COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN AND COMPUTER AIDED MANUFACTURING IN JEWELLERY SECTOR IN TURKEY

The jewellery sector in Turkey, which is the worlds second in jewel exportation after Italy, gained dynamism by the usage of computer aided design (CAD) programs. While previously the moulds and the models were made in a small quantity by the craftsmen in the ateliers around Grand Bazaar, now more designers began to work in this sector by using CAD programs such as Jewelcad, Rhino and Matrix. Now designers not only design the models and give up the producing process to the craftsmen, they also draw the mould designs by using CAD programs.

Jewellery sector has become more innovative by CAD and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems. Especially by designing much more models and moulds, production gained a huge speed and the decrease in costs provided an increase in exportation. Also designs that have perfect finishes are produced by using CAD programs and CAM systems.

This paper includes the process of jewel production by using CAD and the stages of CAM. Also there will be some examples of many jewels which were produced by CAD-CAM systems.