Carima Unveils 3D Jewelry Printer, Plans to Expand in Europe and Asia

If there’s one word that comes to mind when South Korean printer manufacturer Carima is mentioned, it’s speed. Currently, they are the proud suppliers of the world’s fastest 3D printer, and their recently developed C-CAT technology is said to be up to 400 times faster than most existing DLP 3D printers. They’ve been wowing crowds at lots of international exhibitions lately, including the recent Hong Kong International Jewellry Show, which took place March 3-7. The exhibition is a massive one for the jewelry industry, featuring more than 2,500 companies from 41 countries, with a whopping 320,000 in attendance.

Stealing the show was Carima’s im-j 3D printer, a DLP machine optimized for jewelry production. While a release date has not been given yet, Carima expects it to be a major force when it does hit the market.

“Carima expect to be turning point to hit the market worldwide with im-j model equipped with high technology,” said Carima CEO Lee Byung Geuk, “and we will make an effort to increase export providing korean high-end technology.”

One of the highlights of the im-j — which stands for “Imagination, Manufacturing, Jewelry” — is its longevity. Its UV LED light source can last 20,000 hours or longer before needing replacement – that’s about 7 times longer than current DLP light sources. While precise printing speeds haven’t been specified, Carima emphasizes that it is fast – no surprise there. Other specifications are as follows:

• Printer dimensions: 300 x 310 x 590 mm
• Build size: 96 x 54 x 150 mm
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Layer thickness: .025, .05, .075, 0.1
• Power supply: AC100-240V, 50/60Hz

A touchscreen allows for easy operation, and Carima promises low maintenance costs. The im-j prints with wax resin for direct jewelry casting, and operates with Carima’s user-friendly software.

The unveiling of the im-j at the Hong Kong International Jewellry Show marks Carima’s expansion into Hong Kong. The company is planning an aggressive push into several Asian and European countries in the near future. Right now Carima exports to over 25 countries, but they appear to be dead set on expanding as quickly and as prolifically as possible. They’ve put out a call for resellers or sales agencies; if interested, you can contact them through their website. 

There are a lot of 3D jewelry printers on the market; whether this one will distinguish itself as much as Carima projects that it will remains to be seen. The speed should be an attractive factor; I assume that this printer will be equipped with C-CAT technology and will, therefore, be as lightning-fast as Carima’s other recent releases. The long-lasting light source and low maintenance requirements are very appealing, as well. I haven’t seen anything but positive reviews of Carima’s printers thus far, so I’d be surprised if the im-j disappoints. Discuss in the New Carima 3D Printer forum over at 3DPB.com.