2-3 years ago I wrote a few modeling tools for consumers to design diamond rings over the internet in 3D. This time I am not going to have diamonds in the jewelry. I am going to try to be a simple as possible.

I’m starting with just one part. I think a half dollar size coin is the shape I can capture the most interest with, and the simplest model I can work with. It’s 30.61mm in diameter and 2.15mm thick as per the US Mint. I am going to give people one or two 3D “windows” to work. People can submit a 3D model 29mm in diameter and .5mm thick for the front or back, or just a 1mm thick version for the front. Starting out I will mill these coins in wax. This means the 3D model only needs to be 2 ½D (X and Y information, and only a Z height). This means I can have configurrator tools written that will use 2D images to model the coin; the grayscale color value determining the Z height within the .5 or 1mm window I am giving people.

Doing a flat object like a coin or charm is a step backward for me. Three years ago I wanted to have consumers design their own diamond ring in full 3D in the browser. This was the gist of a few tries with RingHunt.com. Ten years ago I was tinkering around with pieces for mosaics. I even built my own CNC mill to cut out the parts. I’m a DIYer to the core, but have learned to delegate over the years. You can see some of these projects at Inlay.com. Yes I would still like to build CNC machines to pump out the parts by the millions, but first things first, we need the content!

My interest in operating a service bureau is purely for testing this idea out. So at first I will be acting like a service bureau, but what is interesting is it will be a public service bureau. Everyone will be able to see and use the 3D files people will submit for manufacture. I feel this will foster a huge amount of creativity.