3D Printing
News Contact us Seen on social
Home / 3D Print / Why I 3D Print My Metal Jewelry

Why I 3D Print My Metal Jewelry

August 19, 2021

One of the perks of writing about 3D printing is having a finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the AM world, and also of what’s possible. I often rave about how “complexity is free” in 3D printing, and I don’t say that just because they’re buzzwords. As I witnessed the increasing accessibility of high-quality 3D printing, it became apparent that it was accessible to even me, a disabled person with little capital. So I put my money where my mouth is.

I’d been printing some of my own artistic pieces for a few years on my own FDM printers, but in general, the limited detail and the constraint of working with only plastics was not conducive to my specific designs. Recently, however, several companies began offering metal 3D printing at prices that I could afford to experiment with. I designed a piece that could not be fabricated by machining to test the feasibility of printing my more complex designs. Having a fascination with ravens, I came up with Raven and had it printed in copper and steel.

3d printed copper raven

3d printed steel raven

Creativity, Untethered

With the successful printing of such a difficult geometry, I got to work on more designs, most of which would be nearly impossible to make without 3D printing. Both natural, organic shapes as well as mechanical elements can be found in my work, and I couldn’t do that without the recent advancements in metal 3D printing. Scarab mixes architectural stylings with an insect.

Honey highlights the geometry found in beehives.

Scepter is my version of a wizard’s staff that harnesses the power of a mystical turbine.

And Turbine is literally just a turbine engine because I’m apparently obsessed with them.

Rapid Results From Spontaneous Inspiration

My most popular piece is also the most meaningful one. As I watched one of my favorite Youtubers Kyle Hill’s video called Autism is my Superpower, I learned a lot about how the lives of people who are on the spectrum can be improved by accommodating their specific, individual needs and sensitivities. In those few minutes of realization, I felt a creative spark that I wanted to direct toward bringing awareness and support to this cause. I strove to design a piece to represent the strength that such individuals can wield when their needs are acknowledged and respected, and to serve as a reminder that we’re all fragile behind the shields that we put up.

Shield of Separation is the result of that effort; it’s my most complex piece as of yet and $5 is donated to The Asperger/Autism Network for every necklace sold. And the surprising part is that only two months had passed from the moment I watched the video to the moment that Kyle kindly promoted the piece on his channel. That includes all of my design time, waiting to get through the print queue, printing, casting (the semi-precious metals are printed in a casting wax and then cast), polishing, shipping to me, my packaging, and then shipping to him. Only 3D printing could so quickly produce something this complex in three different metals.

We humans have a strong urge to seek instant gratification, and I can’t say that if I knew it was going to take half a year to make this product that I would have followed through. Knowing that the prototyping stage would be quick and inexpensive helped me push through that creative barrier of doubt that plagues so many of us. In other words, a startup will give up when the payoff is way off.

With 3D printing, when I’m struck with a bolt of creativity, I can model it and send it to the printers knowing that I’ll get the physical product in just a few weeks when it’s still relevant, not months later when I’ve forgotten half of why I designed the piece in the first place. There’s a confidence that comes with that knowledge, knowing that when I feel something, I can express it, that freshness will never be an issue, assuming I myself don’t get too stale (highly likely).

I wouldn’t have been able to make the donation that I did to the AANE without 3D printing because I had no way of expressing myself in a way that made people want to open their wallets, which is an important step in generating money for causes as it turns out. If you’d like to support this particular cause, use promo code SPECTRUMLOVE for 10% off.

And if you’d like to see more weird, turbine-based jewelry that nobody asked for, keep an eye on my store.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Cameron Naramore
Cameron is a 3D printer and CNC operator. He's fond of cooking, traveling, and science fiction.
Latest posts

Anisoprint Sets Up in China

Continuous fiber 3D printing company Anisoprint has opened a new office in Shanghai, China, located in the Additive Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC). The... read more »

News
Brake pedal Anisoprint

Researchers Use Silicone to 3D Print Accurate Brain Models

A team of researchers from the University of Florida has developed a new 3D printing technique using silicone that can produce accurate models... read more »

Medical
AMULIT

Mantis 3D Printer Can Print 45kg of Metal an Hour

3D printing startup Rosotics has unveiled its game-changing Mantis 3D printer in Mesa, Arizona. The massive, unfolding printer can produce 45 kg of... read more »

3D Printers
Mantis 3D printer

3D Printed Switchable Explosives Offer Safer Solutions for Mining and Military Applications

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed "switchable" high explosives that require an inert fluid, like water, to be activated, minimizing... read more »

Military
Experimental setup and detonation time lapse

Engineer Wins Prize for 3D-Admix Concrete Printing Additive

Fort Bragg resident and civil engineer, Michael Butler, has won the Most Innovative Product Award at the 2023 World of Concrete International Exhibition.... read more »

Construction
concrete and 3D-Admix

Patent Granted for 3D Printing Embossing Technology

Northann Corp has obtained a European patent for its innovative "DSE Embossing Technology." This new method combines positive and negative embossing techniques in... read more »

News
DSE embossed example

USAF Global Strike Command Embraces 3D Printing for Future Weapon Sustainment

The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is turning to 3D printing to address its weapon sustainment needs. As the field of additive... read more »

Military
USAF mechanical engineer

Particle Accelerator Sheds New Light on Solidification of Metals During 3D Printing

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, and other institutions have made a... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Shooting X-rays

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
  • Twitter Twitter 3D Printing
  • Geeetech A30T Geeetech A30T
    320 x 320 x 420 mm
    $449
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech THUNDER Geeetech THUNDER
    250 x 250 x 260 mm
    $489
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech ALKAID Geeetech ALKAID
    82 x 130 x 190 mm
    $99
    Buy Now
  • Fusion3 F410 Fusion3 F410
    355 x 355 x 315 mm
    $4,599
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar S Geeetech Mizar S
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $279
    Buy Now
  • Modix BIG-60 Modix BIG-60
    600 x 600 x 660 mm
    $4,900
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar M Geeetech Mizar M
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $399
    Buy Now
  • Hands-On Review: The Mole 3D Scanner
    Hands-On Review: The Mole 3D Scanner Learn More
  • Hands-On Review: Creality Ender 5 S1
    Hands-On Review: Creality Ender 5 S1 Learn More

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    1010 x 1010 x 1010 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
  • Industry MAGNUM Industry MAGNUM
    1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm
    €159.000
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-120Z Modix BIG-120Z
    600 x 600 x 1200 mm
    from $7,500
    Request a Quote
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Companies

  • Modix
  • Industry
  • Geeetech

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2023 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing
We serve cookies on this site to analyze traffic, remember your preferences, and optimize your experience.
Details
Close