Best 3d printer for jewelry

How Does 3D Printing Jewelry Work?

Just to clear things up, you’re not going to be printing custom gold jewelry right from the nozzle of your 3D printer. Instead, you’re going to be printing a high-detail mold that you can use to make your custom jewelry. Or, if you’re fine with a plastic piece, you’ll be printing high-detail resin jewelry.

If you’ve made jewelry the traditional way before, you know the low-tech method of making these molds. You start by hand-crafting or CNC machining a version of the ring or jewelry piece, and then you create a mold around the part. After that, you solidify the mold and pour in your molten silver or gold to make the final ring!

3D printing a ring or other jewelry piece relies on the same processes, but it utilizes the technology of the 21st century. Moreover, instead of milling or hand-carving, you’re using a 3D printer to make a more detailed and precise jewelry piece, so you can make a more detailed mold.

Basically, any 3D printer, including hobbyist options like the Ender 3, can work for making jewelry molds. However, for a more detailed mold and, thus, a more intricate final jewelry piece, you’ll want to use a higher-end resin 3D printer.

Process of 3D Printing Jewelry

In case you don’t know the process for 3D printing jewelry, let’s take a quick look at it.

First, you have to find a design for a jewelry piece or make a 3D model yourself. The latter method is better if you want a custom jewelry item and you can design your model in a CAD software, like Onshape or Blender.

Once you’ve got your ring 3D model, you’ll need to 3D print the part. No, we’re not making it out of gold, so you’ll need to print it in a plastic filament, resin, or special wax. Try to use a material that’s meant for high-detail printing, like Phrozen Aqua Grey 8K resin.

After you have the 3D printed version of your jewelry price, you’ll need to get it ready for casting in a more durable material like gold or silver. You can make a mold of your 3D printed model using wax!

Finally, pour your molten precious metal into that mold. After some time, the magic is done! You have a shiny ring!

But that whole process is really the easy part. The more challenging part is figuring out what 3D printer is right for you. Like a “choose your own adventure” book, you have some options to start you down your path.

Available 3D Printing Processes

When it comes to 3D printing a jewelry piece, there are a few different types of 3D printers you can use.

Most consumer-grade 3D printers are Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) machines. FDM 3D printers use a heating element known as the hot end to melt stringed plastic material and lay it out, layer-by-layer, into your 3D model.

However, the more popular type of 3D printer for making jewelry is Stereolithography, or SLA for short. Instead of a heating element and stringed plastic, SLA 3D printers use a special laser with liquid resin. The liquid plastic resin is poured into a tub called the VAT, and the laser is placed beneath a screen, which solidifies the resin, layer by layer, to form your desired 3D model.

SLA is a more favorable tech for jewelry because of its high-detail printing abilities, but FDM is the more universal printing technology.

Should I Use FDM or SLA for Jewelry?

Okay, now that the nerdy science talk is over, let’s take a look at the two main methods of 3D printing used to make jewelry. Below, I’ve discussed how both FDM and SLA 3D printers work as well as each of their benefits.

FDM

The big benefit of using an FDM printer for making jewelry is that the cost is really low. The upfront cost of the printer is lower, and the operating cost is much lower. Of course, there’s a downside to this.

The quality you get with an FDM printer isn’t close to the quality you get with an SLA printer – it’s a lot worse. Moreover, you can’t capture as much detail or small features in prints on an FDM 3D printer as you can with an SLA machine.

As such, if your jewelry doesn’t require a lot of fine detail or you want to save money, then an FDM printer will be perfect for you. Additionally, an FDM printer is the better option if you plan on printing a ton of non-jewelry projects because FDM parts are stronger than those made on an SLA printer.

SLA

On the other hand, SLA 3D printers are typically more expensive than FDM printers. While the cost of an SLA printer has dropped dramatically over the past few years, you also need other hardware, like a washing station and a UV curing light, to use an SLA machine. And these costs should be considered when looking at the price of an SLA machine.

But the extra money for an SLA 3D printer is definitely worth it if you’re looking to print high-detail models. For example, if you wanted to 3D print a jewelry piece that had a very intricate design, an SLA 3D printer would be best.

It’s actually insane how much detail SLA 3D printers yield in models. Most SLA 3D printers today use a 4K pixel resolution LCD screen, but some printers, like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, can print with 8K pixel resolution quality!

Sadly, there are some other problems with SLA 3D printers. For example, the resin is toxic and smells bad, making the printing process more dangerous. And, after a print is finished, you have to wash the part and cure it with a UV light.

