CAD/CAM Designer Tools

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Home Learning Center Jewelry Making CAD/CAMCAD/CAM Designer Tools

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers and designers in their quest to create their masterpieces. In this article we talk about CAD/CAM Designer Tools.

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CAD/CAM Designer Tools

Asiga PICO2 HD27

Designed to offer fast material change-over, the Asiga PICO 2 HD27 is a 3-D printer offering HD imaging resolution for increased detail definition and part smoothness. An open material system, the printer utilizes Asiga's Slide-and-Separate technology for minimum separation forces and maximum build speed. Offering an XY pixel size of 27 microns, the printer features a build envelope measuring 52 mm by 29 mm by 76 mm. With a touchscreen display for user convenience, the printer comes packaged with

Asiga's Composer software. Contact: Asiga, 2, 19-21 Bourke Road, Sydney NSW, Australia; 61-2-9690-2737; e-mail info@asiga.com; asiga.com. Proto Products, 7265 Kingston Road, Fairview, TN 37062; 1-615-799-4055; e-mail tyler@jettresearch.com; protoproducts.com.

Asiga MAX

Featuring an open material system, the Asiga MAX is a 3-D printer designed to offer maximum productivity in a minimal footprint. Measuring 26 cm by 38 cm by 37 cm, the printer boasts a print envelope of 119 mm by 67 mm. Capable of printing more than 50 rings in three hours, the printer uses Asiga's Smart Positioning System technology to accurately form each layer in minimal time and in repeatable precision and output. Packaged with Asiga's Composer software, the printer has a pixel size of 62 microns. Contact: Asiga, 2, 19-21 Bourke Road, Sydney NSW, Australia; 61-2-9690-2737; e-mail info@asiga.com; asiga.com. Proto Products, 7265 Kingston Road, Fairview, TN 37062; 1-615-799-4055; e-mail tyler@jettresearch.com; protoproducts.com.

B9R-6-Gray Resin

Ideal for design verification, conceptual modeling, and functional prototyping, B9R-6- Gray Resin is capable of extreme build speeds of 100+ mm per hour without sacrificing surface quality. Designed to maintain shape and dimension through the printing and post-curing processes, the resin is engineered for strength and temperature resistance for RTV and vulcanized molding. Contact: B9Creations, 525 University Loop, Ste. 115, Rapid City, SD 57701; 1-605-787-0652; e-mail info@b9c.com; b9c.com.

B9 Scan 350

Developed specifically for scanning jewelry and small objects, the B9 Scan 350 is designed to capture extreme details while reducing the time and cost of modeling and development. Offering an accuracy up to 15 microns, the scanner is customizable, allowing the user to configure the unit's scanning strategies and parameters. A plug-and-play system, the scanner can export in open formats, including STL, PLY, OBJ, and ASC, which can be read using any CAD/CAM system. Contact: B9Creations, 525 University Loop, Ste. 115, Rapid City, SD 57701; 1-605-787-0652; e-mail info@b9c.com; b9c.com.

B9 Casting Resins

B9Creations has added two new casting resins to its lineup. Developed as an improvement to the company's B9R-1-Cherry material, B9R-3-Emerald is designed to provide clean burnout without staining the investment, enabling the casting of thicker objects and the creation of prints that show the finest features of a design. It offers increased castability, print speed, and flexibility. Created in response to feedback from jewelers, B9R-4-Yellow is the company's fasting-printing castable resin and is designed to leave no ash or stain in the investment. In addition, B9R-4-Yellow models can be sprued alongside injected wax models and undergo the same burnout schedule. Contact: B9Creations, 525 University Loop, Ste. 115, Rapid City, SD 57701; 1-605-787- 0652; e-mail info@b9c.com; b9c.com.

B9 Core Series

Designed to print at speeds up to more than 100 mm per hour without sacrificing print resolution and surface quality, the B9 Core Series of 3-D printers allows users to print hundreds of models in a typical eight-hour work day. Two models are available in this printer series: the B9 Core 530 can achieve a pixel size of 30 μm and has a build area of 57.6 mm X by 32.4 mm Y by 127 mm Z; the B9 Core 550 offers a pixel size of 50 μm and a build area of 96 mm X by 54 mm Y by 127 mm Z. Capable of achieving a Z resolution as low as 10 microns, both printers can be operated with B9Creations proprietary resins and third-party materials. Measuring 59.7 cm by 41.9 cm by 26.7 cm (23.5 inches by 16.5 inches by 10.5 inches), the printers feature a touchscreen, pushbutton operation, built-in fume and odor filtration, and WiFi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity. Contact: B9Creations, 525 University Loop, Ste. 115, Rapid City, SD 57701; 1-605-787-0652; e-mail info@b9c.com; b9c.com. Rio Grande, 7500 Bluewater Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121; 1-800-545-6566; fax 800-965-2329; e-mail info@riogrande.com; riogrande.com.

