Rapid-Jewel (FP4-Brite-Euram III-BRPR-CT98-0762)

Rapid–Jewel: Innovative Design Method & Jewelry Manufacturing. Rapid-Jewel is a research project co-funded by the European Community under the Brite-Euram III program.

Jewelry is one of the oldest sectors of industrial production in Europe that remains traditional. The idea for RAPID-JEWEL was born taking into account the intense competition of the industry but also the problems of traditional production processes, which require long times and high levels of expertise. The project introduced a completely new approach to jewelry design and production, through the development of a method based on innovative techniques that were widely used in other production sectors.

In particular, the idea was to use sophisticated techniques to create 3D models of the jewelry, refine these models through optimized design techniques, and finally make molds for the finished products or the products themselves. In the context of the project, a technique for injecting precious metals into molds and a method of rapid prototyping directly in precious metals was developed.

The adoption of the proposed method contributed significantly to the improvement of design quality as well as to the reduction of manufacturing time and cost, creating new opportunities for seasonal jewelry and niche markets, such as customers with specific requirements, mass production for sales in supermarkets and magazines, etc..