But if you want to print high-detail models and are okay with spending a lil’ extra, then an SLA 3D printer is definitely for you!

Why 3D Print Jewelry?

So we highlighted how to 3D print jewelry, and what goes into it. But are you totally convinced that you should even try it? Why 3D print jewelry?

Why 3D print anything? The answer is exactly the same.

You have complete freedom over the design. You can make highly customized pieces and serve a niche market. If you can operate 3D CAD, you can completely design your own pieces to print.

Pieces can be made that seem to defy physics. You can 3D print such intricate pieces with odd geometries. This is great for modern pieces of jewelry.

For some pieces, there is no alternative. Traditional methods cannot scratch the surface of what you can make with a 3D printer. Some of your physics-defying pieces simply cannot be made on a CNC mill, so there’s no other option.

Prototyping is so much faster. I’m from a manufacturing background so trust me when I say that nothing compares to the lifecycle speed of a project when you’re using a 3D printer. 

The time between the initial concept, designing, and getting your first working prototype could be 8 hours with a 3D printer. Traditional manufacturing methods might take a week for the same amount of progress.

The cost is so low. Crazy low. You don’t need a staff of trained machinists, design engineers, and project managers. You are the entire team. You don’t need a $250,000 CNC milling machine; a printer that costs a couple of hundred dollars will suffice. You don’t need a $100 piece of raw material to prototype with, $5 is plenty. Finally, you don’t need to pay someone hourly to make it, you hit “go” and leave the room.

So why 3D print jewelry? It’s faster, cheaper, more customizable, and you can make any shape you want. 

Conclusion

I hope you get as excited as I do when I hear about all the different ways to 3D print jewelry and start growing your business or just making fun pieces as gifts to family and friends.

The process isn’t so hard to learn when you get your hands on a printer.

Whether you go with an FDM printer, an SLA printer, a budget option, or a professional high-quality printer, you’re going to love the new world you unlock with your 3D printer.

As for what printer to use, if you want to make high-detail jewelry pieces, I strongly suggest the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K or Formlabs Form 3+. Both printers offer exceptional print quality, but the Sonic Mini 8K is probably better for those who don’t need as much print space.

And, if you’re on a budget, but still want to print high-detail models, then the Elegoo Saturn 2 8K should be your speed. It’s very budget-friendly, and has an 8K LCD screen for yielding high-quality prints.

On the FDM side, you have the Creality Ender 3 Pro which is perhaps the best option in this space. It’s budget-friendly and, as it’s an FDM 3D printer, the Ender 3 Pro is also a great machine for non-jewelry prints, so there’s a lot of opportunity for you!

Finally, if you’re ready to invest in your business and grow it, consider the top-of-the-line Solidscape S325 printer.

Enjoy your time with your new 3D printer! There’s a lot of learning and growing to be had!

Pat Nathaniel

Pat is the editor-in-chief at Printing Atoms. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and wants to spread the word on 3D printing. When he's not writing, he likes to tinker with his Ender 3 Pro, test filament brands, and scuba dive.

Printing with Metals, Plastics, and Castable Resins

Rapid development of additive manufacturing leads to considerable changes in a lot of industries. Some of them use 3D technologies at all the stages of production, starting with 3D scanning and then employing 3D printing for prototyping or end-use parts production. Jewelry is one of the fields where digital technologies have only started their expansion, often being a bridge to traditional methods.

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Digital revolution in jewelry

The craft of jewelry is as old as time, and it has always involved a lot of skill and time spent on every single item creation. Besides, there are always limitations to human possibilities — however skillful a craftsman was, some most intricate design concepts could only exist in their imagination.

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With 3D printing development, more and more people in the jewelry industry are discovering the opportunities it provides both from the artistic and business perspective.

The traditional method of jewelry manufacturing implies lost-wax casting. Casting patterns creation is an expensive and time-consuming part of the process, and this is where 3D printing can be of great help, becoming a bridge to conventional manufacturing. What’s so good about using digital technologies in such a traditional field? Let’s see.

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Why 3D print jewelry

Complete design freedom

As mentioned, there are certain design limitations in traditional production of casting patterns that are made either by hand or using CNC machines. With digital design opportunities and 3D printers capable of reproducing the digital models with extreme precision and accuracy, it’s now possible to create wax casting patterns of any complexity. The use of 3D printing has brought up new standards in the art of jewelry, allowing for the designs that could have never been realized before.

