Monrovia, Calif.—Formula 3D and Desktop Metal have partnered to launch 3-D printing of 925 sterling silver jewelry.
Sterling silver is now qualified on Desktop Metal’s Production System P-1 and P-50, the companies said.
Christian Tse, through his company Formula 3D, produces the precious metal print powders, the pricing of which is based on the metal’s trading price. Formula 3D can now offer designers and manufacturers a complete end-to-end solution for 3-D printing of precious silver.
Desktop Metal’s Production System platform offers jewelry and luxury goods manufacturers a way to 3-D print high-quality jewelry, watches, and more.
The system utilizes the binder jetting 3-D printing process, which is regarded as the fasted method.
The technology is built around inkjet print heads, the same kind found in many at-home printers. During the process, an industrial printhead selectively deposits a binder into a bed of metal particles, creating a solid piece one thin layer at a time.
The Desktop Metal Production System allows jewelers greater flexibility and control, the companies said, letting them scale designs that are usually difficult to achieve, like chain link bracelets or necklaces, where the link can be 3-D printed as one piece instead of being manually assembled.
Jewelers can also leverage the technology for localized production, decreasing the reliance on global supply chains.
Formula 3D and Desktop Metal are working on developing additional precious metals alloys in 2022, including 18-karat yellow gold, 18-karat rose gold, and platinum.
The system already works with stainless steel, the company said.
“Desktop Metal’s Production System and 3D printing add extraordinary value to our existing jewelry manufacturing processes, increasing efficiency of production, getting new designs to market faster, and offering our customers greater versatility and multiple styling options. We can actually print in precious metals in two hours what we do in two days with casting,” said Christian Tse, jewelry designer and President of Formula 3D corporation.
“In addition, creating jewelry with direct 3-D printing on binder jetting systems allows us to consider new options to circumvent some of the supply chain challenges facing the fine jewelry industry. We can bypass shipping delays and their mounting costs, as well as avoid duties, by printing the precious silver directly, as opposed to shipping the physical metal.”
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