In recent years CAD/CAM has seen tremendous growth as an accepted technology in the jewelry industry. As jewelry manufacturers increasingly bring these new methods of design and materials into the daily production arena, the specific relationship between the various CAD/CAM technologies and the casting process has been an area of great challenge. This paper compares the advantages of additive fabrication manufacturing methods, generally termed Rapid Prototyping (RP), and focuses on the new machine technologies available for producing jewelry-quality models in this quickly changing field. Finally, the materials and techniques used in the casting process specific to RP models are explored. Shrinkage rates, thermal expansion, burnout parameters and surface treatments must all be considered differently from traditional wax model casting.

Author: Steven Adler, Teresa Fryé