Why a Blog? Part Dos

What's in it for You?  

Well I'll tell ya!  Aside from satiating my creative writing side, I also have a jewelry designer inside of me.  In order to expand I need to invest in a CAD/CAM system which runs upward of near $10,000.00 - $250,000.00!

What the heck is CAD/CAM?  

CAD/CAM is an acronym for Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing.  CAD/CAM systems are used all over the world to manufacture products from engine parts, computer circuit boards to dentistry!   I was trained on one of these systems specifically for jewelry making about 9 years ago by one of the jewelers I used to work for.  At the time I was only one of two people in the entire city of San Antonio that was proficient in the entire CAD/CAM process start to finish.  The other person in the city that knew this system was the lady that I worked with that trained me so we had a real niche in this city.

The number of people in this city and world wide with CAD/CAM experience in jewelry making is still very limited so I feel I still have a niche in this market.

I am the Controller for a jewelry store.  I run the business start to finish from the accounting, taxes, payroll, customer service to buying inventory and changing out a watch battery if I have to!  We buy our jewelry from a manufacturer.  With a CAD/CAM system, my partner James and I will be the manufacturers!  Cutting out the middle man so that we can offer our customers a higher quality, custom designed piece of jewelry at a fraction of the time AND price!  A custom piece of jewelry to be made by hand takes upward of at least 6 weeks, it can be done faster depending on how intricate the design is but again it is hand made.  It is not perfect!

CAD/CAM made pieces ARE perfect, and from start to finish can be completed in as little as 24 hours!  I design the element with the computer (This is the CAD part).  A computer rendering (or image) is produced. From this point you can visually see what the finished product look likes.  The rendering can then be emailed to customer for approval.  Adjustments can be made and then on to the next stage - the growing of the mold!  After any and all adjustments are made, you then send the file to the rapid prototyping machine (The CAM part).  Overnight, a wax rendering (or mold) is grown in the machine.  This is where I'm out of the loop.   I hand off the mold to the finishing jeweler (my partner James) and he casts the mold in whatever alloy the customer wishes, polishes and sets any stones that need to be set, etc.

This is a brief visual of the four-step process:

Step one is the computer design portion - this is one of the designs I did years and years ago for San Antonio news anchor, Shelley Miles.

Computer rendering of the ring.

Finished Ring!

OK, got it - you want to do CAD/CAM, so..... again..... why a blog?

Like I said - Its two fold;  I'm doing something that I love PLUS with the more followers I can get, the more likely my blog will get picked up by a sponsor and that means DINERO!  (That I will use to invest in my CAD/CAM system)  So y'all can help me by sending me money (lol) or just following and sharing my blog. You'll be helping me plus maybe, just maybe you might learn something new about me and pick up some useful information!

Stay Classy!  Leslie~