Editor’s Note: Last April, we debuted our Technology of Choice series with comparisons of CAD software programs and laser welders. The response from you, our readers, was fantastic, and you asked for more. This month, we’re delivering with comparisons of jewelry-specific CAM equipment and business software.
We’ve compiled comprehensive charts of data to enable you to quickly and easily compare some of the most popular options available to the jewelry industry. In addition, we’ve interviewed users of various CAM systems and business software to find out what impact those products have had on their businesses. (For comparison charts and business software users' perspectives, see the April issue of MJSA Journal.)

We encourage you to further explore these technologies by visiting trade shows for demos, requesting lists of users you can contact, discussing any questions you have about performance or service with the product manufacturers, and taking advantage of opportunities to test the products.

Technology is still the wave of the future. Choose the right product for your company and ride it!

Users’ Perspectives: CAM Options

Compiled by Tina Wojtkielo Snyder

Over the past few years, CAD design has seen widespread growth in many segments of the jewelry industry—from small shop manufacturing retailers looking to boost their custom design businesses to high volume manufacturers seeking ways to speed up their design processes to keep up with changing trends. But embracing the design side of this technology is only half the journey. Once you have a CAD program that works for you, how do you choose the best system to turn those CAD designs into models? According to the manufacturers, retailers, and service bureaus we interviewed, there are a number of key factors to consider when choosing the right CAM solution for your operation. The CAM systems featured here can be separated into two camps: additive systems and subtractive systems. The additive systems, commonly referred to as rapid prototyping (RP) machines, build models layer by layer using a variety of materials. Subtractive systems, or milling machines, rely on fixtures to carve models out of wax, and some are equipped to process other materials as well.

Choosing which type of CAM system is best for your operation requires weighing many critical factors, including production volume, desired speed of production, casting requirements, work environment, and budget. Reading about why the following users chose their CAM equipment, their opinions about its pros and cons, and how their equipment choices have impacted their businesses may help you make the right investments for your operation.