COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

CAD and CAM and ICT in Graphics

CAD- Means using computer drawing and modelling programmes to design products instead of using paper and pencils CAM- Means the process of manufacturing products with the help of computers. Computer Aided Design Computer Aided Manufacture

SCREEN SHOT OF THE TECHSOFT START UP SCREEN

CAD/CAM in Industry Designers can use programs to draw products quickly using CAD, it is easy to make changes to the drawing. The products that are designed with CAD can be produced with CAM. This is fast, efficient and accurate

CAD Software = Techsoft 2D Design This is like your piece of paper that you would draw on. These are the tools that you use to draw with instead of using a pencil or pen Stage 1 = Draw design in Techsoft 2D Design

Stage 2 = Change drawing to machine code Machine code – your drawing is converted into a language that the machine can understand.

CAM Machine = Denford Microrouter Stage 3 = The machine is set up ready to cut out your design

Stage 4 = The machine cuts out the shape from the material

Stage 5 = The finished shape is taken out of the machine

Advantages of CAD Saved and modified easily Quick to produce drawings both 2D and 3D Reduced or enlarged Common components pre drawn available High quality Accurate Linked to CAM Disadvantages of CAD Expensive Detailed programs need to be learnt Risk of crashing or losing work Examples of CAD ~ Techsoft 2D Design, Pro Desktop

Advantages or CAM Production is quicker and efficient Machines do not need to rest like people do Accurate Machines can be run continuously Quick repetition Disadvantages of CAM Expensive Machine replaces peoples jobs Smaller amount of staff need to be highly trained to run machines Examples of CAM ~ Denford microrouter, Vinyl cutter

ICT Word processing packages – Microsoft word Spreadsheets - excel DTP – desktop publishing – publisher, photoshop Graphic packages – paint, CAD – techsoft The internet

Graphics input devices Barcodes – printed on packaging, read by an optical scanner Keyboard – concept keyboard Graphics tablet – a flat pad on which you use a special pen to draw an accurate image on the screen Scanner – transfer images onto the computer Digital camera – read by a computer

Graphics output devices Ink jet printer – cheap to buy, low quality and speed Laser printer – more expensive therefore better quality Plotters – accurate and good quality, used in conjunction with CAD and CAM

1. Read page 88 and 89 on CAD. Make notes and answer questions 1 and Read page 92 and 93 on CAM. Make notes and answer questions 1, 2, 3 and Check yourself exam questions pages 141 and Go on and click on CNC work. Find out and make notes about rapid prototyping, laser cutters and vinyl cutters. Find out about how it works, what it is commonly used for, how many it can produce, quality. TASKS

Production Methods IVinyl labels – vinyl cutter Plotter cutter – card Rapid prototyping Laser cutter

Graphic modelling and on screen manipulation Photoshop - rotating - cropping - resizing - recolouring - adding text

Data storage CD rom, memory stick, memory card What are the advantages and disadvantages of storing data electronically? What is the data protection act? UK act of parliament that was introduced in 1998 to protect individuals from having confidential and personal information shared between organisations without their permission. It creates rights for those who have their data stored and it creates responsibilities for those who store/collect the personal data. The persons rights are that they can view the information, have information corrected, data not used for marketing or in a negative way.

What is the difference between vector and bitmap images? What are the copyright issues associated with download and use of images?

TYPES OF PRODUCTION ONE OFF PRODUCTION – used to make one prototype/product. Very labour intensive and expensive. Example = architectural model BATCH PRODUCTION – producing a specified number of a product. Allows you to produce a similar thing with variation. Example = wallpaper, clothes MASS PRODUCTION – producing large numbers of identical items. Example = plastic bottles