Page 1 : 1.1. CAD/CAM DEFINED, , CAD/CAM is a term which means computer-aided design and computer-aided, manufacturing. It is the technology concerned with the use of digital computers to, perform certain functions in design and production. This technology is moving in, the direction of greater integration of design and manufacturing, two activities, which have traditionally been treated as distinct and separate functions in a production firm. Ultimately, CAD/CAM will provide the technology base for the, computer-integrated factory of the future., , Computer-aided design (CAD) can be defined as the use of computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design., The computer systems consist of the hardware and software to perform the specialized design functions required by the particular user firm. The CAD hardware typically includes the computer, one or more graphics display terminals, keyboards,, and other peripheral equipment. The CAD software consists of the computer programs to implement computer graphics on the system plus application programs to, facilitate the engineering functions of the user company. Examples of these application programs include stress-strain analysis of components, dynamic response, , 1

Page 2 : Introduction, , of mechanisms, heat-transfer calculations, and numerical control part programming. The collection of application programs will vary from one user firm to the, next because their product lines, manufacturing processes, and customer markets, are different. These factors give rise to differences in CAD system requirements., , Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) can be defined as the use of computer systems to plan, manage, and control the operations of a manufacturing plant, through either direct or indirect computer interface with the plant’s production, resources. As indicated by the definition, the applications of computer-aided, manufacturing fall into two broad categories:, , 1, Computer monitoring and control. These are the direct applications in, which the computer is connected directly to the manufacturing process, for the purpose of monitoring or controlling the process., , 2. Manufacturing support applications. These are the indirect applications, in which the computer is used in support of the production operations in, the plant, but there is no direct interface between the computer and the, manufacturing process., , The distinction between the two categories is fundamental to an understanding of computer-aided manufacturing. It seems appropriate to elaborate on our, brief definitions of the two types., , Computer monitoring and control can be separated into monitoring applications and control applications. Computer process monitoring involves a direct, computer interface with the manufacturing process for the purpose of observing the, process and associated equipment and collecting data from the process. The computer is not used to control the operation directly. The control of the process, remains in the hands of human operators, who may be guided by the information, compiled by the computer., , Computer process control goes one step further than monitoring by not only, observing the process but also controlling it based on the observations. The distinction between monitoring and control is displayed in Figure 1.1. With computer, monitoring the flow of data between the process and the computer is in one direction only, from the process to the computer. In control, the computer interface, allows for a two-way flow of data. Signals are transmitted from the process to the, computer, just as in the case of computer monitoring. In addition, the computer, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Process, data, Process, data, Computer tent = Process Computer Control Process, signals, (a) {b), , FIGURE 1.1 Computer monitoring versus computer control: (a) computer monitoring; (b) computer control.

Page 3 : Introduction, , 3, , issues command signals directly to the manufacturing process based on control, algorithms contained in its software., , In addition to the applications involving a direct computer-process interface, for the purpose of process monitoring and control, computer-aided manufacturing, also includes indirect applications in which the computer serves a support role in, the manufacturing operations of the plant. In these applications, the computer is, not linked directly to the manufacturing process. Instead, the computer is used, “‘off-line’’ to provide plans, schedules, forecasts, instructions, and information by, which the firm’s production resources can be managed more effectively. The form, of the relationship between the computer and the process is represented symbolically in Figure 1.2. Dashed lines are used to indicate that the communication and, control link is an off-line connection, with human beings often required to consumate the interface. Some examples of CAM for manufacturing support that are discussed in subsequent chapters of this book include:, , Numerical control part programming by computers. Control programs are, prepared for automated machine tools., , Computer-automated process planning. The computer prepares a listing of, the operation sequence required to process a particular product or component., , Computer-generated work standards. The computer determines the time, standard for a particular production operation., , Production scheduling. The computer determines an appropriate schedule for, meeting production requirements., , Material requirements planning. The computer is used to determine when to, order raw materials and purchased components and how many should be, ordered to achieve the production schedule., , Shop floor control. In this CAM application, data are collected from the factory to determine progress of the various production shop orders., , In all of these examples, human beings are presently required in the application, either to provide input to the computer programs or to interpret the computer output and implement the required action., , Process, data, , [he a an ae ma, , , , , , Mfg, , Control, Computer . operations, , , , , , , , , , , , , , FIGURE 1.2 CAM for manufacturing support. 1 od

Page 4 : 4 Introduction, 1.2. THE PRODUCT CYCLE AND CAD/CAM, , For the reader to appreciate the scope of CAD/CAM in the operations of a, manufacturing firm, it is appropriate to examine the various activities and functions that must be accomplished in the design and manufacture of a product. We, will refer to these activities and functions as the product cycle., , A diagram showing the various steps in the product cycle is presented in Figure 1.3. The cycle is driven by customers and markets which demand the product., It is realistic to think of these as a large collection of diverse industrial and consumer markets rather than one monolithic market. Depending on the particular customer group, there will be differences in the way the product cycle is activated. In, some cases, the design functions are performed by the customer and the product is, manufactured by a different firm. In other cases, design and manufacturing is, accomplished by the same firm. Whatever the case, the product cycle begins with, a concept, an idea for a product. This concept is cultivated, refined, analyzed,, improved, and translated into a plan for the product through the design engineering, process. The plan is documented by drafting a set of engineering drawings showing, how the product is made and providing a set of specifications indicating how the, product should perform., , Except for engineering changes which typically follow the product, throughout its life cycle, this completes the design activities in Figure 1.3. The, next activities involve the manufacture of the product. A process plan is formulated which specifies the sequence of production operations required to make the, product. New equipment and tools must sometimes be acquired to produce the new, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Product Design Drafting, concept engineering, Customers gear Process, and markets and tooling planning, Quality . Production, control Production scheduling, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , FIGURE 1.3 Product cycle (design and manufacturing).

Page 5 : Introduction, , 5, , product. Scheduling provides a plan that commits the company to the manufacture, of certain quantities of the product by certain dates. Once all of these plans are formulated, the product goes into production, followed by quality testing, and, delivery to the customer., , The impact of CAD/CAM is manifest in all of the different activities in the, product cycle, as indicated in Figure 1.4. Computer-aided design and automated, drafting are utilized in the conceptualization, design, and documentation of the, product. Computers are used in process planning and scheduling to perform these, functions more efficiently. Computers are used in production to monitor and control the manufacturing operations. In quality control, computers are used to perform inspections and performance tests on the product and its components., , As illustrated in Figure 1.4, CAD/CAM is overlaid on virtually all of the, activities and functions of the product cycle. In the design and production operations, of a modern manufacturing firm, the computer has become a pervasive, useful, and, indispensable tool. It is strategically important and competitively imperative that, manufacturing firms and the people who are employed by them understand CAD/, CAM., , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Computer- Computer-automated, aided drafting and, design documentation, Product Design ., concept engineering Drafting, Order new Computer-aided, Customers equipment fe] Pores on ocess, and markets and tooling p s planning, Quality - 7, control [J Production t=] Scheduling, | |, Computer-aided Computer controlled Computerized scheduling,, quality robots, material requirements planning,, control machines, etc. shop floor control, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , FIGURE 1.4 Product cycle revised with CAD/CAM overlaid.