CAD
in jewelry making. One never knows! Cheers Pam
Does anyone have any on Computer Animated Design? I am
interested in learning how? Is the program that G.I.A. offers the
best one out there? How difficult is it to learn, and is it worth the
time for the average person like myself? I am a jeweler, and stone
setter, but not a wax-carver. I am good with Windows based programs.
Thank You, Michael Bartorelli G.G. @mbgg
Hi there! FIT in New York City will soon be offering an intensive
course in CAD for jewelry design with a focus on Rhino. I think the
dates will be at the end of April. Contact Microsol at (212) 465- 8734
or www.microsolresources.com. Also contact the JDPN for information
about training and workshops they offer on CADat www.jdpn.org.
-Juliet Gamarci
I haven’t used CAD for jewelry, but based on my experiences using it
for sculpture, I would say that it isn’t especially easy to start.
That you’re handy with Windows apps is a good sign, but you should
probably still plan for a serious learning curve, especially if you
work with a general-purpose program such as Rhinoceros, rather than
one of the expensive pieces of software that is specifically geared
towards jewelry.
Worth the time? I don’t know - it depends what you want to do with
CAD. It’s good for symmetrical objects, objects that must exist in
multiple sizes, getting a very precise appearance, and making things
that would just be too time-consuming to carve by hand. It’s
especially great for making multiples of things that aren’t moldable,
which there’s no other way to do at all.
I would advise learning as much as possible about the CAM systems
that you would be using to build your CAD models. It’s this building
technology (or carving technology, in the case of CNC milling),
rather than the CAD software, that will set the limits of what you can
do, and also of what is cost-effective.
Additive systems, such as the Solidscape machine, can do wonderful
things if you play to their strengths. But the models are not as
nice overall as hand-carved waxes, and for designs that don’t benefit
from the particular virtues of CAD, they’re probably not cheaper
either. (They might be if you buy a machine, of course, but that’s a
pretty solid commitment.)
I have a Solidscape machine, which I use for my own sculpture and as
a service bureau, and if you’d like to talk about prices and your
particular designs, I’m happy to take a look and tell you whatever I
can.
Hope this helps,
-Sheba