1. Specification section 6.3
CAD / CAM
Specification section
6.3

2. What do you need to learn?
The advantages and disadvantages of CAD /CAM in the design and manufacture of products.

3. CAD / CAM 6.3
CAD
Computer
Aided
Design

4. Designs can be easily altered
CAD / CAM 6.3
Advantages of CAD
Quick & Easy to use
Designs can be saved
Designs can be easily altered
You can view the item in 3D before it is made
The design can be sent to others via

5. Programs can be expensive to buy
CAD / CAM 6.3
Dis-advantages of CAD
Programs can be expensive to buy
Constant upgrades – new learning / expense

6. CAD / CAM 6.3
CAM
Computer
Aided
Manufacture

7. Duplicates the same piece exactly each time Quicker than hand made
CAD / CAM 6.3
Advantages of CAM
Cuts down labour costs
24 Hour Manufacture
Duplicates the same piece exactly each time
Quicker than hand made

8. Expensive to initially set up Machines need to be serviced
CAD / CAM 6.3
Disadvantages of CAM
Expensive to initially set up
Machines need to be serviced

9. Virtual Modelling & Testing
CAD / CAM 6.3
Virtual Modelling & Testing
Virtual modelling and testing allows designers to :-
View the development of a product on screen in 3D
Cut back on time consuming and expensive physical modelling
Share their ideas with others very quickly
Make instant changes to their designs
Show what their products might look like with different finishes
See if different parts of a product fit together properly
Test products for areas of weakness

10. Laser Cutting CAD / CAM 6.3 LASER stands for :-
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Laser cutting is a thermal process where a focused laser beam is used to burn or melt material.
The main advantages of laser cutting are that :-
It gives a clean cut
It is very accurate
It is quick
Good for cutting complex shapes

11. Laser Cutting CAD / CAM 6.3 LASER stands for :-
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Disadvantages of laser cutting are :-
The machines are quite expensive to run and maintain.
The waste products (fumes) have to be filtered.
Filters are expensive and need to be regularly changed.

12. CNC Milling & Turning CAD / CAM 6.3
Computer controlled milling and turning allows for repeat products to be made quickly and very accurately. It would be very difficult to mass produce these items by hand and get them all the same.
24 hour running cuts down labour costs for a manufacturer but this has to be countered by the initial cost of buying expensive machines.
More complicated CNC machines have automatic tool changers which can allow for more complex products to be made in one go.

13. Rapid Prototyping CAD / CAM 6.3
Rapid prototyping involves the manufacture of a product by the building up of layers of material.
This process begins with a 3D CAD drawing of the product to be made.
A computer then splits the drawing into many, very thin layers.
Each layer is then printed, one on top of the other, until the final product is made.

14. Rapid Prototyping CAD / CAM 6.3 3D Printing.
Each layer is then printed, one on top of the other, until the final product is made.
Laser Sintering
A laser is fired onto powdered material to melt it and make it solid.
A fresh layer of powder is laid on top and the laser fires again to melt the next layer.

15. Rapid Prototyping CAD / CAM 6.3 Advantages
Very complicated shapes can be made.
There is practically no waste.
Repeat products are identical.
Disadvantages
Despite the name, it is not a particularly quick process.
Machines are very expensive