CAD for Jewelry: Easy Modeling with Shapr3D
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at computer aided design (CAD), but didn’t know where to start or have been intimidated by all those Rhino commands?! In this class, we will be going over how to make a pendant and a ring using the Shapr3D software. If you have never used a CAD program before, Shapr3D is one of the most intuitive programs out there and is a great start to an ease-in into the world or computer aided design! Come learn how to efficiently form, shape, and model your jewelry for 3D printing and metal casting.
A basic knowledge of jewelry making will be needed to design jewelry pieces effectively.
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
Meet the instructor

Stemming from southern NH, Steven taught himself how to make wire-wrapped jewelry in 2012, while attending undergraduate classes at his local college. The following year, he moved to Salem, MA to fulfill his BA in Biology and started making jewelry full-time as DNA Organic Designs. He graduated from SSU in 2017, and has been moving forward with learning more metalsmithing techniques. He looks forward to sharing his art with you, and to help you create unique, wire-wrapped jewelry.
With DNA Organic Designs, he has created several hundred one-of-a-kind pieces for clients all over the world. His specialties are working in silver and gold, creating pendants, rings, earrings, as well as bone centered desktop displays out of wire. More recently, he has began sheet metal fabrication, lost-wax casting, and engraving.
Materials & Tools
To participate, students should download Shapr3D software to their iPad or computer and test (open) it prior to class to troubleshoot possible download or pre-existing errors ahead of time.
Shapr3D is a professional CAD software available on iPadOS, macOS, and now WindowsOS. Download it from the App Store or this link.
There is a 14-day free trial for the Professional version. If you choose to purchase the software you can use code steven10 for 10% off the program.
Supported iPads:
|
With Pencil |
With mouse/keyboard |
iPad pro |
All generations |
All generations |
iPad Air |
2019 and later |
2014 and later |
iPad |
2018 and later |
2017 and later |
iPad mini |
2019 and later |
2015 and later |
Supported Macs:
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
CPU |
2.0GHz dual-core Intel Corei5 |
iMac or iMac Pro with a 3.4GHz quad‑core Intel Core i5 or MacBook Pro with a 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 or M1 |
RAM |
8GB |
16GB |
GPU |
Integrated GPU |
Dedicated GPU with 4GB VRAM |
macOS |
macOS Big Sur (11.0) or later |
|
Mouse |
Standard mouse, Magic Mouse, or 3Dconnexion's SpaceMouse |
Supported Windows:
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
CPU |
7th generation Intel i5 or better on x64 OR Microsoft SQ1 or better on ARM |
9th generation Intel i5 or better |
RAM |
8GB |
16GB |
GPU |
DirectX11 compatible |
Dedicated GPU with 4GB VRAM |
OS |
Window 10 2004 or newer |
|
Screen |
800 pixels of effective vertical resolution |
|
Input devices |
Mouse or Touch & Pen |