Digital Goldsmith: evaluating the traditional methods and exploring the potential of binder jetting 3D process for the Indian gold jewellery industry

Abstract

The Indian gold jewellery industry boasts a rich identity of the nation’s cultural, traditional, and economic heritage. Currently, the industry is facing several challenges like the high gold prices and limited arability of design flexibility manufactured using the traditional jewellery manufacturing process. In this paper, several gold jewellery manufacturing processes have been discussed such a traditional manufacturing process and lost wax casting process highlighting their limitations in terms of material waste and design constraints. The paper compares this process and proposes an idea to implement binder jet 3D printing as a disruptive innovation to revolutionize the industry. The concept of binder jet 3D printing technology was introduced explaining its core principles and emphasizing its advantages for jewellery production. The study also examines customer preferences and contemporary design trends in the context of the Indian gold jewellery sector, which would be helpful to determine that there are potential uses for binder jet 3D printing to meet the needs of current design and mass customization trends. In this paper, a model for combining traditional Indian goldsmithing methods with binder jet 3D printing is proposed. This article provided an initial plan to introduce this process in the Indian market and prepare the path for a “Digital Goldsmith” era in the Indian jewellery sector by opening doors for future research in domains, like developing eco-friendly binders and optimizing printing settings for Indian gold alloys. It imagines a world in which this thriving industry will flourish due to sustainability, innovation, and the blending of old-world artisanry with innovative technology.