Pino Aliprandini is chalking up a number of firsts with its revolutionary electroplating machine, Orbit 1, which it previewed at the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Fiera delle gemme 2017.
Controlled by a mobile app through a Bluetooth connection, the desktop electroplater does non-cyanide processing for pure gold, the three colours of karat gold, e argento. The app can control several machines at the same time, and since the parameters are all incorporated in the app, data can be saved for future use.
According to Pino Aliprandini (HK) Ltd Managing Director Sam Chong, Orbit 1 is the first electroplating machine to be fully controlled by a mobile app. “The machine only has an on/off switch and an emergency switch. Everything else including controls and functions is found in the app,” he explained.
Equipped with an automatic replenishing and maintenance function, Orbit 1 can take up to 5 litres of solution, said Chong. Weighing just 15 kilos, the machine’s compact design allows for easy placement on work stations.
“We also highly recommend pairing the machine with 3D printing. Prototypes can be made by 3D printing and then electroplated right away in Orbit 1. Manufacturers can save time, money and effort by skipping the casting process. They can present their clients with prototypes faster and more efficiently,” Chong noted.
It took two years to develop the Orbit 1 machine, Chong disclosed. Ha aggiunto che la tecnologia dell’app mobile verrà eventualmente estesa alle macchine per elettroformatura dell’azienda.
Probabilmente prima in un altro settore, Pino Aliprandini lancerà una campagna di crowdfunding su Kickstarter a novembre per generare ordini e finanziare la produzione della macchina. Chong ha detto Orbita 1 sarà disponibile ad un prezzo promozionale di circa 2.000 dollari su Kickstarter, con consegne previste per due o tre mesi dopo la fine della campagna.
“Stiamo prendendo di mira in giro 100 ordini tramite Kickstarter. Una volta terminata la campagna, Orbit 1 costerà circa 3.000 dollari per unità,” osservò.