Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Computer Aided Manufacturing Applications

Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) refers to an automation process, which accurately converts product design and drawing or the object into a code format, readable by the machine to manufacture the product. Computer aided manufacturing complements the computer aided design (CAD) systems to offer a wide range of applications in different manufacturing fields. CAM evolved from the technology utilized in the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines that were used in the early 1950s. CNC involved the use of coded instructions on a punched paper tape and could control single manufacturing functions. CAM controlled computer systems, however, can control a whole set of manufacturing functions simultaneously.

CAM allows work instructions and procedures to be communicated directly to the manufacturing machines. A CAM system controls manufacturing operations performed by robotic milling machines, lathes, welding machines and other industrial tools. It moves the raw material to different machines within the system by allowing systematic completion of each step. Finished products can also be moved within the system to complete other manufacturing operations such as packaging, synthesizing and making final checks and changes.

Some of the major applications of the CAM system are glass working, woodturning, metalworking and spinning, and graphical optimization of the entire manufacturing procedure. Production of the solids of rotation, plane surfaces, and screw threads is done by applying CAM systems. A CAM system allows the manufacturing of three-dimensional solids, using ornamental lathes with greater intricacy and detail. Products such as candlestick holders, table legs, bowls, baseball bats, crankshafts, and camshafts can be manufactured using the CAM system. CAM system can also be applied to the process of diamond turning to manufacture diamond tipped cutting materials. Aspheric optical elements made from glass, crystals, and other metals can also be produced using CAM systems. Computer aided manufacturing can be applied to the fields of mechanical, electrical, industrial and aerospace engineering. Applications such as thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and kinematics can be controlled using CAM systems. Other applications such as electromagnetism, ergonomics, aerodynamics, and propulsion and material science may also use computer aided manufacturing.

Computer Aided Manufacturing provides detailed information on Applications of Computer Aided Manufacturing, Cam And Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Design , Computer Aided Design Scanners and more. Computer Aided Manufacturing is affiliated with Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing.

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Friday, December 21, 2007

Computer Aided Manufacturing

 Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is a software automation process that directly converts the product drawing or the object into the code format, enabling the machine to manufacture the product. CAM is used in various machines like lathes or milling machines for product manufacturing purposes.

A CAM system allows the work instructions to communicate directly to the manufacturing machines. In the early 1950?s, the technology has evolved from Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines which performs a set of coded instructions in a punched paper tape. A CAM controlled computer system can control the entire process performed by the robotic milling machines, lathes, welding machines and other various tools. It moves the product to various machines within the system by allowing each step to get completed during the manufacturing process.

CAM systems allow a much easier, faster computer reprogramming and a quicker implementation of the design changes. The CAM system, which integrates the CAD system, manages tasks involving ordering, scheduling and the replacement of tools. This kind of integration mechanism provides faster and more efficient manufacturing processes. The key areas that are managed by the CAM system are automotive, aviation and furniture industries.

A CAM system is very expensive as the entire system ranges more than $18,000 along with the software. A 3D environment is best suited in the working and integrating of the CAM system with the CAD system. In a CNC manufacturing process, a CAM system is used to simplify the machining and the designing processes. These systems are mostly used in major areas such as the mechanical engineering and electronic design automation.

The various manufacturing mechanisms that are handled within the system during the product manufacturing are Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing (ICAM), Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS), Direct Numerical Control (DNC) and Manufacturing Process Management (MPM). A CAM system controls different factors that involve data verification during manufacturing, panelizing the design to fit in the raw material, and editing and adding manufacturing information.



Applications of Computer Aided Manufacturing provides detailed information on Applications of Computer Aided Manufacturing, Cam And Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Design , Computer Aided Design Scanners and more. Applications of Computer Aided Manufacturing is affiliated with Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing.

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