What is CAD? What is CAM?

• CAD

  • Computer Aided Design
• CAM

  • Computer Aided Manufacturing
• CAD


  A computer program that allows you to design new products or alter existing products, sometimes referred to as industrial art
• Industries where CAD is used

  • Automotives, building cars, ship buildings, kitchen designs
• CAD output

  Computer file that can be printed out in 2D, shown to clients or team members, or sent electronically
• CAM

  Computers controlling robots like a robot arm to manufacture the final product or component using prebuilt instructions
• CAD file

  Generates what CAM makes and the CAM output
• CAM output

  Either the end product or a component to gain the final product, sometimes referred to as CAD CAM
• Advantages of using CAD

  • Increases speed of design process, increases efficiency, can be used as a marketing tool, has knock-on effects into other departments, relatively cheap
• Disadvantages of CAD

  • Requires skills to use
• Advantages of using CAM

  • Allows machines to work 24/7, quicker production process compared to human labor
• Advantages of using CAM

  • Machine can work 24/7
  • Quicker production process
  • Higher productivity
  • More precise, accurate, and consistent
  • More consistent quality
  • Higher reputation
  • Minimized mistakes
  • Minimized waste
  • Cost savings
• Disadvantages of using CAM
• Initial costs of buying a CAM machine can be enormously high
• CAM machines require a large space for installation
• Specialist workers, usually CNC engineers, are needed to operate CAM machines
• CNC engineers may require high wages
• Using CAM can lead to the need for less workers


  But specialist workers like CNC engineers are still required
• Businesses may outsource CAM production to save on initial costs
• Outsourcing CAM production


  Can help businesses meet their break-even point faster in the short term
• Long term strategy for cost-effectiveness

  Introducing CAD and CAM together is cheaper and more cost-effective