This blog was originally going to be separated into different posts for each different visit. But to make it more interesting for you guys I have compiled them together and given you a brief description/ visit review for you to get a feel for the different companies associated with the Design for Industry course. This post is in danger of becoming very long to try and include all the information for you. But if there's something I've missed out or if you're interested in hearing about a company in more detail please let me know in the comments and I will try to do another post about specific companies in more detail. This blog was originally going to be separated into different posts for each different visit. But to make it more interesting for you guys I have compiled them together and given you a brief description/ visit review for you to get a feel for the different companies associated with the Design for Industry course. This post is in danger of becoming very long to try and include all the information for you. But if there's something I've missed out or if you're interested in hearing about a company in more detail please let me know in the comments and I will try to do another post about specific companies in more detail. Toye, Kenning and Spencer Toye, Kenning and Spencer (Toye & Co.) is a long running business in the jewellery quarter and the company was founded in the 1600's. They have a huge workshop where they store all the old dye's for printing and everything was once made by hand. This was one of the first companies we visited as we started off learning Artcam in the first term. I think I can speak for everyone else when I say it was a bit of a learning curve to get into using the software and we weren't really sure of how we would be able to use it in the future. So visiting Toye, Kenning and Spencer was really useful as they use Artcam everyday to design a range of things from coins, medals to broaches and silverware. Looking at the pictures below you can see how some of their designs develop. For example they get an image that a customer would like to be translated to a relief image to be made into a coin for example. They then work with the image on Artcam using a graphics tablet (which is much easier than a mouse as you can work into a relief like a pencil drawing). It's a very artistic process and you need a good eye for attention to detail to be able to master Artcam to create beautiful ornate coins like Toye, Kenning & Spencer. Once they have the image converted to a CAD relief they can work into it to create a master pattern for a coin stamp for flatter works or print it directly into wax to capture fine details. We went to visit their Birmingham factory but Toye & Co. are situated across England and are involved in all aspects of the manufacturing process for their designs from creating the medals, doing vitreous enamel by hand, weaving the ribbon and making military uniform. You can find out more about their company and its 300 year history in an article by the Mail Online, it features pictures and information about the 3 different Toye & Co sites. Geti Geti specialise in laser engraving in both 2D and 3D. They also use software like Artcam and Corel Draw to make patterns (2D) and relief (3D) to engrave into flat objects and rings. To help explain a little more I've outlined the difference between their 2D and 3D services below:
3D laser engraving This is a much more lengthly and detailed process. Similarly as to how the laser understands simple black and white with 3D engraving the laser registers different hieghts of the relief and engraves it in stages. There are restrictions to the designing, for example it cant have undercuts in the work as the laser can only fire straight. Geti often do deep 3D laser engraving to make moulds which can then be used to press coins/ used as a master pattern. Charles Green Also based in the Jewellery Quarter Charles Green are a manufacturing company. So the don't sell their own work but retailers will often buy their products to market as their own. However the main reason for our visit was to see their bespoke Jewellery Department. Their Bespoke Department has developed over the last 3 years and is now one of the more popular services they offer. With the advancement of new technology people are now more and more looking for Bespoke wedding rings to fit their engagement rings. They can then have more personalised and truly unique jewellery to treasure for years. With the help of their laser scanning machine Charles Green are able to scan in an engagement ring to work from so they can make a perfectly fitted wedding band. Jewel Cast Visiting Jewel Cast was so interesting as we were able to get to see the workings of a casters and understand the process better so that when we are designing we can consider the constraints of making. We got a tour of their entire facility from their admin side, wax injection, mould room, CAD technicians, casting and all the way through to quality control. Being able to see how the company worked to process receiving a design through to casting and returning the piece to a customer showed what great service and detail goes into every item. Jewel Cast has a great ethos and treats every customer and every design equally. Every piece is vigorously quality controlled to ensure that the design is successful and to highlight and problems. Their website also has dedicated pages for each type of customer so that they can help in every way. (For students reading this blog who want to know more please see my useful links below for how Jewel Cast can help you). Delcam This was one of our final visits. It was a very extensive tour of their huge headquarters in Birmingham. Before visiting all I knew about Delcam was that they designed the Artcam software which we were all familiar with and that they were providing the Design for industry studio a new AutoDesk Ember 3D printer. But after getting the tour it was amazing to see all the other things that they get involved with, from aerospace engineering, car manufacturing, dental, footwear to jewellery. After getting the tour we got to sit down and listen to a presentation by David Stokes the production manager for Artcam jewelsmith. He talked us through the different uses of Artcam and some of the new software that they are developing. We also got to see some of the amazing designs that had been created on Artcam showing us the true potential of its use. Useful links:
Toye & Co Website: Geti Website:Charles Green Website:Jewel Cast WebsiteDelcam
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorSteff Wills: Archives
May 2017
Categories
All
|