Hi Tom,
I think this video maybe of interest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y00EEeZC4x4&list=PLCoK1Ao0T01KhfestF7xCic1jf5YjXiVh&index=13

As a test I took your model into blender and was able to pick gems from the JewelCraft addon
and place them on the surface of your model.
Also you can add the prongs as and where you want.
Anyway I think it's worth a look.
Cheers
Barry

Hi Tom,

There are specific books that cover the technical aspects of pave setting but they're not cheap.
It should also be noted that within pave, there's what Setters loosely describe as "American style" or a "Euro style".
Basic techniques are the same but knowing there's a difference within styles could help when looking at various references.

I've attached a PDF which Stuller released to help novice Jewellers venturing into CAD.
Given you're venturing into jewellery design then I figured its info might prove to be helpful?
I'm also including a ZIP file with a collection of different stone shapes in NURBS that I've collected from various sources.
You'll find these to be much more useful than the DXF versions available on the web.

For constructing your model with round stones just use a simple rotated shape to keep the file small.
Then just substitute those for the NURBS version when it comes time to doing your render.

HTH, Colin

Precious documentation and amazing Blender videos!

Hi Barry, wow that is amazing, did not know that Blender has that much
features, will have a look now !

Colin, thank you so much for your Christmas gift ;-)

I REALLY appreciate your kind tips, links and files !! It is not so easy
to find information about this specialized topic, so it makes your infos
specially valuable. Downloaded your files and will have a look at them
right now at my working computer.

Hi Tom,

No prob's & glad to hear they'll be useful.
I don't profess to be any kind of expert with regards to pave, I've just accumulated info from those much more knowledgeable on the subject.

If looking for good examples of real jewellery then try searching for old stuff by Cartier & Tiffany as they were "hi-end" Makers.
Genuine old Art Nouveau stuff will have "animal subjects" & any with pave will be ALL done by hand, so that's your better reference.
Same will apply to Art Deco period as it was heavy with pave but being more geometric style, a lot of it's pieces are typically flat & so wont offer the same kind of reference.

Cartier's "Panther" range would be another good reference source.
https://www.cartier.com.au/en-au/maison/cartier-and-the-panther/the-panther-through-time.html

HTH, Colin

Hi Barry,

You wrote : ""I swept circles and used the pipe produced to cut surface.
The cut edge is used to sweep and cut the next edge and so on.""

I wonder what you did with the pipes where the radius of the rail curve
got so narrow that it forced the pipe to buckle ?

Getting a smaller circle for the Sweep wont help as the pipe will buckle
later when moving upward to the top ...

Hi Tom,
in my example I had split you model in two so that didn't happen.
Anyway have just checked and you can get round it.
Create the curves as before and then trim them back with a circle or sphere.
The curves can then be blended and joined.

Barry

Hey dear MOIers,

Currently putting all the input of this thread together I want to thank
everyone who has contributed with his infos, suggestions and ideas.
The MOI community has the same amazing spirit of contribution and
support as the maker of MOI and that is wonderful !