• Models
• Patterns for Wax or Lost Investment Casting

CadBlu provides integrated manufacturing systems that produce models, prototypes, patterns, and even direct production parts directly from your digital data. Our solutions are continually updated and are state-of-the-art equipment, software and materials from industry leading manufacturers of input devices such as 3D Scanners, Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) Software, and output devices such as 3D Printers, Benchtop Milling Systems, and desktop Engraving Systems.

Computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software is used to create a 3-dimensional design. A variety of general purpose software products are available, as well as jewelry-specific design and manufacturing software products. Click here to view software options.

Output of Models or Casting Patterns

To actually produce the model pattern, the designer simply saves the file as an .STL file format, then builds the pattern on their choice of a number of 3-D printers or milling systems available from CadBlu's suppliers.

Application Overview

Jewelry design and manufacturing is comprised of these primary applications:

Models

Jewelry models produced from 3D Systems' ProJet 3D printers. Models can also be used as patterns for lost wax investment casting. Review all 3D Systems' ProJet 3D Printers

Jewelry models produced from 3D Systems' ProJet 3D printers. Models can also be used as patterns for lost wax investment casting. Review all Solidscape 3D printers

Models are output of design you have created on your 3D CAD or Jewelry design software into a 3D physical model. A 3-dimensional model can be used for a variety of uses - all of which help you determine that your design is as mature and complete as possible, and that your customer is as satisfied with the final product as possible. Traditionally, you may have sketched out some design concepts, and shown one or more renderings to your customer in advance - to show them what the final design will look like (sort of).

• A precise, physical part in your hands can demonstrate the nuances and flavor of a design in a way that no sketch or two-dimensional drawing can. There are a number of discrete uses of models as shown below:
• Communicate design intent - show a 3-dimensional model instead of a drawing, rendering or CAD view of the design.
• Get valuable input from the customer - who can now see a 3-dimensional model and generally provide much more valuable feedback during the design phase.
• Ensure the customer is fully satisfied with the design before proceeding to production phase.
• Test fit jewels
• Test fit on the customer

Patterns for Wax or Lost Investment Casting

	Jewelry designs can be output on 3D printers (Solidscape printer output demonstrated above), or machined with our benchtop mills. All 3D printers that CadBlu offers from leading manufacturers including 3D Systems and Solidscape produce models, as well as casting patterns for jewelry and other applications. Learn more about 3D printers. Digital manufacturing technologies utilize designs produced from solid modeling CAD software or other jewelry design software. A key benefit of a CAD design is that from inception of the design concept, the design is refined, then manufactured - all using the same design data. Initially, a design "model" is reviewed, iterated, and then refined to the satisfaction of you or your customer. Once the design is completed, the same data can be used to output a pattern for investment casting of various sorts. Various part geometries can be produced on the same build, and now nested in the Z (height) dimension to produce many more parts in a single build - usually several hours per build. Parts are supported or encased in low temperature wax support material, which is melted away after part building (shown before and after at right) Other manufacturing options are subtractive technologies, including: Benchtop Mills from Roland and CadBlu
	After the model design is finalized, a final wax pattern is typically output, then mounted to a casting tree for investment casting. Learn more about Casting of jewelry or other small parts
	The resulting casting is processed like any ordinary casting. Parts are cut off the tree, polished,  stones mounted and the jewelry completed.
	Jewelry patterns can be mass produced in a few hours, producing identical copies of one or more geometries in a single part build. This is a platform of bracelets produced in our SLA Viper system in our 3D Factory Service Bureau division.

We have full in-house service bureau facilities to support our client base with rapid models, casting patterns and prototypes.