Stainless Steel Jewelry Lean Production Flow
Professional & Complete Manufacturing Process
I. Two Major Manufacturing Categories
1. Investment Casting / Lost-Wax Casting Process
Applicable Products: 3D figurines/charms, intricately textured rings, skull jewelry, vintage relief/embossed ornaments.
3D Design & Prototyping
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Metal Master Mold Making
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Wax/Plastic Injection
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Tree Assembly & High-Temp Slurry Coating
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Final QC & Packaging
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Hand Polishing / Plating
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Laser Welding & Assembly
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Filing & Deburring
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High-Vacuum Melting & Casting
2. Precision Machining Process (CNC & Machining)
Applicable Products: Minimalist geometric rings, bangles, couple rings, high-precision micro-components, hardware clasps/buckles.
CAD Drafting & Programming
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Raw Material Procurement
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CNC Turning & Milling
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Wire EDM / Laser Blanking
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Laser Engraving & Assembly
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Mechanical + Hand Polishing
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PVD Vacuum Ion Plating
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Ultrasonic Degreasing
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Final Inspection & Warehousing
II. Detailed Core Production Steps
Category A: Investment Casting Process
Stainless steel has extremely high melting point. Traditional gypsum molds will crack. High-temperature ceramic shells are required.
- Step 1. Mold Development: 3D printed resin prototype → CNC steel/aluminum master mold (2% shrinkage pre-scaled).
- Step 2. Wax/Plastic Injection: High-hardness wax injected into mold for high stability.
- Step 3. Shell Investment: Dipped in silica sol-quartz slurry + refractory sand (5–7 layers).
- Step 4. Dewaxing & Roasting: Steam autoclave dewax → furnace heating over 1000°C.
- Step 5. Vacuum Induction Melting & Casting: 316L stainless steel melted at 1400–1450°C.
- Step 6. De-vasting & Knockout: Ceramic shell shattered → blanks cut from sprue.
- Step 7. Filing & Deburring: Carbide burrs & high-speed tools for hard grinding.
Category B: Precision Machining Process
- Step 1. Raw Material Preparation: 316L tubes, sheets, or bars.
- Step 2. CNC Programming & Machining: CNC lathe + 4/5-axis milling for high precision.
- Step 3. Laser Cutting & Wire EDM: For flat, complex, ultra-fine parts.
- Step 4. Assembly & Welding: Laser cold welding – no solder, no oxidation.
Merging Stage: Post-Processing & Surface Treatment
- Step 1. Mechanical Deburring & Tumble Polishing: 12–24 hours for smooth semi-gloss.
- Step 2. Manual Mirror Polishing: 8K mirror finish achieved with professional compounds.
- Step 3. Ultrasonic Degreasing: 70–80°C deep cleaning for polishing residue.
- Step 4. PVD Vacuum Ion Plating: IP Gold, Rose Gold, Black – durable, anti-fade.
- Step 5. Final QC & Packaging: Full inspection → labeling → packaging.
Production Management Tips
- Material Waste Control: CNC stainless steel shavings have low recycling value. Optimize nesting layout.
- Consumable Costs: Tools & polishing compounds consume 3–5 times more than copper/silver jewelry.