Individualized Inlay Design of Abnormal Amber Based on 3D Scanning Technique

Amber is a kind of organic fossil resin in irregular blocks and granules shapes. It is produced after million years of geological process by Coniferous plants, which grew in the Mesozoic Cretaceous to the Cenozoic Tertiary. The random shape of the amber makes its design increasingly important. This paper innovatively applies three-dimensional (3D) scanning and 3D printing technologies to the design of amber, and selects three pieces of amber with different typical characteristics. 3D scanning was done for all three amber samples and the relevant personalized inlay designs were designed based on the shape and defect position displayed by the 3D scanning point cloud image of the samples. After 3D digital models are created, the inserts are printed by selective laser melting (SLM). It has been proved by the experiments that the point cloud image, obtained by using 3D scanning technology, is optimized to represent the structure and feature of the samples' surfaces, the position of the 3D printed inserts are more accurate, and the design of abnormal amber is no longer limited by manual. The combination of these two advanced technologies with the insert design reduces labor costs, saves raw materials, and makes the insert more firm and beautiful. With continuous exploration, the use of 3D digital technology will provide more convenience for jewelry production.