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Unlimited customization opportunities

Customization is of considerable importance in jewelry as customers often want to get one of a kind adornment. 3D printing provides vast opportunities for custom products, either created from scratch, or by adjusting the already existing design according to the customer’s wish. The customization process doesn’t require additional costs and takes considerably less time and effort than in traditional production, where any changes made upon the product jacked up the price.

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Faster prototyping

With 3D printing, customers have a try-on option to make sure the model fits perfectly and completely meets all their needs, before the final part is made. Printed resin prototypes are affordable and quick to make, they feature high quality and precision and can give the true-to-life impression of the future model.

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Lower cost

Batch-manufacturing in jewelry 3D printing allows reducing the production costs, as a whole run of wax patterns can be printed in one go, thus saving material and shortening the production time; you can also print different designs at a time. All this makes jewelry manufacturing more cost-effective than ever before.

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3D Printing technologies in jewelry production

Basically, there are two ways of implementing additive manufacture into the jewelry business, namely direct and indirect 3D printing, the former being less common, at least for now.

Direct 3D printing

Direct 3D printing of jewelry implies using metal (SLM or DMLS-based) printers to build the final parts right from the digital models, created in CAD software. The parts can be printed with gold, silver, or platinum alloys or other metal powders. Such an approach completely excludes traditional techniques from the production cycle and turns it entirely digital.

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Despite all the general advantages of 3D printing, discussed above, this particular method is not very popular as it is more expensive than investment casting, and the printed parts require significant post-processing. Besides, precious metals are very difficult to print as they are highly reflective and thermally conductive. So, there are few printers in the market that can work with them. Still, rapid progress in digital technologies can change the situation for the better.

Indirect 3D printing

In this method, 3D printing is used to optimize the traditional lost-wax casting process to speed up the production and make it more flexible and cost-effective.

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The jewelry 3D printing process

• First the design of the future piece is created using CAD software. The STL (or other compatible) file is imported to a 3D slicer and prepared for printing.
• The model is printed using castable wax materials to make a wax casting pattern. At this stage you may want to print a try-on part first to ensure the fit and design are just right.
• The liquid molding material is poured over the wax pattern and left to solidify. Thus a mold for the future part is created.
• When the mold is hard, it is placed into a furnace to melt or burn out the wax pattern, forming a so-called negative mold.
• The final casting material, which is usually melted gold, silver, brass, or other metal, is poured into the mold and left to cool and solidify.
• The mold is removed and the final part is ready for post-processing.

What are 3D printers for jewelry?

For direct metal printing, SLM or DMLS printers are used. However, very few of them can work with precious metals alloys, so other metals, like steel or bronze, can also be used.

Some jewelers create their collections using SLS technology, printing unique modern jewelry pieces with nylon or polyamide.

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3D printing of wax casting patterns requires exceptional precision and accuracy, as well as the use of appropriate wax-like materials that can be completely melted or burnt out afterwards. So, the best options possible here are resin or material jetting technologies.

Now let’s see which printer models are the most suitable for jewelry manufacturing.

The best 3D printers for jewelry 2022

Flashforge WaxJet 400

The Flashforge WaxJet 400 is a professional 3D printer based on MJP (MultiJet Printing) technology. It prints wax casting patterns for investment casting and works with proprietary materials for parts and support structures printing. The device can print layers at the height of 16 microns with the printing resolution of 1200 x 1200 x 1600 dpi and the accuracy of ±0. 04 mm / 20 mm, which provides accurate highly detailed models with smooth surface finish. The large build volume of 289 x 218 x 150 mm allows printing multiple models in one go and together with fast print speed makes for high productivity of the WaxJet 400.

Pros

• High print quality
• Extreme productivity
• Highly automated printing process
• Large build volume

Cons

• Can print with only proprietary materials

Phrozen Sonic 4K 2022

The Phrozen Sonic 4K 2022 is a large resin 3D printer designed for the dental industry, and it absolutely meets the requirements of jewelry production. It sports a monochrome LCD matrix with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 and a build volume of 135 x 75 x 200 mm. The optical system of the device has been improved compared to the previous models. The Phrozen Sonic 4K is equipped with a powerful ParaLED® 3.0 module which provides uniform light exposure and, consequently, uniform layer thickness over the entire area of the print. The minimum layer height of 10 microns ensures exceptional print quality. Phrozen offers a choice of castable resins that can be used with the Sonic 4K 2022 to print mold patterns for investment casting.

