Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is a comprehensive and technically complex system engineering discipline that incorporates diverse fields such as computer science and engineering, computational mathematics, geometric modeling, computer graphics display, data structures and databases, simulation, numerical control, robotics, and artificial intelligence technologies, as well as specialized knowledge related to product design and manufacturing.
It represents a new technology that enables product designers and process technology personnel to design and manufacture products under the assistance of computer systems, following the product’s design and manufacturing procedures.
It is an organic combination of traditional techniques and computer technologies. Currently, CAD/CAM technology is not only widely used in aerospace, electronics, and mechanical manufacturing sectors, but it is also gradually expanding to areas such as apparel, decoration, furniture, and shoemaking.
Looking at the product manufacturing process, it typically involves drafting or 3D modeling and process design before commencing with the machining. Hence, CAD/CAM can be further subdivided into CAD/CAPP/CAM, where Computer-Aided Process Planning (CAPP) serves as the bridge connecting CAD and CAM.
Computer-Aided Design refers to a system composed of humans and computers in which engineers use computers as auxiliary tools to conduct product design ideation and validation, overall product design, technical design, and component design.
It includes analysis and calculation of component strengths, rigidity, heat, electricity, magnetism, and output of component manufacturing information (engineering drawings or numerical control machining information, etc.), as well as the preparation of technical documents and related technical reports. The goal is to enhance product design quality, shorten product development cycles, and reduce product costs.
The main features of a CAD system include sketch design, component design, assembly design, complex surface design, engineering drawing, engineering analysis, realism and rendering, and data exchange interfaces, among others.
Computer-Aided Process Planning involves a system composed of humans and computers where, based on information provided from the product design stage, the product machining methods and process flow are determined interactively or automatically.
Within a CAD/CAM integrated environment, process designers can usually control the machining process of components and simulate machining conditions based on the information provided by the CAD process and the capabilities of the CAM system, thereby generating information to control the component machining process.
The basic functions of CAPP mainly include blank design, selection of machining methods, process routing, operation and step design, and tool and fixture design.
In the mechanical manufacturing industry, Computer-Aided Manufacturing refers to the use of computers to automatically complete the manufacturing processes of discrete products, including machining, assembly, inspection, and packaging through various numerical control machine tools and equipment. CAM can be broadly defined or narrowly defined.
Broadly, CAM refers to the use of computers to assist in activities from production preparation to product manufacturing, including process design, fixture design, CNC automatic programming, production job planning, production control, and quality control. Narrowly, CAM usually refers to CNC programming, which includes tool path planning, cutter location file generation, tool trajectory simulation, and CNC code generation.
The architecture of CAD/CAM systems can be divided into three layers: the foundation layer, the support layer, and the application layer. The foundation layer consists of computers, peripheral devices, and system software, which includes various support software, tools for system development, and maintenance.
The support layer includes CAD/CAM support software, product data management, graphics display, etc. With the widespread use of the internet/intranets, distributed collaborative design and manufacturing in the CAD/CAM environment is becoming an important part of the support layer. The application layer consists of various CAD/CAM application systems developed according to different application field needs.
Product design, as a creative activity, has evolved into a comprehensive technology with the development of natural science, technical science, environmental science, and humanities.
The concept of CIMS has emerged by introducing system and information perspectives into manufacturing. With over 40 years of CAD/CAM technology development, its individual technologies (such as CAD, CAPP, CAM, PDM, ERP, etc.) have matured and are playing increasingly important roles in their respective fields.
However, these independent subsystems cannot automatically transmit and exchange information, resulting in repetitive work across subsystems. For instance, a product feature model needs to be established in CAPP, and the product model needs to be re-established in the CAM system, while the regular CAD model is mainly used for drawing generation and product simulation.
Integration typically refers to the seamless integration of systems and modules by enabling information transmission, response, analysis, and feedback based on a unified product data model and engineering database.
Intelligent manufacturing systems integrate artificial intelligence into every aspect of the manufacturing process, replacing or extending the activities typically performed by experts. In an intelligent manufacturing system, the system possesses some of the “intelligence” of human experts.
For instance, the system can automatically monitor its operational status and adjust its parameters to adapt to the external environment, ensuring optimal performance. The research and application of intelligent manufacturing systems largely depend on the development of artificial intelligence technology.
Network technology includes the implementation of hardware and software, various communication protocols and manufacturing automation protocols, communication interfaces, and system operation control strategies. It forms the basis for the automation of various manufacturing systems.
Particularly since the 1990s, with the development of the internet/intranets, it has provided a platform for remote and collaborative design research and application, and CAD/CAM technology has evolved towards networking. Current research in this area mainly focuses on the following aspects:
1) Establishment of remote collaborative design platforms under internet/intranet environments.
2) Principles and implementation technologies of parallel collaborative work (including collaborative problem solving, cooperative operation mechanisms, and management control).
3) Product modeling issues in a collaborative working environment.
4) Network-based enterprise manufacturing resource management.
Using virtual reality technology, multimedia technology, and computer simulation technology, geometric simulation, physical simulation, manufacturing process simulation, and work process simulation in the product design and manufacturing process are realized.
Various media are used to store, express, and process various information, integrating text, voice, images, and animation to give a sense of reality and immersion. Typical applications include virtual manufacturing and virtual reality. It is specifically reflected in the following aspects:
1) Digital and graphic dynamic display of scientific computing result data.
2) Geometric simulation and assembly process simulation of products and their parts.
3) Physical and mechanical simulation of product performance.
4) Simulation of the product’s working process to give a sense of immersion and controllability.
In summary, the degree of automation in the manufacturing process is one of the main indicators of the advancement of manufacturing technology and is one of the most active links in modern manufacturing technology in the 21st century. The development of manufacturing automation will meet the rapidly changing market requirements with its flexible, integrated, agile, intelligent, and global characteristics.
The development of manufacturing automation in our country is based on national conditions, aiming at the world’s advanced level, and improving competitiveness.
It adopts a moderate automation technology that combines human and machine, organizes equipment with high degrees of automation (such as CNC machine tools, industrial robots) and equipment with lower degrees of automation effectively, and realizes a manufacturing automation system centered on people and computers as important tools, which is flexible, intelligent, integrated, quick-response, and quick-reconfiguration.
Clearly, manufacturing automation technology is an important technology field that our country must vigorously develop.
As the founder of MachineMFG, I have dedicated over a decade of my career to the metalworking industry. My extensive experience has allowed me to become an expert in the fields of sheet metal fabrication, machining, mechanical engineering, and machine tools for metals. I am constantly thinking, reading, and writing about these subjects, constantly striving to stay at the forefront of my field. Let my knowledge and expertise be an asset to your business.
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