Solidscape S300 Printers

Designed exclusively for jewelers, the S300 series of 3-D printers feature a re-engineered material delivery system, temperature control system, and tank-level measurement with a 100 percent increase in capacity. Offering fully automated, one-touch operation, the printers deliver a resolution of 5,000 dots per inch and an accuracy of 0.0005 inch for the first inch and 0.0001 inch for each additional inch. Two printers are available in the series: The S350 offers a layer thickness of 0.00025 to 0.003 inch, and the S370 has a layer thickness of 0.001 to 0.002 inch. Both printers have a build envelope of 6 inches by 6 inches by 4 inches (152 mm by 152 mm by 102 mm). They operate using Solidscape's new Midas castable material and Melt-J dissolvable support material. Contact: Solidscape Inc., 316 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, NH 03054; 1-603-429-9700; e-mail precision@solid-scape.com; solid-scape.com.

CBX62

Suitable for use with multiple materials, the CBX62 is a 3-D printer designed to reproduce minor details with high resolution and precision, maintaining the roundness of circular holes and complex shapes. The printer uses DLP technology to offer an XY resolution of 62 microns and a variable Z resolution between 10 and 100 microns. Measuring 14.17 inches by 13.11 inches by 18.3 inches, the printer has a build size of 3.15 inches by 1.97 inch by 3.94 inches. Contact: CAD Blu Inc., 37 W. 28th St., 9^th Flr., New York, NY 10001; 1-212-481-8700; fax 481-8737; e-mail info@cadblu.com; cadblu.com.

CBX34

Weighing 3 kg and measuring 270 mm by 140 mm by 175 mm, the CBX34 was developed to provide everything needed to print 3-D models in a small, compact footprint. Offering easy connectivity and high productivity, the printer has an XY resolution of 34 microns with a variable Z resolution between 10 and 100 microns. Available with robust software for minimal support generation, the printer has a build size of 1.73 inch by 1.1 inch by 2.75 inches. Contact: The Berco Tool Guys, 29 E. Madison St., Ste. 550, Chicago, IL 60602; 1-312-782-1050; fax 782-4441; e-mail info@bercocompany.com; bercojewelry.com. CAD Blu Inc., 37 W. 28th St., 9th Flr., New York, NY 10001; 1-212-481-8700; fax 481-8737; e-mail info@cadblu.com; cadblu.com.

Perfactory 4 LED Series

EnvisionTEC has expanded its Perfactory line of 3-D printers to include the new Perfactory 4 LED Series. Featuring a custom LED light system, the printers offer a variety of benefits, including lower operating costs and an improved range of brightness that allows for crisper black-white contrast between pixels, resulting in better final part detail. With an XY resolution of 100 μm, the printers have a build envelope of 192 mm by 120 mm by either 180 mm or 230 mm. Requiring calibration weekly instead of daily, the new LED light source is guaranteed for up to 20,000 hours for customers under warranty. Contact: EnvisionTEC, 15162 S. Commerce Drive, Dearborn, MI 48120; 1-313-436-4300; fax 436-4303; e-mail northamerica@envisiontec.com; envisiontec.com.

Vida cDLM

The Vida cDLM is a high-speed, continuous 3-D printer that utilizes EnvisionTEC's Continuous Digital Light Manufacturing (cDLM) technology to produce models with surfaces that show no signs of stair-stepping. With a build envelope of 90 mm by 50 mm by 100 mm (3.54 inches by 1.97 inch by 3.94 inches), the printer offers an XY resolution of 50 μm and a dynamic resolution in Z of 25 to 150 μm, depending on material. Using an industrial UV LED light source, the printer is compatible with all design software capable of outputting an STL file. The printer can be used with PIC 100 C, Q-View C, and East Cast 2.0 C materials. Its footprint measures 39.5 cm long by 35 cm wide by 78.7 cm high (15.55 inches by 13.75 inches by 31 inches). Contact: Envision-TEC, 15162 S. Commerce Drive, Dearborn, MI 48120; 1-313-436-4300; fax 436- 4303; e-mail northamerica@envisiontec.com; envisiontec.com.

Easy Cast 2.0 C

Available exclusively for use with EnvisionTEC's Continuous Digital Light Manufacturing (cDLM) technology, East Cast 2.0 C is a specially blended photopolymer that features a high wax content to allow for normal burnout and ensure consistent casting success. In addition, the material is formulated to create crisp details, from the smallest of pierced filigrees to the sharpest corners on raised surfaces. Contact: EnvisionTEC, 15162 S. Commerce Drive, Dearborn, MI 48120; 1-313-436-4300; fax 436-4303; e-mail northamerica@envisiontec.com; envisiontec.com.

