CAD/CAM software
What are CAD and CAM systems?
An efficient modern manufacturing company is unimaginable without the use of IT. Digitalization covers every stage of the product lifecycle from design to after-sales service in all areas of mechanical engineering, metalworking, instrumentation, additive technology, stone and plastics working, etc.
CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) software is used to create 3D digital models of the product and each of its elements. CAM (Computer-Aided-Manufacturing) software automates the development of control programs for CNC machines and industrial robots.
CAM software workflow
Import a model
Create the machining process
Simulate and verify
Output the code, do the machining
So what is CAD/CAM software?
CAD/CAM software is an integral, seamless CAD/CAM solution where the 3D CAD model format is native to the CAM module. As a result, the transfer of geometric and other features from the 3D model of the part to and from the CAM module of the system is done without any loss of information or significant time. The user works in a single, natural engineering environment for both the part geometry and the machining process.
What is CAD/CAM software used for?
The engineer uses 3D CAD systems to carefully work out the shape of the part, determine its position in the assembly, describe the material from which it will be made, and set other product parameters. Modern CAD systems can handle assemblies of tens and hundreds of thousands of parts, describe the most complex surfaces, and allow engineers to design both mechanical and electronic products. The output of CAD software is a 3D model of the product.
CAM systems help to manufacture designed parts and products. They work with the company’s existing CNC machines and industrial robots, taking into account all their capabilities and limitations as well as available tools and possible machining technologies. In CAM software the engineer programs how exactly the workpiece will be machined by the given machine or robot to produce a part of the desired shape and size. The output of a CAM system is a control program for a specific machine or robot.
Version 1
Version 2
Version 3
What are the benefits of using CAD/CAM software?
Often, 3D part models imported into a CAM system from third-party CAD systems must be modified to fit the company’s machinery, such as CNC machines and industrial robots. In addition, such refinements may require multiple iterations as the model is transferred from CAD to the CAM system and back.
During these operations, model information can become corrupted and require constant rework. With an integral CAD/CAM solution, changes to the geometry of the 3D model of the part to be machined can be made in the same environment and no information is lost. This significantly reduces the time it takes to prepare the part for production and approve changes to the design.
Version 1
Version 2
Version 3
What are the benefits of using CAD/CAM software?
Often, 3D part models imported into a CAM system from third-party CAD systems must be modified to fit the company’s machinery, such as CNC machines and industrial robots. In addition, such refinements may require multiple iterations as the model is transferred from CAD to the CAM system and back.
During these operations, model information can become corrupted and require constant rework. With an integrated CAD/CAM solution, changes to the geometry of the 3D model of the part to be machined can be made in the same environment and no information is lost. This significantly reduces the time it takes to prepare the part for production and approve changes to the design.