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Pros

• Fine precision and uniformity of the prints
• Fast print speed
• Wide choice of materials, including castable resins
• Wide connectivity options

Cons

• Rather small build volume

Anycubic Photon Mono X

The Anycubic Photon MonoX is a large-format resin 3D printer based on LCD technology. Uniform light exposure over the entire print area is provided by the 8.9" 4K LCD screen and a new parallel light source. The build volume of 192 x 120 x 245 mm and fast print speed stand for high productivity, while the 10-micron minimum layer height allows printing high quality casting patterns for jewelry manufacturing. For better performance and more convenient post-processing the Photon Mono X can be supplemented with the Anycubic Wash and Cure Machine 2.0.

Pros

• Fast print speed
• Great print quality
• Large build volume
• Built-in safety functions
• Fast and easy set-up

Cons

• Print bed is difficult to clean

Original Prusa SL1S Speed

The Original Prusa SL1S Speed is an LCD-based resin 3D printer featuring a 5.96'' monochrome LCD screen with 2560 x 1620 resolution and a new optical system with a four times more powerful UV LED panel than the previous SL1 model. The print speed of the SL1S Speed is remarkably fast — the curing time for a single layer is just 1.4 seconds. Fast accurate printing and compatibility with different types of 405 nm UV resin make the Prusa SL1S a great option to use in jewelry for casting patterns production. The printer can be bought stand-alone or as part of a special bundle of the Original Prusa SL1S 3D printer and the Curing and Washing Machine.

Pros

• Fast speed
• Excellent print quality
• Easy operation
• Compatible with third-party materials

Cons

• Rather small build volume

Farsoon FS273M

The Farsoon FS273M is an MLS (metal laser sintering) industrial 3D printer featuring rather compact size for a professional machine, still high throughput and impressive build volume which is a cylinder of 275 x 275 x 355 mm. The FS273M can be equipped with a single or dual 500W fiber laser and a high-precision digital galvo system, and can print layers at the height of 20 microns providing detailed precise models that are a must while printing jewelry. The printer is an open material system and is compatible with a great variety of proprietary and third-party metal powders, some of them being suitable for printing end-use jewelry pieces.

Pros

• Industrial-grade print quality
• High print speed
• Sizable build volume
• Open material system
• User-friendly operation

BLT-S210

The BLT-S210 is an SLM 3D printer capable of printing with a large number of metal alloys, including Titanium, Aluminum, Cobalt Chromium, Stainless Steel, Copper, and a lot more. The 500W laser and  F-Theta optical system ensure high-quality metal parts with excellent mechanical properties and repeatability. The compact build area of 105 x 105 x 200 mm is perfect for batch-manufacturing of small jewelry items or for printing larger parts. Operation and maintenance of the device are easy and convenient due to the modular design of the S210. The printer is an open-parameter system, so the user is able to edit 294 parameters to precisely adjust the printing process and get the best result possible.

Pros

• 15 microns minimum layer height
• High-quality prints with great repeatability
• Wide material compatibility
• Intelligent software

Cons

• Needs a lot of installation space

Bottom line

The use of additive manufacture technologies in jewelry has given a boost to the industry development and set up new standards in jewelry design. The possibility to print objects of extremely complex geometries and ultimate customization options open unlimited opportunities for the designers and provide the customers with absolutely new fascinating jewelry pieces.

Choice of technology and 3D printer for jewelry making, pros and cons

Currently, there are many new technologies that are designed to simplify production in various industries. Progress does not stand still and, despite some opponents, 3D printing has its own niche in the production of jewelry.

3D printing can speed up and reduce the cost of jewelry production due to the low cost of consumables. With 3D printers, jewelers have the ability to quickly change the design of a product and make prototypes at least several times a day. For many jewelry industries, 3D printing is becoming a good alternative or addition to milling machines and other equipment. nine0003

Until now, some believe that handmade is a sign of craftsmanship, especially when it comes to creative work, and models made using 3D modeling and printing are amateurish. But many people forget that behind the computer is the same person who not only mechanically presses the buttons, but also puts his soul into his creation.

Benefits of 3D printing

In order to understand how justified the use of a 3D printer is, you need to know how jewelry is made. This is very painstaking work. No wonder the expression "jewelry work" appeared, denoting a very delicate and complex work. nine0003

Any decoration begins with a sketch. Usually several sketches are made in order to accurately determine the design and location of the inserts. Not only stones are used as decor, it can be elements made of wood, bone, precious metals, it all depends on the designer's imagination.

At the next stage, the product is drawn in a 3D editor. This allows not only to visualize the future product, but also to correct some errors and inaccuracies made at the design stage. nine0003

Ring model

Some craftsmen still carve "stencils" by hand. Such work requires certain skills and perseverance. Usually this is how products are made that will be cast in a single copy.

