Jewelry Best Practice Series

Episode 16: In this episode Carrera CAD/CAM Director and Master Jeweler, Tom Manos, discusses critical 3D printer jet maintenance that will reduce the need to replace jets by extending their useful life. Proper jet maintenance steps ensure successful printing of models on your Solidscape 3Z High Precision 3D Printer. 

Take Aways - "Checking The Jets"

• How to clean the tip of the jet
• Make sure the jets are working

Episode 15: In this episode Master Jeweler and Carrera CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos, discusses critical inspection and maintenance of your Material Tanks and Filters to ensure successful model printing on your Solidscape 3Z High Precision 3D Printer.

Take Aways - "3Z 3D Printer Tank Maintenance"

• Check your filters
• Check the level of your material

Episode 14: In this episode Master Jeweler and Carrera CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos, discusses critical Pre-build inspection and maintenance steps for Blades and Rails to ensure successful printing of models on your Solidscape 3Z High Precision 3D Printer.

Take Aways - "Cleaning 3D Printer Blades and Rails"

• Clean your cutter blade
• Clean the rails
• Use lint-free paper

Episode 13: In this episode Master Jeweler and Carrera CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos, continues with Part 2 of the post-build inspection of your Solidscape High Precision 3D Printer.

Take Aways - "Post Build Inspection Pt2"

• Check the vacuum hose for clogging.
• Use a professional vacuum.
• Properly clean the cutter blade after every build.

Episode 12: In this episode Master Jeweler and Carrera CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos, discusses the post-build inspection of your Solidscape High Precision 3D Printer.

Take Aways - "Post Build Inspection"

• Finalize the print job
• Check belts for fraying and cleanliness
• Check rails for cleanliness
• Check paper for jamming and supply

Episode 11: In this episode Master Jeweler and Carrera CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos, discusses how to transfer your files to the Solidscape High Precision 3D Printer.

Take Aways - "Transferring Your Files To The Printer"

• Positioning parts for an optimum build.
• Prongs should face the cutter.
• Spacing between parts is important.
• Cooling is necessary for a clean cut.

Episode 10: Creating and Checking STL Files. In this episode, Mr.Manos explains how to create good quality STL files and how to check for inconsistencies.

Take Aways - "Creating and Checking STL Files"

• How too much information in your file will create a heavy file
• How to distinguish if your file is too heavy
• How to use file correcting programs to correct STL files

For the second installment of "The Best Practice" Series, Carrera Casting and Solidscape, bring to you The "CAD File Management" Segment. In episode 7,  Tommy shows the best cases when to implement grouping and how to properly boolean your design. 

Take Aways - "Watertight Solids"

• Naked Edges: Two surfaces have not been joined together and create a non-watertight solid
• Dirty files contain debris left over in your file and cause bad castings

Positioning and Planar Surfaces (Jewelry Best Practices – Episode 8) – In this episode Master Jeweler and Carrera CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos, discusses the importance of positioning to eliminate gaps and avoid coplanar surfaces for successful Booleans.

Take Aways - "Positioning and Planar Surfaces"

• Positioning to make sure the parts you Boolean together intersect completely
• Planer surfaces: two surfaces that coexist in the same dimension

For the second installment of "The Best Practice" Series, Carrera Casting and Solidscape, bring to you The "CAD File Management" Segment. In episode 7,  Tommy shows the best cases when to implement grouping and how to properly boolean your design. 

Take Aways - "Boolean vs Grouping"

• Boolean transforms separate parts into water tight solids.
• Grouping is moving multiple parts together.
• Check stones, positions and prongs to make sure pieces are “glued” all together.
• Best Practices: Ungroup everything before you boolean

Master Jeweler and Carrera CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos discusses the top four basic elements of Solidscape 3D Printer Maintenance: 

• Cleaning the machine,
• Replacing vacuum bag.
• Changing tank filters.
• Changing caps. 

In this Episode Tommy discusses the best approach to supporting delicate jewelry parts prior to casting.

Take Aways - Supporting Delicate Parts

• Situating your parts in a box.
• Building a wall around your delicate parts.
• Connecting your parts in your box with sprues
• Properly preparing your structure for casting.

In this Episode Master Jeweler and CAD/CAM Director, Tom Manos, will discuss the ideal way to implement supports and scaffolds in your design

Take Aways - Designing Support Scaffolds for Jewelry

• Designing supports for ring settings
• Supporting open shanks
• Supporting small settings
• Building brace supports for cuffs and bangles 

Back by popular demand, Tommy goes in-depth with proper tolerance control between prongs as well as your walls. Also see what is the best method when implementing your edges to prevent porosity in your final casting. This video goes over exact measurements that are ideal for the best results  

Take Aways - Prongs & Walls 2.0

• Leave at least a half millimeter (0.50mm - 0.020") separation between prongs and walls.
• Instead of "knife edge" corners, use a radius or fillet to make it cast-able, eliminating sharp inside corners and outside edges. 

Best way to implement your logo and lettering into your design to survive the casting process. 

Take Aways - Stamps, Logos and Draft Angles

• Drafting can be from 5 to 10 degrees.
• Use block lettering to avoid thin slivers of metal.
• Use lettering depths of 0.45 to 0.55 mm.

Tom discusses how the shape of prongs and nearby walls can effect the quality of your casting. Use our check list below and review the video to see how you can avoid problems with prongs and walls.

Take Aways - Prongs and Walls

• Check the height to width ratio of your prongs.
• Draft or taper your walls and prongs for structural support.
• Be aware of the spacing between your features so they can survive the casting process.