Pro-Tech

Suitable for use with 3-D printed patterns, Pro-Tech is a barrier liquid designed to prevent resin models from sticking to rubber molds when applied prior to vulcanization. In addition, the liquid helps protect resin pieces during direct casting by preventing the resin from interacting with investment, which could lead to rough surfaces or inclusions in the final casting. It is available in 160g bottles. Contact: RomanoffInternational Supply Co., 9 Deforest St., Amityville, NY 11701; 1-631-842-2400; fax 842-0028; e-mail sales@romanoff.com; romanoff.com.

ProJet MJP 2500W

Developed to meet the needs of small to medium-sized companies, the ProJet MJP 2500W is a 3-D printer that uses multi-jet printing technology to produce real wax models. Designed to consistently print sharp edges, crisp details, and smooth surfaces with high fidelity, the printer features two modes: Fast, which can produce 20 rings in three hours, and Full Platform, which can build a full platform of models in 10 hours. With a resolution of 16 microns, the printer has a net build volume of 11.6 inches by 8.3 inches by 5.6 inches. Contact: CAD Blu Inc., 37 W. 28th St., 9th Flr., New York, NY 10001; 1-212-481-8700; fax 481-8737; e-mail info@cadblu.com; cadblu.com.

Tiger 3-D Printers

Offering the ability to print up to 55 advanced precision rings in three hours, the Tiger 3-D printers are an open system that can be used with a wide range of resins. Using HD DLP technology, the printers feature an HD UV LED projection engine and a high definition as fine as 30 microns. Available in three models, the printers have several optimization features, including surface smoothing, edge enhancement, and a turbo printing speed mode. The printers measure 32 inches long by 32 inches wide by 37.5 inches high. Contact: Romanoff International Supply Co., 9 Deforest St., Amityville, NY 11701; 1-631-842-2400; fax 842-0028; e-mail sales@romanoff.com; romanoff.com.

Matrix 9.0

The latest version of Matrix 3-D CAD software offers a number of new features designed to make jewelers more creative and productive. Among the latest additions are Smart Pattern, a tool that uses simple flat patterns to create complex 3-D designs and an updated Texture Builder that lets users use a grayscale image to control and apply creative surfaces and finishes to their designs. Clayoo 2.5, an organic modeling suite that allows users to design in a method similar to carving and shaping wax, is available and sold separately. Also included with the software is manufacturing integration with Stuller, which allows users to submit their CAD designs directly to Stuller for printing and casting. Contact: Gemvision, 302 Rue Louis XIV, Lafayette, LA 70508; 1-800- 357-6272; fax 877-619-1889; e-mail info@gemvision.com; gemvision.com.

CounterSketch

Developed to bring custom design capability to any retail operation, CounterSketch allows users to add virtual inventory to their repertoire, design and sell custom jewelry, and have their designs quickly manufactured by Stuller Inc. The latest version offers users the ability to customize their start screen. Other new features include an updated showcase search with design filters to simplify the search process, and an enhanced freehand function that merges the Customize Design and Freehand modes to create a seamless design process. In addition, users can take advantage of more than 150 new freehand parts, enhanced part menus, and large design details. Contact: Gemvision, 302 Rue Louis XIV, Lafayette, LA 70508; 1-800-357-6272; fax 877-619-1889; e-mail info@gemvision.com; gemvision.com.

RhinoGold 6.5

With a redesigned interface to make searching for and selecting jewelry components faster and easier, this latest version of RhinoGold offers new decorative features, including an azure cutter, dynamic tiling, a tool for creating advanced ropes along a curve, and a dynamic pattern tool that creates 3-D patterns from 2-D images. The software also includes a tool that helps optimize the position and orientation of models for printing. The program is recommended for use on laptop or desktop computers with a Windows operating system, an Intel i5 Quad Core 2GHz or higher processor, and 8 GB of RAM. The program also features seamless integration with Stuller Inc., allowing users to send designs directly to Stuller for manufacturing. Contact: Gemvision, 302 Rue Louis XIV, Lafayette, LA 70508; 1-800-357-6272; fax 877-619-1889; e-mail info@gemvision.com; gemvision.com.

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The award-winning Journal is published monthly by MJSA, the trade association for professional jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers. It offers design ideas, fabrication and production techniques, bench tips, business and marketing insights, and trend and technology updates—the information crucial for business success. “More than other publications, MJSA Journal is oriented toward people like me: those trying to earn a living by designing and making jewelry,” says Jim Binnion of James Binnion Metal Arts.

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