What is CAD/CAM?

CAD/CAM stands for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Assisted Manufacturing (CAM).

CAD Software uses 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional drawing tools to create a visual representation of an object on a computer screen.

CAM Hardware takes a CAD model and turns it into a real object through any one of a number of processes, including laser engraving, CNC milling, and rapid prototyping.

A CAD Model is a 3D representation of an object created using CAD software. Unlike 2D CAD drawings, these objects have volume and weight can be calculated once the final material type to be used has been decided. These are used for rapid prototyping.

What Does CAD Have To Do With Jewellery?

With the help of CAD/CAM, we can start with your drawn jewellery designs, scan the original drawings, trace over them in CAD, and develop fully 3 dimensional objects. This allows us some advantages over traditional processes:

• Greater level of detail, since rapid prototyping machines can work finer than the human hand
• We can show the customer what their design will look like in 3D before it's been made, saving money on corrections.

Why Use H3-D?

H3-D has the largest team of independent jewellery CAD specialists in the UK, boasting a collective 22 years of experience in Computer-Aided Design in all its forms. In addition, every CAD user on staff has been extensively trained with traditional hand-made manufacturing processes.

In addition to this training, our team come from a diverse range of backgrounds, including bespoke design, casting, wax carving, fashion jewellery, and metalsmithing.

Between this diverse combination of skills and our focus, you can trust there is no manufacturing problem we cannot solve.