Adding Gems to the Channel

Objective: Learn how to add gems to the central channel by creating a reference curve, placing the gems, and adjusting prongs and cutters for proper fitting.

The channel we built in the previous lesson is a curved surface, so the stones can’t simply be dropped into it one by one. What we need first is a path for them to follow: a curve running right through the middle of the channel, which RhinoArtisan will then use to distribute the gems evenly and keep every stone centered.

Go to the Curve tab and use the Extract Isocurve command.

Select the central seam of the channel and change the direction to V in the command bar. Then click on the central point of the channel surface and press Enter to create the isocurve.

Placing the Gems

With the path ready, the Gems by Curve command can do the distribution work for us. Go to the Diamonds tab and select it.

The command asks for two references. Select the isocurve you just created as the curve, and the surface of the channel as the reference surface. The curve decides where each stone goes, while the surface decides how each one tilts, so the gems follow the curvature of the ring instead of standing straight up.

You will see the gems automatically adapt to the surface of the channel. Leave the default parameters for the gems, as they already fit this model well.

Adjusting the Prongs

The stones now need metal holding them in place. Switch to the Prongs tab, activate the prongs, and set the parameters as follows:

• Diameter: 0.6 mm
• Distance: 0.9 mm
• Height over girdle: 0.1 mm
• Height under girdle: 0.1 mm
• Manufacturing extension: 0.4 mm

With so little metal above and below the girdle, the prongs hold each gem securely while staying almost invisible in the render.

Adjusting the Cutters

The cutters are the volumes that will later be subtracted from the shank to open a seat for every stone, so their proportions determine how much metal is removed under each gem. Adjust the cutter parameters as follows:

• Size Top: 90%
• Height Crown: 40%
• Size Bottom: 80%
• Height Drill: 0%

For the preset options, select the fourth option.

Press Accept to confirm the command. We won’t perform the Boolean operation yet: the lateral channels still have to be created, so we’ll leave the cutters in place and come back to the Boolean once the whole setting is ready.

Next Lesson: Preparing for Lateral Setting