A finished 3D model can have several ways to be implemented in a physical version - this is milling or 3D printing.

Stencil milling

Currently, 3D printing is not much inferior in accuracy to a milling machine and often has a significant advantage in speed, despite the fact that after printing it is still necessary to separate the supports and clean up the points of contact with the model. Once a physical model has been obtained, it can be cast immediately if the material used is wax or a burnable polymer.

If it is necessary to cast a large batch of products, then a mold is made from the master model made with the help of special rubber for subsequent wax casting. There are many types of rubber that vary in hardness and curing temperature. Rubber is selected depending on the material from which the master model is made. nine0003

For pouring molds, a special machine is usually used - an injector. In some models, you can not only heat the wax, but also vacuum it or leave it under pressure. This helps to reduce the number and size of air bubbles for better pouring of the rubber mold.

In home workshops, silicone is used instead of special rubber. After all, a special machine is needed to vulcanize rubber. But rubber molds are too soft and short-lived for making a large batch of stencils. nine0003

After making the required number of stencils, they are collected in "Christmas trees". "Elks" are waxes soldered to a wax rod. To save space, the distance between them is very small and they resemble fluffy Christmas trees, hence the name. The finished Christmas tree is weighed to calculate the required amount of metal. In some places, stones are immediately inserted into the stencils, unless another mounting option is provided.

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Stencil Christmas trees

Ready "Christmas trees" are placed in a special cylindrical "cassette" without a bottom, which is called a flask, and filled with a gypsum-based molding mass. The flask with uncured gypsum must be evacuated to get rid of unnecessary air bubbles that can lead to defects on the surface of the finished casting.

After hardening, the gypsum flask is sent to a muffle furnace to melt the wax. nine0003

The calcination mode is selected depending on the material of the wax. For wax or burnout polymer, different modes are needed in order for the material to be completely removed from the gypsum!!!!!!

When all the wax is melted, cavities are formed inside the gypsum, repeating the contours of the wax. Metal is poured into these voids. After casting, the flask is cooled and the gypsum mold mass is washed out under the pressure of water. The result is a metal Christmas tree. nine0003

Herringbone after casting

Finished castings are cut from the Christmas tree and washed, polished, if necessary, blackened by the master until the desired appearance is achieved.

3D printers for jewelers

There are several 3D printing technologies that may be suitable for the needs of jewelers. Each has its pros and cons. Some 3D printers are ideal for a large workshop, and some are ideal for a small workshop. nine0003

SLA

SLA or stereolithography is based on the principle of layer-by-layer solidification of a photopolymer resin under the action of a UV beam. The UV beam is focused by means of mirrors on the surface of the resin and illuminates the model in layers.

How the SLA Printer Works

SLA 3D printers were the first to be noticed by jewelers. SLA devices are compact, while they have high printing accuracy. nine0003

Pros and cons

pros

Minuses

Print examples

From prototype to finished product

Cast and printed ring

Rating of printers.

Leadership among the production of SLA 3D printers is held by Formlabs.

Formlabs Form 3

Formlabs Form 3

Specifications:

XY resolution: 25 µm

Laser spot size: 85 µm

Laser power: One 250mW laser

Working area size: 14.5×14.5×18.5cm

Layer thickness: 25 – 300 µm

A professional 3D printer that is popular with professional jewelers and dentists. nine0003

Formlabs Form 3L

Formlabs Form 3L

Specifications:

XY resolution: 25 µm

Laser spot size: 85 µm

Laser power: One 250mW laser

Working area size: 33.5×20×30cm

Layer thickness: 25 – 300 µm

Form 3L differs from younger models in its large print area, which allows you to produce truly large products without losing quality and accuracy. nine0003

DLP/LCD

DLP is very similar to SLA, only as a source of UV radiation, to illuminate the photopolymer resin, not a directed beam of light is used, but a DLP projector. DLP printers illuminate the entire work area at once, so they greatly outperform SLA in print speed.

How a DLP Printer Works

Today it is one of the most affordable photopolymer 3D printing technologies. In terms of cost, LCD printers have caught up with the price level of amateur FDM. DLP printers are much more expensive due to the use of an expensive projector as a UV source. nine0003

The projector is of course more expensive, but more durable, on the other hand, the LCD display is not so expensive and can be easily seen, unlike the projector. What to choose each user decides for himself.

Pros and cons.

pros

Minuses

Print examples

Comparison between 3D printed master model and molded part