"The level of detail is incredible, and the rustic nature of the ring reveals the intricate additive manufacturing process behind its construction"
This project was designed to explore a range of ergonomic design processes, starting with an actual mold and casting of my finger, which was then digitised for the ring to be modelled around.
This was to ensure a perfect fit for the wearer (me), and several iterations were produced through 3D printed plastic before the final design was created.
I sent the file to Shapeways and requested a stainless steel copy of the ring. Through a 3D printing process known as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), the metal is built up layer by layer into the final form as seen here.
The level of detail is incredible, and the rustic nature of the ring reveals the intricate additive manufacturing process behind its construction.
The initials on the face of the ring are my own, however the design can easily be altered to include any image or combination of letters and/or numbers.
The original design was modelled to fit only my left hand ring finger, but as I wanted to wear the ring on a day-to-day basis, I used a Dremel with a medium grinding head to bore out the inner surface, before finishing and polishing this by hand.
Now I am able to wear the ring on a few different fingers, most commonly though I opt for the left hand middle finger.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Next, I want to design a range of personalised jewellery which will be free for users to download from Thingiverse or a similar platform.
I aim to follow a similar design ethos as I did for this project: minimalist yet bold; elegant yet understated.
Watch this space.
If you like this project, please hit the 'appreciate' button, leave me a comment and don't hesitate to check out my other work on Behance! Your feedback is warmly welcomed!
