Since Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software was first introduced in the mid-1960s, it helped revolutionize the way many industries operate. Even though it was originally designed for use in the AEC industry, CAD soon found applications in numerous other fields. With the evolution of the software and technology as a whole, we can now see it extensively used across the business spectrum — including in manufacturing.
Nowadays there is an entirely new type of solution that adapts CAD for the needs of the manufacturing industry. Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) emerged as the new standard in the field and is currently helping all major manufacturers optimize and ramp up their production processes. In this article, we will explore what CAD/CAM is and what are the core benefits it provides.
What Is Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM)?
CAD/CAM is a mixture of software and machinery to automate, facilitate, and optimize manufacturing processes. The concept is a logical extension of CAD software solutions, such as AutoCAD Mechanical. With CAD/CAM, you get the benefits of CAD-empowered design which is accurately communicated to machines and equipment that process raw materials into finished products. CAD/CAM software is instrumental in creating toolpath designs that utilize machine language to automate the manufacturing process.
Basically, CAD/CAM uses geometric data and design parameters to regulate automated machines. Such systems are typically connected either to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) or a Direct Numerical Control (DNC) system. Almost all modern manufacturing facilities make use of CAD/CAM in order to optimize their work, increase productivity, and deliver higher-quality products.
Applications of CAD/CAM Technology
Ever since its inception, CAD/CAM technology has revolutionized manufacturing across the board. There are many practical examples of how it is implemented in order to optimize and improve various processes. Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which CAD/CAM is impacting today’s manufacturing industry.
General Production
CAD/CAM is used to greatly speed up and improve the general production processes in a lot of industries. For example, pharmaceutical companies use CAD/CAM to accurately specify the amount of raw and secondary materials needed to manufacture a certain product. The same goes for chemical manufacturing operations, where precise measurement is key to optimizing resource consumption and reducing waste.
Machining Equipment
Perhaps the most common way in which CAD/CAM is used in manufacturing is in relation to machining equipment. Cutting and shaping always need to be done with the utmost amount of precision, along with the packaging process. This is where CAD/CAM is exceptionally useful, as it can make CNC-dependent machines act with impeccable accuracy when machining.
Since machining is a core process in the manufacturing of metal, wood, and ceramic products, it is no wonder that CAD/CAM is an integral part of such operations.
Machine and Equipment Safety
While CAD/CAM is mostly used in production, it also plays an integral part when it comes to ensuring the safety of both machines and equipment.
Many industries use CAD/CAM to monitor machine performance, detecting any faults or malfunctions before they become a problem. This not only helps with reducing work-related injuries, but it is also an important aspect of the maintenance of certain machines and equipment. By implementing CAD/CAM, manufacturers can be sure that their machines stay operational and compliant with industry-specific laws and regulations.
Production Design
Thanks to CAD/CAM, manufacturers can make all their machines work in perfect unison and with the same data. As a result, product lines that undergo several different stages of production take a lot less time to complete. CAD/CAM helps to automate even the most complex tasks, ensuring that delivery times are met and the end results are of exceptional quality. With CAD/CAM, manufacturers are able to easily scale up their operation, which directly affects their success and bottom line.
Toolpath Designs
We already mentioned toolpath designs and how they are crucial to automating the manufacturing processes in many industries. CAD/CAM is instrumental to creating them and can be especially useful for automotive production, biomedical implants, and sheet metal prototyping. Using toolpath designs, manufacturers can design an entire process cycle and automate it using CNC machines.
We can expect to see toolpath designs evolve in the near future, allowing us to manufacture even more complex designs at a rapid scale.
The Benefits of CAD/CAM
The introduction of CAD/CAM has had an enormous impact on the manufacturing industry as a whole. From the initial design and conception of products to the production process itself — CAD/CAM software has improved every aspect of the manufacturing workflow.
Optimal material usage and cost-efficiency are also a direct result of CAD/CAM software being used to the fullest. The overall capabilities of manufacturing machines have significantly improved as well — modern 5-axis machines offer a lot more in terms of compound and quality of parts.
Additionally, CAD/CAM has helped manufacturers optimize their scheduling and automation, resulting in better delivery times. With high-speed machine tools paths enabled by CAD/CAM, modern manufacturers are capable of higher production rates than ever before, without sacrificing the quality of the final product. It is safe to say that further developments in the field of CAD/CAM will open even more possibilities for manufacturers.
Last but not least, CAD/CAM has been instrumental when it comes to reducing waste and saving energy. Given the consistently higher production rates and optimized material usage, manufacturers nowadays keep the amount of waste to a minimum. With the continued implementation of such processes and software in the future, we can hope to see the entire industry become more energy efficient.
Tom Schwarzweller is an Account Executive for Microsol Resources for upper New York State and Michigan. Tom has a long background in selling and supporting CAD and BIM software to the architectural, engineering, and construction industry. He has worked with many of the early adopters of building information modeling (BIM) and has learned the benefits that BIM can create and an understanding of what makes a BIM implementation successful. His many interests include sailing, photography, and biking.
