MatrixGold Essentials for Jewelers – Video Training Course by Rik Juod

A practical, project-based course for getting started with MatrixGold. You’ll build real jewelry pieces from scratch, learning the essential tools and workflows for 3D modeling, rendering, and preparing files for 3D printing and casting.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Navigate the MatrixGold interface and customize your workspace.
• Model rings, earrings, and pendants using builders and dynamic commands.
• Add gems, prongs, cutters, and millgrain details.
• Hollow out models to reduce weight for casting.
• Export STL files for 3D printing.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: No prior MatrixGold experience needed. Familiarity with basic jewelry concepts is helpful but not required.
• Tools: A valid license of MatrixGold and Rhino 6 or 7.
• Hardware: A Windows PC and a 3-button mouse.

📝 Description

This isn’t a dry theory course. Every lesson is built around a real jewelry project, so you’re learning by doing. You’ll start with simple rings and work your way up to complex halo settings, earrings, and pendants.

The instructor, Rik Juod, has been teaching CAD for jewelry since 2003. He knows exactly where beginners get stuck and how to guide you through it. Each video includes on-screen prompts and visual cues, so you can follow along at your own pace.

You’ll learn how to use MatrixGold‘s builders and dynamic commands to speed up your workflow. The course also covers practical skills like hollowing out a ring to reduce weight, adding millgrain details, and exporting an STL file for 3D printing. Completed .3DM project files are included for every lesson, so you can compare your work or jump ahead.

With nearly 14 hours of content and more exercises on the way, this course gives you a solid foundation in CAD for jewelry design. Whether you’re a bench jeweler moving into digital or a complete beginner, you’ll walk away with a portfolio of finished pieces.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• New users of MatrixGold who want a structured, project-based introduction.
• Jewelers transitioning from Rhino, Matrix, or RhinoGold.
• Bench jewelers with hand-making experience who want to learn CAD for design, printing, and casting.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Rik Juod has been teaching CAD for jewelry design since 2003. He spent over nine years at a technical college in Sydney, teaching four classes a week with around 16 students each. That hands-on experience taught him how to explain complex 3D concepts to beginners. With over 18 years in the field, he knows the best workflows for using Rhino and MatrixGold to design jewelry that’s ready for production.

🏁 Final Result

• A portfolio of completed jewelry designs, including rings, earrings, and pendants.
• Practical experience exporting STL files for 3D printing and casting.
• A thorough understanding of the core MatrixGold tools you’ll use in your own projects.