Jewellery is a key market for Unimatic, and Unimatic is a key resource for jewellers who are considering investing in the future - in digital jewellery.
Without investing in such new technologies as CAD, Rapid Prototyping, CNC machining, Laser Scanning and Laser Marking, there is a danger that designer makers will be left behind by global competition.
At Unimatic, we scour the world to find the cutting edge, market leading technologies and products. On this screen, we introduce you to some of the technologies available to you which will bring you significant competitive advantage.
CAD (Computer Aided Design)
Creating a model in CAD is the starting point for all these technologies. Once you have designed a piece of jewellery digitally on your PC, you are then in a position to exploit rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technologies – Rapid Prototyping and CNC Machining.
There are a number of different technologies available for the jeweller who wants to bring his design quickly to market. This link will take you to those offered by Unimatic, which has the widest range of rapid prototyping technologies of any company.
The typical designer maker will be looking to design once on CAD, and then replicate that design. The best technology offered by Unimatic for this requirement is the DWS range. The entry level product, the DigitalWax 010, is ideal for those who just want to produce rubber / silicone mouldings. The other machines, from the 010 Plus, offer the capability of producing castings as well.
Follow the link for more information, and call Unimatic on 020 8922 1000 if you want to discuss your application. We can even take one of your CAD designs and produce a model for you, so that you can see the superb quality, accuracy and surface finish of the resin models produced on the DWS machines.
* New high volume RP system !
Unimatic has launched the best value and highest performance rapid prototyping machine for jewellery pattern manufacture.
This link takes you to the desktop range of CNC Machines offered by Unimatic. These are the best machines for cutting models from solid material, typically wax.
These machines are available in two formats:-
3 axes of movement, which allows you to work in 2D and 2½D, and 4 axes of movement, where a rotary 4th axis is added to the machine, and this enables full 3D machining to take place
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For the jeweller working with larger designs, Unimatic can also offer, from its huge range of CNC machines, machines suitable to any size requirement, as well as a choice of motors (stepper motors for lower cost applications, and servo motors for higher speed)
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Another way of creating a CAD file is to start with an existing piece of jewellery. A 3D laser scanner enables you to create a CAD file from the scanned information. You are then in a position to work on that CAD file, and either create a copy of the scanned object (how could you otherwise produce an earring to match an existing one, when one of a pair is missing), or create something different, but starting from the original design.
The product which will give you the best results is that from LaserDenta. Designed for jewellery and dentistry applications, their JewelryScan will give you a resolution down to 10 microns
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Associated links
We attach some links to organisations that we know are active in the development and growth of digital jewellery – the use of CAD/CAM software and related hardware to update the design and production methods in the jewellery sector.
The Goldsmiths’ Company - The Goldsmiths' Company are very supportive of new technology for jewellers. This link takes you to the screen promoting technology and training.
Jewellery Sector Investment Plan - This website represents the Jewellery Sector Investment Plan (JSIP) is a regional project aimed at revitalising the London jewellery and allied industry and to improve its competitiveness.
A key training and resource centre for jewellery in the West Midlands is the School of Jewellery within UCE. A new website is in the process of preparation – watch this space!
Holts Academy - The gemstone and jewellery experts, Holts, have set up a key training resource for jewellers - the Holts Academy. This is of particular interest for jewellers wishing to learn about CAD/CAM.
Metropolitan Works - Metropolitan Works, part of London Metropolitan university, provides a Digital Manufacturing Centre, which they describe as “providing creative minds with the tools to innovate”. This is aimed at designer makers in general, including jewellers.
British Jewellers’ Association - The British Jewellers’ Association is the national trade association which promotes and protects the growth and prosperity of UK jewellery and silverware suppliers.
Unimatic's Support
Unimatic has supplied equipment to a number of organisations in the jewellery sector, either for training and education, or for jewellery manufacture. They include:
CNC machines:
Delcam, who resell our machines with their software
Peter Wilson Silversmiths
Goldsmiths College
Kelley Morgan Models
Cornish Tin Casting Company
3D Craft
Rapid Prototyping machines:
Holts Academy
Lionel J Whiffen
Rapid Models
ArtCraft Works
Oxford University
Sunderland University
Becky Currant
We look forward to you joining our list of customers!
Related Events
Unimatic will be exhibiting its jewellery related products at the TCT Show.
This event, which is focusing on the jewellery sector, is taking place on 21–22 October 2008 at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry.
The Goldsmiths’ Company
