Glossary · Manufacturing systems
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
Also known as: CAM, CAM software
German: Computergestützte Fertigung (CAM)
In manufacturing, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the use of software to plan and program manufacturing operations, in particular to generate tool paths and NC programs from CAD geometry through a postprocessor.
- Manufacturing systems
In one sentence
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) uses software to generate tool paths and NC programs from CAD models for machine tools.
Example
The programmer imports the housing's 3D model into the CAM system, defines roughing and finishing strategies and posts the NC program for the five-axis machine.
How it applies
- Engineering: CAM systems calculate tool paths for milling, turning, cutting or additive processes, simulate material removal and check for collisions. The postprocessor converts the paths into the G-code dialect of a specific machine and control.
- Quality: Simulation reduces the risk of collisions, but it is only as good as the machine, tool and fixture models. First-part checks remain necessary.
- Data flow: CAM links design and production in the Digital thread: model revision, CAM project, NC program and machine should be traceable to each other.
- Documentation: Document the postprocessor version per machine and treat changes to it as changes to every program it generates. Setup sheets generated by the CAM system should use the same tool and zero point names as the program.
CAM vs. CNC
CAM creates programs, usually offline. The Computer numerical control (CNC) executes them at the machine.