CAD/CAM

• Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of

computer systems to assist in the creation,
modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.

• Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the use

of computer systems to plan, manage, and control
the operations of a manufacturing plant through
direct or indirect computer interface with plant’s
resources.
 Need for CAD/CAM

• To increase productivity of the designer

•To improve quality of the design
•To improve communications
•To create a manufacturing database
•To create and test toolpaths and optimize them
•To help in production scheduling and MRP models
•To have effective shop floor control
From CAM definition, the application of
CAM falls into two broad categories:
1. Computer monitoring and control .

Computer Process data Process

Process data
Computer Process
Control signals
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2. Manufacturing support application .

Process data
Computer Mfg
Control signals operations

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 The Product Cycle and
CAD/CAM
In order to establish the scope and definition
of CAD/CAM in an engineering environment
and identify existing and future related tools,
a study of a typical product cycle is
necessary. The following Figure shows a
flowchart of such a cycle.

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 Typical Product Life Cycle
The Design Process
Design Collecting
Design definitions, relevant design
needs specifications, information and
and requirements feasibility study
Synthesis
Analysis The CAD Process
Design Design
Design Design Design Design
documentation and modeling and
evaluation optimization analysis conceptualization
communication simulation

The Manufacturing Process

Production
planning The CAM Process
Design and
procurement of
Process
new tools Quality Packaging
planning Production Shipping
control
Order
materials

NC, CNC, DNC

programming

Marketing

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 CAD Tools Required to Support the Design Process

Design phase Required CAD tools

Design conceptualization Geometric modeling techniques;
Graphics aids; manipulations; and
visualization
Design modeling and simulation Same as above; animation; assemblies;
special modeling packages.
Design analysis Analysis packages; customized
programs and packages.
Design optimization Customized applications; structural
optimization.
Design evaluation Dimensioning; tolerances; BOM; NC.
Design communication and Drafting and detailing…
documentation

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CAM Tools Required to Support the Design Process
Manufacturing phase Required CAM tools

Process planning CAPP techniques; cost

analysis; material and
tooling specification.
Part programming NC programming

Inspection CAQ; and Inspection

software
Assembly Robotics simulation and
programming

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Definitions of CAD Tools Based on Their
Constituents

Computer
graphics
concepts

CAD
tools

Geometric
Design tools modeling

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 Definition of CAD Tools Based on Their Implementation
in a Design Environment

Hardware
(control unit; display
terminals;
Design tools + Computer I/O devices = CAD tools

Software (graphics;
modeling; applications
programs

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Definitions of CAM Tools Based on Their
Constituents

Networking
concepts

CAM
tools

CAD
Mfg tools

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 Definition of CAM Tools Based on Their Implementation
in a Manufacturing Environment

Hardware
(control unit; display
terminals;
I/O devices

Mfg tools + Computer Software (CAD; NC; = CAM tools

MRP; CAPP…)

Networking
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Definitions of CAD/CAM Tools Based on
Their Constituents

Mfg tools Design tools

CAD/CAM
tools Geometric
Networking
modeling

Computer
graphics
concepts

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 Definition of CAD/CAM Tools Based on Their
Implementation in an Engineering Environment

Hardware

Design and + Computer Software = CAD/CAM tools

Mfg tools

Networking
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Typical Utilization of CAD/CAM Systems in an Industrial Environmen
Geometric modeling and graphics package
Process planning
Geometric modeling
of conceptual design CAPP package

Yes Are there

Is design evaluation No manufacturing
Possible with available discrepancies in CAD
Standard software? databases?
Design
package Yes
Develop customized No
Design testing
programs and
And evaluation packages NC NC
programming package

Programming
No Is final design package
Applicable? Machining

Yes
Inspection
Drafting Inspection
And Robotics
Assembly package
Documentation 15
 Advantages of CAD/CAM
systems
• Greater flexibility. • Better product design.
• Reduced lead times. • Greater manufacturing
• Reduced inventories. control.
• Increased Productivity. • Supported integration.
• Improved customer • Reduced costs.
service. • Increased utilization.
• Improved quality. • Reduction of machine
• Improved communications tools.
with suppliers. • Less floor space.
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