The results of the PRECIOUS project on the use of Additive Manufacturing in the jewellery industry will be presented at a dissemination event to be held on 20th August as part of the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the Birmingham School of Jewellery.
To register for the event, please go to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/future-technologies-seminar-tickets-17794541954
The PRECIOUS project is a major research and development project that is being managed by Delcam. The project aimed to make a definitive step change to the current use of additive manufacturing for precious metal jewellery through an empirical set of trials, benchmarks and demonstrators, making it easier for the whole UK supply chain of design, manufacture and retail to adopt the technology.
The PRECIOUS project is being undertaken by a consortium of five organisations that, in addition to Delcam, includes Cookson Precious Metals, Lionel T Dean/Future Factories, the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre and Finishing Techniques. The project is receiving support from the Innovate UK innovation agency.
The main focus of the project has been on the development of a commercially viable range of processes for jewellery manufacture based on direct metal laser sintering/melting (DMLM). This method used a laser beam to melt precious metal powders layer by layer in order to produce the item. Presentations from Delcam, the School of Jewellery and the other project participants, plus a keynote speaker from Innovate UK, will review the progress made so far. The seminar will conclude with a round table discussion for delegates to ask questions of the project participants.
In parallel with the conference, a table-top exhibition will be held featuring providers of equipment and services, including suppliers of CADCAM software, and 3D printing and laser scanning equipment.
Various events are being held during the anniversary year of the School of Jewellery under a Past, Present and Future theme. The event on August 20th is the future-facing part of the celebrations, said Frank Cooper, Senior Lecturer and Technology Manager at the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre within the School of Jewellery. We are hoping to attract as many people as we can from as many industries and backgrounds as possible to come along to an exhibition of the most modern and up-to-date technologies available and to give them an opportunity to meet the experts and discuss what is and isnt pertinent to their particular needs."