3Design CAD for Beginners (Online)

By the end of the course, you will be able to model and render jewellery designs in 3D CAD, and take advantage of 3Design’s powerful and flexible Parametric History Tree to quickly and dramatically modify and rework existing models. You will also gain confidence in applying your existing knowledge of jewellery making tolerances to producing objects suitable for 3D printing and jewellery casting.

Part 1

1. Interface walkthrough of menus and controls
2. Working with axes and basic planes (OXY, OXZ, OYZ)
3. Building and deforming primitive solids
4. Using the Parametric History Tree to edit objects
5. Sketch Mode vs. Part Mode
6. Working with vector lines
7. Setting materials
8. Booleans
9. Basic ring construction, including Sweeping Wizard
10. Referencing and copying objects from History Tree
11. Tolerances for building perfect rings
12. Stone setting tolerances
13. Basic rendering

Part 2

1. Using Curve Sweeping for multi-path sweeps
2. Using Circular Duplication
3. Using stone setting tools (Belts and Claws)
4. Sweeping and revolving stone settings manually
5. Using support planes for building and positioning objects
6. Creating 3-Way diagrams from scanned images
7. Building a pinched tiffany shank

Part 3 (including Optionals)

1. Using Jewelling to lay stones or other objects along a surface
2. Using the Loft command
3. Making chains and bails for necklaces
4. Using the Advanced Pave tool
5. Breaking your designs down into basic 3Design tools
6. Making a hollow cuff bangle
7. Adding inset text onto a bangle
8. Managing multiple parts and components

Price: £650

This includes an 8 week trial version of 3Design software. Participants can also opt to purchase a permanent licence of the software at a discounted rate during or after the course. With a valid Student ID, you may also be eligible for a free student version. Contact us and we can put you in touch with our 3Design representative for more details on options and prices.

Entry and software requirements: Students should already be confident with using a computer (whether Mac or PC).

You will also need a computer capable of running CAD, you will need to have the 3Design CAD software installed and confirmed as working on your computer. Check the computer specification list for the spec requirements here.

Upon completing this course, learner may explore other aspects of jewellery making with another BAJ short courses, or could apply for one of our comprehensive diploma programmes.