STARTING YOUR FIRST CUSTOM JOB WITH US
THE PROCESS
This section will detail what to expect in the process of start to finish of each job.
DETAILS AND CHANGES
Details for a job are a very important part of the process. An excellent example is listed in this section. Also, information regarding changes is also found here.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
includes important information such as if photos/sketches are necessary, changes during the process, growing waxes, receiving waxes, customer cancellations, how to send info to us, and working with your goldsmith.
GRAM WEIGHTS - IMPORTANT
A quick disclaimer regarding gram weights and designing based on a specific weight.
THE PROCESS
Starting Your First Custom Piece
1. JOB INFORMATION
To begin, please provide details for the job including finger size, stone sizes, photos/sketches of what you want, and any other details necessary for the project.
Here is a great example of the necessary details.
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Click Here to download a blank form of our New Custom Request Form - It is fillable, so either use your computer to add the info, or print and add by hand. Print out to sketch additional images/information and then take a photo of the completed form and send it to our email, attaching any other info/images necessary for the custom piece.
2. WE SEND A QUOTE
After the details are received, you will get a quote for the design of the job, and for cutting a wax.
Certain projects need to be grown, rather than milled. We can let you know at this time, and provide a price to you as well.
3. DESIGNING AND ADJUSTMENTS
Once the price is approved by you, we will design the job based on your information and provide you with renders (pictures you can show your clients) from multiple angles. Â
Any necessary tweaking is done at this point.
4. SHIPPING YOUR WAX OR SENDING YOU THE COMPLETED FILE
We can use any number of industry printing/growing companies to have your wax printed/grown. We currently have used private businesses printers, as well as Alloyco, Graduor and Ready Mounts.
If you have your own printer, we can send you the file, ready for print.
PROVIDING JOB DETAILS
Providing a complete list of details is very important for a job, as missing info can mean major edits to the job or even restarting at times, depending on the design.
This image is an example of how to provide info necessary to complete a job.
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When you are ready, click the "Start a Job - Email" button below to send an email to us with info, attachments, photos, sketches, etc.
If you would like to download our blank job form, find that below as well.
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** Please note that changes, additions and information not included at the time of the quote may incur an additional cost based on the amount of time needed to add/change the new information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOU
** Important to read before sending your first job.
WHAT DOES ARMSTRONG CADWORKS DO?
Armstrong CADWorks takes care of the first step in the custom design process. We create the CAD drawings and provide renders (pictures) of the design from a number of angles for you and your client to see.
We also provide wax molds for you to cast with our Revo 540CX Milling machine.Â
Alternatively, we can provide an option to grow your wax using a local 3rd party company.
ARE PHOTOS/SKETCHES NECESSARY?
Absolutely. In many cases, what our clients envision or know about a design, is not translated in text. Because of this, we need to see what we are making.
Details are important so please feel free to send a photo that is printed out by you, with writing as well, such as width at bottom, accent stones start and stop, etc.
As an example, the difference between a cathedral setting and rounded over shoulders, changes the design.
WHAT ABOUT CHANGES DURING THE PROCESS?
We recognize that changes and adjustments are sometimes a part of the process. Once you notify us of necessary changes, we will go over the details of the changes with you. Â
In some cases we are sent minimal info and asked to proceed. Later we receive information that requires changes/adjustments, etc., from what was originally known.
We try to keep to our original price quote as often as possible, but some changes to designs may mean a partial restart, full restart, or require a substantial amount of extra time. In cases where the job differs from the work that was initially agreed upon, there may be a charge to cover the extra time to make these changes.Â
It is always best to have all necessary details provided beforehand to expedite the project and minimize additional charges.
HOW TO SEND INFORMATION
We ask that all information, including photos, sketches be sent to our email - armstrongcadworks@gmail.com. Feel free to call or text about info but we ask that any detail necessary to the project be sent in a single email thread, even if we have discussed it on the phone. The reason for this is that it allows us to easily track all information regarding the project, including changes.Information sent in texts, seperate emails from the original, or over the phone may get lost in the process.
CUSTOMER CANCELLATIONS
This is always a very unfortunate situation which, thankfully, rarely occurs.
Once a go-ahead is given to us for a project, we will charge for our time and the work we have completed. Â
Our suggestion, which has worked well for many of our clients, is to get a non-refundable deposit from the customer, just for designs rendered by the CAD worker, to get started. It allows you, the jeweller, to be covered in case a customer does walk away once the design process has started..
WORKING WITH YOUR GOLDSMITH
All goldsmiths work differently. Many people believe they, or their goldsmith make their jewellery in a typical fashion. Â
We have found from working with many jewellery stores and goldsmiths across Canada, that goldsmiths have preferences for how they like the design completed.
This includes thicknesses for prongs, channels, heights of prongs over the table of the gems, and so on. Â
We ask that you let us know about details according to your goldsmith's preferences so that we can make the design right for you.
GRAM WEIGHTS -Â IMPORTANT NOTE
* Please note that gram weight is not the responsibility of Armstrong CADWorks. Jobs designed by specifications such as stone sizes, heights, widths, etc can't necessarily meet gram weight expectations. In addition, Armstrong CADWorks cannot guarantee the accuracy of our design program's weights.