Sheila Ring - Finished - it's about time!

So, I finally finished up the ring to bracelet redesign. I am super happy with how the whole process turned went - from designing my first 3D modeled ring, to using a casting service and then post-processing myself. I definitely would get other objects cast in silver through Shapeways. While the cost was only $50.00 to get the design cast in silver, I did spend a considerable amount of time designing, cleaning up the ring, finishing, and setting the stone... so if I had to price out the piece for production, I would probably need to sell this particular ring design starting at around $175.00 to make a profit.  $50.00 for casting, 3 hours for post-processing labor per ring @ $20.00/hr and packaging, plus %60 mark up for profit, with design hours being paid for after the first 2 sales. Compared to a company like Skydog, price is right on par... And their paying rent in LA, which means their jewelry is a steal - GO SHOP NOW!

S100 - Rhino Gold - Bracelet to Ring - Progress

I finished up my sample Shapeways print today - working with my friends bracelet, transforming it to a ring... There were a lot of possible ways to take this design, I just tried to do a bunch of different techniques to test out the service and quality of the company's silver prints. I ended up ordering the final in raw silver, so I will do finishing and patina when the piece comes, as well as set the stone after I take it out of the bracelet. The final design is kind of clunky looking in the rendering... but I'm hoping it won't be so once it's printed... But, worse case scenario I just hack into it to feminize the form a litte more. 

Guitars for Vets - Pattern + Paper

Here are some images from a few experiments I ran the other day on the laser cutter for the Guitars for Veterans project...

The final rosette design will be layered paper and wood that I've run through the laser cutter... I'm still playing with the pattern though.

Compact Progress - Pouring Neoprene

So, basically you pour the neoprene that's already mixed into the mold, let it settle for a few hours while water evaporates out of the mixture, and then you can top it off. You can also make hollow-skin like casts with the neoprene if you cast in plaster... I have no idea if this will work in the 3D printed mold without a mold release, but it specifically said on the website not to use mold release, so I'm giving it a shot! This weekend, I think I'll try and pour some neoprene into a plaster mold and see how that goes.

Compact Progress - Internal Hardware Holder

For my compact, I am using (2x) 24 count LED Neopixel Ring from Adafruit, a Gemma microcontroler, and a LiPo Battery.

I took measurements off of each of these items and designed an internal hardware holder for inside both sides of the compact. The bottom has a more complicated holder because it is in charge of the battery and the microcontroller, while the top is simply holding one ring.

TOP of BOTTOM - neopixels & gemma

BOTTOM of BOTTOM - lipo & gemma

TOP - neopixels

Compact Progress - Laser Cut Acrylic Insets

I laser cut some acrylic to inset into the compact to diffuse the light of the neopixels. I got the top lid measurement perfect, it fits snug and needs the suction cup to remove it, but the bottom is a little off. I will cut a revised inset for that section. I might switch to a thicker acrylic, but for now I'm going to stick with the two layer approach and sandblast one of the layers for softer light. 

Compact Progress - 3D Printed Molds

I designed a couple different size molds for my compact's insulation... There are slight variations that account for the shrinkage that occurs during 3D printing and the shrinkage of the neoprene.... The molds are super simple, but if they work, I may think about creating more interesting molds to cast into.

I'm using a neoprene that I brought through critical coatings. It says on their website that painting the neoprene on is an option for creating a mold, this is something I might consider when doing the final piece and/or future pieces.

Compact Project - Progress Part 2

 I still have to clean up quite a bit of the exterior and patch a few pits in my solder joints before the piece is finished, but I'll save that until after I solder on the hinge - just in case more pits occur during that process.

Test hinge 1 - I am going to make another test hinge today with a design revision. 

  - Filing, making sure everything lines up - looks like I just missed one spot on my last big seam.

I ordered some rod from McMaster Carr today because the tubing I have isn't quite thick enough. Frankie is going to help me make thicker walled tubing out of the rod when it comes on Thursday.

S100 - Guitars for Vets - Patterns

I am preparing to do some experimentation with the laser cutter, engraving designs onto sections of the guitar... here is a sample pattern that I will be trying. It's a dense design, so I'm unsure if it will turn out as clear as I'd like.

I am finding a lot of inspiration from baroque guitars. The rosettes were traditionally made with hand carved layers of wood and parchment.

Compact Project - Progress - 'smithin' is hard

I've made some significant progress on the construction of my compact mirror-like project... While it's been nice to flex my metalsmithing muscle - my actual muscles are definitely feeling it after two days of going hard at the bench. So, I took the day off of metalsmithing today to finish a few other things and hang out with my dad since he was in town. Here are some pictures from the last couple days...

Safety is not taking a selfie. 

Yes, I realize I should have done this first - but why not really test that smith-muscle and make it ten times harder and do it second ;). 

I've got to make the second one of these rims for the inset acrylic and then add a bottom flange-like thing so I can micro bold down the acrylic. 

I've also been working on a practice hinge - it's crooked, but its proving worth it (had to melt something today).  

TBC...