12. Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)

As you have learnt, you make use of CAD to design a component.

Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) then makes use of that design to directly manufacture the component.

The picture above shows a CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machine in action. This is an example of CAM.

The way it works is that a computer is linked up to a cutting machine, such as a lathe or a milling machine.

The operator places a solid block of metal (or other suitable material) in the work area and then loads the CAD software file into the CAM computer.

The CAD file has all the details required for the CAM computer to convert the CAD drawing into a set of control commands for the cutting machine.

The picture on the right shows a smaller setup with a computer linked to a milling machine.

The solid lump of metal would be clamped to the sliding bed and off it goes.