Pocket NC for jewelry

[Jesse]

Hello All,

 

I've been using 4 axis cnc mills to cut wax models for quite a while, so all the possibilities that a 5 axis machine can offer are pretty exciting!

I'm looking forward to working with the NC and realize that we'll actually be creating 3 axis + 2 toolpaths with Fusion 360, but that's perfectly fine with me. 

I currently use ArtCAM for design and toolpaths and also import STL's exported from Rhino and Moi3d for toolpathing in ArtCAM.

 I will definitely explore Fusion 360's design possibilities and will most likely use it similarly to the way I use ArtCAM ( in terms of importing STL's for milling ),

 but I was wondering if anyone else has an interest in developing an ArtCAM post processor for the Pocket NC?

I'd also like to reach out to other people planning to use the Pocket NC to mill jewelry models so that we can discuss some common interests

such as setting up wax cutting tools in Fusion 360, developing some routine toolpath creation strategies, as well as other ideas

like developing jewelry specific fixtures for holding wax tubes, etc. 

And everyone, please feel free to chime in on any of these topics, even if you aren't planning to mill jewelry waxes with the NC.

Thanks,

 Jesse

[Pocket NC]

Thanks for posting Jesse!  We have definitely had a lot of interest from jewelers, including those using ArtCAM so we hope that you will be able to find others to get it going.  As we get emails from people who are interested we will send them this way so you can get a good discussion going!

[Randy Kopf]

Hi Jesse:

My name is Randy Kopf and Michelle from Pocket NC just linked me to your message. I bought a Pocket NC and plan to use Fusion 360. My entire interest with it is in Jewelry making and fully intend to use Wax models as well. I actually have used many CADCAM softwares over the years and program 5-Axis machining including simultaneous 5 Axis mostly for Aerospace work and mold making. The company I work for has a dozen 3D Printing machines for production work, I mention this as I have lots of knowledge of STL models and freeform surfaces. I currently use Solidworks and Mastercam, While I have a very strong background in manufacturing and have total confidence in Pocket NC and Fusion 360 I see it as a starting point. I am familiar with Delcam's ArtCAM and it has lots to offer. I've considered acquiring ArtCAM a few different times but the cost with a 5-Axis in the past was not affordable. I have Power Inspect at work from Delcam at work.  Pocket NC and Fusion 360 changes everything. I plan to mostly use the Machinable wax models cut on Pocket NC in conjunction with some Precious Metal Clay in limited run semi custom jewelry offerings like Earrings,belts bracelets and necklaces etc. I also plan to make machine some hardwood forms for hammered metal work. All of this as elements of the bigger offering. I also have interest in some reverse engineering aka probing with the Pocket NC. While it's not offered initially the underlying Linux CNC and affordable 3rd party probes make this look promising. As for machining with CAM and strategies and tooling etc I have lots of thoughts on that. I did some factory optimization with Lean Mfg and understand utilizing tooling and work-holding and Fusion 360 has some fantastic CAM elements to support all of that. I do have interest in Lost Wax model machining as well. 

If you would please take a moment and describe your wax machining interest.

Thank you, 

Randy Kopf

[Jesse]

Hi Randy,

Thanks for your message. Your extensive 5 axis CNC experience will definitely add to this discussion and we're essentially going to be using the NC for the same purpose, so I'm glad you're onboard!

I have not tried using a touch probe for reverse engineering, but on occasion have sent pieces to friends who have 3d laser scanners. I've found that unless it's a naturalistic design that doesn't require a lot of clean up of the model in a CAD program, it's sometimes not worth the time it takes to get something usable, but when the scanned design fits the purpose, you can get some pretty amazing results. There are also artists that specialize in hand-carving large clay models from your 2d artwork/design specifications and then provide a 3d laser scanned digital model (stl) for you to scale down and incorporate into a CAD jewelry model or to mill as a completed design. It's a very cool process combining hand made art and 3d technology.

You brought up an interesting idea with PMC, but unless I'm misunderstanding how you plan to use it, I'm not sure it would be the best material to use with CNC, since it doesn't retain a lot of precise detail when fired.

Regular jewelers wax can be milled and directly cast in precious or semi precious metal using the lost wax process. The level of detail CNC can produce is much smaller than can be cast and finished in metal, so I don't design any feature smaller than about 0.4 mm as a rule of thumb.
The initial metal casting is finished and polished for a "one off" piece or a rubber or silicon mold is sometimes made from the master model for mass production. A wax injector is used to fill the rubber mold and the lost wax process is repeated.

To answer your question, using CAD/CAM, I do custom designed jewelry for private customers, jewelry stores, and other jewelry designers and manufacturers, using a variety of CAD programs and a desktop CNC 4 axis CNC mill. I also signed up for another Kickstarter project, the Moonray 3D printer which is supposed to be shipped in December.

My version of ArtCAM (ArtCAM Jewelsmith 2012) does many kinds of toolpath strategies, but does not have true 5 axis capabilities. I mostly work off the rotary axis to do simple rotary axis toolpaths for rings, or indexed toolpaths on the rotary for 2 ( or more ) sided parts, milled from slabs of jewelers wax held in a 4 jaw chuck, supported by a tailstock, when needed.
Another technique using a ring holding fixture allows me to cut a ring through the finger hole orientation from a wax slab from two sides on the rotary (to cut detail on the sides of the ring) and then re-mount it on a fixture securing it on a milled center hub built into the CAD design, so as not to lose position, to mill the outer circumference of the design.

But as you said, the Pocket NC will change everything in terms of not having to manually reposition a model to approach it from different angles and positions!

Fast production is essential to my business work flow so I hope we'll be able to easily create 3 axis combined with A and B axis toolpaths with good efficiency in Fusion 360.

[Jesse]

Oops!I meant to say the level of detail that can be milled compared to what can be cast is much higher, not smaller.

[zsig...@gmail.com]

hi, my names viktor

while im not in jevelry biz, I working with complex 3d models..

I like the solution with fusion 360..

im using meshmodeler and viacad pro has a version about 300 that can convert mesh models to real solids..
their method is similar, I say similar like retopology... averaging out sveral faces in one solid facet..

and probably exporting from artcam that way can be handled in pocketnc..

[zsig...@gmail.com]

for those who didn't warked with artcam, artcam can export an optimalized stl.. means not organized like a subd modeler output but optimalized means large flat surfaces has large triangles, and details has small triangles..

for modeling, I think beside hexagon, autodesk has the maya light for monthly 30 subscription.. that can make almost everything, even posing figures..

also some sculpting possib;le..

[Gary]

Hi Jesse
We are very interested in using a Pocket NC to produce waxes for jewelry production! Our process for the last 12 years has been to use Rhino going to DeskProto to generate the G code then to a 4 axis CNC run with Mach3.
How is the process of setting up Pocket NC to mill waxes going?
You can see our work at www.garyswank.com
Thanks
Gary

[baker...@gmail.com]

I know this is an older thread but has anyone used the Pocket NC to create jewelry? I am curious if you found the CNC to be a good value for the money.
Thanks, Rob

[Manohj Kumaar]

Hi Rob,

We are using Pocket NC for carving jewelry wax for past 6 months. We design the models in Rhino and generate G codes in Fusion 360. 

We mainly carve wax for rings and idols.

And we are only novice in this field so we can discuss things to improve

Thanks

Manoj