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CAD/CAM

CAD stands for Computer Aided Design.

CAD is used for displaying and editing designs on the computer. Calculations can often be made.

Graphics tablets.
(Graphics pads)

Input may be from a keyboard, graphics pad or touch-screen monitors.

Some CAD packages allow 3D design...The image can be rotated or viewed from different angles.
Example :

CAD can be used for interior design work. Arranging furniture in a room. This can be viewed from a number of different angles.

The arrangement can be changed on the computer and 'tested' without needing to move actual furniture around.

 CAD can be used to design...
  • cars
  • bridges
  • buildings
  • boats
  • engines
  • circuit boards
  • ...and many more

Facilities include...
  • creating and editing new designs
  • viewing designs from different angles
  • adding standard pre-designed shapes from a library
  • calculations (areas, volumes, stresses etc)
  • designs can be tested (eg electrical circuits)

Finished designs may be 

  • ...printed out using a graph plotter.
  • ...used as input for a CAM process....

 

 
CAM stands for Computer Aided Manufacture.

CAM uses a computer to control a manufacturing process. CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines such as

  • lathes
  • milling machines
  • drilling machines
  • welding machines
  • soldering machines
  • robots.

...are used to produce the product.

In the CAD/CAM process slight changes to design are quickly and easily made and implemented. The result of any change can be quickly analysed.

 

 CNC devices receive the production instructions from the computer as numbers.
 
A milling machine.

Cutters on a swivelling head receive instructions and shape a block of metal.