Design Process
What is CAD/ CAM?
CAD/ CAM is a term, which means computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. It is the technology concerned with the use of computers to perform certain functions in design and production. This technology is moving in the direction of greater integration of design and manufacturing.
The design process
The main tasks of computer application in manufacturing systems are:
1. How computers are used in the generation and management of design information describing products?
2. How computers are used in the management of information about the manufacturing system, which makes the products?
The process of designing something is characterized as an interactive procedure, which consists of six identifiable steps or phases:
* Recognition of need.
* Definition of problem.
* Synthesis.
* Analysis and optimization.
* Evaluation.
* Presentation.
The applications of computers for design
The design-related tasks performed by CAD system are:
* Geometric modeling.
* Engineering analysis.
* Design review and evaluation.
* Automated drafting.
* Parts classification and coding.
Fundamental reasons for implementing CAD system
To increase the productivity of the designer. improve the quality of design. Improve communication and create a data base for manufacturing.
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
CAM can be defined as the use of computer systems to plan, manage, and control the operations of a manufacturing plant through either direct or indirect computer interface with the plant’s production resources.
The applications of CAM fall into two broad categories:
1. Computer monitoring and control. These are the direct applications in which the computer is connected directly to the manufacturing process for the purpose of monitoring or controlling the process.
2. Manufacturing support applications. These are the indirect applications in which the computer is used in support of the production operations in the plant, but there is no direct interface between the computer and the manufacturing process.
Some examples of CAM for manufacturing support
Numerical control part programming: control programs are prepared for automated machine tools.
Computer-automated process planning: the computer prepares a listing of the operation sequence required to process a particular product or component.
Computer-generated work standards: the computer determines the time standard for a particular production operation.
Production scheduling: the computer determines an appropriate schedule for meeting production requirements.
Material requirements planning: the computer is used to determine when to order raw materials and purchased components and how many should be ordered to achieve the production schedule.
Shop floor control: in this CAM application, data are collected from the factory to determine progress of the various production shop orders.
In all of these examples, human beings are presently required in the application either to provide input to computer programs or to interpret the computer output and implement the required action.
